Sept 16th Academic Affairs

The Kansas Board of Regents Academic Affairs meeting held on September 16, 2026, focused primarily on academic program updates and policy discussions. Key procurement-related actions included the approval of the new degree name "Bachelor of Specialized Studies" for a pilot reduced credit bachelor's degree program, with the stipulation that this name appear on diplomas and transcripts. The meeting also covered survey results on employer perceptions of reduced credit bachelor's degree graduates, which will inform future academic offerings and workforce alignment. Additionally, the board discussed procedural clarifications regarding degree naming on diplomas and outlined the timeline for program approvals through the Council of Chief Academic Officers (COCO) and the Council of Presidents (COPS). No direct contract awards, vendor selections, or budget allocations were reported during this session.