The Kansas Board of Regents approved two measures this week that will require universities to be more transparent in considering firing tenured faculty due to COVID-19 financial challenges.
The moves come after Regents came under intense scrutiny for its January ruling to allow university CEOs to unilaterally fire tenured faculty members if COVID-19 caused certain budgetary challenges. All state universities with the exception of the University of Kansas have ruled out using the controversial practice.
The first policy change requires faculty, staff and student governance groups to provide input, comments and recommendations before a university CEO can get approval of policies, even with dissent from faculty and student groups. The second part requires university CEOs to communicate with their campuses and the Regents about developing those policy frameworks.
“We do that routinely, that’s not a big lift for us. We can do it many ways. We can have an open forum, present the material and get Q&A, we can put something in K-State Today explaining our rationale. We do that all the time,” said K-State President Richard Myers.
The policy also requires alternative to layoffs be included in presentations. Myers says if the university’s financial circumstances are dire enough and actions aren’t working, K-State needs to be able to explain that.
The University of Kansas has come under particular criticism over the process, particularly from faculty leaders. Regents President and CEO Blake Flanders says any claims that KU hasn’t been transparent about its process are misguided.
“I don’t know how the University of Kansas could be more transparent about the budget than they have been. I don’t think these changes impact what’s going on at the University of Kansas, because I think clearly they’ve been communicating every step of the way,” he said.
The board voted 8-1 for the changes. Regent Mark Hutton voted against, urging more time to review the changes with stakeholders before approval.
In other business Wednesday, President Myers highlighted the three recently acquired flight trainer simulators at the K-State Polytechnic campus in Salina. The simulators enable faculty to instruct future aviators in some of the best state-of-the-art training devices.
“The things you can do with an automated flight deck crew coordination, these multiple systems, you get to know that here. It gives them a leg up when they go into the industry,” Myers said.
The new equipment was gifted by John and Kim Vanier, of Salina, last month. Myers says the need for quality aviators is going to skyrocket in the future. He also discussed enrollment increases at the Polytechnic campus.
“All the residence halls are signed up for and have been for several weeks now. This just adds to that and we thank John and Kim for what they’ve done for K-State,” he said.
Myers also briefed the Regents on the university’s Shelter Medicine Community Outreach Vehicle — Wellness on Wheels, as well as results from the All in for K-State initiative, Hale Library recovery, the 2021 Rural Education Summit and K-State being named a top employer by DiversityJobs.com.
