74-32,303. Degree prospectus; requirements; publication; definitions. (a) The state board of regents shall publish degree prospectus information for each undergraduate degree program offered by each postsecondary educational institution that summarizes information and statistics on such degree program. Upon request, each postsecondary educational institution shall provide any necessary information to the state board of regents.

(b) The degree prospectus for each degree program shall include the following:

(1) A description of the degree program, provided nothing in the description shall contradict, mitigate or otherwise explain any of the statistical information described in subsections (b)(2) through (b)(8);

(2) the typical number of years recent graduates have taken to obtain the degree from such postsecondary educational institution;

(3) the expected number of credit hours required to obtain the degree from such postsecondary educational institution;

(4) the expected aggregate cost and cost per year incurred by an individual to obtain the degree from such postsecondary educational institution, including tuition, room and board, books and student fees;

(5) the aggregate degree investment incurred by an individual to obtain the degree from such postsecondary educational institution determined by subtracting the typical amount of grants and scholarships awarded for such degree from the aggregate cost;

(6) the median wage information of recent graduates from such degree program as reported by the state department of labor and any other state where data-sharing agreements governing the reporting of such information may be obtained upon entry into the workforce, and median wages after five years;

(7) the percentage of graduates who are employed in this state or any other state where data-sharing agreements governing the publication of such information may be obtained, within one year from entry into the workforce; and

(8) the number of years required to fully recoup the degree investment and typical loan debt incurred by an individual to obtain the degree from such postsecondary educational institution, at an annual interest rate set by the state board of regents which shall be the maximum federally guaranteed student interest rate showing the number of years necessary to fully recoup the degree investment, the monthly payment amount and percentage of earnings required to repay estimated loan commitments which correspond to the following number of years of repayment: 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 years. The monthly payment amount shall be determined by dividing the median wage upon entry into the workforce by the corresponding number of years of repayment.

(c) The state board of regents shall:

(1) Make degree prospectus information readily available through a link on the state board of regents' official website; and

(2) update each degree prospectus at least once per year.

(d) Each postsecondary educational institution shall:

(1) Make degree prospectus information readily available through a link on such institution's official website homepage and on any web page dedicated to the promotion of a degree program, which shall be titled by the state board of regents and promoted statewide in a uniform manner at the direction of the state board of regents;

(2) promote degree prospectus information to each student who inquires about the degree program; and

(3) promote degree prospectus information whenever a hard copy of any written materials concerning the degree program are provided.

(e) The state board of regents shall adopt rules and regulations necessary to implement the provisions of this section.

(f) As used in this section:

(1) "Postsecondary educational institution" means:

(A) For school year 2016-2017, any state educational institution and any municipal university; and

(B) for school year 2017-2018 and each school year thereafter, any state educational institution, municipal university, community college, technical college and institute of technology, and includes any entity resulting from the consolidation or affiliation of any two or more of such postsecondary educational institutions.

(2) "State educational institution," "municipal university," "community college," "technical college" and "institute of technology" mean the same as such terms are defined in K.S.A. 74-3201b, and amendments thereto.

History: L. 2016, ch. 74, § 1; July 1.