LEXINGTON, Ky. — Bluegrass Community and Technical College (BCTC) has been awarded $1.14 million through the U.S. Department of Education’s Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE), as part of a nationwide $169 million investment announced this week to strengthen innovation and workforce alignment in higher education.
The grant is part of a new round of FIPSE awards aligned with program priorities established by the U.S. Department of Education in November, including initiatives that expand high-quality, short-term credential programs, enhance teaching and learning through emerging technologies, and build institutional capacity to meet workforce needs. Eighteen of the selected recipients are community colleges or two-year systems, underscoring the critical role these institutions play in workforce development.
BCTC is the sole recipient in Kentucky. Through this award, the college will partner with local healthcare providers, local emergency services, and the Kentucky workforce agency to launch and expand credential pathways in emergency medical services (EMT), commercial driver’s licenses (CDL), and allied health fields. The initiative is designed to serve at least 150 students annually by its fourth year, directly addressing regional workforce shortages in high-demand sectors…