Board approves minutes and adds University of Kansas programs to consent agenda

The MASC committee approved minutes from its Sept. 4 meeting and added three University of Kansas programs to the consent agenda before approving them unanimously.

The chair asked for a motion to approve the minutes, and members voted to adopt them by voice vote. The chair then moved to add KU's Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of General Studies in Health and Society and the Professional Science master's/major elevation in Environmental Geology to the consent items after noting those programs had cleared the Council of Chief Academic Affairs and the Council of Presidents. Program representatives described the Health and Society program as interdisciplinary and designed for 120-credit completion that prepares students for roles in health services research, health administration and nonclinical health positions. For Environmental Geology, staff noted the concentration has grown to more than 80 enrolled students and that elevating the concentration to a major would better align with workforce and professional licensure expectations.

Regents asked about employment outcomes and whether programs are employer-driven. Marcia Brickelmeyer (on the line) said many students are retooling from industry and seek state and federal employment at places such as EPA and KDHE; some employers subsidize tuition. The chair then called for a motion to approve the KU programs; the motion was seconded and passed by voice vote.

No amendments or conditions were attached to the approvals; they were handled as consent items.