Kansas State University

From the President and Provost: Human Capital Services Assessment

Submitted by Kirk Schulz and April Mason

Last month, we announced a partnership with AON Hewitt, a national consulting services firm, to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of Kansas State University's HR-related capacities, competencies and services to support meeting our human capital needs as envisioned in K-State 2025. Our consultants have begun the very important information-gathering phase of this initiative with a universitywide survey of more than 300 employees involved in HR, EEO and related Title IX services and interviews with subject experts. 

Next week, the AON Hewitt team will conduct 16 interviews with stakeholder groups in Manhattan and Salina, including deans, academic department heads, faculty and Classified Senate and diversity point people. We have asked them to hold three open meetings for faculty and staff to provide everyone the opportunity to share suggestions and comments.  The following meetings have been scheduled:

Manhattan campus:

• 4-5 p.m. Oct. 22 in Forum Hall
• 8-9 a.m. Oct. 23 in Forum Hall

Salina campus: 

• 9-10 a.m. Oct. 24 in the College Center Conference Room

We also are appointing a Human Capital Services Assessment Advisory Committee to provide feedback to AON Hewitt on its draft findings and recommendations. This advisory committee includes the project team providing support to this initiative, as well as individuals who participated in the Unclassified Professional Task Force, the Recruitment and Hiring Assessment and the K-State 2025 Faculty and Staff Theme Group. The members are:

• Jackie Hartman, project coordinator, chief of staff/director of community relations, president’s office
• Joe Aistrup, associate dean and professor, College of Arts and Sciences
• Lynn Carlin, special assistant to the provost, provost’s office
• Lindsay Chapman, assistant general counsel, office of general counsel
• Royce Ann Collins, associate professor, College of Education
• Lori Goetsch, dean, K-State Libraries
• Annette Hernandez, administrative specialist, K-State Salina
• Gary Leitnaker, associate vice president for HR and parking services, administration and finance
• Roberta Maldonado-Franzen, interim director, office of affirmative action
• Priscilla Roddy, assistant dean for administration and finance, College of Veterinary Medicine
• Zelia Wiley, assistant dean, College of Agriculture

This evaluation will only be as beneficial as the information we provide to the consultants.  Many of you have already provided input through the survey and with your participation in various related projects during the past two years. We thank you for your continued commitment to working together to improve our ability to meet our faculty and staff needs. 

Please send questions or suggestions to hcp2025@k-state.edu. 

 Go Cats!                                    Thanks for all you do!

Kirk                                                   April