May 19, 2016
Kansas Board of Regents May 18 meeting university updates
Submitted by Division of Communications and Marketing
The monthly Kansas Board of Regents meeting on May 18 included several items related to Kansas State University.
Spirit Scholars
Spirit Aerosystems announced the inaugural class of Spirit Scholars. The program awards more than $570,000 in scholarships to students enrolling in engineering and business programs at Kansas State University, the University of Kansas and Wichita State University. Kansas State University has three recipients. Engineering recipients included Anna Christianson, Lenexa, and Josiah Satzler, Manhattan. The business recipient includes Avery Bolar, Prairie Village.
Retirement Plan Committee
The Retirement Plan Committee was established in 2005 to oversee the board's mandatory retirement plan. The Regents appointed Gary Leitnaker, director of labor relations and special projects, to another three‐year term and appointed Mirta Martin, Fort Hays State University president, to replace Kirk Schulz as the Council of Presidents representative.
Legislative update
The Regents discussed the most recent legislative session and the budget situation for higher education.
Tuition
The Regents discussed the first reading of fiscal year 2017 tuition and fees proposals for all state universities. April Mason, provost and senior vice president, and Andy Hurtig, former student body president, presented the proposal for Kansas State University. The university is proposing a 5 percent tuition increase for full-time undergraduate and graduate students and a 3 percent tuition increase for veterinary medicine students. The Regents will take final action at the June meeting. Read more about the tuition proposals.
Johnson County Education Research Triangle Authority
The Regents approved the fiscal year 2017 Johnson County Education Research Triangle Authority, or JCERTA, budgets, which is funded by 1/8 cent sales tax in Johnson County. The research triangle supports three projects at the University of Kansas, the University of Kansas Medical Center and Kansas State University. Funds for K-State support research and education programs in animal health and food safety and security at K-State Olathe. View the budget proposal.
Capital improvement plans
Discussions about the capital improvement plans and five-year projects were postponed until May 19.
Leave policy amendments
The Regents approved amendments to the board's leave policy. The policy change will enhance the annual leave accrual for university support staff employees so annual leave accruals are consistent for university staff. Unclassified professionals and university support staff appointed to full-time 12-month positions may earn vacation leave to a maximum of 176 hours per fiscal year. The maximum number of accrued vacation leave days is limited to 304 hours. The second approved amendment returns the policy to the original language. The amendment allows leave in connection with the sickness or death of someone in an employee's family and removes “other qualified adult” in accordance with the holding of the 2015 Supreme Court decision.
Working group of Title IX coordinators
The Regents approved adding a working group of Title IX coordinators to the board policy. University Title IX coordinators will meet quarterly to share information and best practices. The group will advise and report to the Council of Presidents to provide consistency and share general information across the universities.