Wichita State and KU biomedical campus to open in early 2027 after ARPA‑funded construction

Andy Schlapp, vice president of strategy and government relations at Wichita State University, updated the committee on the Wichita Biomedical Campus, a WSU–KU partnership funded in part with $205 million in ARPA dollars and about $25 million in private commitments. "Construction will be done in January '27," Schlapp said, with furniture moves and program starts planned for the summer semester and fall cohorts to follow.

Schlapp described partnerships and nearby private investment attracted to the corridor, including outpatient services moves and potential phase‑2 plans such as a dental school feasibility study to address statewide dental shortages. He said the initial construction was sized to meet ARPA timing constraints and that additional phases and fundraising could follow. Members asked about student capacity and repurposing vacated campus buildings; Schlapp said WSU is reducing footprint by demolishing some buildings and will reassign programs to create space for growth.

The committee thanked university representatives and encouraged continued coordination on workforce and rural health outcomes tied to the biomedical campus.