Lane announces goals, changes for fall semester

Kellen Jenkins / The Bulletin

President Lane speaks to an audience of community members, faculty, and students the afternoon of Tuesday August 19 in Albert Taylor Hall. Lane covered topics ranging from accomplishments by ESU in the previous year to issues concerning future changes to campus facilities and security.

Faculty and students met in Albert Taylor Hall Tuesday to hear remarks from President Michael Lane and Faculty Senate President Amy Sage Webb regarding the upcoming fall semester. Lane accepted a Department of Defense Patriot Award on behalf of Emporia State during the assembly.

“Emporia State University is honored to be recognized in this manner,” Lane said. “We will continue to support the men and women who serve this country. The very least we can do for these patriots, whether they are employees or students, is to make their transition back to ESU as seamless as possible.”

The award is given to employers who support staff and students during their transition between school and military duty and is given by the National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve.

In his speech, Lane noted several university accomplishments of the last six months and cited changes that have occurred on campus since last semester. In regards to the new General Education requirements that were approved last spring, Lane said that the new program will become effective in the fall 2009 semester. The new General Education program does not require that students take history or economics.

“It’s here, it’s new and it’s approved,” Lane said. “Last spring, I signed the Senate Bills that put that program into effect... I want to thank all of the members of the General Education Council and all of the members of the university community who provided input to that council during that long process of revising that General Education program.”

Safety on campus was also addressed, with a special emphasis on new locks for classroom doors, pop up emergency alert messages on campus computers and the new Rave Messaging System, a text message service to alert students of emergencies.

“If anything occurs,” Lane said, “you will instantaneously receive a text message which will include instructions on what to do and what the emergency is.”

Faculty Senate President and associate professor of English, Amy Sage Webb, also spoke during the assembly. Webb said she looked forward to being able to “seek, build and share” with students and faculty throughout the semester.

“Every department on campus has representation on the Senate…they represent you, your program, department and concerns,” Webb said. “Please make good use of them and of the important role that they play.”

Webb also announced the nominees for Second Vice President of the Faculty Senate, Dr. Gary Holcomb and Dr. Carol Russell. The Second Vice President will be elected by the Faculty Senate following a forum for candidates to discuss their opinions on various subjects.

Webb said that she is looking forward to working with Lane this year.

“He has established a pattern of committed dialogue with faculty governance and I look forward to that again this year,” Webb said.

New faculty and staff were also introduced via a PowerPoint presentation and speeches from their respective department heads. According to the Office of Human Resources, approximately 30 new benefits eligible employees have been hired for this semester.