Kansas State President Richard Myers presented the 2018 State of the University Address about embracing change at the university on Friday at the K-State Alumni Center.
“Change is not easy,” Myers said at the start of the address.
Myers said college enrollment in the U.S. has been on the decline for six consecutive years, due mostly to reduced funding across the board and the subsequent financial burden placed on students. Additionally, he said some people are pursuing job experience and technical colleges over universities for higher education.
Myers said the comprehensive enrollment strategy that the university spent the last year developing with the Huron Consulting Group is now complete. The plan includes multiple teams focused on financial aid and scholarships, out-of-state recruitment, marketing and communications, transfer students, student success and graduate, global and international students.
“It is our moral obligation when somebody comes to K-State, that we do all in our power to make sure they graduate,” Myers said.
Myers, who said he is proud to discuss topics of diversity and inclusion within K-State, listed a few rewards the university has received, including the the Higher Education Excellence and Diversity award every year since 2014.
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Myers went on to discuss the KSU Foundation’s funds raised in the last year, which totaled in at $174.2 million. About 20.5 percent of all K-State alumni donated to the Foundation in some capacity, which supersedes the national average of about 5 percent.
Finally, Myers addressed the next steps of the 2025 Visionary Plan, saying the university has succeeded in making progress on seven of the themes, even with decreased state funding.
The plan will be re-visited and updated in the coming weeks and months.
“We have challenges, no doubt about it,” Myers said.
