HomeKU News

Local briefs
Friday, December 17, 2004
• Audio-Reader adds animal care program
• KU history Web site adds to its archives
• Firefighters collecting toys for foster children
• KU official to speak on MLK Day in Emporia
• County administers all of flu vaccine
• More whooping cough cases are confirmed
• Suspects identified in pharmacy break-ins
• KU receives grant for health care services
• Regents to respond to faculty audit
• Housing fees set for universities
• Tuition waivers advance
• Insurance plan won't be pursued
• Suspect bites officer
• Drawing selected for holiday card
• KU students place in Hearst program

Regents rebut university audit
Thursday, December 16, 2004
Faculty salaries at state universities may have outpaced inflation, but increases haven't been enough to keep universities from being raided by their competitors, the president of the Kansas Board of Regents said Wednesday.

Audit: Faculty earn more, teach less
Tuesday, December 14, 2004
More faculty, making more money and spending less time teaching.

Regents consider idea to waive tuition for children of faculty
Monday, November 29, 2004
When Susan and John Gauch were looking for faculty positions 12 years ago, they asked prospective universities about their tuition assistance programs for their children.

Regents appear to back classified workers
Thursday, November 18, 2004
A proposal that would alter the classified employee system at Kansas University appears to have the blessing of the Kansas Board of Regents.

Sales tax for higher education suggested
Sunday, November 14, 2004
A new report on Kansas higher education funding says the state's colleges and universities should pursue a new revenue stream -- local sales taxes.

Regents to reconsider mandated civil service system
Monday, November 8, 2004
An issue that has divided Kansas University's classified staff in a often-bitter debate is about to resurface in a new arena.

Regents catalog looming repairs
Tuesday, October 5, 2004
Need a fixer-upper?

Few immigrants using new in-state tuition law
Sunday, October 3, 2004
A new Kansas law allowing certain noncitizen immigrants to pay in-state tuition at public colleges and universities has failed to produce the surge of enrollment that some had predicted.

Legislators question planning, funding of school leadership center
Wednesday, September 22, 2004
A state center meant to help school districts become more efficient is under fire even before it starts operation.

Regents chairman sets year's agenda
Monday, July 12, 2004
The tables will turn for Dick Bond in January. When the Legislature reconvenes, the longtime state senator will be chairman of the Kansas Board of Regents and a key voice for higher education.

Regents approve raises for CEOs
Friday, June 25, 2004
Kansas University Chancellor Robert Hemenway will receive a 4 percent pay raise from the state beginning next month. The Kansas Board of Regents approved the increase at its meeting Thursday.

Regents approve university performance agreements
Thursday, June 24, 2004
For the first time, state higher education institutions have specific guidelines they must follow to receive all of their state funding.

Regents chair worries universities being shortchanged
Thursday, June 24, 2004
The state's restructured higher education system may be shifting too much money to community colleges and technical schools, the chairwoman of the Kansas Board of Regents said Wednesday.

Kansas faces federal college aid cuts
Friday, June 4, 2004
Students at Kansas colleges and universities would lose more than $2 million in financial aid under proposed changes to federal law, according to an analysis by the American Council on Education.

Regents consider 3rd consecutive tuition increase
Friday, May 21, 2004
Members of the Kansas Board of Regents on Thursday criticized the Legislature for passing the burden of higher education funding to students.

KU seeks hefty tuition increases
Wednesday, May 19, 2004
Mike Wellems likely will be seeing a hefty increase in his tuition rates next year -- and he doesn't mind much. Wellems, like other Kansas University business students, would pay 82 percent more for the business classes he takes in the 2004-2005 academic year, under a proposal by KU.

Budget puts KU buildings in a fix
Friday, February 20, 2004
Robinson Center needs a new roof. Lindley Hall needs a new elevator. An annex to Lindley Hall is waiting to be razed. Those projects were on a list of Kansas University campus improvements set for next year, but they'll have to be put off at least another year because of a cutback in state funds designated for building rehabilitation and repair.

Regents nix idea for tuition waivers
Thursday, January 15, 2004
Dependents and spouses of employees at Fort Hays State University won't be getting free tuition and fees anytime soon.

Text of harassment policy proposed for regents
Friday, November 21, 2003
Text of the harassment policy proposed to the state Board of Regents

Regents dislike congressman's tuition proposal
Friday, November 21, 2003
Higher education officials in Kansas are watching an emerging debate in Congress, and they don't like some of the proposals being floated in Washington.

Regents present budget proposal
Thursday, November 20, 2003
The Kansas Board of Regents on Wednesday pleaded with a group of legislative education advocates for increased funding.

Universities make push to keep interest generated by student tuition payments
Friday, October 17, 2003
The state is making millions of dollars each year off of bank deposits made by state universities, and higher education leaders want that to stop.

Fort Hays grows 15%; KSU up 1.3%
Friday, September 26, 2003
Chinese students are boosting enrollment at Fort Hays State University. But the decline in the airline industry is hurting a Kansas State University campus.

Regents revisit adding Washburn
Thursday, August 14, 2003
The Kansas Board of Regents on Wednesday reopened discussions on whether Washburn University should be admitted as the seventh state university in Kansas.
"It makes zero sense to me not to have Washburn in the state system," said Regent Lew Ferguson, of Topeka. "It makes no sense to give them all this state money and not have them be part of the system."

Banker, farmer named as regents
Saturday, August 9, 2003
A retired turkey farmer and a banker are the newest members of the Kansas Board of Regents. Gov. Kathleen Sebelius on Friday appointed Frank Gaines of Hamilton and Nelson Galle of Manhattan to the regents, who oversee the state's universities, community colleges and technical schools.

Sebelius names two new members of the Board of Regents
Friday, August 8, 2003
(Updated Thursday at 11:15 a.m.) Gov. Kathleen Sebelius announced on Friday she has made two new appointments to the Kansas Board of Regents -- a former state legislator and a business consultant.

Cash-poor universities ask lawmakers for repair funds
Friday, August 8, 2003
Cash-strapped lawmakers Thursday were handed an estimate of $672.4 million to fix buildings at state universities to a satisfactory condition. In addition, they were told it would cost more than $90 million to make necessary repairs to the two major state office buildings near the Capitol -- the Landon and Docking buildings. Secretary of Administration Howard Fricke said it might be more cost-effective to knock those two buildings down.

New regents chairwoman eager to fine-tune system
Friday, June 27, 2003
Janice DeBauge has been elected chairwoman of the Kansas Board of Regents for the coming year.
DeBauge, of Emporia, was elected Thursday. She has been on the regents since 1999 and recently was reappointed by Gov. Kathleen Sebelius.
Meanwhile, a Sebelius spokeswoman said the governor was close to appointing successors for regents Fred Kerr of Pratt and Jack Wempe of Lyons. Both are leaving the board after four years and attended their last meeting on Thursday.

Regents send ambitious budget to governor
Thursday, June 26, 2003
When Dick Bond began discussing the Kansas Board of Regents' budget request for next year which includes a $106 million, 15.5 percent increase for higher education he didn't get far in his first statement.

Schools propose tuition boost
Friday, May 16, 2003
As state universities proposed steep tuition and fee increases for the second straight year, a member of the Kansas Board of Regents blamed the Legislature for making the tuition increases necessary. Regent Dick Bond, a former state legislator from Overland Park, said Thursday that tuition increases wouldn't be needed if legislators had committed more state funds for universities.

Regents plan budget increase request
Thursday, May 15, 2003
State higher education would receive a 14.2 percent budget increase under a proposal unveiled Wednesday before the Kansas Board of Regents.
But save for an unprecedented economic recovery between now and the next legislative session, there is no way state universities, community colleges and technical schools will get that kind of funding, regents members acknowledged.

Regents protest budget amendment
Friday, April 18, 2003
The Kansas Board of Regents is sending a message to the Legislature: Stay out of our classrooms. Regents on Thursday joined the ranks of groups protesting a legislative amendment aimed at preventing instructors from showing "obscene" videos in human sexuality classes and urging Gov. Kathleen Sebelius to veto the proviso.

Regents approve higher-ed plan for S.W. Kansas
Thursday, April 17, 2003
Residents of southwest Kansas are a step closer to having more university degree programs offered in their area.
The Kansas Board of Regents on Wednesday approved a plan that would combine the efforts of Emporia State University, Fort Hays State University and Kansas State University with western Kansas community colleges to offer junior-, senior- and graduate-level courses.

Board of Regents tries to keep nonconstruction costs down
Monday, March 31, 2003
Managers of $120 million in bond-financed building projects at three Kansas Board of Regents universities are determined to keep nonconstruction costs of the project below 15 percent, officials say.

Regents consider private sources to supplement university salaries
Friday, March 28, 2003
The Kansas Board of Regents wants to keep up with the Joneses when it comes to paying the leaders of its state universities.

KU journalism fellowship established to honor Kansas editor
Wednesday, March 12, 2003
(Web Posted Wednesday at 10:41 a.m.) It seems a little ironic -- a Kansas editor who once called for Kansas University's journalism school to be shut down and its home be paved over for a parking lot will be honored with a journalism fellowship at KU.

Regents change tuition stance
Friday, February 21, 2003
Forget new programs. Just stop the bleeding. That was the message the Kansas Board of Regents sent Thursday to leaders of state universities, telling them money from increased tuition may be used to cover shortfalls left by cuts in state funding. But the move raised the ire of Kansas University's student body president, Jonathan Ng, because students were told their higher tuition bills would lead to "enhancements" in their education.

Higher-ed officials report increases in research funds
Thursday, February 13, 2003
Higher-education officials Wednesday reported increases in research funding and said plans for three new research facilities would further enhance funding opportunities.
Reggie Robinson, president and chief executive officer of the Kansas Board of Regents, said funded research at Kansas University, Kansas State and Wichita State was "exceptionally strong and positive."

Higher education research funding on the rise
Wednesday, February 12, 2003
(Web Posted Wednesday at 11:36 a.m.) Kansas' three major universities reported increases in research funding, higher education officials told lawmakers Wednesday.

University admission standards criticized
Friday, December 20, 2002
State universities' qualified admissions standards aren't working, a top Senate education official said. "Before qualified admissions, we were admitting everyone who applied," said John Vratil, R-Leawood, vice chairman of the Senate Education Committee. "After implementation, we're still admitting almost everyone who has applied. What have we accomplished?"

6News video: State schools' repair bills mount up
Wednesday, December 18, 2002
The Kansas Board of Regents estimates the repairs will cost more than $600 million.

Universities' repair needs top $631M
Wednesday, December 18, 2002
At Kansas State University, it's the "Frankenstein room" filled with old-fashioned electrical switches employees refuse to touch because they fear electrocution. At Kansas University, officials say underground utility tunnels are in dire need of repair.

Regents to ask for bigger budget even as current shortfall grows
Thursday, November 14, 2002
Members of the Kansas Board of Regents are sticking to their guns for requesting a 15 percent budget increase next year.

Credit card companies to face limits soliciting on state's college campuses
Friday, October 18, 2002
Credit card companies will have less time on campus to woo university students, the Kansas Board of Regents decided Thursday. Regents voted 6-3 to ban credit card solicitations on campus a minimum of the first two weeks of a semester and the last week of the semester.

Regents ban credit card solicitations
Thursday, October 17, 2002
(Updated Thursday at 2:50 p.m.) The Kansas Board of Regents voted Thursday morning to ban credit card solicitations on campus a minimum of the first two weeks of a semester.

Little credit seen in proposal
Tuesday, September 24, 2002
Two state legislators say they’ll revive a bill to ban credit-card solicitations on university campuses if the Kansas Board of Regents approves a more lenient policy next month.

KU's Robinson named to top Kansas Board of Regents post
Tuesday, September 17, 2002
(Updated Tuesday at 11:26 a.m.) A high-ranking Kansas University official was named Tuesday to the top administrative post of the Kansas Board of Regents. Reggie Robinson, counselor and chief of staff to KU Chancellor Robert Hemenway, was named as president and chief executive officer for the regents.

KU official a finalist for top spot with regents
Wednesday, September 4, 2002
State higher education officials Tuesday announced four finalists for the job of president and chief executive officer of the Kansas Board of Regents, including a high-ranking Kansas University administrator.

Regents mull seeking tax support from communities with universities
Thursday, August 15, 2002
Frustrated with state spending on higher education, members of the Kansas Board of Regents may turn to city and county governments for additional money.
The idea of local sales or property taxes in areas with state universities was one of many ideas discussed by regents at their annual retreat at a ranch in southeast Kansas.

Officials delay research facilities
Thursday, August 1, 2002
By Terry Rombeck

It will be at least three more weeks before the state's three largest universities can proceed with plans for new research facilities.
The committee charged with overseeing the projects, financed by $133 million in bonds approved this spring by the Legislature, met for the first time Wednesday.

Regents to retry donation tax-credit legislation
Tuesday, July 16, 2002
By Scott Rothschild

So far, most lawmakers have been cool to the idea. But the Kansas Board of Regents is going forward with a plan to provide tax credits for donations to higher education. "We will continue to ask the Legislature for tax credits," Dick Carter, a spokesman for the regents, said Monday.

Action postponed on credit-card solicitors
Friday, July 5, 2002
By Scott Rothschild

After complaints raised by Intrust Bank, the Kansas Board of Regents has delayed action on a student request to restrict credit-card solicitation on university campuses.
The delay has angered some students and legislators, who say the solicitations prey on students and quickly sink them in debt.

High school students sample KU
Sunday, June 30, 2002
By Mindie Paget

It didn't take long for 150 high school students in classes this month at Kansas University to reach a discouraging conclusion: College is hard. "The first night we got here, we had homework," said Afrita Davis, a 16-year-old from Coffeyville who will start her junior year in the fall.

University leaders won't get raises
Friday, June 28, 2002
The Kansas Board of Regents made it official Thursday: University leaders will receive no salary increases in the coming year.

Ex-senator among new regents
Saturday, June 22, 2002
By Terry Rombeck

A former state Senate president is among three new appointees to the Kansas Board of Regents. Gov. Bill Graves announced Friday he would appoint Dick Bond, who served as Senate president from 1996 to 2000, to the nine-member board that oversees the state's universities, community colleges and technical colleges.

Governor appoints three to Kansas Board of Regents
Friday, June 21, 2002
(Updated Friday at 12:00 p.m.) Gov. Bill Graves on Friday named three people to the Kansas Board of Regents.

Regents chair says he wants off board
Saturday, June 1, 2002
By Terry Rombeck

A former state Senate president appears to be returning to officialdom as a member of the Kansas Board of Regents. Current Regent Clay Blair said he expected Dick Bond, who served in the Senate from 1986 to 2000, to join the board June 30, when Blair's term expires.

Regents approve policy on graduation requirements
Friday, May 17, 2002
By Terry Rombeck

Students at state universities will be required to complete more upper-division courses, but the change won't be as dramatic as originally planned.

Legislation expanding authority of regents awaits Graves' signature
Thursday, May 16, 2002
Lawmakers on Wednesday sent Gov. Bill Graves a proposal giving the Kansas Board of Regents more authority and requiring faculty and unclassified employees to file financial disclosure statements if they serve as consultants.
The proposal puts the regents in charge of planning for higher education and gives them more authority in dealing with community colleges, vocational-technical schools and Washburn University in Topeka.

Course-hour degree requirement eased
Friday, April 19, 2002
By Terry Rombeck

The Kansas Board of Regents may back away from its decision to require 54 hours of upper-division courses at state universities to qualify for a bachelor's degree.

Regents receive chancellor's report on KU
Friday, April 19, 2002
Chancellor Robert Hemenway on Thursday presented his annual report on the state of Kansas University to the Kansas Board of Regents.

Business leaders join higher-ed funding fight
Friday, April 12, 2002
Sounding frustrated and desperate, the Kansas Board of Regents and university presidents launched a public relations effort Thursday to keep lawmakers from sacrificing higher-education funding to close a $700 million budget gap.
"I believe this is the first time this has ever happened. That underscores the size of the opportunity and the magnitude of the threat — both of those are greater than they have ever been," said Kim Wilcox, executive director for the Kansas Board of Regents.

Squeeze for time hits tuition committee
Saturday, February 2, 2002
By Terry Rombeck

A new committee studying planned tuition increases at Kansas University may have less time to do its work than members originally thought. Members had planned to submit their recommendations at the April meeting of the Kansas Board of Regents.

Legislators make trip to Manhattan
Friday, January 18, 2002
By Scott Rothschild

Despite tough economic times, state leaders Thursday endorsed a $115 million plan to help build research facilities at Kansas' three largest public universities, saying the proposals focusing on medicine, food safety and aviation were vital to the state's future and national security.
"If we don't invest now, we have failed to plan adequately for our future," said state Sen. Sandy Praeger, R-Lawrence.

Regents, schools fight for control
Thursday, December 20, 2001
By Scott Rothschild

A power struggle over who is in charge of higher education in the state emerged Wednesday at the Kansas Board of Regents meeting.

Regents seek more authority
Monday, December 17, 2001
By Scott Rothschild

In the Kansas Board of Regents office is a framed, glass-encased copy of Senate Bill 345, signed by Gov. Bill Graves, who wrote to the regents and staff: "Thanks for making this possible."
The 1999 legislation was a hard-fought compromise that overhauled the governance of higher education after more than two decades of studies and political wrangling.

Regents seeking budget boost
Monday, November 19, 2001
By Scott Rothschild

Call it Plan B.
With the chance of getting an increase in state funding small at best, higher education officials say they will work during the coming legislative session on advancing issues that won't cost state taxpayers, but still boost funding to post-secondary schools.

Regents, Washburn talk credits
Sunday, October 28, 2001
By Scott Rothschild

A dispute between Washburn University and the Kansas Board of Regents goes to the fundamental question of who is in charge of Kansas higher education, officials say. Under agreements signed between Washburn and 14 community colleges, students can stay at the two-year community schools and earn a four-year degree from Washburn.

Regents fix reform 'mistake'
Friday, October 19, 2001
By Scott Rothschild

Forced by dire budget forecasts to choose, members of the Kansas Board of Regents Thursday decided they'd rather have faculty pay raises than university performance grants and funds to lower community college taxes.
Regents said throwing overboard the funding requests for grants and tax-easing is necessary because of the slumping economy and inaccurate spending projections made in 1999 when the Legislature adopted a higher education reform bill. The grants and the aid to community college taxpayers were planks in the reform.

Regents: State fees hamper efficiency
Monday, October 1, 2001
By Scott Rothschild

The Kansas Board of Regents has promised lawmakers it will make state universities more efficient.
In return, it wants something from lawmakers — release from a system where the schools have to pay state bureaucrats in Topeka for certain costs associated with construction and printing.

Governance of state jucos under study
Friday, September 21, 2001
By Scott Rothschild

A consultant's report on the Kansas higher education system likely will recommend putting community colleges under the authority of a statewide board, officials said Thursday.

Kan-Ed User Advisory Council members named
Tuesday, July 10, 2001
Kansas Board of Regents Executive Director Kim Wilcox has named members to the Kan-Ed User Advisory Council, which will make recommendations to the Regents on issues of development, implementation and administration of the Kan-Ed network.
Gov. Bill Graves signed the Kan-Ed act into law on April 20 and it became effective July 1. It makes the Board of Regents responsible for the creation, operation and maintenance of a network between schools, libraries and hospitals.

Chancellor pay raise approved
Friday, June 29, 2001
By Scott Rothschild

State university chiefs, including Kansas University Chancellor Robert Hemenway, will receive higher pay raises than most state employees.
The Kansas Board of Regents on Thursday approved a 5.75 percent raise for each of the public university leaders and Kim Wilcox, executive director of the board.

$6.2 million expansion planned for animal facility
Friday, June 29, 2001
The Kansas Board of Regents approved plans Thursday to add two levels to the primary animal care facility at the Kansas University Medical Center.

Regents raise fees, hear swimmers' pleas
Friday, April 20, 2001
The Kansas Board of Regents on Thursday approved increasing Kansas University student fees by $12.50 per semester and heard a plea from former KU swimmers to reinstate men's swimming and tennis programs.

Educators, lawmakers clash on funding
Thursday, April 19, 2001
By Scott Rothschild

Kansas higher education officials Wednesday talked about the need for a 15 percent increase in state funding as crucial for the future of state colleges and universities. But some 50 miles away in Topeka, lawmakers who hold the purse strings proposed cuts in higher education, including slicing in half a promised faculty pay raise. The different visions of funding higher education emerged as state officials raced to fix an approximate $205 million budget hole caused by a reduction in projected revenue and an increase in health-care costs for destitute and disabled Kansans.

Regents eye fee increase
Thursday, April 19, 2001
The Kansas Board of Regents today will consider increasing Kansas University student fees by $12.50 per semester. The proposal includes a $6 increase in the student health fee and a new fee of $6.50 to provide students with access to four daily newspapers. The health fee increase will bring the total health fee to $75.50 for spring and fall semesters. The fee will be increased by $4 to $45 for summer semesters.

KU swimmers float proposal by regents
Wednesday, April 4, 2001
By Dave Ranney

Former Kansas University swimmers have asked the state Board of Regents to bless their effort to save the men's swimming team.

Executives await grade cards
Monday, January 29, 2001
By Scott Rothschild

Six men and one woman with an enormous amount of clout and responsibility in shaping the future of higher education in Kansas soon will be asked to account for themselves. They are the chief executives of state universities, plus the executive director of the Kansas Board of Regents.

Regents review fund cuts
Friday, January 19, 2001
By Scott Rothschild

State university budgets would take a $12 million hit under Gov. Bill Graves' proposed spending plan, including $3.5 million at Kansas University.
Thursday at the Kansas Board of Regents' monthly meeting, higher education officials vowed to coax the Legislature to restore the millions on which universities were counting to improve technology and continue other services.

Slot machines seen as fund source
Friday, January 19, 2001
By Scott Rothschild

Slot machines are the answer to some university problems, a state senator from Kansas City told members of the Kansas Board of Regents on Thursday.

Regents seek own bankroll
Friday, January 12, 2001
By Scott Rothschild

The Kansas Board of Regents is launching a major initiative that would provide an alternate, nongovernmental funding source for state universities. The universities have their individual endowment funds. But the regents are creating a systemwide regents endowment, hoping to attract $20 million from major corporations.

Housing costs may increase
Tuesday, December 12, 2000
By Scott Rothschild

Studying for finals won't be the only thing on the minds of many Kansas University students this month.
The Kansas Board of Regents on Thursday will consider increasing housing costs at KU and the five other Regents universities.

Regents study merger
Friday, November 17, 2000
A proposal to merge two higher education institutions in western Kansas remains in limbo.

Higher education in new hands
Tuesday, June 27, 2000
By Erwin Seba
Journal-World Writer

A KU graduate is taking the helm of Kansas higher education. Already, Clay Blair is looking to deal with financing and other issues.

Regents review list of goals
Thursday, April 20, 2000
Easy transfer between colleges. Better access to higher education. Affiliations and mergers among institutions. And, finally, a flexible financing system.