K-Statement

 

LEAVE RATES CHANGE FOR CLASSIFIED EMPLOYEES The Kansas Board of Regents has approved new leave accrual rates for non-exempt and exempt classified employees. The implementation of these changes will take place in two phases. The first phase, effective June 15, affects employees with more than 10 years of service. These employees will earn 6.7 hours of annual leave per pay period when in pay status for 80 hours. There will no longer be a distinction between 10 and 15 years of service. The second phase, which goes into effect with fiscal year 2010, affects employees with more than five years but less than 10 years of service. These employees will earn 5.5 hours of annual leave per pay period when in pay status for 80 hours. Employees with less than five years of service will continue to earn 3.7 hours of annual leave per pay period when in pay status for 80 hours. Non-exempt classified employees who report fewer than 80 hours in a pay period shall earn annual leave on a prorated basis. The maximum annual leave accruals and payouts for classified employees will be similar to unclassified beginning June 15. Maximum accruals will no longer be based on years of service. Classified employees may accrue up to 304 hours of annual leave. Maximum leave payout upon termination will change to 176 hours. At retirement, an employee may receive payment for up to 240 hours of annual leave. Additional information, including the prorated accrual chart, will be available soon in a revised Classified Employee Leaves PPM 4860.   NOTEWORTHY   Dana C. Krueger, management, and colleagues presented "Semiconductor Yield Modeling Using Generalized Linear Mixed Models," Industrial Engineering Research Conference, May 18, Vancouver, British Columbia. More Noteworthy   On Campus June - July   June 21-23 Athletic camp Athletic Training Student Camp gives high school students the chance to learn about taping, rehydration, stretching and other sports medicine topics. Call Matt Thomason, director of sports medicine and head athletics trainer for K-State intercollegiate athletics, at 532-6384. June 25-27 GROW for girls GROW, or Girls Researching Our World, takes place across campus. For more information, contact the Division of Continuing Education conference registration office at 785-532-5569. June 27 Jazz in June The K-State Faculty Jazz Ensemble performs at 7:30 p.m., Hemisphere Room, Hale Library July 3 Mixed media exhibit Works by Marvin Gould and Duane Noblett are on display from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays through July 30 in the Kemper Art Gallery, K-State Student Union.

Classified senate challenge

When Jennyfer Owensby was 12, she won the gold medal in the Kansas Junior Olympics in the 50-meter breast stroke. Though she is no longer a competitive swimmer, the dedication and work ethic she gained early on will certainly come in handy during the challenging year that lies ahead of her as classified senate president. Read more

 

Comparative destruction

After a tornado leaves town, Mary Knapp knows her phone will ring. Knapp, an associate agronomist in Research and Extension, is also the state climatologist. But since last week's tornado, most callers are asking Knapp about the last time Manhattan and the campus hosted a twister. That was June 8, 1966. Read more

 

UP CLOSE

Qualified for barbecue

In 2006, faculty members in K-State's hotel, restaurant, institutional management and dietetics program got the chance to judge a contest held in conjunction with the K-State spring football game. Sanctioned by the Kansas City Barbeque Society, the contest required about 10 faculty members to learn the group's rules and regulations for judging. Read more

 

PLAUDITS

 

WELTI RECEIVES OUTSTANDING SCIENTIST AWARD

Ruth Welti, professor of biology, has received the 2008 Outstanding Senior Scientist Award from the K-State chapter of Sigma Xi, a scientific research society.

Welti was recognized at the recent Sigma Xi award banquet. She received a certificate, $100 honorarium and an invitation to present her research to the K-State community next year.

"Dr. Welti has excelled in her professional career in teaching and research in her field," said Susan Sun, chair of the K-State Sigma Xi outstanding scientist award committee and a professor of grain science and industry. "She has published more than 40 journal articles in the past five years and developed her leadership skills in lipidomics focus groups, stimulating collaboration and interdisciplinary research."

KERSHNER ATTENDS FERRUM SUMMER INSTITUTE

Tiffany Kershner, an assistant professor of sociology, anthropology and social work, is one of 19 faculty from across the U.S. attending the fourth biennial Summer Institute for College and University Teachers at Ferrum College, Va. It continues through July 4.

Funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities, the institute examines Appalachian issues that link regional study to the liberal arts. The 19 scholars selected to receive stipends for travel and expenses to participate in the Ferrum Institute represent colleges and universities from 13 states and Japan.

"I am developing a new linguistic anthropology course called 'Language and Ecology,'" Kershner said. "Although the course will cover cultures from all over the world, I plan to include a regional focus on Appalachia."

K-STATERS PARTICIPATE IN WAKONSE CONFERENCE

Thirteen K-State faculty members participated in the 2008 Wakonse Conference on College Teaching from May 22–27 that was attended by nearly 110 faculty from 18 colleges and universities. K-State faculty were facilitators in several sessions.

The K-State contingent at the Michigan conference included (left to right): Back row: Troy Harding, Florence Neymotin, Richard Zajac. Middle row: Bill Genereux, Tara Coleman, Robbie Bear, John Schlup, Steve Stockham, Dave Nichols. Front row: Lisa Tatonetti, Sherry Haar , Beth Davis and Kathy Voecks.

 

POINTS OF PRIDE Fitzwater to deliver Huck Boyd lecture Marlin Fitzwater, press secretary to Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush, will deliver the ninth annual Huck Boyd Lecture in Community Media at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 10, in Forum Hall at the K-State Student Union. The title of Fitzwater's lecture will be "Community Media in the White House." Fitzwater began his 40-year career in journalism and public service in his Kansas hometown, Abilene. After working on several newspapers, Fitzwater became press secretary to Presidents Reagan and Bush, from 1983 to 1992. He is the only press secretary in American history to be appointed by two presidents.

 

 

OH, BY THE WAY

 

LITTLE APPLE JAZZ FEST COMING JULY 5

Six bands are to appear at the annual Little Apple Jazz Festival, from 4-11 p.m. Saturday, July 5, at City Park. The headliner will be the Lisa Henry Quartet from Kansas City.

The event is free and open to the public; food vendors will be on hand.

The event is sponsored by the K-State Student Union Program Council, Ag Press, and the Manhattan Parks & Recreation Department as part of their Arts in the Park series. For more information visit http://www.k-state.edu/upc/jazzfest.htm

The acts, ranging from Latin (El Mambo) to Dixieland (New Red Onion Jazz Babies), are scheduled as follows:

4-5 p.m. -- Main stage -- Fort Riley Big Band
5-6 p.m. -- Side stage -- High School Jazz All-Stars
6-7 p.m. -- Main stage -- El Mambo Orquestra
7-7:30 p.m. -- Side stage -- Kelly McCarty Band
7:30-8:30 p.m. -- Main stage -- New Red Onion Jazz Babies
8:30-9 p.m. -- Side stage -- Kelly McCarty Band
9-10:30 p.m. -- Main stage -- Lisa Henry Quartet

From 10 a.m. to noon Sunday, July 6, a jazz brunch will take place at the Bluestem Bistro in Aggieville; the Kelly McCarty Trio will play.

 

OPPORTUNITIES CLASSIFIED • A recording of classified job opportunities is available 24 hours a day on the Employment Information Line, 785-532-6271. • A list of employment opportunities is posted at www.k-state.edu/hr/ • For additional information, call 785-532-6277 or come to the Division of Human Resources in 103 Edwards Hall. Applications are accepted 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. weekdays. UNCLASSIFIED • A complete listing of vacancies can be seen at www.k-state.edu/affact/ • For additional information, call the office of affirmative action at 785-532-6220 or come by 214 Anderson Hall.