A statewide program that aims to lure top high school students to Kansas universities may fall victim to the state’s budget woes.

Gov. Bill Graves’ budget proposal ends funding for the Kansas Regents Honors Academy, which places 150 juniors and seniors at a different regents university each year to attend classes.

Though officials had considered canceling this summer’s event at Kansas University, it now appears the soonest the program would be cut would be summer 2003.

“We consider this a very important program because it gives students in the state’s high schools the best and brightest students a chance to experience college life,” said Amanda Golbeck, vice president for academic affairs at the Kansas Board of Regents.

The academy requires $110,000 per year in state funds, including professor salaries and room and board. Participating students pay only tuition, if they choose to take courses for college credit.

Two other regents programs also would be cut under the governor’s budget: $108,000 for the distinguished professor program, which matches interest on endowed professorships over $500,000, and $82,000 for the Midwest Higher Education Commission, a program that allows students studying selected subjects to attend out-of-state universities for 1.5 times the in-state tuition rate.

But like other state agencies, the Board of Regents is waiting to see the final budget before jumping to conclusions, spokesman Dick Carter said.

Sandra Wick, associate director of the KU Honors Program, said Friday that she was surprised to learn this summer’s program had been in jeopardy. Seven KU faculty members already have committed to teaching courses, and 130 applications have been received.

“We’re in the middle of the planning stage now,” she said. “I do have nervous faculty who are asking about it. This could conceivably be the last one.”

This summer’s theme is “Existence, Essence, Quintessence: Origins, Meaning and the Expanding Universe.” Students will study redefined models of physics.

Pittsburg State University played host to the 2001 academy, and the 2003 academy was scheduled to be at Wichita State University.

Wick said she was convinced the program which she said would “submerse students in the whole college program” is worth keeping.

“In the grand scheme of things, this is nickels and dimes,” she said. “If we’re looking (at budget cuts) this close, we’re in worse trouble than I thought.”