November 19, 2015
Kansas Board of Regents Nov. 18 meeting university updates
Submitted by Communications and Marketing
The monthly Kansas Board of Regents meeting on Nov. 18 included several items related to Kansas State University.
Spirit Scholars Program
Spirit AeroSystems and the Kansas Board of Regents announced a $576,000 Spirit Scholars Program. The program will award 18 total scholarships to students in engineering and business at Kansas State University, Wichita State University and the University of Kansas. Three scholarships are available at Kansas State University.
Each scholarship will provide $8,000 annually to cover tuition, fees, books and supplies, and is renewable for up to four years. The scholarships will first be awarded in the spring for students in the 2016-2017 freshman class. Learn more about the scholarship program.
Weapons policy amendments
Regent Shane Bangerter, chair of the board, reported that the Regents plan to finalize a weapons policy by December or January. After approval from the Regents, each university has a year for policy and procedure development. Read the proposed amendments.
LiveSafe
The System Council of Presidents discussed making the LiveSafe app available to students at all Kansas universities. Kansas State University has the LiveSafe app and has been providing information and answering questions for a statewide adoption. The unit cost would be reduced with all institutions participating.
In-state tuition rates for active armed forces and veterans
The Regents updated regulations and approved in-state tuition rates for all active military and eligible veterans as well as their spouses and dependents. The new rates became effective July 1.
Housing and food service rates
The Regents held the first reading of housing and food service rates for the 2016-2017 academic year.
Kansas State University Housing and Dining Services staff determined proposed rates with input from the student leaders of the Association of Residence Halls. Proposed rate increases cover increased operational costs such as expenditures for food, utilities, facility maintenance and technology, plus all operational costs in Jon Wefald Hall and the new dining center.
Kansas State University’s "typical" rate for the 2016-2017 academic year will increase by a proposed 3.5 percent, which is an increase of $290. The typical rate is based on a double room in the residence halls and a 15 meal plan.
See the proposed rates or read more about Kansas State University’s proposed rates.
The Regents will give final approval in December and approved rates will go into effect on July 1, 2016.
Veterinary Health Center
The Regents approved the Veterinary Health Center’s request to proceed with a magnetic resonance imaging, or MRI, enhancement project. Upgrading the university’s MRI capability provides the health center and students with the most up-to-date technology.
The new MRI will be in G111 Mosier Hall, which provides a large space to accommodate a high-field MRI and large animal patients. The location is central to the small animal and large animal hospitals and is easily accessible from the outside, which allows all safety requirements to be completed in a cost-efficient manner.
The estimated total project cost is approximately $2.6 million, which will be funded with Veterinary Health Center revenue.
Land exchange
The Regents approved 2016 nonbudgetary legislative items, which included a Kansas State University land exchange at Ashland Bottoms.