Published Tuesday, June 27, 2006
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Published Tuesday, August 28, 2007 Jerry Farley — Transformer WU president has led a campus renaissance; we can't wait to see what next decade brings The Topeka Capital-Journal Editorial Board Washburn University president Jerry Farley this summer completed his first 10 years at the helm of Topeka's municipal university. Here's hoping he decides to stay for another 10. Jerry Farley The man with the bow ties and "can do" attitude has orchestrated a major transformation at Washburn that has touched nearly every facet of the university — from students and student housing to academics and facilities. The latest good news from Farley's tenure at the university was announced Aug. 17 by U.S. News and World Report, which ranked WU sixth among the Midwest's 52 public master's- level universities. It was WU's eighth consecutive year in the magazine's top 10. Farley took the reins at WU on July 1, 1997. That fall, the university's enrollment was 6,281, a combination of full-time and part-time students that computed to the equivalent of 4,618 full- time students. Enrollment numbers for fall 2007 aren't yet final, but in fall 2006 the university's total enrollment of full-time and part-time students was 7,153, for a full-time equivalent of 5,558 students. The breakdown of full-time and part-time students has moved from 56 percent and 44 percent, respectively, in 1997, to 67 percent and 33 percent in 2006. And hundreds of those new full-time students live on the campus nestled between S.W. Washburn and MacVicar avenues from 17th Street to 21st. In 1997, the university had space for 150 students in on-campus residence halls. With the addition of the Living Learning Center in the fall of 2001 and Washburn Village in the fall of 2004, WU now offers on-campus housing for 674 students. The campus those students crisscross on their learning and leisure pursuits also looks much different than the one that greeted Farley upon his arrival. Using a combination of university funding and generous contributions from boosters, alumni and businesses, the campus sports several new or renovated buildings and facilities. The Living Learning Center, which houses 400 students, and the Student Recreation and Wellness Center were designed to attract younger, full-time students to the campus. Renovations of White Concert Hall and Memorial Union were among the earlier construction projects at existing buildings designed to bring a new look and feel to the university. Moore Bowl, the home of Ichabod football, became Yager Stadium at Moore Bowl in 2003. The university contributed $2 million to the $4.3 million project, which included Bianchino Pavilion, a three-level building on the west side of the stadium that houses a press box, luxury suites and covered concourse. Whiting Field House, built in 1928, is schedule to receive a $3.5 million face lift that will include the addition of a weight room, classrooms and offices. Stoffer Science Hall, built in 1960, is undergoing a $14.9 million renovation and expansion that will increase its available space by about 37 percent. University officials say almost all Washburn students attend classes in the building as they complete their general education requirements. The building also is home to about 350 science majors. Science, Farley has said, has been a strong program for the university for a long time. Students are using the 22,000 square-foot addition this fall. Classes are scheduled to return to the older, renovated space next summer. Farley told The Capital-Journal this spring he expects the construction phase is drawing to a close for now, but that there was enough work to do to keep him at Washburn University for the foreseeable future. "I absolutely love what I'm doing here," he said. So do we. Published Monday, August 06, 2007 Nurse Shortage — WU steps up University's plan to expand nurse training programs comes at a most crucial time The Topeka Capital-Journal Editorial Board With the flood of baby boomers entering that time of life when a growing number of ailments seem to appear, the health care system is under tremendous strain to field qualified personnel, particularly good nurses, to treat them. The U.S. Department of Labor, in fact, projects a national shortage of 450,000 nurses in just seven years. The shortage is being felt in every state, and beyond — from England to New Zealand. In some cases hospitals have had to close floors or cut back on surgeries because there aren't enough nurses. So it is good news that Washburn University is doing its part, and will be doing more, to graduate more good nurses. "We're expanding the nursing program in response to a statewide initiative to expand the number of nurses available," says David Monical, WU executive director of governmental and university relations. Washburn has received money from the state, which it will match, in order to offer "a whole variety of initiatives," Monical says, including additional scholarships and more laboratory equipment. Part of the overall nursing shortage problem is that the corps of nurses is shrinking as they, too, age and retire. (A similar situation exists with teachers, particularly math and science instructors, but that's another story). The General Accounting Office says the average age of a registered nurse increased to 42 in 1998 from 37 in 1983, indicating that current nurses are growing closer to retirement. Another part of the problem is that some universities that have supplied a good number of our nurses haven't had the financial backing to expand the number of nursing slots they can offer, or hire good teachers to train them. Then there is the fact that some schools have become lax in their recruitment efforts. But things are changing in the effort to meet the escalating demand for quality nurses. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment among registered nurses will grow faster than the average for all occupations through 2008. And the demand isn't just in hospitals. There is a need for good nurses in-home care, private practice, public health agencies, extended care centers, clinics, offices, schools, hospice, occupational settings and health and wellness centers. The specialties they can enter is even more varied — from emergency to pediatrics to geriatrics. And the pay isn't bad, either. Starting salaries for entry level staff nurses can range from $30,000 to $45,000 per year, plus additional pay for evening, night and weekend shifts. Clinical nurse specialists and nurses with advanced degrees make even more. Plus there are benefit packages that might include health insurance, college tuition reimbursement, child care and flexible scheduling. So there's a wide, bountiful field out there for men and women who want to pursue a career of service to the young, old or infirm. And they will be welcome. Nobody who has been hospitalized wants to lie in bed for 10, 20 or more minutes after pushing the call button for a nurse, especially if he or she is in pain or has other pressing needs. But sometimes there just aren't enough nurses to tend to everyone in a timely manner. The patients get cranky — maybe even belligerent — and so might the overworked and stressed nurses. So we applaud Washburn University for working to put more good, qualified people in our hospitals, clinics or wherever there is a need. Published Tuesday, June 27, 2006 WU OKs sale of lots College Hill sites will be part of redevelopment By Steve Fry The Topeka Capital-Journal Washburn University sold two pieces of property Monday to owners of a College Hill redevelopment project. The Washburn Board of Regents voted during a meeting to sell a vacant lot at 1510 S.W. 17th on the northwest corner of S.W. 17th and Washburn for $118,000 and the WU facilities services building, 1518 S.W. Washburn, for $200,000. The 1518 S.W. Washburn property formerly was a house with an attached expansion that contained the university's facilities services, which included carpenters, plumbers and painters. The properties were sold to Southwind Capital LLC, which along with Topeka developer Henry McClure, is building 183 apartments, 33 town homes and 24,000 square feet of retail space in the College Hill area. About 30 buildings will be demolished in the area just northeast of Washburn University. The $29 million project will rebuild an area bounded by S.W. 13th, 17th, Lane and Washburn and the southeast corner of S.W. 14th and Lane. WU president Jerry Farley endorsed sale, saying strong neighbors would make a safe environment for university students. He said the project would provide apartments, townhouses and businesses for students and others wanting to live close to the campus. "I think it will attract more people to the campus. People will want to be near here," Farley said. He also recommended the university pay $214,000 for renovation of a building at 1313 S.W. 21st to house facilities services. Regents approved renovation of the building, which is owned by Lincoln Properties, of Topeka. The renovation will provide three modest offices, work space for facilities services and fencing in an area behind the leased area for vehicles. The building then would be leased to the university for $10 a year as long as Farley remains at Washburn, he said. After that, the lease would be negotiated at the market rate, he said. As for the S.W. 17th and Washburn property, the deed will carry restrictions giving the university first look at whatever is to be built there, Farley said.