Changes for programs and University Stadium were approved during the Kansas Board of Regents meeting on May 20.

KBOR governs the Kansas higher education institutions as well as acts as a liaison between them and the state legislature when necessary. 

Moving programs

The human performance studies department, along with all faculty and staff, will be moved to the College of Health Professions. This request also moved the athletic training program to the department of physical therapy within the College of Health Professions. 

“Rational behind this is really to create enhanced collaboration, to increase opportunities for our faculty who are in the health professions to engage with our exercise science faculty and to really foster deeper industry relationships and advance paid applied learning programming,” Wichita State’s Provost Monica Lounsbery said during KBOR’s Council of Chief Academic Officers meeting.

Cyber security will be moved from the School of Computing in the College of Engineering to the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. 

Lounsbery said faculty within the cyber security program believe there is a stronger alignment with curricular and ways of teaching between the program and electrical engineering. 

University Stadium gets a name change

KBOR approved Wichita State’s request to name University Stadium “Crossland Stadium.” The name change came from Crossland Construction Company’s repeated partnership with WSU in constructing and renovating facilities across campus, according to WSU President Richard Muma. 

“This designation reflects the university’s deep respect for Crossland Construction’s leadership in our community, state and nation,” Muma said while presenting to KBOR. 

The east side as well as track and field have been reconstructed already, and the west side is planned to be completed within two years, Muma said. A recording of the May KBOR meeting can be found on KBOR’s YouTube channel.