KICA serves as the governmental relations and policy advocate for their member colleges and universities. The Kansas Independent College Association does not make financial contributions to political election campaigns or candidate-focused Political Action Committees. Please take this opportunity to review our 2025 Legislative Factbook.

KICA has four key guiding policy principles: 

- Expand funding for student need-based financial aid, especially the Kansas Comprehensive Grant and the Federal Pell Grant. Ensure that students who choose private non-profit colleges receive a fair share of these resources.

•  - Protect the independence of KICA institutions and their ability to offer a college education to students that fits each institution's historic mission and perspective, as well as offers students a challenging, high-quality learning experience which translates to professional and personal success.
  
   - Trust students and their families to make the best decisions for their own educational needs. Students who are empowered to choose their pathway find institutions that better fits for their values and aspirations, which translates to better and more on-time college completion, better job placement, and lower costs and student debt.
  
   - Recognize the unique and significant role played by Kansas' non-profit colleges in the lives of their students and the vibrancy of their local community. Intentionally seek to include voices from those colleges when developing policies that affect Kansans.

KICA Legislative Awards

Our experience has shown us that Kansas elected representatives often act as a strong voice for the power of student choice in Kansas Higher Ed. Their voices stand parallel with academic leadership and dedicated private partners to promote Kansas Independent Higher Ed success. Foresight across all sectors brings outcomes such as, for every one dollar invested in state aid to KICA students, our member colleges generate $32.57 in taxpayer benefits and $107.54 in private sector economic growth.

Starting in 2022, KICA honors elected voices with our Legislative Champion Awards.  Ceremonies were held to announce and honor our 2025 winners:

1. 2025 Legislative Champion of the Year Senator Larry Alley (Winfield, KS)
2. 2025 Legislative Champion of the Year Representative Tom Sawyer (Wichita, KS)

KICA SCHOOLS BY US HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES DISTRICT

1st District of Kansas represents the following KICA institutions:

• Bethany College
• Central Christian College of Kansas
• Kansas Wesleyan University
• McPherson College
• Sterling College
  

2nd District of Kansas represents the following KICA institutions:

• Baker University
• Benedictine College
• Donnelly College
• Manhattan Christian College
• Ottawa University
• Tabor College  
• University of Saint Mary  

3rd District of Kansas represents the following KICA institutions:

• Cleveland University - Kansas City
• Kansas Christian College
• MidAmerica Nazarene University        
  

4th District of Kansas represents the following KICA institutions:

• Barclay College
• Bethel College
• Friends University
• Hesston College
• Newman University
• Southwestern College