ESU - President Leadership Statement by Emporia State University

Emporia state U

E M P O R I A ,

K A N S A S

PRESIDENT

LEADERSHIP STATEMENT

J U LY 2 0 1 1

K AT H E R I N E H A L E Y W I L L , P H . D . & L U C Y A . L E S K E

WITT/KIEFFER

www.emporia.edu D I S C O V E R W H A T I T M E A N S T O B E E M P O W E R E D B Y TM

Emporia State University (ESU) in Emporia, Kansas, near Kansas City, Wichita and Topeka, seeks nominations for and expressions of interest in the position of President. Emporia State University began in 1863 as an exemplary teacher education college two years after Kansas became a state and soon blossomed into a comprehensive regional University known for its rich tradition of excellence. Today, the University offers more than 65 academic areas of study that lead to bachelor’s, master’s, doctorate degrees and certificate programs in four colleges: The Teachers College, the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the School of Business and the School of Library and Information Management. With 6,262 students and a student-to-faculty ratio of 18-to-1, ESU is known for empowering Kansans and others in the region to better their lives through small classes in a caring but rigorous academic environment. Located immediately adjacent to Interstate Highway 35, ESU’s main campus sits on 218 acres. Its recreation and athletic complex faces the northern side of campus. Its nine academic buildings are located on a tree-lined complex at the southern side of the main campus. The University’s Memorial Union is presently undergoing a $25 million renovation, financed by student fees and bonds, which will be completed in March 2012. The University is also deeply rooted in the economic well-being of the area with an economic impact of $274 million, according to Kansas Board of Regents figures. In addition, the University’s Kansas Small Business Development Center has helped 20 startup companies obtain more than $2 million in capital. For information on how to nominate or apply, please see the “Procedure for Candidacy” section at the end of this document.

THE CITY OF EMPORIA Emporia State University is located next to downtown Emporia, a vibrant town of about 27,000 with coffee shops, restaurants, a wonderful art deco theatre and an arts scene that includes a symphony orchestra, which links with ESU’s renowned music program. Its system of city parks rivals Kansas’ best. Emporia was founded February 20, 1857, and hailed as “the loveliest site in the world for a town.” Named for a Greek market center, Emporia has thrived as a focal point for manufacturing and trade. Four major highways intersect in Emporia–Interstate 35, the Kansas Turnpike, U.S. Highway 50 and Kansas Highway 99. Emporia is an important crossroads for the east-central Kansas population. With nearly 700 lodging rooms, 80 dining choices and 30 meeting facilities, Emporia is a great meeting place for regional, state and national conferences and events. Serving as the county seat, Emporia is the largest city in Lyon County, covering 8.97 square miles. The city’s population is approximately 26,760, and Lyon County has a population of 35,935. Because the Emporia State University Teachers College is embedded in the area’s schools, the city’s and area’s elementary and secondary school systems are exemplary. Emporia is known as the “Front Porch to the Flint Hills,” the

The Flint Hills offer a wealth of outdoor activities.

state’s most magical landscape with the world’s largest tract of undisturbed tall grass prairie. The beautiful Flint Hills also offer the following outdoor experiences: • Twenty miles from town is the Tallgrass National Prairie Preserve with fishing and more than 40 miles of hiking trails. • Ready to bike? At the north end of campus, there’s College Trails, Emporia’s oldest single track trail system. It consists of a network of winding trails that run along the Neosho River. • Looking for more fishing? Consider the John Redmond Reservoir and Melvern Lake, where you can boat, camp, swim, bike and hike 30 minutes from town. • Looking to spot an American bald eagle? Just 30 minutes away is the Flint Hills National Wildlife Refuge in Hartford.

ESU POINTS OF PRIDE Among ESU’s points of pride are: • A first tier University ranking by U.S. News and World Report. • U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan noted in speeches on two occasions that ESU “creates great teachers.” In fact, the U.S. Department of Education recently created a video touting the ESU Teachers College attributes at http://bit.ly/nzzPSp • A School of Business that holds the prestigious Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB-International)

It’s not just what we have— it’s who we are. We’re friends, families and neighbors living in a community where heritage meets the future with grace and style.

accreditation, a designation held by less than five percent of the business schools worldwide. The business school also was recently named the best value for in-state and out-of-state students by U.S. News and World Report. • ESU is home to the National Teachers Hall of Fame (NTHF), founded in 1989 by ESU, the ESU Alumni Association, the City of Emporia, USD 253 and the Emporia Area Chamber of Commerce as a tribute to the nation’s most important profession—teaching. In 1953, Emporia State University also established the Kansas Master Teacher awards to honor Kansas teachers who have served the profession long and well and who typify the good qualities of earnest and conscientious teachers. • A recently renovated, state-of-the-art Memorial Union that offers shopping, entertainment, dining, leisure activities, social areas and meeting spaces with floor-to-ceiling glass windows that provide amazing vistas of ESU’s lovely campus. Visit http://bit.ly/n8nTfb to learn more. • An innovative and strategic multimedia and social media marketing campaign titled “Discover What It Means to Be Empowered by E,” aimed at increasing enrollment and targeting prospective students living in high yield areas. The marketing plan publicizes ESU’s many strengths and builds recognition for its exemplary programs throughout Kansas and neighboring states. Visit http://bit.ly/nmHr3w for more information. • An engaged faculty, 82 percent of whom have the terminal

PHOTO BY DICK GARVEY, ESU

PHOTO, IMDesignGroup.com©

THE OPPORTUNITY

Students wait in line to see a show at Emporia’s wonderful art deco theater, the Granada, a few blocks from campus.

degree in their fields, are dedicated to the success of their students. • Two programs that encourage undergraduate research, unusual at most comprehensive universities, include the Kansas Idea Network of Biomedical Research Excellence and ESU’s Summer Undergraduate Program. • A 15-sport NCAA Division II program, including Hornet football, basketball, volleyball, soccer, baseball, softball, track and field, cross country and tennis. In 2010, the women’s basketball team was crowned NCAA Division II national champions. • More than 130 student organizations and an active Greek community that offer ESU students a wealth of leadership opportunities. The Greek Games every spring are an ESU tradition. • The Emporia State University Metro Learning Center in the greater Kansas City area brings ESU quality to students in Johnson and surrounding counties. The University is currently investigating new locations that will offer more potential for growth. • The University conveniently offers distance and online degrees in a variety of programs, including library science, instructional design, business and education. Emporia State’s E-BIZ program partners with Butler Community College to offer bachelor’s degrees in business administration and information systems. • The Teachers College partners with Butler, Kansas City, Kansas and Johnson County community colleges to offer undergraduate degrees in elementary education. Students enroll in commu-

PHOTO BY ANDREW DORPINGHAUS, ESU

PHOTO BY DICK GARVEY, ESU

nity college courses for the first two years and then take classes at the community colleges taught by ESU Teachers College faculty. • A large international student population adds to the diversity of the University’s student body while promoting an understanding of other cultures. • The University distributes more than $1.8 million annually in scholarship aid to deserving students.

EMPORIA STATE UNIVERSITY: OVERVIEW Mission Emporia State University is a dynamic and progressive studentcentered learning community that fosters student success through engagement in academic excellence, community and global involvement, and the pursuit of personal and professional fulfillment. The Core Values of Emporia State University • Excellence — we value intellectual challenges; problem solving; creative and critical thinking. • Respect — we value integrity, collaboration, diversity, freedom of thought and freedom of expression. • Responsibility — we value accountability and stewardship of the institution, the environment, human resources and personal well-being. • Service — we value engagement in leadership and community that positively impacts our global society.

The Greek Games are an exciting ESU tradition.

ESU’s Colleges and Schools The Teachers College Legacy of excellence. Exemplary programs. Trail-blazing. ESU’s Teachers College has been identified as one of the top 10 schools of education in the United States by the George Lucas Foundation. Furthermore, one of every six teachers in Kansas earned his or her degree at ESU. That’s not surprising because ESU’s Teachers College’s reputation is beyond reproach. Former President of the Teachers College at Columbia University called ESU’s program the “Camelot for teacher education.” The School of Business Technology. Resources. An acclaimed faculty and a prestigious AACSB-International accreditation. “One of the big reasons I came to Emporia State was the quality of the professors,” explains Carl Ricketts, BSB ’80, MBA ’81, of Capitol Federal Savings’ Chief Strategic Planning Office. Ricketts is just one of many successful graduates from ESU’s School of Business. More than 97 percent of graduates are placed in jobs within six to nine months after graduation. Business students also have state-of-the-art multimedia capability and high speed Internet access to facilitate their studies, all of this in small class settings in top-of-the-line facilities. Moreover, the business school is the home of the Center for Insurance Education, the Kansas Small Business Development Center and the Kansas Business Hall of Fame. The School of Library and Information Management (SLIM) Innovation. Technology. Unsurpassed student assistance. Founded in 1902, SLIM is the oldest school of library and information studies in the western half of the United States and offers courses at six program sites in Colorado, Kansas, Oregon and Utah. SLIM is the only library school in Kansas accredited by the

Emporia State University is known for its caring and dedicated faculty.

American Library Association, offering a two-year, 36-credit-hour Master of Library Science degree that prepares qualified students to become information professionals in all types of libraries and information agencies as well as a Ph.D. program that prepares scholars to teach information science in higher education. The School Library Media Licensure program is accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE).

known and nationally accredited art and music programs, including the four-year degree in Engraving Arts, the only program of its kind in the world, and the world-class glass-blowing program. ESU’s highly regarded nursing program is one of the few to pilot the “Handle with Care” campaign. The sciences at ESU are known for preparing students to enter the health and medical fields and giving them an advantage in those pursuits.

The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences The humanities. Natural sciences. Social sciences. ESU’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences offers undergraduate and graduate courses in the humanities, natural sciences and social sciences. Comprised of 11 academic departments, the college includes well-

ESU HISTORY The University was founded on February 15, 1863, when the Kansas Legislature passed the enabling act to establish the Kansas State Normal School. The school’s first graduating class consisted

of two women in 1867, the year the first permanent building was completed. In February 1923, the name of the school was changed to the Kansas State Teachers College. In July 1974, the name was changed to Emporia Kansas State College. On April 21, 1977, the college became Emporia State University. The Kansas Board of Regents is the governing body for ESU. Since 1863 more than 150,000 students have studied at ESU and have gone on to careers in business and industry, education, the professional fields and many other areas throughout the world. To honor its rich heritage, the University is planning a sesquicentennial celebration from Homecoming 2012 to Homecoming 2013, incorporating its 150th Founders Day on February 15, 2013.

ESU STUDENTS ESU students recognize the University’s core commitment to classroom instruction and teaching excellence. This is a major part of the University’s character: to teach and model teaching. ESU students, the faculty who teach them and the staff who serve them value this key indicator of ESU’s identity. Nine out of ten students enrolled at ESU today are Kansans. Of the 105 counties in Kansas, 103 are represented among the student body, as well as 45 other states and 40 different countries. Many of them are first-generation college students. More than 2,100 ESU students are involved in intramural sports, including flag football, volleyball, rugby, softball and soccer. The University’s affordability also attracts many prospective students who might not have been able to afford a college education. ESU has among the lowest costs of attendance—tuition, room, board and fees—in the Kansas Regents system. ESU’s innovative Flat Rate Tuition means that undergraduate students who take 10 or more credit hours—7 or more for graduate students— have the ability to explore a wide variety of academic choices at no additional cost per credit hour. ESU students also value their experiences with faculty. The National Survey of Student Engagement shows that ESU ranked higher in its peer group in student-faculty interaction inside and

PHOTO BY DICK GARVEY, ESU

is given annually to a family with multiple generations of ESU graduates and former students. The Association is unique as it is a non-dues paying membership open to both former students and graduates with the primary purpose of establishing mutually beneficial relationships between ESU and its alumni—supporting its mission to build relationships and support for Emporia State University today and tomorrow.

HOUSING FOR STUDENTS ESU residence halls put students where the action is. There are three residence hall complexes on campus and an off-campus apartment complex. Residence hall living includes access to cable television, wireless Internet, air conditioning, heating and electricity at no extra cost. Activities councils in the residence halls help students plan events such as taco nights and ice cream socials.

ESU FACTS Resources • Total cost on-campus attendance per year: $12,232 (in-state), $14,164 (neighboring states), $22,612 (out-of-state) • Ratio of students to faculty: 18:1 • Total faculty: 256 • Total faculty and staff: 728 FTE • Enrollment total: 6,262 (Fall 2010) * Total undergraduate students: 4,066 * Total graduate students: 2,196 • Diversity enrollment: 10.5 percent

• • • •

Mascot: Corky, the Hornet 2011-12 Operating Budget: $95 million * 37 percent state contribution * 35 percent tuition and fee contribution Endowment assets: $63.8 million 218 acre campus with 73 buildings

2010-11 Admissions data: • Applicants: 2,285 (825 men/1,460 women) • Admitted: 1,872 (657 men/1,215 women) • Admission rate: 82 percent • Freshmen enrolled: 641 (237 men/404 women) • Incoming average ACT score: 21.5 • Transfer students enrolled: 421 (157 men/264 women) • International students: 543 For more information, see ESU’s 2010 Annual Report. PHOTO BY DICK GARVEY, ESU

A large international student population adds to ESU’s diversity. outside the classroom, according to ESU’s first-year students. Eighty-one percent rated their relationships with faculty positively.

EMPORIA STATE UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION The ESU Foundation was established in 1952 as an independent, nonprofit 501(c)(3) corporation that exists to support Emporia State University. The Foundation staff raises, receives, manages, invests, distributes and stewards private resources in support of the University’s mission in the areas of teaching, research, public service and scholarship. The Foundation’s fund-raising staff works with individuals, corporations and foundations that believe in and support the University’s goals and initiatives through charitable gifts that improve, enhance and expand the vitality of Emporia State.

ESU ALUMNI ASSOCIATION Emporia State University has more than 59,000 alumni living in all 50 states and internationally. Seventy-five percent of its alumni live in the Midwest. The ESU Alumni Association (ESUAA) was founded in 1880 and was incorporated as a nonprofit organization in 1979. The ESUAA is led by a 21-member volunteer board of directors and focuses its annual programming throughout Kansas via regional chapter events plus hosts alumni events around the country, including Washington, D.C., Denver and Phoenix. One of the largest chapters is the Emporia Connection, which is comprised of African-American alumni living throughout the U.S. and the world. Each year the ESUAA awards several honors. The Distinguished Alumni Award, the University’s highest honor, recognizes unique and significant achievements by alumni. Four Outstanding Recent Graduate Award recipients are selected by the four academic schools and recognize graduates who have distinguished themselves early in their respective careers. The University Service Citation award recognizes unique and significant service to the University and selects volunteers who have demonstrated deep loyalty and service. Finally, the Hornet Heritage Family award

Near the residence halls are the Student Recreation Center and pool that offers a variety of cardiovascular, weight machines and free weights. All of this is part of an active campus life.

Three residence hall complexes and an off-campus apartment complex offer ESU a wide variety of room choices.

PHOTO BY DICK GARVEY, ESU

THE ROLE OF THE PRESIDENT The president of Emporia State University has overall responsibility for ensuring the fulfillment of the University’s mission, for assuring the highest standards of academic quality and fiscal integrity, for maintaining and developing the strategic relationships essential for the University’s success and for leading efforts to maximize the University’s access to resources. The president of Emporia State University is appointed by and reports to the Kansas Board of Regents. In the current organizational structure, the following positions report to the President of Emporia State University and are members of the President’s Administrative Team: * Provost/Vice President for Academic Affairs and Student Life * Vice President for Administration and Fiscal Affairs * Vice President for Strategic Partnerships * Director of Intercollegiate Athletics * General Counsel * President of the Foundation * Executive Director of University Advancement * Executive Assistant to the President Other positions that report directly to the president are: * Affirmative Action Officer * Governmental Relations Liaison * Administrative Assistant to the President Additionally, the Director of Internal Audit has an indirect reporting line to the president.

OPPORTUNITIES & EXPECTATIONS FOR LEADERSHIP Articulate and Advocate for Emporia State’s Distinctive Mission and Unique Brand The transition to new presidential leadership presents an opportunity to build on recent brand identity and marketing initiatives that tell an exciting ESU story to all constituencies. The president will work with the University and the community in envisioning and articulating the identity and role of ESU in the state system, in the region and in the nation. ESU must continue to amplify its distinctive characteristics and unique programs, seek greater recognition, and more broadly market its strengths and value to its constituencies—or in the higher education marketplace in general. The appointment of a new president will present an ideal opportunity to deliver ESU’s message and highlight its attractive emphasis on student development in a small, supportive environment. Strengthen Student Recruitment and Enrollment Management The new president must continue recent work by ESU’s enrollment management division to strengthen its student recruitment efforts and incorporate state-of-the-art enrollment management techniques. The institution has been working with Noel Levitz to clarify its distinctiveness as an excellent small, affordable, studentfocused campus and to target a pool of prospective students that are most likely to apply and persist. As the economy tightens and competition for students increases among nearby institutions, ESU has sought and received

The Student Recreation Center on campus keeps the ESU community fit. a seven percent increase in tuition; however, ESU still offers students one of the lowest tuition/fees in the state. ESU currently has a strong international population, mostly from China. The University should explore how to build on this strength and expand international recruitment. To further student enrollment, the president should seek cooperation with partners in the region such as the Flint Hills Technical College in order to build synergies through articulation agreements, joint programs and offerings that would capitalize on Emporia State University’s strengths as well as meet the emerging needs of nearby employers. Emporia State University can serve as a catalyst and nexus between higher education and economic growth and opportunity in the area. Build Support and Revenue Streams for ESU All institutions of public higher education in Kansas (and indeed in the nation) must be proactive and strategic with resource development. ESU’s president must seek multiple sources of support to further the University’s strategic goals: academic excellence, student success, leadership and community and global engagement.

The Regents and the Legislature The Kansas Board of Regents seeks an innovative and creative leader for Emporia State. Competition for resources for higher education in Kansas is intense; ESU’s president must be an effective advocate and spokesperson for the University within the state system. The president must effectively articulate ESU’s unique role and distinctive mission in the state higher education system and assure that the University has the funding and fee structures it needs to fulfill its mission. The Foundation The new president must play a leadership role in partnering with the University Foundation on active cultivation and solicitation of private donors, relationship building with regional and national businesses, and community and government outreach. Partnerships The president must be entrepreneurial in identifying new areas of distinctiveness—building upon the University’s significant strengths—and developing potential new revenue streams. The president must lead the way in exploring entrepreneurial ventures. Public-private partnerships and other creative vehicles will

play an increasingly important role in ensuring revenue growth. Build Strong Relationships and Cooperation with the Community The University seeks a new president with the vision and ability to leverage Emporia State University as a cultural and economic center for the region. There is tremendous potential for progress in developing community-University relations. The president is the point source for positive relationships and cooperation among ESU, the community at large and area business leaders. The campus offers rich opportunities for cultural and intellectual engagement, community participation in enhancing the quality of life in the region and business development. The president must serve as a model for successful cooperative relationships that serve the common good. The campus seeks a leader who embodies the values of shared governance, who practices transparent communication and engages a broad range of constituents in determining and pursuing strategic goals, and who maintains a visible, approachable presence on campus. As a student-centered university that is, like many institutions, coping with financial challenges, Emporia State University seeks

PREFERRED QUALITIES AND QUALIFICATIONS The new president of Emporia State University will be an exceptional and talented leader, dedicated to and passionate about public higher education and the impact that institutions can have on their region and society as a whole. The president of Emporia State University is expected to serve as an active participant in the community, a model of citizenship and a strong advocate for the University’s values of academic quality, student support and success, concern for its people and regional/global citizenship. The president must be able to forge highly effective, productive relationships with a broad range of people, groups, organizations and entities. The president must also possess seasoned administrative and management skills in order to lead effectively a complex, multifaceted organization that is facing an array of complex challenges and opportunities. The president must be able to foster an inclusive and supportive environment for gathering input from the internal and external communities while moving the University forward. Strong educational credentials including an advanced degree and a broad understanding and appreciation of academic life including teaching, scholarship and service are essential, with an earned doctorate highly preferred. In addition, the president will demonstrate: • Capacity to establish a compelling vision for the University and develop support and engagement among a variety of constituencies; • A servant leadership philosophy—respectful, willing to engage Emporia State University’s stakeholders in decision-making and always placing the institution and students first; • An understanding of the advantages and challenges facing a regional, public comprehensive university in contemporary society, and how to capitalize on the strengths of its people and programs; • A strong advocate and spokesperson for the University in the community, the region and the state; • The ability to lead and model productive recruitment, retention and engagement of faculty, staff and students; • A track record of effective institutional advancement efforts, and a willingness to be an active participant in fund-raising activities of all types; • The ability to communicate the University’s mission, values and role in the Emporia community and to create a welcoming environment for the community on the campus; • Successful, positive experience with and/or support of the collective bargaining process; • The ability and desire to maintain a high level of visibility and involvement with student life through attendance at student, cultural, athletic and social events; • Experience with shared governance; • An understanding of the role of the president in working with an affiliated foundation board, coupled with the ability to

PHOTO BY DICK GARVEY, ESU

a leader who will work collaboratively across the institution to maintain positive morale while dealing openly and honestly with the issues, seeking the best minds to offer the best solutions and maintaining absolute commitment to supporting academic excellence and the ESU’s mission.

ESU’s women’s basketball team was crowned 2010 NCAA Division II National Champions. support board education and development; • Understanding of public institutions of higher learning; • An understanding of and ability to articulate the value and potential inherent in a diverse community; • Approachability, personal warmth, transparency and openmindedness; and • A willingness to make difficult decisions.

PROCEDURE FOR CANDIDACY Nominations, expressions of interest and applications including a cover letter, curriculum vitae and the contact information for five references (who will not be contacted without informing you) should be directed to Emporia State University’s consultants, Katherine (Kate) Haley Will, Ph.D. and Lucy Leske of Witt/Kieffer at EmporiaPres@wittkieffer.com. For telephone inquiries, please call (630) 575-6178. Credential review will begin Sept. 15, 2011. ESU science students benefit from state-of-the-art technology.

Emporia State University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.

PHOTO BY DICK GARVEY, ESU

Emporia State is a friendly, caring community.

The material presented in this leadership profile should be relied on for informational purposes only. This material has been copied, compiled or quoted in part from ESU documents and personal interviews and is believed to be reliable. Naturally, while every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this information, the original source documents and factual situations govern.