With Emporia State students increasingly taking classes from off-campus locations, Interim President Ken Hush is recognizing that trend — but he also wants to see the university doing what it can to increase the on-campus enrollment.
Hush made his comments after speaking in front of the Emporia Rotary Club on Tuesday, saying on-campus enrollment is “front and center” as the university moves forward.
Hush said there is an increasing emphasis on academia, notably through elevating faculty voices on campus.
Hush’s comments Tuesday come after ESU elevated Shelly Gehrke to Vice President of Enrollment Management and Student Success on Monday. Hush’s appearance at the Rotary meeting also comes as Emporia State has secured $350,000 in Lyon County funds for a new scholarship-and-enrollment initiative to help bring students to campus for enrollment. The ESU Foundation has also allocated $350,000, and a request for the same level of support from the city of Emporia is awaiting a decision from the City Commission.
The 2022 legislative session is underway, and Hush says the Board of Regents’ request for $200 million in additional funding is vital for Emporia State’s success. ESU would get a percentage of that funding if approved, and Hush says the university is looking at different enrollment trends and building or infrastructure needs to see where reinvestment should take place.
Hush will join the ESU Buzz at 8:20 am Thursday on KVOE and KVOE.com. Students return to campus for classes next week.
