TOPEKA — Kansas Governor Laura Kelly and top legislative leaders have approved the release of $35.7 million in operating grants to public universities after the Kansas Board of Regents confirmed compliance with a state law prohibiting employment and admissions decisions based on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies. Additionally, $21.8 million was allocated for financial aid, divided equally between public and private higher education institutions.
The 2024 Legislature stipulated that university operating grants would only be distributed if institutions affirmed that DEI policies no longer influenced faculty hiring or student admissions. Public institutions had to adjust personnel procedures and make information about training or orientation programs available on public websites. DEI policies aim to support individuals from diverse backgrounds, considering factors like gender, race, and sexual orientation, especially for those historically marginalized in higher education.
House Speaker Dan Hawkins, a Wichita Republican, questioned whether university presidents had certified compliance with the required duties. Blake Flanders, president and CEO of the Kansas Board of Regents, confirmed that the University of Kansas, Kansas State University, Wichita State University, and Emporia State University met the mandates. Although Pittsburg State University and Fort Hays State University had not previously required DEI training, they planned to include relevant materials on their websites when suitable.
The DEI law does not prevent public universities or colleges from adhering to anti-discrimination statutes or limit the academic freedom of faculty or students involved in DEI research or instruction. However, institutions that continue to maintain DEI pledges or oaths face a $10,000 fine for each instance of noncompliance. Private or parochial colleges and universities in Kansas are not subject to these provisions.
The bipartisan State Finance Council also supported releasing $21.8 million in need-based financial aid for students at public and private colleges and universities in Kansas. This decision followed past controversies when the state Board of Regents allocated a higher percentage of comprehensive grant program funds to public university students. The Legislature mandated that the funds be equally divided between public and private institutions, with distribution contingent on the Board of Regents’ compliance.
Additionally, Adam Proffitt, the state’s budget director and secretary of the Kansas Department of Administration, received approval to use state general fund dollars to pay off $5.5 million in bond debt, which otherwise would not be eliminated for seven years. This required deploying $4.7 million, effectively investing 87 cents of state general funds to retire $1 of debt, resulting in significant savings.
This financial decision underscores Kansas’ commitment to maintaining fiscal responsibility while ensuring equitable support for higher education across the state.