TOPEKA, Kan. — The Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference (KJCCC) has taken a significant step toward investing in Kansas student athletes by approving a new bylaw requiring all member colleges to reserve at least 25% of their athletic Letters of Intent (LOIs) for Kansas students.
The decision was made during this week’s KJCCC meeting, where participating colleges came together to support the change. The policy will take effect starting with the 2026-2027 academic year and will apply across all sports offered by the member institutions.
“This move reflects our commitment to the communities that support our colleges,” said Dr. Michael Calvert, President of Pratt Community College. “We’re proud to give Kansas student-athletes more opportunities to compete close to home.”
Dr. Ryan Ruda, President of Garden City Community College, echoed the sentiment, highlighting the unique relationship between community colleges and their local supporters. “One of the strengths of Kansas’ community college system is the strong support we receive from local communities and taxpayers. There’s a special sense of pride and excitement when local students are on the field or court,” he said.
Over the past seven years, the KJCCC has revised 20 recruitment-related rules. At one point, the league allowed unlimited out-of-state athletic scholarships. The new policy now limits out-of-state LOIs to no more than 75% of total offers, underscoring a renewed focus on Kansas and Kansas student athletes.
“We all want to recruit the best athletes, regardless of where they come from,” said Brad Bennett, President of Seward County Community College. “But ultimately, we’re Kansas institutions with a responsibility to serve Kansas communities—whether through academics or athletics.”
With the proposed roster limits being discussed at the NCAA Division One level and the increasing number of Kansas athletes wanting to stay close to home to compete, this change is the first step to ensuring Kansas athletes know that Kansas community colleges are committed to them to continuing their higher education and athletic participation in the state. The range of sports programs across the 20 colleges varies widely, from football rosters with more than 100 players to tennis teams with fewer than 10. All athletic programs will be subject to the new Kansas athlete recruitment requirement.
Heather Morgan, Executive Director of the Kansas Association of Community Colleges, praised the decision: “As someone who participated in intercollegiate athletics in Kansas, I am excited that other Kansas students will be prioritized to have access to the quality education available at our community colleges in addition to being given the opportunity to learn the many lessons that can only be learned through sports. I am excited for our community college coaches to enhance relationships with the many highly successful Kansas high school coaches across the state to work on keeping Kansas talent in the state to both achieve a degree or certificate while also participating in athletics. This change will have a lasting, positive impact on our campuses, communities and the state of Kansas.”
