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KBOR committee lowers review threshold for regional universities and approves several program-review actions
Summary
BASC voted to recommend lowering the minimum juniors/seniors threshold for program review from 25 to 20 at regional universities, approved KU's program-review recommendations (including mergers and discontinuances), applied doctoral minima to MFA programs, and removed two WSU programs from action plans.
Director Christy Dangermond told the committee that, because regional universities (Emporia State, Fort Hays State, Pittsburgh State) have smaller enrollments and faculty sizes than research universities, staff propose institution-specific minima for program review. She said the request would reduce the minimum number of juniors and seniors majoring in a bachelor's program from 25 to 20 for the three regional universities and asked BASC to place the item on the board discussion agenda.
The committee approved moving the threshold change to the full-board discussion agenda.
Provost Arash Mafi (KU) summarized KU's 2025 program-review follow-ups, including department mergers (African/African American studies with American studies; geology/geography/atmospheric science/environmental studies into an earth/energy/environment department), program action-plan continuations and recommended removals. Board staff asked BASC to act on KU's recommendation column in the issue paper; BASC approved KU's recommendations.
On a separate proposal, staff recommended treating Master of Fine Arts programs as terminal degrees for program-review purposes and applying doctoral minima (for example, a minima of five master's students and two completions annually); the committee approved applying doctoral minima to MFA programs.
Wichita State Provost Monica Lounsberry requested removal of the BS in forensic science and the BA/BS in physics from WSU's action plans, noting both programs now meet three of the four program-review metrics. BASC approved removing those programs.
The committee recorded votes to approve the KU recommendations, apply doctoral minima to MFA programs, and remove the two WSU programs from action plans. Staff will reflect the threshold change proposal in the May board discussion agenda.
