Board
M at t e r s
A newsletter for current and past members of the K-State Alumni Association Board of Directors “Enhancing our Kansas State University family through lifelong involvement” Greetings! I’m pleased to share that the K-State Alumni Association has retained the No. 1 ranking for the percentage of graduates who are members for the 16th year in a row! This is an outstanding accomplishment and I want to recognize Kelly Law ’01, who directs the program, the entire staff and volunteer leaders as this would not be possible without you. I also want to welcome Linda Cook ’77, and Andrew Zender ’05 to the staff. Linda joined us as assistant vice president for communications in May, and Andrew, effective July 10, replaced Tim Lindemuth ’77, as editor of the K-Stater. Tim retired June 30
following 19 years with the Association and a total of 37 years at K-State. As board chair, Kent Bradley ’88, shares in his column, we certainly have much to celebrate! It is so exciting to witness the growth in programs campus-wide, and we want to thank you for your ongoing commitment. I look forward to seeing you at a future event and hope you can join us in October as we celebrate the Alumni Center 10-year Anniversary! Amy Button Renz ’76, ’86 President and CEO
PRESIDENT SCHULZ PRESENTS GOALS FOR K-STATE
SUMMER 2012
set the 2012 Leadership Conference for Sept. 7-8. We are researching new signage for our alumni clubs, and planning for a Denver scholarship gala for January 2014 is under way. In June, the regents approved a 5.5 percent tuition and fees increase for the Manhattan and Salina campuses. This equates to approximately $8.49 million in new revenue. Rising health care costs, KPERS rate increases, classified staff longevity bonuses, increased fringe benefits costs and utility costs will absorb $3.45 million of these funds. An additional $1.98 million is designated toward faculty promotion salary increases, fees for instructional costs, faculty retention and funding to add course sections to keep pace with enrollment. The remaining funds will be used to support student financial aid costs, expansion of student retention
programs, laboratory equipment, supplies for undergraduate courses and funding for the Division of Continuing Education. The university also welcomes Richard Potter as the first director of Corporate Engagement, as well as deans Ali Malekzedah, business administration; Peter Dorhout, arts and sciences; John Floros, agriculture and director of K-State Research and Extension; Debbie Mercer ’84, ’88, ’96, ’99, education; and Verna Fitzsimmons, CEO and dean of K-State Salina. Memorandums of understanding also have been signed with the University of Queensland in Brisbane and the University of Western Australia. The MOUs include student exchange agreements, which will allow K-State students to spend one or two semesters at these institutions. K-State Alumni Association archives
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une 15 marked the three-year anniversary of Kirk H. Schulz’s term as president of Kansas State University. A visionary leader, President Schulz and his leadership team continue to challenge the Wildcat family to achieve at the highest levels. In April, President Schulz presented his goals for this fiscal year to the Kansas Board of Regents. Included in this plan were four goals relating to the Alumni Association: • Increase international alumni events from 10 to 20 in fiscal year 2012-13. • Continue to further define the K-State Alumni Association “link for life” brand with the alumni clubs. Develop signage for all alumni clubs and plan an alumni leadership conference for fall 2012. • Increase event attendance by 5 percent more than 2011-12 numbers. • Continue to research scholarship fundraising opportunities for out-ofstate alumni clubs and explore adding a gala in Denver (similar to Wabash CannonBall) in fiscal year 2013-14. Association staff is working to successfully achieve each goal. We are working with several campus representatives who travel internationally to enhance our engagement efforts with alumni and friends living abroad, and we have