Topeka ? Kansas universities are stepping up efforts to provide assistance to any of the nearly 100,000 students in the hurricane-ravaged Gulf Coast, officials said Friday.

Fundraising and collection of vital supplies is going on at the 36 public higher education institutions in “an outpouring of support,” said Reggie Robinson, Kansas Board of Regents president and chief executive officer.

Robinson said eight public and five private higher education schools in New Orleans, enrolling 75,000 students, would not be open.

In southern Mississippi, where nearly 20,000 students are enrolled, it is uncertain what the conditions of those schools are, he said.

“Kansas institutions are fully engaged with a variety of higher education associations who are coordinating national relief efforts,” he said.

Some of the specific efforts under way include:

Tulane transfer Jennifer Raney shares stories of getting out of New Orleans and leaving belongings behind. From left are Jessica Bodker, Overland Park freshman, Kelsey Hekman, Leawood sophomore and Jennifer Raney, Lawrence freshman. Raney and her father, Tom Raney, Lawrence, were going through enrollment procedures at KU on Thursday. Kansas universities are organizing relief efforts to help the nearly 100,000 students displaced along the Gulf Coast by Hurricane Katrina.

¢ Eleven students from the affected area have been admitted to Kansas University, which is waiving late fees. More students are expected. Displaced students will be eligible for a KU Endowment Loan up to $2,000 to help with immediate financial needs.

¢ KU Medical Center is working with the National Institutes of Health to develop a Hurricane Katrina Response Unit to help serve 2,600 patients who are being evacuated from New Orleans hospitals. KU Med also is exploring ways to utilize telemedicine technology and will help displaced students from Tulane Medical School.

¢ Kansas State University, Wichita State University and Fort Hays State University are waiving late fees for enrollment and working to help affected students.

¢ Washburn University will admit any student affected by Katrina and charge in-state tuition. Washburn’s School of Law also will take in law students from Tulane and Loyola.

¢ Pratt Community College has offered free enrollment to students who are enrolled in community colleges in the affected Gulf Coast region.

¢ North Central Kansas Technical College and Manhattan Area Technical College are exploring ways to send students with critical construction and utility skills to the area.

¢ Two students from Highland Community College have been deployed to Louisiana as part of the Kansas National Guard.

¢ Wichita Area Technical College is working with businesses to deliver semitrucks loaded with supplies.