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Competency-Based Education at the University of Kansas

Jayhawk Flex

Harnessing research expertise to revolutionize higher education by making it more accessible and affordable, without sacrificing quality or integrity, delivered with maximum flexibility. This is an opportunity for KU Faculty, Students, and Staff to be at the cutting edge of education.

Welcome to Jayhawk Flex

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Jayhawk Flex and CBE

Learn about Competency-Based Education, the approach at the heart of Jayhawk Flex programs.
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Key Benefits of CBE

What are the key benefits of incorporating CBE into our academic offerings?
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Overview of Jayhawk Flex

How will CBE, via Jayhawk Flex, be implemented at the University of Kansas?
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Updates from the Jayhawk Flex Team

Learn about the ongoing Jayhawk Flex developmental process, as it happens.
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Barbara A. Bichelmeyer

Competency-Based Education holds many benefits for everyone involved in the education of a student; the institution and administrators, faculty and program leaders, potential employers, and, of course, the students themselves. With Jayhawk Flex, we are at the edge of a new horizon in education.

Barbara A. Bichelmeyer
KU Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor

In February of 2023, representatives from faculty, administration, technology, student success, and business convened for the Competency-Based Education Design Charrette. This two-day event established key objectives in integrating CBE at KU, with a roadmap for developing considered, research-informed recommendations, split across five separate teams: Student Success, Business Processes, Information Technology, Curriculum & Learning Transformation, and Leadership.

The impetus of this convention was a recognition of the value CBE provides to all parties involved in postsecondary education; from faculty, students and their parents, administration and executive personnel, student support staff, and information technology specialists. 

The development process of the Jayhawk Flex Competency-Based Education initiative has been a highly collaborative one, drawing on the wealth of knowledge, skills, and expertise across several colleges and staff at the University of Kansas.

University leaders work at the CBE at KU Design Charrette

Who We Are

The Jayhawk Flex Team is a group of nearly 100 faculty, administrative staff, university leaders, and technology specialists split into strands based on area of expertise and responsibility

Who We Are

Updates from the Jayhawk Flex Team

CBE AT KU UPDATES. Blue Mask over a statue of a Jayhawk.

CBE at KU Updates 02.05.2025

HOPE Program is on track to submit to HLC by February 18. The Learning and Assessment workgroup has completed their objectives and will be retired. Thanks to everyone who served on this workgroup over the past several months!
CBE AT KU UPDATES. Blue Mask over a student in a graduation cap and gown walking towards Fraser Hall.

CBE at KU Updates 01.29.2025

The Steering Committee met this week and discussed the following topics: We will not be fully implementing the separate assessor role until we have scaled our inaugural Flex programs. There is a dependency for programs to be HLC approved in order to make it into the 2025 AY catalog. Currently only Project Management has been approved by HLC. In order to not delay other inaugural programs from launching in AY 25, alternatives (such as a catalog addendum) are being explored.
CBE AT KU UPDATES. Blue Mask over a view of Fraser Hall.

CBE at KU Updates 01.22.2025

The STEM program has received approval from the Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) and the Kansas Board of Education (KBOR)! The Project Management program has been submitted to the U.S. Department of Education (USDE) for approval.
CBE AT KU UPDATES. Blue Mask over an aerial view of the KU campus

CBE at KU Updates 01.15.2025

The Project Management Flex program has been approved by HLC! Preparing to submit Project Management to US Dept of Ed for approval.
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Graphic recording from the CBE at KU Design Charrette by Renee Andriani

The Journey Ahead

As our teams work toward a Spring 2025 launch goal, the process remains collaborative and open to additional willing partners.

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