The 2010 Kansas Legislature begins in January, and state policymakers will be discussing many key issues pertaining to the University of Kansas.

Interim Chancellor Atkinson: Students, economy affected by cuts
The more than $36 million in cuts and unfunded mandates that the University of Kansas has had to make during the state budget crisis will affect students and the Kansas economy, Interim Chancellor Barbara Atkinson told legislators today. She testified to the Legislative Educational Planning Committee during the panel's hearing on the effects state budget cuts are having on K-12 and higher education.

KU proposes Jayhawk Generations Scholarship
The Jayhawk Generations Scholarship would provide partial tuition waivers to students who meet certain academic requirements and who have a parent, grandparent or guardian who graduated from KU. It is made possible thanks to House Bill 2007, which was recently signed into law.

Legislators reach agreement on higher ed cuts
Higher education would see a budget cut, but would be spared double-digit cuts as part of a budget agreement reached by legislative negotiators this week.

Legislature passes key elements of KU agenda
The Kansas Legislature was working overtime this week and with great enthusiasm advanced major components of KU's legislative agenda. While Jayhawks won't know how budget dollars will be allocated until much later in the session, they can rest assured Kansas legislators are interested in helping support KU's mission.

Legislators favorable to KU agenda as FY 2010 budget remains unclear
March Madness has hit the Kansas Legislature, as policymakers are entering the second half of the 2009 session amidst continued budget shortfalls, repeated debate about energy policy and news of a VIP Jayhawk: Governor Sebelius being asked to join the Obama administration.

KU initiatives moving as session hits half-way point
The Kansas Legislature marked a major milestone this week. Turn-around is the unofficial half-way mark in the session where policy bills must have passed out of their house of origin. Budget bills and tax measures are largely exempt from these deadlines, but the bulk of other legislation must have cleared at least one chamber of the Legislature to be "viable" for consideration in this session.

KU agenda moves forward as budget negotiations continue
While the budget continues to dominate discussions in Topeka, two pieces of the KU agenda, one a bill that would allow for innovative student recruitment plans and the other a measure that would reduce construction costs, had hearings in the Legislature.

KU officials support bill that aims to recruit out-of-state students to Kansas schools
As Kansas faces a decline in the number of high school graduates, University of Kansas officials today testified in favor of a bill designed to recruit more students to Kansas universities, such as those who already have ties to the state.

KU agenda moving in Legislature
KU's legislative agenda saw considerable activity in the second week of the legislative session, with the Kansas Senate passing Senate Bill 8 as its first legislative action.

Budget to dominate 2009 session
The 2009 Kansas Legislative session is now underway. So far, the dominant story has been declining state resources and the need to continue with additional budget reductions.

Archive of 2008 updates