Kansas House Studies Bill Granting Unprecedented Administrative Autonomy to KU, K-State, and WSU

Kansas champions of administrative reform at public universities offer concessions to calm skeptics

House Majority Leader Chris Croft, R-Overland Park, says months of behind-the-scene work went into a Kansas House bill designed to reduce administrative burdens at public universities under jurisdiction of the Kansas Board of Regents. This Jan. 8, 2026, image is of Croft on the House floor at the Capitol. (Photo by Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)TOPEKA — The Republican majority leader of the Kansas House and the chief of staff to Democratic Gov.…

Kansas House studies bill granting unprecedented administrative autonomy to KU, K-State, and WSU

TOPEKA — The Kansas Board of Regents voted unanimously Wednesday to oppose a Kansas House bill granting the state’s three largest public universities — Kansas State University, Wichita State University and University of Kansas — unprecedented autonomy in purchasing, construction,…

New bill would restructure governance of Kansas higher education

After weeks of speculation and anticipation, a bill emerged in the Kansas House on Wednesday that would restructure how higher education in Kansas is governed. The 29-section bill, introduced by House Majority Leader Chris Croft, would separate the research universities from the regional universities in how they're governed to help them better respond to an evolving world. The bill was introduced with the legislative session a little less than t…