The document outlines a proposal by Keisha Love and others to address low and declining undergraduate enrollment from Kentucky's most rural counties at the University of Kentucky. The 'Preparing Future Wildcats' program aims to increase high school graduation, university applications, and graduation rates through community partnerships and targeted recruitment strategies for motivated students. The initiative requires a budget of $15 million and seeks to develop innovative practices in education and student support.

1. Preparing Future Wildcats A Proposal by Keisha Love, Ph.D. UK College of Education’s Department of Educational, School, and Counseling Psychology Randolph Hollingsworth, Ph.D. UK Division of Undergraduate Education Carol Hanley, Ed.D. Tracy Farmer Institute for Sustainability and the Environment; UK College of Agriculture

2. The Problem Undergraduate enrollment at UK from Kentucky’s most underserved, most rural counties is low and is declining . Fall 2003 161 high school graduates from KY’s 21 most rural counties enter UK as first year students ( 4.4% total UK cohort )

3. Breathitt, Casey, Clay, Clinton, Cumberland, Elliott, Floyd, Hickman, Jackson, Johnson, Knott, Lee, Leslie, Letcher, Magoffin, McCreary, Owsley, Perry, Pike, Russell, Wolfe Counties of Interest

4. % Baccalaureate Degrees in County

5. UK Baccalaureate Degrees

6. What We Know What have we attempted thus far? Career development interventions with urban-low income youth. Increase post-secondary enrollment rates

7. … And What We Don’t Know The Primary Questions High School Graduation & UK Undergrad Applications Enrollment & Graduation Preparing Future Wildcats

8. The Solution Preparing Future Wildcats program A “grow your own” approach to recruitment that offers a seamless transition to the University of Kentucky that is crafted in community partnerships. Goals: Increase high school graduation Increase UK applications and enrollment Increase UK graduation rates and role in economic growth of home county

9. Strategies Student-centered UK-focused Community-based

10. The Details: Identifying Students Target highly motived students with high academic potential Grade Point Average KOSSA or other career readiness test scores ACT or other college placement test scores teacher, counselor, Wildcat Navigator recommendations

11. The Details: The Students 5 th Graders 8 th Graders 10 th Graders 11 th Graders Increased Applications, Enrollment, Graduation at UK Future Wildcats Graduate from High School 12 th Graders

12. Program Timeline August 2012 August 2016

13. UK : 1E UK: 1E & 1D UK: 1E, 1D, & 1C UK: 1E, 1D, & 1C (1B = 2018)

14. Budgetary Needs $15,000,000 Personnel (clinicians, faculty, staff, students) Supplies and equipment Internet access Transportation Communications campaigns and communities of practice UK Summer Immersion Experiences International travel and economic partnerships Start up funding and consultations for job creation

15. Program Alignment US Dept of Ed Investing in Innovation Fund Improve student achievement, increasing high school graduation rates, increasing college enrollment and graduation rates Expand, develop innovative practices as models of best practices Partner with private sector and philanthropic community Identify, document best practices to share and take to scale Kentucky Senate Bill 1 Partner with K12 to improve college and career rates ThinkUK 2.0 Reform UK curriculum, policies to encourage development of accelerated programs and cost-savings for UK families