A proposed Regents framework could cut duplicate majors across Kansas' six state universities

The number of programs and majors offered at Kansas' six state universities could shrink as the Kansas Board of Regents looks to address duplicate programs, especially those with low enrollment numbers.

The Regents on Wednesday heard a final report from rpk GROUP, a higher education structural consultant. The board had contracted with the firm earlier this year to overhaul the way the Regents analyze and approve programs at each of the state universities.

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Currently, the board takes an institutional-level approach to analyzing the success and viability of each undergraduate and graduate program, rather than looking at programs from a statewide perspective.

"We do compete with each other at our six-year universities, but we also are one system, so we have to figure out how we compliment and how we strengthen each other," Regents Chair Jon Rolph told The Capital-Journal. "The market shifts, and there are programs that might have interested people 30 years ago that don’t today. There are things that weren’t even around 30 years ago.

"It’s about trying to be responsive, and I think people can understand that spirit, from the board, of stewardship."

rpk GROUP: More than a quarter of programs at Kansas colleges need review

In presenting to the board, Mike Daly of the rpk GROUP emphasized that the consultant's review of the university's collective academic portfolio so far should not be interpreted as a recommendation to cut any specific program.

"It's a consideration for how to think about the overall health and energy of an academic portfolio across six very different and diverse institutions, and to understand where the appropriate people need to turn their attention," Daly said.

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rpk GROUP's analysis of Kansas universities' programs and enrollment between 2017 and 2021 found that the universities offered 688 programs across six institutions, with 333 unique programs.

Of the 688 total programs, rpk GROUP said just 110, or 16%, showed above-average enrollment, program growth and number of degrees achieved, and the firm recommends "maintaining" those programs. Most other programs — 401 total, or 58% — meanwhile fell into the group's definition of programs that should be "optimized," or adjusted to achieve better enrollment and graduation numbers.

However, 177 programs, or 26%, showed a need for "review and monitoring," Daly said, and under the firm's current recommendation, the Regents should more extensively review these programs — particularly those that are duplicated at multiple universities — by developing clear and firm expectations for improvement in headcount enrollment and degree production.

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The bulk of the programs under the "review and monitor" category were programs in arts, sciences and the humanities, with subjects like chemistry, theater, English, history, math, music and physics highlighted.

Although several dozen Kansas programs fit into the category, Daly said most universities across the U.S. are seeing similar patterns of programs or majors with low enrollment, with the problem only exacerbating as enrollment continues to dwindle nationally.

Duplicate programs may be necessary at Kansas' state universities

Prior to rpk GROUP's presentation, Nate Brunsell, a professor of atmospheric science and president of faculty senate at the University of Kansas, spoke on behalf of the six state universities' faculty presidents and urged the Regents to consider the value of each program, even if duplicated across institutions, as they reviewed the consultant's recommendations.

"Programmatic duplication is not itself a bad thing," Brunsell told the board via Zoom. "We want to make sure there is not zero-sum thinking involved in the interpretation of these results or what you as a board might do thinking about acting on any recommendations."

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He said that students are often attracted to particular programs at particular institutions, and discontinuing a program at one university may not necessarily mean those same types of students would automatically enroll at any of the Regents' other universities.

Responding to Brunsell's concerns, Daly said duplication, under rpk GROUP's framework, is deemed neither good nor bad. Even if an institution drops a program as a complete major, many could likely continue offer classes in the subject matter, he said.

Daly used physics as an example — although few students may pursue and earn physics degrees, most universities need to offer those kind of classes for students in other related subjects, such as engineering.

"Duplication is very often necessary when we think about geographical distribution of the universities we're talking about," Daly said. "There may be very good and sound reasons why an institution may have a specific program, especially at the bachelors' level."

Amid enrollment crunch, Kansas colleges looking to become "efficient" and cut costs

The rpk GROUP's framework and analysis, should the board decide to adopt the approach to evaluating programs, comes at a time when universities and colleges are looking to cut costs.

Stagnant state funding over the past several years, coupled with enrollment declines that date back even before the pandemic and legislative mandates to keep tuition flat, have put many of the state universities in tough financial positions.

Emporia State University earlier this fall sought and received Regents approval to cut tenure and dismiss dozens of staff and faculty as part of a sweeping restructure of many of the university's programs. Although that decision was met with sever campus blowback, Emporia State president Ken Hush told the Regents that the university would have otherwise remained on a path to financial crisis.

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On Wednesday, the Regents also approved Fort Hays State University's request to reorganize its College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences, combining 11 departments into five, as part of an effort to become more cost efficient.

Provost Jull Arensdorf told the Regents that the university has so far saved about $150,000 in "efficiencies," and that does not necessarily have to mean cuts, since the university has sought to eliminate positions by attrition.

She did acknowledge, however, that the changes have not been without resistance.

"There’s been angst, there’s been dialogue," Arensdorf said. "There’s been fear, there’s been recognition of loss. But we have come this fall to a recognition of perhaps, for some, acceptance, but for others excitement about what this could bring for the college and programs that our university creates for our students."

Similarly, Rolph, the Regents chair, said he understand that students and faculty may have concerns about how the rpk GROUP framework, if adopted, could affect their specific programs..

But while the Regents will receive the firm's recommendations, Rolph said the board is "not receiving those as gospel," and the urges the staff and faculty at each university to submit feedback after the group delivers its final written recommendations to each institution in early January. The board will tentatively take action on adopting any recommended framework later in the spring.

"The goal of this isn’t to eliminate programs, but to make sure that when a program does need to be eliminated, we have a process that’s fair, transparent and allows us to take actions in a way that is considerate of the people in the program," Rolph said.

Rafael Garcia is an education reporter for the Topeka Capital-Journal. He can be reached at rgarcia@cjonline.com or by phone at ‪785-289-5325. Follow him on Twitter at @byRafaelGarcia.

This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Kansas Regents get first look at RPK report on duplicate programs