Kansas State University

Dec. 16 Kansas Board of Regents meeting updates

Submitted by Division of Communications and Marketing

The monthly Kansas Board of Regents meeting on Dec. 16 included several items related to Kansas State University.

3+3 Law Program

The Regents recognized the 3+3 program, a partnership between Kansas State University and the University of Kansas School of Law. The program allows undergraduate students at Regents universities to enroll in the KU School of Law after completing three years of undergraduate studies.

Campus weapons policy

A final report of the Regents Students’ Advisory Committee student gun policy opinion survey will be presented at the January meeting. Statewide, about 20,000 students participated. Preliminary results indicate 45 percent of K-State students preferred to amend the law so guns are not allowed on campus, 17 percent preferred to keep the current law but extend the exemption past 2017 and 38 percent preferred to keep the current law and allow the exemption to expire. See the Regents’ Twitter feed for more results.

Lease agreement with KSU Foundation

The Regents approved a 10-year lease-purchase agreement with the KSU Foundation for Knox Lane, a 85-acre tract of land on the east side of Manhattan within four miles of the Dairy Teaching and Research Center and the Beef Cattle Research Center. The KSU Foundation purchased the land for the animal sciences and industry department, which will pay the Foundation $825,000 plus interest and other expenses from the department’s restricted fees fund.

Performance agreement reports

Kansas State University qualifies for 100 percent of any new eligible funding appropriated in summer 2016 based on its performance agreement report progress in academic year 2014. The performance agreement is based on Foresight 2020, a 10-year strategic agenda for the state's public higher education system. To qualify for the 100 percent, each Regent institution must maintain or improve the baseline in at least 51 percent of the indicators mentioned in the agreement.

Housing and food service rates

The Regents approved housing and food service rates for the 2016-2017 academic year. Rates will go into effect on July 1, 2016. Kansas State University’s "typical" rate for the 2016-2017 academic year will increase by 3.5 percent, which is an increase of $290. The typical rate is based on a double room in the residence halls and a 14 meal plan.

Read more about Kansas State University's housing and food service rates.

Educational Building Funds

The Regents approved the allocation of Educational Building Funds for rehabilitation and repair projects for fiscal year 2017. Projects include new buildings, remodeling or alterations, annual maintenance or utility projects. See the rehabilitation and repair projects for fiscal year 2017.

K-State Student Union renovation

The Regents amended the renovation project budget for the K-State Student Union from $25 million to $31 million. The project is funded from a $25 million bond and $6 million in special revenue from the Department of Housing and Dining Services, privilege fees and university resources. The Regents authorized Housing and Dining Services to invest $1.2 million of Housing and Dining Services fund reserves for a dining restaurant similar to JP’s in the renovated Union. The investment will be reimbursed to Housing and Dining Services from restaurant profits.

The scope of the project also was expanded to include $2.1 million for the renovation and replacement of the Union roof and all exterior windows. Student privilege fees will fund the cost of the roof and window replacements. Project renovations also will include the Little Theatre, Forum Hall, a catering kitchen on the second floor and a Call Hall ice cream parlor totaling $2.7 million. Funding for these renovations are from privilege fee balances and university resources.

Seaton Hall renovation

The Regents adopted resolutions for the issuance of bonds by the Kansas Development Finance Authority for $60 million to finance the renovation and transformation of Seaton Hall. The debt service of Seaton Hall will be repaid from educational building funds appropriated to the university. The additional $15 million needed for the $75 million renovation will be financed through private gifts.