K‑State president backs split of $7.5 million, lawmakers request accreditation and budget details

Kansas State University President Richard Linton told the House Committee on Higher Education Budget on an appropriation amendment that the university can work with a proposed split of $7.5 million — $4 million for K‑State 105 and $3.5 million for the College of Veterinary Medicine — but asked lawmakers for more time and data to confirm long‑term effects.

The committee was reviewing a change adopted in a House Appropriations report that would divide a $7.5 million appropriation between the university’s statewide economic development initiative, K‑State 105, and operational and faculty support for the veterinary college. President Linton said both uses are important but serve different purposes: K‑State 105 for statewide economic growth and the veterinary college for essential operational capacity and accreditation risk mitigation.

Why it matters: committee members flagged accreditation risk at the veterinary college and raised questions about whether K‑State 105 duplicates other small‑business support services. Lawmakers asked for documentation they said they need to judge the tradeoffs and confirm whether the split would meet both priorities.

Linton said the veterinary college is “about $12 million plus under the average of support” compared with peer programs nationwide and described two immediate needs: faculty additions and…