Regent Priorities
The Kansas Commitment is a $50 million initiative aimed at boosting the state's economy.
"The Kansas Commitment protects the state's historical investment in its higher education infrastructure, helps middle and low-income Kansans who can't afford to attend college but who have the talent to succeed, and boosts the Kansas economy through targeted workforce development initiatives," said Regent Gary Sherrer of Overland Park, Chairman of the Kansas Board of Regents. "In addition, The Kansas Commitment restores the Legislature's deferred building maintenance funding promise and ensures Kansans in every corner of the state have access to high-speed broadband internet."
The Kansas Commitment includes five components:
KAN-PROTECT ($20.5 million SGF request):
The Board will request a 2.73% inflationary increase, based on the Higher Education Price Index, for all 32 public colleges and universities for Fiscal Year 2012.
KAN-BUILD ($15.75 million SGF request):
To help balance the State's budget, the Legislature cut funding for Years 3 and 4 of the 5-year systemwide deferred building maintenance funding plan it approved in 2007. The Board will request that Year 4 funding, for programs utilized by all 32 public colleges and universities, be restored.
KAN-HELP ($0 SGF request, $10 million other funds):
The Board will request to re-coup the state sales tax collected on the six state university campuses. State universities will match the state's investment by contributing an additional 40%. The Board will then create KAN-HELP, a need-based financial aid program for full-time resident undergraduate state university students who are in good standing with their university and possess the greatest unmet financial need, as determined by their Free Application for Federal Financial Aid (FAFSA). Students from middle and low-income Kansas families would be eligible for a KAN-HELP Grant of up to $3,000 per academic year that would be applied to tuition, fees, books, supplies, and on-campus food and housing costs.
KAN-GROW ($14.15 million SGF request will leverage $7.075 million other funds):
The Board will request funding to create KAN-GROW, a 2-to-1 state-to-college/university matched funding program to grow the Kansas workforce and economy. Programs include a joint-initiative from Kansas State University, the University of Kansas, and Wichita State University to solve the state's shortage of engineering graduates.
KAN-CONNECT ($0 SGF request, $10 million other funds):
The Board will advocate for continued funding for Kan-ed, a program that connects almost 900 Kansas hospitals, libraries, higher education institutions, and K-12 schools to high-speed broadband internet.
In September 2010, the Kansas Board of Regents approved a 10-year strategic agenda for the state's public higher education system. Entitled Foresight 2020, the plan sets long-range achievement goals that are measurable, reportable, and ensures the state's higher education system meets Kansans' expectations.
"Foresight 2020 represents three years of thoughtful examination, dialogue, and input from the state's public colleges and universities, fellow Regents, and staff," said Regent Gary Sherrer of Overland Park, Chairman of the Kansas Board of Regents. "This plan will ensure, through measurable and aspirational goals, that the quality of the state's public higher education system is significantly enhanced."
Foresight 2020 includes six strategic goals:
Achieve alignment between the state's preK-12 and higher education systems and continue to enhance alignment between higher education institutions.
Achieve participation in the state's higher education system that better reflects the state's demography and more fully engages adult learners.
Achieve measureable improvement in persistence (retention) and completion (graduation) rates for higher education institutions across the state.
Ensure that students earning credentials and degrees across the higher education system possess the foundational skills essential for success in work and in life.
Enhance alignment between the work of the state's higher education system and the needs of the Kansas economy.
Enhance the regional and national reputation of Kansas universities through aspirational inititiaves.
"The goals of Foresight 2020 are ambitious, achievable, and absolutely necessary," said Sherrer. "Public higher education is a critical asset to Kansans, is key to economic success, and is essential for securing the best possible future for our citizens and our state. By working to accomplish these goals, we will demonstrate the value our colleges and universities provide, while improving the quality and efficiency of our system."