House and Senate budget negotiators agreed to anchor $36 million to a requirement that university administrators affirm they had abandoned diversity, equity and inclusion programs. KU could lose $8.35 million.
The Kansas House tentatively approved legislation Wednesday imposing a $10,000 fine for every instance in which a public university or college tied student admissions or faculty hiring to an ideological pledge or statement related to diversity, equity and inclusion.
A Kansas House committee plans to move ahead Wednesday with a bill exposing universities and colleges to $100,000 administrative penalties and lawsuits for compelling students or employees to pledge allegiance to diversity, equity and inclusion.
The Kansas House’s budget committee delivered bipartisan condemnation Monday of unusual $3 million payouts to Emporia State, Fort Hays State and Pittsburg State universities intended to stabilize operating budgets during a period of enrollment decline and rising costs.
An audit instigated because of Republican suspicion over state public universities’ equity programs found the programs used $9 million in state dollars during the 2022-2023 school year.
Fort Hays State University / Courtesy Photo
Most universities in Kansas are offering cash or prizes for students and employees to get vaccinated against COVID-19 — but it’s unclear whether those incentives work.
