ESU MODEL POSITIONS UNIVERSITY FOR THE FUTURE

Special to The Gazette

As 2023 dawns, Emporia State University continues to reimagine itself as an institution relentlessly focused on the needs of current and future students even as the pipeline of students continues to decline.

Emporia State is not alone in that, according to Cory Falldine, ESU vice president for infrastructure, who is one of many in ESU’s Leadership team continually reviewing the articles about institutions across the United States that are responding to pressures by reorganizing academic offerings, optimizing their campuses, merging with other institutions, or even closing their doors entirely.

“Even from just 2022, you can easily find examples from more than 20 different states, many of which have multiple institutions facing crises, all trying to adapt to the changing demands of our students, families and communities.” Falldine said.

The future of Emporia State University, while important to the students who attend the university as well as the faculty and staff employed there, is equally important to the City of Emporia and the surrounding community. Emporia State University is the fourth largest employer behind Simmons Pet Food, USD 253 and Tyson Fresh Meats.

In January 2022, leaders at Emporia State University began looking at all areas of the institution to determine where to align resources and future dollars to position ESU for growth.

“We have a new way of thinking about higher education,” ESU President Ken Hush said this week. “We call it the ESU Model. And we are laser focused on building a bright future for students, university and community.”

“We have a new way of thinking about higher education. We call it the ESU Model. And we are laser focused on building a bright future for students, university and community.” in-classroom training and providing a thorough knowledge of their content areas. Working with other academic departments on campus, students planning to teach at the middle- and high-school levels, earn a degree that ensure they know how to teach and are knowledgeable in their desired curriculum area. The Teachers College also offers alternate pathways for career changers to enter the teaching profession. ty Center. These additions build on a $1.5 million grant from the National Institute of Standards and Technology for a new Cybersecurity Center. Plans for the new center include benefits for both Emporia State students and the Emporia community. Funds from the federal grant will purchase technology equipment. and outreach.

MUSIC: The Department of Music is adding a faculty position for music education and community outreach and an instructor to direct choral activities. The department’s budget also will receive additional allocations.

KEN HUSH, ESU president

In September, as the university and the local community was moving past the COVID pandemic, Emporia State University announced its own reorganizations, reinvestments and future plans.

TEACHER EDUCATION: The Teachers College continues to offer programs for both the elementary and secondary levels that focus on immersing students into

NURSING: The Department of Nursing will offer two new programs. An RN to BSN online program allows those working as registered nurses to add a bachelor’s degree in nursing. The second program is an online master of science in nursing program. Three faculty positions will be added to meet demands of the programs. A new building on ESU’s main campus is anticipated to be complete by spring 2025. The building will house new academic spaces for the nursing program as well as space for Student Wellness Services.

BUSINESS: TECHNOLOGY + CYBERSECU -

RITY: The School of Business is adding a computer science faculty position and hiring a director for the new Cybersecuri-

COMMUNICATION: The Department of Communication will add a full-time instructor to expand into content creation, digital video, virtual reality and gaming/ interactive media. A new social media influencing certificate program will allow students on campus who want to create or grow a productive online presence in their chosen field. Members of the Emporia community who want to expand the online presence of their small businesses or organizations could also benefit from the program.

HISTORY + GOVERNMENT: A new program in the Department of Social Sciences, Sociology and Criminology will combine existing resources in history and political science into all new majors: Americus History + Government, World History + Government and Ideas + Institutions.

ART: The Department of Art will add faculty to teach ceramics and graphics, an art historian, instructor for art in practice, a gallery and outreach director and a graduate teaching assistant for gallery

Beyond academic programs, university leaders studied the student experience and related initiatives.

The Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion has hired a full-time Basic Needs Coordinator and will double the size of its summer BRIDGE program for first generation, low-income students and students of color. A new Intercultural Center is being built in the Memorial Union, and stipends for diversity ambassadors will be increased. In addition, Interdisciplinary Studies and Ethnic Gender and Identity are now aligned with the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.

Investment and enhancement efforts in both academic areas and the student experience will continue to be announced during the current semester, as well as other projects aimed to achieve operational excellence. The bottom line is that Emporia State is focused on elevating the programs that students want and Kansas needs for economic development.

For more information and future announcements, see www.emporia.edu/ future.