FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Nov. 3, 2017
Regents name new president at Fort Hays State University
(Hays, Kan.) - The Kansas Board of Regents has named Dr. Tisa Mason the new president of Fort Hays State University (FHSU). Mason has been serving as president at Valley City State University (VCSU).
“I’m honored to accept the role of President at Fort Hays State University and once again join this outstanding community,” said Mason. “I’m excited to work with the students, faculty and staff of this leading forward-thinking, entrepreneurial university as together we position the University for even greater levels of achievement and innovation.”
“Dr. Mason possesses a wealth of experience and has the innovative spirit needed to lead Fort Hays State University,” said Dave Murfin, chairman of the Board of Regents. “I’m confident that she will continue the Fort Hays State tradition of providing accessible, quality education to its community and our state.”
A native of Massachusetts, Mason is rejoining FHSU leadership, having served as vice president for student affairs at the university before assuming the position of president at VCSU. She also served as dean of student life at the University of Wisconsin–Whitewater in Whitewater, Wis.; executive director of the Sigma Kappa Sorority and Foundation in Indianapolis, Ind.; director of student life and assistant professor at Christopher Newport University, Newport News, Va.; and assistant dean of students, Hanover College, Hanover, Ind.
In 2013, Mason received the Robert H. Shaffer Award from the Association of Fraternity/Sorority Advisors for her long-term commitment to fostering positive change in fraternities and sororities. She received the Excellence in Service to Students Award from the National Society of Leadership and Success in the same year.
Her academic credentials include a Doctor of Education degree in higher education from the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Va.; a Master of Science degree in education from Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, Ill.; and a Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology/anthropology from Transylvania University in Lexington, Ky.
“The Presidential Search Committee did an outstanding job in identifying such an excellent candidate for us,” said Regent Joe Bain, an FHSU alumnus. “The members of the Board are also grateful to Dr. Andy Tompkins for his leadership of FHSU as Interim President.”
A high-resolution photo of Dr. Mason is available here.
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.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Oct. 19, 2017
October is “College Application Month” in Kansas
(Topeka, Kan.) - For the third consecutive year, Governor Sam Brownback has signed a proclamation declaring October "Apply Kansas: College Application Month," encouraging all high school seniors to take advantage of the assistance provided through this initiative. Growing the “Apply Kansas” initiative is a goal of the Kansas Board of Regents for 2017-2018.
Launched in 2015 as part of the American College Application Campaign, "Apply Kansas" seeks to increase the number of students who apply to college early in their senior year, with a focus on students from low-income families, first-generation students, and students who may not otherwise apply to college.
“Apply Kansas” had more than two dozen schools participate last year. A list of schools participating in 2017 can be accessed here.
During “Apply Kansas” events, students will receive application assistance with the goal of each participating student submitting at least one college application. Students may apply to any college of their choice, including all the public universities, community colleges and technical colleges, as well as all independent colleges.
“Apply Kansas” events are coordinated by each participating high school and utilize trained volunteers and school staff to offer support, including helping students gather information necessary to complete an application, reviewing admission standards with students before applying to their college of choice, and completing application fee waiver forms, if needed.
For communities that do not have an event scheduled, helpful advice for high school seniors can be found here: http://knowhow2go.acenet.edu/middle-and-high-school-students/make-a-plan.html
"Apply Kansas: College Application Month" is an initiative being coordinated by a statewide steering committee organized by the Kansas Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admission Officers (KACRAO), which includes representatives from the Board of Regents, public postsecondary institutions, independent colleges, high school guidance counselors and members of the TRIO community. The committee will continue to work on expanding this initiative statewide in order to create a seamless transition between students leaving high school, entering college, and finally moving into the workforce.
For more information, contact Matt Keith at (785) 430-4237 or
“Apply Kansas” is encouraging participation throughout social media using the following:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ApplyKS
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/applyks/
Email:
Website: http://www.kacrao.org/applyks
More information about the American College Application Campaign is available here:
https://www.acenet.edu/news-room/Pages/American-College-Application-Campaign.aspx
Click here for a high-resolution scan of the 2017 Governor's Proclamation declaring October "College Application Month."
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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.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sept. 29, 2017
Board of Regents announces 2017 fall semester enrollment
(Topeka, Kan.) - Preliminary fall enrollment figures released today by the Kansas Board of Regents show a slight decline in systemwide enrollment.
“Fall enrollment numbers are showing mixed results across our system,” said Blake Flanders, president and CEO of the Kansas Board of Regents. “Kansas relies on a strong higher education system to build the skilled workforce required by our state’s employers. The Board of Regents has made restoring the funding cut to higher education its top priority so students can better access the education and training needed to grow our economy.
Across the six state universities, there was a decrease of 239 students (-0.25 percent) compared to the preliminary census day count in 2016. Increased enrollment was seen at Fort Hays State University (442 students; 3.02 percent), the University of Kansas (46 students; 0.16 percent), and Wichita State University (607 students; 4.19 percent). Kansas State University saw a decrease in the number of enrollments (984 students; -4.14 percent), as did Emporia State University (155 students; -2.63 percent), and Pittsburg State University (195 students; -2.75 percent). Washburn University, the state’s municipal university, had increased enrollment (113 students; 1.42 percent).
The attached spreadsheet provides preliminary fall enrollment figures for each institution.
In the two-year sector, enrollment was down across the state’s 19 community colleges with a reported decrease of 1,502 students (-2.07 percent). Enrollment increased across the state’s technical colleges, where an additional 975 students (12.62 percent) are enrolled this fall compared to the preliminary census day count in 2016.
In total, the 2017 fall semester enrollment total is 182,010 students as of census day at each institution, a preliminary headcount of students enrolled on the 20th day of class. However, academic year enrollment more accurately captures total systemwide participation. In 2016-2017, the total systemwide enrollment is estimated to have been approximately 246,000. Based on current enrollment numbers, the Kansas Board of Regents projects enrollment for the 2016-2017 year will remain relatively flat.
For more information, 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.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 5, 2017
Updated Degree Cost and Earnings Available at Kansas DegreeStats
(Topeka, Kansas) - First launched last year with the passage of 2016 HB 2622 (K.S.A. 74-32,303), “Kansas DegreeStats” (www.ksdegreestats.org) is an interactive online tool which reviews cost and earnings data from real graduates for each undergraduate degree program offered at a public university or college in Kansas. A unique resource for prospective students, Kansas DegreeStats has now been updated with new data and expanded to include each undergraduate degree program offered at one of the twenty-six public colleges located across the state, along with employment data for graduates working in both Kansas and Missouri.
While there are several other states which publish earnings data, there is no other state which provides data on the actual costs experienced by graduates, and no other resource available which combines detailed degree-level cost and earnings data in one place. Kansas DegreeStats also allows for side-by-side comparison of up to three degrees, whereby a perspective student can compare cost and earnings data between multiple degrees at the same institution, or between the same degree program at multiple institutions.
Updated with cost data from 2015 and 2016 graduates, the tool now includes data on more than 1,100 undergraduate degrees and reports on the typical Resident Tuition, Fees, Room and Board, and Books and Supplies costs for each degree program, the typical length of time students took to complete each degree program, and the funding sources which contributed to this investment – including Scholarships and Grants received, Loans, and the Personal Investment made by those who graduated from the program.
Through partnerships with the state labor agency in both Kansas and Missouri, combined (Kansas plus Missouri) Wage Information about a program’s graduates is also reported for each undergraduate degree program in Kansas, both upon entry into the regional workforce and after five years of employment. Over thirty percent of undergraduate degree programs report graduates making more than $34,000 upon entry in the workforce, with a dozen degree programs reporting graduates making more than $60,000 upon entry. More than half (52%) of all undergraduate degree programs with wage information listed report graduates earn more than the state average wage ($42,020) after just five years.
Information about “How to Use This Site” has also been made available as part of this interactive tool, along with technical notes and additional information about each data point (published under “About”). Kansas DegreeStats has been built to enable and facilitate sharing: search results can be downloaded and saved, each DegreeStats page has a unique URL address so it can be copied and shared, and the DegreeStats of each undergraduate program can be printed as a single print page.
For more information, contact Breeze Richardson 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.
Updated Degree Cost and Earnings Available at Kansas DegreeStats (PDF download)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 15, 2017
Board of Regents Approve State University Tuition Rates
(Topeka, Kansas) - Today, the Kansas Board of Regents approved tuition rates for each of the six state universities in Kansas for the 2017-2018 academic year. The majority of increases range from 2.5%-2.9% for undergraduate resident and non-resident students, with the exception of the University of Kansas Compact Rate (5.5% increase) and students attending the University of Kansas Medical Center (5.0%). Tuition rates will also increase from 2.5%-2.9% for both resident and non-resident graduate students at the majority of universities, with the exception being students attending Kansas State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine (0%), and students attending the University of Kansas Medical Center (5.0%).
A summary of approved FY18 tuition and required fee rates is available online: http://kansasregents.org/about/regent_meetings_agendas_and_minutes
State appropriations for higher education in FY 2018 and FY 2019 have been more or less held flat – a $30.7 million (4%) allotment across the entire higher education system in FY 2017 was initially kept in place for FY 2018 and FY 2019, but amendments restored just over $2.6 million in FY 2018 to the University of Kansas and Kansas State University (which were disproportionately affected by the initial allotment), and $6.2 million in FY 2019 to five of the state’s public universities. An additional $500,000 was also appropriated in FY 2019 to the state’s community and technical colleges, effectively bringing the total systemwide allotment to approximately 3.0% by FY 2019.
One of the primary responsibilities of the Board of Regents, as defined in state law, is to set tuition and fees at state universities. Based on the tuition rates approved today, it is projected that approximately $736 million will be raised from tuition revenues this upcoming year. In addition to partially making up for the loss in state funding (in prior years), each university outlined how any additional revenue would be spent as a component of their tuition proposal, including increasing staff and faculty salaries, addressing fringe benefit rate changes and expected utility cost increases, improving student retention initiatives, technology access, and investments in scholarship programs.
For more information, contact Breeze Richardson 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.
Board of Regents Approve State University Tuition Rates (PDF download)