Kansas Board of Regents records

On June 23, 1902, the Western Branch of the Kansas State Normal School opened in Hays City, Kansas. It was initially governed by the Board of Regents of the State Normal School in Emporia.

In 1911, Kansas Governor Walter Stubbs appointed a three-member committee to study the five public state schools of higher education. The committee recommended the creation of a single governing body to oversee the administration of higher education in Kansas.

In 1913, the Kansas Legislature and Governor created a centralized three-member Board of Administration to oversee the five public state schools of higher education. Board members were appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate. The Board of Administration was charged with overseeing business operations at each school, hiring the chief executives at each institution, and providing a biennial report to the Legislature.

In 1925, the Kansas Legislature dissolved the Board of Administration and created the Board of Regents to administer the state institutions of higher education. This body consisted of nine citizen members appointed by the Governor. In 1933, the Legislature directed the Regents to survey the five state institutions of higher education to develop a plan for coordination and unification. This survey resulted in the Legislature revising the Board of Regents in 1939. The composition and duties of the Board of Regents were further revised in 1966, 1975, and 1999.

For more information and a full history of the administration of higher education in the State of Kansas, please visit the Kansas Board of Regents website: https://www.kansasregents.gov/about/history.