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February 17, 2005

BOARD APPROVES HIGHER EDUCATION MILITARY BENEFITS
Regents Endorse Governor Sebelius’ Military Bill of Rights Higher Education Provisions

(TOPEKA) – Yesterday the nine-member Board of Regents formally endorsed the higher education-related elements within Governor Kathleen Sebelius’ proposed Kansas Military Bill of Rights.

"The Board of Regents and the entire higher education community strongly supports Kansas servicemen and women and their families who sacrifice so much to serve our country," said Reginald L. Robinson, President and CEO of the Kansas Board of Regents. "We deeply appreciate those who serve our country through military service; they deserve special consideration from our state-supported higher education institutions."

Governor Sebelius’ Military Bill of Rights calls for, among other things, the Board of Regents to adopt a system-wide policy that requires the state’s public postsecondary institutions to provide a full tuition refund when a member of our nation’s armed forces, who is a student in one of those institutions, is called to active duty and must leave school. The Board adopted a policy that meets this objective for the six state universities that it governs, and asked the boards governing the 30 Regents’ coordinated institutions to adopt a similar policy for their institutions.

The Governor’s Military Bill of Rights also calls for legislative approval of tuition waivers for the dependents of Kansas residents who are killed in the line of duty while serving in the United States armed forces or Kansas National Guard. In addition, the Bill of Rights calls for legislation that would preserve the benefit of in-state tuition rates for the dependents of United States armed forces personnel regardless of the service member’s status changes due to reassignment as long as the student/dependent remains consecutively enrolled in the university. The Board formally endorsed both of these legislative proposals; Board staff will continue to work closely with the Legislature as these proposals work their way through the legislative process.

"During this period of heightened international tension, when men and women who wear the uniforms of military service are risking their lives daily on our behalf, the kind of support represented by the Board’s action is particularly timely and important," Robinson said.

For more information contact Kip Peterson, Director of Government Affairs & Communications, at (785) 296-3421.

February 23, 2005 1:02 PM