Topic: Kansas Chamber of Commerce
Interview of Jack Wempe, January 23, 2025
Interviewed by Mark Tallman
There is a 2021 interview of Jack Wempe in Statehouse Conversations that covers his legislative experience. This interview focuses on his experiences first as a student in a one-room school, next as a teacher, principal and superintendent in rural Kansas, then his legislative activities involving education issues, and finally, his service on the Kansas Board of Regents and interest in higher education. Wempe's experience covers the scope of education in Kansas over several decades of really critical change. His interviews covers school unification, changes in funding public schools, qualified admissions and a reorganization of higher education Show Morewith the Board of Regents assuming coordination of the nineteen community colleges. Show Less
Interview of Michael Young, February 28, 2025
Interviewed by Linda Jeffrey
This oral history of artist Michael Young was conducted in front of a live audience in the Kansas Statehouse while viewing the mural he painted depicting the U.S. Supreme Court decision, Brown v Board of Education. A short program preceded the interview which was followed by a question and answer session with the artist. The attached transcript includes the Q/A session but not the preliminary remarks by Senator Jeff Klemp, Senator Ty Masterson, Rep. Dave Buehler and Governor Laura Kelly. They were widely quoted in the press about the event. Two of the press accounts from Show MoreBryan Richardson, Hawvers Capitol Report/State Affairs and WIBW TV are also attached. To see the video of the introductory remarks, go to NEWS. Show Less
Interview of Cynthia (Cindy) Lane, March 25, 2025
Interviewed by Mark Tallman
Cindy Lane's leadership has helped transform Kansas education to benefit Kansas children. This interview shows the impact she had on education policy, from special education to the Kansas Board of Regent's newest endeavor, the Blueprint for Literacy. This quote from Dr. Lane sums up the interview: "Most of my career in KCK as a leader was to focus on outcomes that actually transformed kids’ lives, that opportunity piece." From changes in special education , to court cases on school finance, to the Kansas Board of Regents, she is still working to transform kids' lives.
Interview of Edward Hammond, April 1, 2025
Interviewed by Mark Tallman
Hammond's interview describes in detail how Fort Hays State University changed and adapted during his 30 year tenure in response to actions of the Kansas Board of Regents and the Kansas Legislature. During that time Dr. Hammond wrote two strategic 10 year plans to accommodate the changing environment for higher education in Kansas. The first plan emphasized "high tech, high touch." The curriculum changed to incorporate technology, even teaching art as graphic design on computers. The goal was for all 1990 graduates to be computer literate, They put computer labs in all the dorms. Show More FHSU had declining enrollments in the 10 years prior to Hammond's presidency. Hammond believed If you are going to move into an institution and make change, select strategies that promote the change. Smaller classes, (high touch) created a distinction with the other schools. The next hurdle was responding to changes in how tuition is applied. In 2000 KBOR changed the formula and now institutions can keep whatever they bring in from tuition. The other change was adding 19 community colleges, Washburn University and the technical schools under the regents' control. The regents emphasized access and serving as many Kansans as they could. FHSU then needed to grow to keep up with this change because funding was based on enrollment. Hammond decided to emphasize distance learning and low tuition to meet these changes. While other schools raised tuition, FHSU decided to be at the low tuition end with a quality product. FHSU moved from "high tech, high touch" to "affordable success" using the distance learning technology to expand their enrollment. Hammond convinced rural telephone carriers to provide mostly free internet services, wired and cellular. By 2010 they had more distance learning than all the other schools combined. They began recruiting Chinese students in 1999--achieving 15,000 students in about 10 years. The China program helped lower the costs for Kansas students. Hammond attributes his success at FHSU to the team of faculty and admininstrators. FHSU is still serving 50% of the high school students despite the loss of population in the western part of the state. The goal is still to grow the university in ways that add value, such as allowing Colorado students to attend as in-state student. Show Less
Interview of Jerry Farley, March 18, 2025
Interviewed by Mark Tallman
Dr. Jerry Farley served 25 years as President of Washburn University before retiring in 2024. Known for wearing a bow tie on campus, Farley changed Washburn from a municipal university with a largely off-campus student body to a major Kansas institution receiving state aid with a thriving on-campus student contingent. He recalls his most important decision as merging with the local vocational-technical school to create Washburn Tech. More information about Dr. Farley and Washburn University is available at the Lasting Legacy Online website.