KU secures best higher education budget in years

Jayhawks,

Thank you for your continued advocacy for KU and higher education. Your efforts helped secure the best higher education budget in years, including essential operations funding, increased need-based scholarships, merit salary increases and other critical investments (a brief budget outline appears below).

As a result, KU will hold tuition flat for a fourth consecutive year—providing welcome relief for Kansas families as we all cope with pervasive rising prices.

Please thank your local legislators for their leadership during the 2022 session. Your recognition of their work will make a difference as KU and other universities continue to work with state leaders to maintain affordability, increase access to higher education and drive economic development.

The KU community deeply appreciates your abiding loyalty and commitment. Your voice matters, and your involvement and leadership as a KU ambassador help strengthen our proud university.

Rock Chalk!

Heath Peterson, d’04, g’09
President
KU Alumni Association

Here are a few highlights of the fiscal year 2023 higher education budget:

Ongoing investments

• $37.5 million restored to base-budget funding for six public universities
• $19 million for need-based scholarships at public and private universities, to be matched by the Kansas Board of Regents
• 5% merit salary increases for faculty and staff

One-time investments

• $35 million deferred maintenance, to be matched by universities, including $9.5 million for KU’s Lawrence campus and nearly $4 million for KU Medical Center
• $10 million for demolition
• $20 million for information technology and security improvements

Federal COVID-relief investments

• $25 million for KU and Wichita State University for a shared health education building in Wichita
• $75 million for economic development, to be matched 3 to 1
• $35 million for KU economic development projects