TOPEKA (KSNT) – State auditors are preparing to examine universities across Kansas to find out which ones require students complete diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) coursework in order to graduate.
The Legislative Division of Post Audit (LPA), a non-partisan auditing organization associated with the Kansas Legislature, will soon begin a new investigation into DEI-related coursework requirements at universities in the Sunflower State. Lawmakers requested the LPA conduct the audit to review whether state universities require students to complete DEI courses as part of their degree requirements.
The LPA, in its proposal for the audit, said the Kansas Board of Regents (KBOR) provided guidance to universities in 2025 to help them comply with state law following the passage of House Bill 2105 in the legislature. HB 2105 bans state universities from using DEI considerations in admissions, ends grants connected to DEI and prevents other related mandates and training tied to DEI.
“KBOR defined DEI as activities that are intended to intentionally give preferences to individuals or groups, to the exclusion of others, on the basis of race, color, or national origin.”
LPA audit proposal excerpt
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KBOR noted in its guidance to the universities that activities tied to curriculum, instruction or research were not prohibited under HB 2105. The LPA said that universities were not expected to change coursework content or graduation requirements for students under the new law.
The LPA’s planned audit will seek to answer the question of – “Do selected state universities require DEI-related coursework for graduation in certain degree programs?” To help guide this process, auditors will review both KBOR’s guidance on DEI and state law to create a definition for what coursework is considered to be tied to DEI topics. Auditors will then select three state universities to review and work with university staff to find out what coursework students must take to graduate for each program.
The LPA said it plans to focus on degree programs where DEI-related courses aren’t expected, such as in the fields of math or engineering. Auditors will then compare the required courses for each program to its definition of DEI-related coursework to pinpoint which ones are connected to DEI topics.
Chris Clarke, legislative post auditor with the LPA, told 27 News on Aug. 31 the audit has yet to start and is currently scheduled to begin in 2027. Clarke said the audit results will likely be ready in the late spring or early summer next year. You can learn more about this upcoming audit by clicking here.
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