Kansas Governor Laura Kelly and the Kansas Board of Regents announce membership in the Complete College America Alliance of States

TOPEKA, K.S. (JUNE 26, 2024) — Kansas Governor Laura Kelly and the Kansas Board of Regents today announced that the state of Kansas has officially joined the Complete College America (CCA) Alliance, a national coalition of states, systems, institutions of higher education and other organizations committed to increasing the number of students who successfully complete college and attain degrees and credentials.

“The Kansas Board of Regents’ strategic plan, Building a Future, focuses on the needs of Kansas students and families, businesses, and the state’s economy. It includes system- and sector-level initiatives designed to drive improvement at the college and university level,” said Kansas Governor Laura Kelly. “Kansas’ participation in the CCA Alliance will support our efforts to increase student success by learning from and working with other Alliance members to address the needs of students and the state.”

More than half (56.4 percent) of Kansans aged 25-64 hold a college degree or postsecondary credential, approximately two percentage points above the U.S. average, placing Kansas at 17th in the nation for postsecondary attainment, according to a 2023 Lumina Foundation report. A study conducted by the Georgetown Center for Education and the Workforce predicts that by 2031 69% of the jobs in Kansas will require some additional form of education after high school, whether that is a four-year degree, two-year degree, or certification program.

Joining the Alliance aligns with the Kansas Board of Regents (KBOR) strategic plan, Building a Future, to ensure the Kansas higher education system is maximizing the benefits it is providing to Kansas families, businesses and the economy. KBOR governs all institutions in the state’s public higher education system. 

“Joining Complete College America is an exciting step that aligns perfectly with the Regents’ strategic goals of improving access to higher education and increasing student success,” said KBOR Chair Jon Rolph. “CCA member states have achieved significantly enhanced student outcomes, and I’m excited by the opportunity to collaborate with other partners to implement proven practices and strategies.”

The work with the CCA Alliance is part of a statewide push to expand access to higher education and economic mobility, particularly for students from under-resourced families. Through this partnership, CCA will assist the state in convening higher education institutions together to craft and align policies with evidence-based student success strategies proven to boost on-time college completion.

“Kansas has already made great strides in increasing college completion through its focus on improving affordability, college access and on-time graduation, and Complete College America will partner with the state to build on successes already achieved,” said Dr. Yolanda Watson Spiva, president of Complete College America. “This announcement is a testament to how seriously Kansas leaders take the states’ commitment to creating an even more high-performing, affordable and accessible system of higher education.”

As an Alliance member, Kansas will join with other states working collaboratively to advance policies and practices designed to improve student success and college completion, particularly for students from historically-excluded backgrounds and from under-resourced households. Higher education leaders in Kansas will be able to share new learnings and receive guidance and support in crafting policies aligned with the state’s priorities.

To schedule an interview with a representative from the Kansas Board of Regents or Complete College America, please email media@completecollege.org.

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About the Kansas Board of Regents: The nine-member Kansas Board of Regents is the governing board of the state’s six universities and the statewide coordinating board for the state’s 32 public higher education institutions (six state universities, one municipal university, nineteen community colleges, and six technical colleges). In addition, the Board administers the state’s student financial aid, adult education, high school equivalency, and career and technical education programs. Private proprietary schools and out-of-state institutions are authorized by the Kansas Board of Regents to operate in Kansas. Visit the Kansas Board of Regents online at www.kansasregents.org. 

About Complete College America: Complete College America (CCA) builds movements for scaled change and transforms institutions through data-driven policies, student-centered perspectives, and equity-driven practices. Since its founding in 2009, CCA connects a national network of forward-thinking state and higher education leaders and introduces bold initiatives to help states and institutions confront inequities, close institutional performance gaps, and increase college completion rates, especially for marginalized and historically excluded students.