As the Kansas legislature begins its 90-day session, it may make some changes to higher education in the state. From the budget process to class requirements, here’s how the legislature may affect Wichita State.
The legislature, which began its session on Jan. 12, has 90 session days to complete its processes – through April 11.
Kansas’ new legislative budget process
The current legislature is taking control of the state budget. In previous sessions, Kansas’ governor would submit a suggested budget for the upcoming fiscal year to the legislature, which would make additions and/or subtractions from various line items. Now, the legislature is taking over the budget creation process 100%. The governor won’t make a draft, but still has the power to veto certain line items, and she must sign for the budget to become official.
“The legislature’s final product is compared to the governor’s budget, and (the legislature gets) credited or blamed,” Gearhart said. “… So they wanted greater control and greater involvement in the appropriations process.”
This doesn’t necessarily mean the budget will change drastically, it just means its creation process looks different.
Changes to class requirements
The Kansas House of Representatives introduced Bill 2428 to the legislature on Jan. 12. The bill would require students at state-owned universities to take a “Constitutional Republic” course, and freshmen seminar or orientation courses to include information regarding freedom of speech rights.
Gearhart said that considering current general education requirements, the “Constitutional Republic” requirement — which would require students to take a class that covers topics surrounding America and its constitutional values — should already be fulfilled by the courses WSU students are required to take.
“I’m toying if it helps us or hurts us to ask for a cleaner definition (of ‘Constitutional Republic’ courses) or if ignorance is bliss,” Gearhart said.
The bill has been sent to the House Committee on Education for discussion.
Reducing higher education spending
The former president of Emporia State University, Ken Hush, was hired by the Kansas GOP for $50,000 to find funds in higher education that could be reduced or eliminated.
“To be honest with you, we were all kind of surprised,” Gearhart told The Sunflower about the appointment. “His mandate is to find efficiencies in higher education… I think what I’ve heard is he’s going to be tasked with seeing if what’s described as the ‘Emporia State model’ can apply to the other five universities.”
“I think they got more (State General Funding) and fewer students, so yeah, that can be done,” Gearhart said at the legislative update. “… That’s funny as hell as (far as) I’m concerned.”
While ESU received less State General Funding in FY2024, it received more money per student with $11,600 per student at ESU and $4,800 per student at WSU.
Hush — who was House Speaker Daniel Hawkins’ fraternity brother — had a controversial presidency at ESU due to tenured faculty layoffs and a 12.5% decline in enrollment from fall 2022 to fall 2023.
