The Kansas Board of Regents approved a budget proposal that would give the state’s public higher education system $4.6 million less for fiscal year 2027 than what was provided in FY26, according to a press release from KBOR.
University of Kansas spokesperson Erinn Barcomb-Peterson said in an email to the Kansan that it was currently too early to ascertain precisely how KU’s budget will be affected by the cut.
The release said the request includes $16.3 million in continued support from the last fiscal year, bringing the request’s total sum to $40.3 million. It also includes:
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Resumption of funding for the Kansas Blueprint for Literacya program established to help improve the rates of literacy in the state.
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Support for projects to address Kansas’ future energy needs, like energy production and research into alternative forms of energy.
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An initiative that would support Kansans who have earned credit but no degree to return to finish a degree in support of the state’s workforce needs in the future.
For FY26, the budget for postsecondary education systems was roughly $1.197 billion, whereas the request for 2027 would put the budget at around $1.192 billion. In FY25, the budget was $1.4 billion.
“The Regents carefully evaluated our system’s needs and priorities and developed a request that meets those while remaining fiscally responsible,” KBOR Chair Blake Benson said. “The projects included in the system budget ask will help us provide Kansas students with outstanding educational opportunities and will facilitate our efforts to help grow the Kansas economy.”
Going forward, the budget request will be sent to Governor Laura Kelly’s budget office and to legislative fiscal staff.
More details about the request can be found on KBOR’s website.
This article was edited by associate news editor Bella Waters. If any information needs to be corrected, please email isabellawaters@ku.edu.
