News Release
July 21, 1997
Contact: Mark Pfeiffer
(502) 564-2611, x326

Frankfort, Ky. - Governor Paul Patton today said farewell and thanks to the outgoing Council on Postsecondary Education at its final meeting today. The outgoing council was known as the Council on Higher Education before the name was changed to the Council on Postsecondary Education under the governor's sweeping reform legislation that was recently passed by the special session of the General Assembly in May.

"We haven't changed anything in higher education yet," the governor said, "We've only made a commitment to change and set up a new structure to precipitate that change."

Governor Patton commended the Council and Its Executive Director Gary Cox for "selfless public service" in working for the reform effort knowing that it might well mean the elimination of their positions. The governor said it's an example of the dedication it will take to make the new council work. "Individuals must subjugate their own personal ambition and institutions must subjugate their institutional visions and regional bias to what is good for the entire Commonwealth." The governor said, "If that attitude prevails, and I want it to prevail and I expect it to prevail, then we can make this thing work."

The test of the new council, the governor said, will come if members adopt this new attitude and will depend on the elected officials of the state heeding the new council's advice and guidance.

The governor will announce the new members of the Council on Postsecondary Education at a news conference tomorrow in room 110 of the State Capitol at 10:30 a.m. (EST). The news conference will be available for viewing via videoteleconference at regional university campuses and community colleges across the state. Contact your local University or Community College for exact viewing locations.

The CPE will hold an organizational meeting following Tuesday's ceremonies in Room 110, approximately at noon.