Just days after one lawsuit challenged a sweeping new state law aimed at restructuring the school from students and alumni arguing that the same law violated civil rights protections, a second class action suit has now been filed—this time by a group of anonymous students who say the legislation itself is unconstitutional by saying the law’s passage by lawmakers of bypassing proper legal procedures.
“The irreparable harm is intensified by KSU’s unique status as Kentucky’s 1890 land-grant university and only public HBCU, and by the Commonwealth’s longstanding federally recognized commitments to enhance, rather than narrow, KSU’s mission, programs, funding, facilities, land-grant activities, administration, faculty capacity, and student opportunity,” the students’ complaint says.
At the center of both lawsuits is Senate Bill 185, which was signed into law on April 13. Under SB 185, Kentucky State is set to transition into a polytechnic institution, with many liberal arts programs moving online. Starting in the 2026–27 academic year, the university will offer no more than 10 in-person academic programs, with limited exceptions.
The law also expands the authority of the university president, allowing for employee terminations with just 30 days’ notice as part of broader cost-cutting efforts.