Abstract:
Every administrator and dean at Kent State has a copy of "Execution: The Discipline of Getting Things Done" on his or her desk, a gift from Lester Lefton....
Now, how about investigating the bonuses offered to university vice presidents and sweet deals offered to professors while tuition rates rise and state support shrinks.
Yo...Ben...you folks at the Stater need two additons to your staff: a subscription to U.S. News & World Report's Best Colleges in America Report and a history major.
At least "Yank" had the real world experience to instruct Doc Lefton as to the importance of same! Unfortunately for Doc Lefton, the groundwork for failure in the arena of ensuring the success of any particular freshman class was laid by the 15 year administration of herselfness, Doc Cartwright. Hm...I wonder just how long it's been that the likes of Ohio University, Miami University-Oxford and THE Ohio State University(gawd, what a hoot!) have ranked in the Top 100 of the U.S. News & World Report's Best Colleges in America rankings while K.S.U. has languished in the "ranked alphabetically" backwaters?
Now, just so's folks don't forget about Doc Lefton's elitist attitude(um, Ben? This is where the history majors come in, eh?) as expresed by his first "excellent" idea of unilaterally mandating that there should be only one graduation ceremony per year...remember that? Or what about his penchant for spending University dollars staying in 5-star European hotels that cost $1800 per night?
Hm...I wonder if the University still provides the President with his/her own helicopter, a la "Detroit Big-Three" elitism?
Here's a suggestion for Doc Lefton:
Instead of wasting University resources on the Stock Market (where KSU recently lost about $40 million), how about some much-needed investments in the bricks-and-mortar, and in the people who maintain it all?
Then, when things go to heck, you still have something of value to show for it.
It's nice to know that all those folk got a guide to "getting things done", but if you are getting the wrong things done, you're doing more harm than good.
Well, who'd have thunk it, eh? A la number of graduation ceremonies per year "required", Loot is willing to admit when he's wrong!
Recordpub.com
KSU employees get holiday leave Last year, workers had to use vacation, compensatory time
David O'Brien
6 hours ago
By Dave O'Brien
Record-Courier staff writer
In a change from last year, Kent State University employees will get six paid leave days between Dec. 24 and Dec. 31.
All employees will receive the traditional paid holidays of Dec. 24 and Dec. 25. This year, KSU also will close non-essential operations and allow staff to take paid leave on Dec. 26 and Dec. 29-31, President Lester Lefton said in an e-mail to the KSU community.
Lefton said he hoped to give employees a chance "to energize yourself to take on the formidable challenges of next year."
He added that employees' efforts "were especially notable as you helped those we serve navigate an increasingly stressful environment due to the growing state and national financial crisis."
KSU spokesman Tom Neumann said Lefton "just wanted to give people a chance" to relax because of the stress of national economic conditions.
Last year, employees who wanted more than two paid holidays were required to use personal vacation or compensatory time to receive more than those days off.
"This is a very welcome change to employees," Neumann said.
--
E-mail: dobrien@recordpub.com
Phone: (330) 298-1123
Um...someone really should inform Mr. O'Brien that, according to DOL and ODJFS regulations, the KSU employees not represented by a bargaining unit DO NOT have to use their vacation/comptime at the mandate of the University.
Hm...I wonder what kind of "plan" deems it ok to subsidize an ahtletic department to the tune of a couple million dollars per year? A plan where the participants in said athletic program receive numerous scholarships to pay for their education while charging those students who must pay full boat via credit card an additonal fee...go figure.
The Good, the Bob & the Ugly: Intrepid columnist presents awards for best, worst, goofiest and most embarrassing moments of 2008
By Bob Dyer
Beacon Journal Staff Writer
Published on Friday, Dec 26, 2008
MOST DEMANDING JOB: This was part of the job description for a PR position at Kent State University: ''Typically requires sitting, walking, standing, bending, keying, talking, hearing, seeing and repetitive motions.'' Gosh, how could anyone but an Olympic decathlete do all of that in one day?
Article published Saturday, January 3, 2009
Bowling Green State University set to lay off 43 salaried employees
Action is expected to save about $2M
By MEGHAN GILBERT
BLADE STAFF WRITER
Bowling Green State University plans to lay off more than 40 salaried employees at the end of the school year in anticipation of budget cuts next year.
Forty-three employees were sent letters throughout December - some on Christmas Eve - informing them their contracts will not be renewed at the end of this fiscal year, which ends June 30.
The reduction is expected to save the university nearly $2 million next fiscal year, university spokesman Dave Kielmeyer said.
"We've got 43 people who have been notified that their contract will not or may not be renewed, so there is still some uncertainty there," Mr. Kielmeyer said.
"This is a very fluid situation. The economy impacts our decisions, and of course, what the state will do with its budget," Mr. Kielmeyer said.
The administrative staff employees represent all nonfaculty salaried workers at the university, such as managers and directors in financial aid, residence life, and student services.
It is university policy to give salaried employees six months' notice, so they had to be notified by the end of December.
Mr. Kielmeyer confirmed some employees received their layoff notices the day before Christmas and that the university is working to make sure communications are more sensitive in the future.
"There were a handful of folks that did receive a letter on Christmas Eve, which was unfortunate," he said.
"It shouldn't have happened that way and we regret that it happened that way."
The 43 employees represent about 7 percent of the administrative staff department, which has 657 workers.
The university also has 935 hourly employees and 1,274 faculty members for a total of 2,866 permanent employees.
The university expects another round of layoffs before the year's end that will affect the hourly employees, Mr. Kielmeyer said.
Unlike the salaried employees, they will receive just a two-week notice instead of a six-month notice.
Part of the reason the 43 salaried employees are to be let go now is because some were funded in part by the state Success Challenge program, the funding for which has been reduced and is at risk of being eliminated in the future, Mr. Kielmeyer said.
The program provides financial rewards to colleges for helping students graduate in a timely manner.
An additional 24 administrative staff employees have been notified their contracts will be changed, which could result in a reduced salary. For example, a 12-month contract could be reduced to nine or 10 months, Mr. Kielmeyer said.
While staff changes are something the university goes through every year at this time, this is a larger amount than recent years because of the economy.
"This is certainly the most severe economic downturn and staff reductions we've experienced in the last decade," Mr. Kielmeyer said.
The layoffs are in addition to a hiring freeze BGSU has been in for several months in an effort to save $600,000 this year by not filling the average of 20 positions that are open at any given time.
Contact Meghan Gilbert at:
mgilbert@theblade.com
or 419-724-6134.
Spring Break
Matt
posted 12/05/08 @ 10:38 AM EST
Now, how about investigating the bonuses offered to university vice presidents and sweet deals offered to professors while tuition rates rise and state support shrinks.