KU News Release

LAWRENCE — Maximizing efficiency while protecting student outcomes is an ongoing effort at the University of Kansas, Chancellor Bernadette Gray-Little told the Kansas Board of Regents today.

Gray-Little reported to the regents steps KU has taken to streamline operations and practices to ensure the university is operating in a cost-effective manner.

She cited savings from a legislated change in purchasing rules that have already totaled $1.76 million, as well as another $1 million in annual savings through consolidation of library purchases.

“We have an obligation to our students and their families, as well as to Kansas taxpayers to provide a high-quality college education in the most efficient manner possible,” Gray-Little said. “That’s especially true during economic downturns, like the one we’re in now.”

KU is working to enhance the university’s efficiency in a variety of areas, Gray-Little told the regents. That work has grown in importance since the state budget crisis has forced KU to sustain $36.6 million in budget cuts and unfunded mandates.

“While the recent budget cuts have served to emphasize the importance of finding savings, that commitment to efficiency has been present at KU for some time,” Gray-Little said.

Examples cited by Gray-Little include

— The Purchasing Pilot Project, which moved KU out of the state purchasing system, resulted in $1.76 million in savings in fiscal years 2008 and 2009, and reduced processing time by a third.
— The Lawrence campus and the KU Medical Center jointly license library resources, saving more than $1 million annually.
— Improvements in energy efficiency reduced KU’s per square foot energy use by 4.2 percent in fiscal year 2009, saving $338,000.

The administrative savings are complemented by efforts designed to maximize faculty time and university infrastructure.

— KU faculty members teach an average of 9 percent more credit hours than their peers at Association of American University institutions.
— Regular reviews of academic programs ensure their ongoing effectiveness and efficiency, leading to changes such as the School of Education’s move to a four-year program for completing an undergraduate degree and teaching license requirements, from the current five-year model.
— Partnerships with other institutions, such as the expansion of the UKanTeach math and science teacher training program to Johnson County Community College, are expanding the availability of higher education.

The Board of Regents requested the report following a Legislative Post Audit analysis of higher education. Although the analysis didn’t take student outcomes or research productivity into account, it did examine several areas such as energy efficiency, faculty workload and administrative efficiencies.

KU supports legislation that would extend the Purchasing Pilot Project to all regents institutions, as well as a proposal to streamline the process for selling surplus property.

A copy of the chancellor’s presentation and a full copy of the KU report are available on the chancellor's Web site.