FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Oct. 11, 2023
Board of Regents focuses program review on student success, return on investment and jobs
(Topeka, Kan.) – The Kansas Board of Regents (KBOR) is set to begin the next steps in its academic program review focused on student demand, degrees, jobs and student return on investment. The review will ensure that program offerings at state universities meet the interests of students and are aligned with the needs of Kansas communities and the state’s economy.
“The Regents are committed to our Building a Future strategic plan that is focused on helping families, supporting businesses, and growing economic prosperity across Kansas,” said KBOR Chair Jon Rolph. “In June, we worked with state university leadership to develop and adopt a new academic program review process to ensure our state universities are offering programs that are relevant to students, important to Kansas communities and lead to good jobs. The review focuses on student interest, degrees earned, employment projections, state and regional need, and impact on Kansas communities.”
The program review will be limited to those programs that have low enrollment, few graduates, and whose graduates do not typically find jobs with sustaining wages. The program review list is being finalized and will include approximately 30 programs.
After the program list has been approved, the Board’s Academic Affairs Standing Committee will review program data in collaboration with state university provosts. Each university will make a recommendation for its reviewed programs. Those recommendations may include merging programs, improving a program through an action plan, or phasing out a program. If a recommendation is made to phase out a program, it will include a detailed plan to reinvest resources into other programs or services.
“This will be a thorough and collaborative process,” said Chair Rolph. “The Regents will rely on robust data, coupled with the insights of state university leadership, to make decisions about optimizing program delivery. Ultimately, the review will help ensure that resources are invested in ways that support student success and benefit Kansas.”
For more information, please contact Matt Keith at (785) 430-4237 or
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About the Kansas Board of Regents
The nine-member Kansas Board of Regents is the governing board of the state’s six universities and the statewide coordinating board for the state’s 32 public higher education institutions (six state universities, one municipal university, nineteen community colleges, and six technical colleges). In addition, the Board administers the state’s student financial aid, adult education, high school equivalency, and career and technical education programs. Private proprietary schools and out-of-state institutions are authorized by the Kansas Board of Regents to operate in Kansas.