June 17th Governance

The June 17th Governance Committee meeting of the Kansas Board of Regents (KBOR) focused primarily on procurement and contracting related to a proposed technology solutions contract with EAB Global Incorporated. The board discussed authorizing the board chair and CEO to negotiate and execute a contract through the TIPS cooperative purchasing agreement for data collection and reporting services, with an anticipated five-year term and an annual cost of approximately $650,000. Concerns were raised by university data officers about the financial model, equitable benefits across institutions, and the need for further engagement with data leaders and community colleges before finalizing the contract. An amended motion was passed to authorize the CEO to pursue this or other solutions contingent on funding agreements and procurement approvals, allowing flexibility in vendor selection. Additionally, updates were provided on campus security and IT cybersecurity measures at Emporia State University, highlighting ongoing investments in security monitoring, endpoint protection, and compliance with regulatory frameworks. No votes on capital projects or other procurement contracts were reported beyond the discussed data services contract authorization.