Kansas Board of Regents

Incoming students up, overall enrollment down

Written by Susan Welte
Thursday, 04 October 2012 16:30
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Source: KBOR

Infograph by Ellen Weiss

Last week, the Kansas Board of Regents released the current enrollment figures for the six regent universities. Emporia State experienced the first new student increase of freshmen, transfer, and graduate students since 2007.

But the university has not seen an overall increase in enrollment numbers since 2008 and remains the regent school with lowest student population. This year, ESU’s overall enrollment is down 1.8 percent – 109 students, according to KBOR’s documents.

“I would much rather look at how rates are increasing for incoming students,” said Brooke Schmidt, Associated Student Government president and senior Spanish major. “Clearly, we are doing something right if we are increasing our incoming population. This is a great opportunity for our campus to take note of things we are currently doing and also a chance for us to implement changes in the upcoming years.”

The number of new freshmen increased from 587 students in 2011, to 621 this year. New transfer students rose from a total of 409 to 455, increasing the total number of new freshmen and transfer students by 8 percent – 80 students. Schmidt said the enrollment numbers for this year are both challenging and exciting.

“We have a great group of freshmen students and a campus community that is yearning to hold their stingers high,” Schmidt said. “This is ESU’s opportunity to learn, assess and grow.”

According to an ESU press release sent to The Bulletin last week, one of the efforts taken to appeal to freshmen, transfer and graduate students was the launching of an “integrated marketing campaign that included billboard and television advertising in urban Kansas markets and high-energy events like Hornet Night in Overland Park and the Hornet Telethon on campus.”

The press release also stated that “scholarship opportunities for new and transfer students” were another factor that contributed to recruitment, which was due to a “$7.5 million commitment from the Emporia State University Foundation.”

“Our new recruiting strategies have been successful,” said Jim Williams, vice president of Student Affairs, in an email. “We need to continue this success and raise the bar on our efforts to retain those students we recruited.”

But Schmidt said that in the ASG campaign last year, she and Stuart Sneath, ASG vice president and senior sociology major, focused their platform on increasing school pride and support. This year, she said, they are focusing on current ESU students in particular and investing time in helping others support and foster a shared sense of pride for ESU.

“Most importantly, the campus has an understanding and a commitment to improve student retention,” Williams said.

Hornets get tuition hike again

Written by Bulletin Staff
Wednesday, 20 June 2012 18:18
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Consistent with last year’s tuition hike, the Kansas Board of Regents approved today another increase for colleges in Kansas – and Emporia State students will see the highest percentage increase when they pay for school this fall.

ESU’s undergraduate tuition and fees will increase by $160, or 6.5 percent – the highest percentage raise among the six state universities – making tuition $2,636 per semester for the 2012-2013 academic year, according to a press release sent to The Bulletin by Vanessa Lamoreaux, associate director of communications for KBOR. Last year the board approved a 6.8 percent increase for ESU.

But graduate students can expect an even bigger increase. The regents approved a $438, or 15.2 percent, tuition raise, bumping the cost up to $3,324 per semester for ESU’s graduate school.

“The tuition and fees approved today are funding the basics of operating an educational institution, like heating and cooling, healthcare costs, and retaining quality faculty members,” said Ed McKechnie, KBOR chair, in the press release. “As the state’s contribution to the state universities has remained flat for base operating costs, students and their families shoulder more of the costs of obtaining a high quality education.

“The Board and the state universities are committed to excellence, students and their families expect excellence, and employers require excellence when they hire a graduate,” McKechnie said. “Ensuring educational excellence requires continuous investments in the foundation of our institutions.”

Kevin Johnson, Faculty Senate president, told The Bulletin in April that half of the increase will be used pay utility bills, health plan costs and other mandatory expenses. The other half will go to a tuition assistance plan and a 1 percent pay raise for all ESU employees, depending on enrollment figures in fall.

To view increases for the other regents universities, go to http://www.kansasregents.org/resources/PDF/1965-2013Tuition&Fees-Publication.pdf

Kenzie Templeton

Bill would give veterans tuition breaks

Written by Bulletin Staff
Thursday, 01 March 2012 15:40
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Photo Illustration by Ellen Weiss

House Bill 2652 aims to allow veterans to pay in-state tuiton rates. When it was introduced on Feb. 7 by Rep. Paul Davis and representatives from the University of Kansas Collegiate Veterans Association and the American Legion, the bill had no challengers, according to a supplemental note on Kslegislature.org.

“It’s a great way to give them (veterans) an opportunity to have advanced education into the states again,” said Tyler Curtis, director of alumni relations and legislative liaison. “It’s a way to thank them for their service.”

Any military personnel having served a minimum of three years as active duty would be eligible for this tuition rate, according to the bill. These military personnel consist of “any active service in any armed service in the United States or membership in the Kansas army or the air national guard,” according to the supplemental note.

Emporia State and the Kansas Board of Regents are in full support of the bill, Curtis said, especially because Emporia is the founding city of Veterans Day.

“ESU and the Regents certainly support this effort to assist our military veterans in pursuing their goals to pursue post-secondary educational opportunities,” Curtis said.

Steve Harmon, director of external affairs at Flint Hills Technical College, ESU alum, and veteran said the bill is a generous offer and he knows that veterans will be appreciative. Harmon served in Yugoslavia from 2004-2005, and Afghanistan in 2010.

“It would allow those (who are) serving in Kansas, but may not be from Kansas, to become members of state,” Harmon said.

Veterans are no different than other people, Harmon said. When a person leaves one job and goes to a different lifestyle, it can be challenging and anything that is done to make the switch easier is beneficial.

“A lot of veterans come to Kansas and stay in Kansas,” Harmon said.

Harmon also said he encourages those citizens to serve in the military if possible and to take advantage of this opportunity.

“It’s a great way to serve in your community,” Harmon said. “(Veterans) should keep on supporting Kansas because Kansas supports them,” Harmon said.

On Feb. 23, the bill was withdrawn from the House’s calendar and will now be referred to the Committee on Appropriations.

Susan Welte

Shonrock named ESU’s new president

Written by Bulletin Staff
Friday, 09 December 2011 10:30
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Michael Shonrock, newly appointed president of Emporia State, answers questions during a press conference immediately following the regents' announcement in Albert Taylor Hall. Shonrock said he was honored and excited to accept the presidency. Jon Coffey/The Bulletin

Michael Shonrock of Texas Tech was announced this morning at about 9:35 a.m. as Emporia State’s 16th president.

“Accepting the presidency of ESU represents a coming home,” Shonrock said. “…ESU has a proud past and I look forward to helping shape the future of this
institution with the help of the outstanding members of the ESU family.”

The Kansas Board of Regents held a special meeting in Albert Taylor Hall to officially vote and appoint Shonrock as president.

“(Shonrock) rose to the top of an exceptional field of candidates, and we’re extremely impressed by his experience, enthusiasm and passion he will bring to ESU and the Emporia community,” said Ed McKechnie, chair of KBOR.

Shonrock said that he and his wife Karen will move into the presidential residence at 1522 Highland St. after Christmas. He will assume official duties as president on Jan. 3.

Shonrock served as the senior vice president of auxiliary services, enrollment management and student affairs at Texas Tech, but his position was eliminated last spring due to budget cuts. He then continued to teach at the university as an associate professor of educational psychology.

Kenzie Templeton/The Bulletin

Regents to name 16th president on campus

Written by Bulletin Staff
Thursday, 08 December 2011 12:29
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The 16th president of Emporia State will be announced at 9:30 a.m. tomorrow in Albert Taylor Hall, according to an email sent yesterday afternoon by Vanessa Lamoreaux, spokesperson for the Kansas Board of Regents. The regents will travel to Emporia and hold a special meeting on campus to name the president.

The search for a new president began last May when Michael Lane, currently a consultant to KBOR for ESU, unexpectedly announced his resignation. Lane will resume a faculty position in the accounting and information systems department in January. Lane’s wife, Peggy, is currently chair of the department.

“I commend the Kansas Board of Regents and the Search Committee for its conduct of a high-quality and expeditious search process. I am delighted that the Board will come to the Emporia State University campus to make this announcement. The campus community looks forward with excitement to the Friday announcement,” said H. Edward Flentje, interim president, in Lamoreaux’s email.

Pick up a copy of The Bulletin’s special issue on Dec. 12 for full coverage on the new president. Issues are distributed on campus and throughout the community and are also available on The Bulletin’s website.

Regents exploring possibility of dental school

Written by Bulletin Staff
Thursday, 01 December 2011 10:11
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Photo Illustration by Julie Thephachan

In reaction to rumors that the Kansas Board of Regents are making plans to establish a new dental school in Kansas, interim President H. Edward Flentje sent a memo to all faculty outlining his support for Emporia State as the designated site for such a program.

“Emporia State, located where it is, I think, would be an appropriate site for this school,” Flentje said. “Most of the responses I have heard from the faculty have been positive and it is something that will definitely be on the agenda for the new president. That new president will be a key in Emporia State’s push to get the school if it goes through.”

So far, the regents have established an Oral Health Task Force to explore the possibility of a dental school in Kansas, which could potentially be located in Emporia.

In Flentje’s memo he explains that the regents are looking to attract and retain dentists in Kansas. Flentje recently met with Sen. Jeff Longbine, who is a member of the task force, to discuss the work they have done and offer support.

“I do not expect to see the work of the Task Force completed during my interim assignment here at Emporia State,” Flentje said in the memo. “However, if the Task Force does recommend the establishment of a new dental school in Kansas, I believe consideration should be given to Emporia State University as a site for such a school.”

The Oral Health Task Force held their first meeting Nov. 15, to which Longbine was assigned to the committee to study “the feasibility of a dental school” in Kansas.

“We currently don’t have a true dental school in Kansas,” Longbine said. “Our overall goal is to see if we can improve access to dental care. Kansas has a severe shortage of dentists, particularly in rural Kansas. If we have more trained dentists in the state, the hope is that would help all communities, not just the rural communities.”

Comprised of some regents members, dental work experts and legislators, the Oral Health Task Force is hoping to have a recommendation to KBOR by next summer. Longbine said he would like to see Emporia be in the running for a location if KBOR goes through with it.

Flentje said having a dental school in Emporia would also raise the declining enrollment.

“We could also keep some students on campus,” said Gwen Larson assistant director of marketing and media relations. “We have a pre-dental program, but students cannot finish it here because we do not have a dental school. These students end up doing course work here and finishing somewhere else.”

The Oral Health Task Force is expected to make their decision on the feasibility of a school in Kansas by June. If approved, locations for the school will start being evaluated.

Rocky Robinson

Target has green goals for North Long Beach

Press-Telegram September 29, 2008 | John Canalis LONG BEACH – Those behind the soon-to-open Target Store in North Long Beach plan to bring two seemingly contrasting shades of “green” to the 9 th District: Commerce and environmentalism.

Minneapolis-based Target Corp. calls the 126,000-square-foot center slated to open Oct. 12 at 6750 Cherry Ave. environmentally friendly.

But is the store really easy on the Earth or just being scrubbed in a marketing slogan known as “greenwashing?” The former, said city officials, adding that the new building met Long Beach’s recently approved standards for sustainable construction.

Recycled materials, toxic-free paints and environmentally sensitive materials were used to build the store over nine months.

Energy-efficient lighting was installed throughout. The thermostat was dialed up a bit to reduce reliance on the cooling system, and many of the lights go down at night to save energy.

“We have a strong environmental philosophy,” said Mike License, on-site construction manager at the store. “Target likes to be the leader on stuff like that.” Vice Mayor Val Lerch, who took a tour of the store last week with other city officials, said he likes the environmental angle but is also pleased with the new paychecks coming to his 9 th District. pizzahutcouponcodesnow.org pizzahut coupon codes

The new Target will require 500 full- and part-time workers – 300 of them new hires and roughly 200 transfers from the closing Target location on South Street – to a city with a higher unemployment rate than the national and state averages.

Lerch has made attracting major retailers to his 9 th District, which lacks the variety of shops found in other parts of Long Beach, a priority since his election in 2002.

“Right now, to me, it’s the single-biggest accomplishment since I’ve been on the council,” he said of the new store.

Lerch and the city’s Economic Development Bureau and Redevelopment Agency spent more than two years negotiating with Target Corp. to bring the store to a shopping center that also includes a Food4 Less.

The Cherry Avenue location certainly met the “blighted” criteria so the project could qualify for redevelopment incentives.

The Target was built on the site of the former Home Base, which stood vacant for a decade. Tearing down the store’s shell was such a big to-do in Northtown that the Jordan High band performed at the demolition in 2007. Some of the materials from Home Base were recycled and used in building the Target.

Target Operations Manager Kelly Andrews recently provided Lerch, city officials, community leaders and the media a preview of the store, which also houses a Starbucks and PizzaHut Express.

About 50 percent of the merchandise needed to fill the Target was already on display, including fashions that will not officially go on sale until October.

Target is increasingly attracting major designers, including Converse, Liz Lang and Mossimo, Andrews said, as she showed visitors some of the labels. go to web site pizzahut coupon codes

“We’re getting bigger names,” she said.

Halloween and Christmas decorations were already on display in aisles adorned in red and white and Target’s ubiquitous, circular logo.

The store features many of the same departments found at the Target in the Eastside’s Los Altos Shopping Center, including electronics, toys, office supplies, home decor and a limited amount of groceries, such as cereal, soda, milk, butter, eggs, frozen meals, bread and snacks.

Like the Los Altos store, the Cherry Avenue location will not sell fresh meat and produce, but Andrews said, “We do have all the things you want to put in your pantry, fridge and freezer.” The Cherry Avenue Target will have something the Los Altos location does not: A pharmacy. Prescriptions will start at $4.

Because of its proximity to the new store, the existing Target at 3705 E. South St. will close at about the same time the new store opens, Andrews said.

That will leave the city of Long Beach with two locations. There are also Target stores in Lakewood, Signal Hill and Seal Beach.

john.canalis@presstelegram.com, 562-499-1273 John Canalis

Faculty challenge presidents’ salary hikes

Written by Bulletin Staff
Thursday, 17 November 2011 09:59
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The Faculty Senate votes on the resolution indicting the presidential pay raises. The vote passed 25-0. Julie Thephachan/The Bulletin

The Faculty Senate passed a resolution, 25-0, Tuesday afternoon challenging the recent pay raise for Kansas Board of Regents university presidents. Last month KBOR approved salary raises for the heads of its six universities while also making sizeable adjustments for three presidents, according to the resolution.

“The feeling is… that even if these market adjustments were in line with what university presidents are making, in Kansas, right now, this is a spectacularly bad time to be doing this,” said Max McCoy, senator, assistant professor of journalism and adviser to The Bulletin. “The Resolution is not saying, nor is it intended to say, that these presidents aren’t worth the money. It is just saying an adjustment of this magnitude is ill-advised during this economic climate.”

All university presidents received a 1.8 percent cost of living increase for the coming year. But the presidents of Fort Hays State, Kansas State, and Pittsburg State each received raises ranging from 12.2-14.7 percent, including a $50,000 salary boost for Kirk Schulz, K-State president, according to the resolution.

The resolution also states that such large increases are “well above a reasonable cost of living adjustment, regardless of whether it is supported by private or public monies.”

“I think this reflects the consensus of the faculty that there is concern over presidential salaries,” McCoy said. “Particularly in times of economic hardship, this sends a message to the average Kansan that perhaps they could not or would not accept.”

A motion was passed unanimously to send the resolution to each individual member of KBOR. Kevin Johnson, associate professor of business administration and education and president of Faculty Senate, also suggested to send the resolution to other universities to see if they would like to follow suit.

The Intellectual Property Bill was also brought up during the meeting. The bill, which aims to “foster the creation and dissemination of knowledge and to define the individual and institutional rights associated with and the distribution of benefits that may be derived from the creation of intellectual property,” was left on the table until a new president is appointed by KBOR.

“We thought it was best if we would just leave it on the table until a new president is elected,” Marvin Harrell, professor of mathematics said. “It could keep president Flentje from acting on it and potentially rejecting it while allowing the senators and the departments to look at it more carefully.”

Rocky Robinson

STAFF EDITORIAL:The “Needs” of the Few

Written by Bulletin Staff
Thursday, 03 November 2011 11:55
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Illustration by Ellen Weiss

The Kansas Board of Regents recently approved a “cost of living” increase as well general pay raises to the salaries for regent university presidents. But these were no ordinary raises – some received as much as 14 percent increases. Whether you ask “How?” or “Why?” the answers are ludicrous.

So how will these raises be funded? The answer – students’ pockets.

That’s right. Even though we are already suffering in this time of economic crisis, our tuition will be used to make sure our presidents are getting their “due.” Which means our tuition is probably going to increase yet again.

It is as if those in power are taking advantage of the fact that higher education is essential in this day and age. We are being treated like some sort of cash cow – tuition ripe and ready to be raised whenever they need some extra cash.

But the students are not the only ones getting the short end of the stick. Professors’ salaries have gone unchanged for at least a few years. The Bulletin understands that KBOR has no control over their pay, but this does not change the fact that deserving instructors must sit back and watch as the position of president is rewarded and doted on, while they are left struggling to make ends meet.

Why approve such a controversial action? The answers The Bulletin has received were not satisfactory.

First, we were told that the position must be more appealing to attract higher quality candidates. But shouldn’t we expect a president to be passionate about their position despite the pay? After all, teachers across the country do their damnedest to educate their students, and they do it for next to nothing.

Second, the regents presidents’ salaries were increased in order to match those of neighboring universities. This is also ridiculous. If we are able to hire qualified persons for the pay they were receiving, why would it have to be increased? If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

We are not saying that these university officials are not hard-working individuals that deserve to be justly paid, but this is not the right time, economically or ethically.

These presidents may have wished for better compensation, but the economy is based on the idea that there are unlimited wants and limited resources. In the immortal words of the Rolling Stones, you can’t always get what you want.

During this time of protest, it is our duty to criticize and question those in power. Where will it end? How much more will students have to sacrifice so that those in charge can afford to purchase that new car?

The Board of Regents has shown that the interests of the few are dominating the interests of the many, and they are rubbing it in our faces. This lack of consideration and foresight is insulting to both the Kansas community and to democracy.

One thing is clear, the Board of Regents must learn to choose more carefully and with more discrimination where our resources are being used.

Tuition to fund higher president salaries

Written by Bulletin Staff
Thursday, 03 November 2011 09:36
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Inforgraphic by Ellen Weiss

Effective January 2012, some presidents of regent universities will receive “market adjustment” pay raises, ranging from 12.2 percent to 14.7 percent. While not every president will receive this increase in salary, all will see a 1.8 percent cost of living increase.

“(The Kansas Board of Regents) annually reviews the salaries of the CEOs of colleges and conducts an analysis of how they should be compensated,” said Ed McKechnie, chair of KBOR.

KBOR approved both the market adjustments and cost of living increase with a vote of 8-1 on Oct. 20. Regent Tim Emert was the lone dissenter.

Since public funds will not be allocated to fund the pay increase, McKechnie said the money will come from student tuition fees.

In an article by the Lawrence Journal World, Emert said the raises should be paid with state dollars, not through tuition and foundation funds.

“The state Legislature and governor, for some reason, refuse to step up to the plate and reward excellence,” Emert said in the article.

Emert also said he was concerned about “the people keeping the engines running,” who will not be receiving any pay increases.

But McKechnie said the salary raise “reflects the current market.”

“We will have to have the compensation set for regional CEOs to be reflective of our recruiting for Emporia State University,” McKechnie said.

McKechnie said the cost of living increase did not detract from the market adjustment raise and that KBOR wants the salary changes to be in effect once a president is appointed for ESU.

The reason for the raise was partially based on a review of pay for presidents at peer institutions in neighboring states during their annual review of presidential performances and salaries, McKechnie said.

Vanessa Lamoreaux, spokesperson for KBOR, said the board is not responsible for other faculty members’ salaries, which is why only presidents will receive the raise.

Photo Illustration by Jenny Pendarvis/The Bulletin

“People are interested in being financially secure,” McKechnie said. “The benefit is to attract and retain good CEOs. We have tried not to have a revolving door of different CEOs.”

McKechnie said that in order for universities in Kansas to do well, stability is important and the board wants to recruit the strongest president for ESU.

“We think in the long term, it is money well spent,” McKechnie said. “We wouldn’t have done it if we didn’t think it would have a lasting effect.”

McKechnie said that deciding on a firm presidential compensation will allow ESU to get the best person to help the university move forward.

“If you want a degree to be of value, you have to retain quality faculty,” McKechnie said. “You must have things necessary for quality education, which is what we are trying to do.”

McKechnie said he wants students know that KBOR is trying to place a higher value on education.

Susan Welte

Search looks beyond higher ed.

Written by Bulletin Staff
Thursday, 22 September 2011 09:33
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Wynn

A presidential search update released last Friday reported a high interest in the position by professionals outside of higher education. While some on campus, including Dean Steven Brown, said they were closely watching the situation, none said there was any cause for alarm – yet.

But Deryl Wynn, chair of the search committee, said nothing was off the table and the committee does not want to rule out any candidates just because they might not have experience in higher education.

“If Gen. Colin Powell tells me he wants to be the president of Emporia State University, I’m not going to tell him he’s not qualified,” Wynn said.

Still, some say that the next president needs to have experience in higher education.

“For my own part, I would always rather find someone who has a little broader experience,” said Steven Brown, outgoing dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. His last day is Friday. “These are difficult times. There are challenges we haven’t faced before… I’d be more comfortable if you had someone who had quite a bit of experience in the profession.”

In an email sent to LAS faculty, Brown said he is “slightly concerned” with references in the update to applicants from outside of higher education.

“I concur with statements several of you have made in conversations through the past few weeks, suggesting that the best possible outcome will be found if we locate an individual with considerable experience in higher education,” Brown said in the email.

Brown said he does not believe there is currently a high possibility for a president with no experience in higher education to be appointed, but he does urge faculty and students to “keep an eye on” the situation.

“I don’t think it’s appropriate to focus on those who are outside of higher education that have submitted applications,” Wynn said, “because they’ve not been selected – they have been encouraged to submit, and I’m not sure that they are the best qualified. I don’t want anybody jumping to conclusions.”

Currently, the Kansas Board of Regents plans to appoint a new president by January or February 2012, according to Wynn.

“That sure seems awfully ambitious to me,” Brown said. “If they can pull that off, that’s wonderful – I think that’d be great… I’ll be impressed if they pull it off.”

Brown said from his own experiences, searches like this do not generally move as quickly as ESU’s search hopes to progress, but Wynn said he was confident that the search committee would not need to extend the timeline.

Brown said the primary role of any higher education institution is teaching students, but there are additional responsibilities like interacting with the community. Above all else, Brown said the university president must be able to comprehend the various facets of higher education.

“I’m not saying you can’t find someone outside of education who has those understandings,” Brown said. “It just seems like it would be more likely with someone who has experience in education.”

Steve Catt, professor and chair of the communication and theater department and subcommittee chair for the presidential search committee, said he is not concerned with how the search is progressing.

“Anyone who has a concern with what might happen, I think that’s just anxiety talking,” Catt said. “There’s nothing going on that’s led to any type of concern over what type of person will be hired.”

Catt said the search committee has been directed to refer all media calls to Vanessa Lamoreaux, associate director of communications for KBOR. The Bulletin was unable to contact Lamoreaux by press time on Wednesday.

“At the end of the day, I think we all want to pick someone that’s going to move the university forward,” Wynn said.

Kenzie Templeton