Plans have been finalized for a candlelight vigil in response to the terminations and dismissals at Emporia State University this past week.
The vigil is planned for 8 pm Monday evening at the Sunken Gardens in front of the water fountain on the ESU campus. Activities will include acoustic music and a chance to write down well-wishes to the affected faculty and staff.
Meanwhile, after several student-led protests last week both inside and outside of Plumb Hall, another protest is tentatively coming Wednesday.
Nearly two weeks ago, Emporia State administration announced its plans to seek approval for its Framework for Workforce Management, a plan to refocus university attention on certain programs — in general terms, nursing, business, education, library management and information management — while giving ESU the leeway to discontinue other programs and cut staff, including tenured faculty. The Board of Regents gave that approval Wednesday, with 33 faculty and staff notified Thursday or Friday.
Unless they are fired for cause, affected staffers can work through the academic year and be eligible for three months of severance pay. Faculty and staff can also appeal, with the process taking 100 days or longer.
11 am Thursday: EMPORIA STATE: Candlelight vigil tentatively scheduled Monday for dismissed faculty, staff; more student protests planned
Dismissals and terminations are finished, but to use a weather analogy, the atmosphere around Emporia State remains unsettled.
Plans are finalizing for a candlelight vigil for Monday evening. The tentative time is 8 pm at the sunken garden in front of the water fountain on the ESU campus.
Meanwhile, students protested several times last week, either inside or outside Plumb Hall, and another protest is tentatively coming Wednesday.
Nearly two weeks ago, Emporia State administration announced its plans to seek approval for its Framework for Workforce Management, a plan to refocus university attention on certain programs — in general terms, nursing, business, education, library management and information management — while giving ESU the leeway to discontinue other programs and cut staff, including tenured faculty. The Board of Regents gave that approval Wednesday, with 33 faculty and staff notified Thursday or Friday.
Unless they are fired for cause, affected staffers can work through the academic year and be eligible for three months of severance pay. Faculty and staff can also appeal, with the process taking 100 days or longer.
