The Kansas Board of Regents has a full plate for the final meeting of its term.

Agenda items for the meeting Wednesday and Thursday include several issues affecting Kansas University from tuition increases to remodeling an airplane hangar.

“There’s some pretty weighty issues that will be discussed and decided on,” regents spokesman Dick Carter said. “We’re coming to the end of the year, and lot of stuff was put on hold for budget reasons.”

That includes the tuition discussions, which began in October and were to be settled in April.

Some KU students plan to attend the Thursday morning tuition discussions, but Carter said the board was unlikely to take much public comment. Students and others have had opportunities for input on their campuses, he said.

“I think the public comment is up,” he said. “It’s time to make a decision.”

KU officials have proposed a tuition increase of 25.2 percent for undergraduate, resident students. Those students would pay $97.35 per credit hour this fall, compared with $77.75 now.

Other state universities have proposed increases ranging from 6.4 percent to 25.1 percent.

Edwards Campus

Regents also will consider final plans for a second building to be constructed at the Edwards Campus in Overland Park.

“This is the next defining moment in the evolution of that campus,” said Bob Clark, the campus’ vice chancellor.

The $17.8 million building would be financed by a combination of private donations and bond proceeds. KU already has $5 million donated by the Hall Family Foundation.

The building would have 85,840 square feet and include a 240-seat auditorium, 21 classrooms, a computer lab and 30 faculty offices. It will be west of the current building at 127th Street and Quivira Road.

During the five years Clark has been at KU, enrollment at the campus has increased from 27,400 credit hours per year to more than 34,000 credit hours. Clark said he hoped the new building would allow the campus to double the 2,100 students it now serves.

Groundbreaking is set for October, and the building is to open about October 2004.

Officials also plan to increase the number of programs offered at the Edwards Campus, to 39 from 22.

Hangar remodeling

KU officials hope another construction project boosts research in the aerospace engineering department.

Regents will consider final plans for a privately funded renovation of the KU Hangar at the Lawrence Municipal Airport.

The project, expected to cost between $800,000 and $1 million, will add a second floor of laboratories, offices and a conference room.

David Downing, professor of aerospace engineering, said KU alumnus Walter Garrison is donating funds for the project. Garrison is chairman of the board at CDI Corp., which provides engineering training to businesses. He also founded the Pennsylvania Institute of Technology.

Other issues

Regents also will consider a proposal to limit credit card solicitation on university campuses. KU students spearheaded the plan.

Proposed restrictions include requiring companies to distribute educational material about debt and banning solicitation before and immediately after classes begin.

Board members also will elect a new chairman and vice chairman to serve the next year.

The meeting will be the last for three regents Chairman Clay Blair of Overland Park, Steve Clark of Wichita and Floris Jean Hampton of Dodge City.

Their terms expire June 30, and their replacements will be Dick Bond of Overland Park, Donna Shank of Liberal and James Grier of Wichita.