KU recognizes the extraordinary economic situation we’re facing and what it means to the state’s budget. Continued prudent management of the state’s investment in KU will be increasingly important as available resources have declined. While KU receives less than a quarter of its funding from the State General Fund, this funding plays a large role in the education of students. Thus, significant budget cuts would threaten the educational services Kansans expect from the university.
Recruiting students to attend Kansas universities often leads to those students working in the state after graduation. By giving universities more flexibility to offer scholarships, fellowships and tuition fee waivers to undergraduate and graduate students, recruitment efforts will be enhanced. For example, programs could be established to recruit out-of-state students with Kansas ties to attend their parents’ Kansas alma mater. At no cost to the state, this action will pay dividends in the quality and number of graduates who remain in Kansas upon graduation, helping tackle our severe workforce shortage in Kansas.
Kansas continues to face a severe pharmacist shortage with six counties having no pharmacy and another 31 being home to only one. Planning for the expansion of the state’s only School of Pharmacy in Lawrence and Wichita, which was approved last year, is already under way and bonds for part of the project have been issued. KU supports the continuation of this project, which is important to the health and economic vitality of Kansas, especially its rural areas.
The KU Medical Center trains the next generation of doctors, nurses and health professionals, yet these students are currently not included under the tort claims act. KU is seeking to have this protection put in statute, replacing the previous practice of including it as a budget proviso each year.
The health of Kansans can also be enhanced through standardized insurance reimbursement for telemedicine, which will reduce confusion among Kansas health consumers and providers. The University also supports efforts to increase funding for graduate medical education in Wichita. Training primary care doctors is of critical importance.
Many university building projects are undertaken with private funds, yet are subject to state regulations that cause delays and increase costs. Easing these restrictions will speed construction, reducing construction cost increases and adding efficiencies. Under this proposal, the process of hiring architects, engineers and contractors would be streamlined and projects would continue to be under the review of the Legislature and the Board of Regents.
Jayhawks for Higher Education is a group of KU alumni and supporters who advocate for KU in the Statehouse. Visit www.kualumni.org and search for “JHE” to learn more about how you can become an advocate for KU.
For more information about the KU agenda, please contact State Relations Director Kathy Damron at (785) 235-2525 or mkdtopeka@aol.com.
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