Tuesday, January 26, 1999
The University Daily Kansan
Section A · Page 3
New director to oversee changes
Porter implementing new system, policies
By Kristi Reimer
Kansan staff writer
The new director of budget management and fiscal services, who began at the University of Kansas Jan. 11, will steer the office through changes, including a new financial software system.
Odie Brant Porter took over the position after Janice Ferguson left the University in December. Ferguson is now comptroller at the College of St. Catherine in St. Paul, Minn.
"I'm enjoying working in a team environment with people who are highly motivated."
Porter said.
One of Porter's first responsibilities in her new job is to help oversee a computer system transition in the budget office, she said. The office is converting to PeopleSoft, a financial software system, during the next two months.
Lindy Eakin, associate provost and Porter's boss,said Porter was well-equipped to implement changes brought about by systems conversions and new state policies.
In the spring of 1997, the state allowed the University to begin keeping some of the money generated by growth Instead of sending it back to the state, Eakin said.
"With some of the flexibility we've gained from the state in the last couple years, we now need to
"I'm enjoying working in a team environment with people who are highly motivated."
Odie Porter
director of budget management
approach budgeting and financial management a little more creatively, and that's where someone like Odie can come in," Eakin said. "She's just really sharp."
Porter said she has handled both the legislative budget and the working budget for the University. She puts together proposals from various entities on campus, submits a budget to the state
Legislature, and accommodates the government's adjustments in the working budget.
"We try to allow enough flexibility for the departments to do what they need to do," Porter said.
Before that she was comptroller for the Seneca Nation of Indians in New York state.
Before coming to the University, Porter was a financial planner for Parade of Shoes, a division of Paviless ShoeSource Corp.
Porter, who holds a master's degree in business administration from the University and a bachelor's degree from California State University at Hayward, said that she would earn $70,000 annually for her position.
She is a Lawrence resident and serves on the Lawrence Indian Center board of directors.
State welfare reform effective, study finds
By T.J. Johnson
Kansas staff writer
Kansan staff writer
A recent report by the National Health Policy Forum found that welfare reform and social work programs in Kansas are working. The report focused on the reduction of welfare dependency, promoting work and promoting access to health care.
Kansas was the first state studied by the forum, mainly because Kansas had started welfare reform policies prior to the 1996 Personal Responsibility and Work Reconciliation Act.
"What they were trying to do was get a first look at welfare reform in progress to view first-hand the effects of new welfare laws on low-income residents," said John Garlinger, public information officer of the Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services.
The group learned that federal welfare reforms worked well with welfare-to-work programs established in Kansas. It also learned that employers in Kansas were extremely helpful in finding jobs for people as a means of keeping them off welfare and that welfare recipients were enthusiastic about the opportunity to have these jobs.
The group began studying Kansas in late 1997 and published its findings last month. Studies on programs in several other states also are planned.
Garlinger agreed with the panel.
"Employers in Kansas have been very helpful in getting people into jobs." Garlinger said.
Welfare Reform Figures
State # of families on welfare September 1998 percent reduction since January 1993
Wisconsin 10,247 87
Kansas 13,091 56
Missouri 55,074 38
Nebraska 12,147 27
Hawaii 16,669 7
U.S. Average 2,896,000 42
He said that improvements and cooperation like this had helped to lift people out of poverty in Kansas.
Questions that the panel decide needed to be addressed in Kansas included the general lack of healthcare benefits in low-wage jobs and the availability of transportation and child care for workers, according to the Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services.
Source: Health and Human Services Department Jason Williams/KANSAN
A recent survey by the Health and Human Services Department showed that Kansas had made significant gains in reducing the number of citizens who were dependent
on welfare programs.
Since 1993, Kansas has reduced the number of families on welfare by 56 percent, while the national total only was reduced by 42 per cent.
"We are gratified because these were things we have believed in all along." Garlinger said. "This shows that in many aspects of welfare reform, we have been on the right track for some time. It is nice to have someone come in and recognize that."
Chris Hess, Wichita junior and social welfare student, said that judging the well $ ^{10} $ reform by how many people we $ ^{10} $ longer being assisted was the wrong approach.
"The way to measure it is—are these people in homes, are they able to feed their kids?" Hess said.
He said that some people who were dropped from welfare often became homeless and were unable to find employment.
WE WISH YOU HEALTH AND HAPPINESS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR! Let Us Help You Reach Your Goals!
• Lose Body Fat • Reduce Stress
• Strengthen & Tone Muscles
LOOK BETTER • FEEL BETTER
LIVE A BETTER LIFE!
JANUARY SPECIALI
on VIP Membership Enrollment
$24/month
Offer Expires: 2/15/99
SAVE $100
monitor not included
$1,095.00
EVERYTHING BUT ICE
BEDS • DESKS
CHEST OF DRAWERS
BOOK CASES
LAYAWAY FOR SUMMER
unclaimed freight &
damaged merchandise
936 Mass.
hp HEWLETT® PACKARD
LaserJet printers in stock from $399.00
864-4590
- A-Open AX6LC Motherboard Jumperless design with APG,USB and Ultra DMA/33. Support for LS-120, Suspend to HDD, Modern wake up, DOS support for PCI sound card, Intel 440LX chipset, PII 233-333, 2 ISA, 5 PCI, 1 AGP, 3 DIMM (EDO/SDRAM), 2 USB ports
- A-Open ATX Mid-Tower Case
- 32MB SDRAM upgradeable to 384MB
- 1.44MB Floppy Drive
- 2.1GB Ultra ATA Hard Drive
- A-Open PA-50 4MB AGP Video with TV-Out
- AOpen AW37 16-bit S/W Soundcard
- 14W Speakers
- A-Open 36X max CD-ROM drive
- AOpen FM56H PCI 56k Internal Modem v.90/K56fle
- Mouse, keyboard
- Internal Panasonic Zip Drive
- Windows 98
- Fast Delivery
- Year 2000 compliant
- Three Year Warranty, First Year On-Site
Level 3,Burge Union 864-5690 Mon-Thurs 8:30-7:00 Fri 8:30-5:00 Sat 10:00-4:00 www.jayhawks.com/utc/
Height Weight
5'8" 171-217
5'9" 176-223
5'10" 181-227
5'11" 186-235
6'0" 191-241
6'1" 197-247
6'2" 202-253
We have seven locations on campus
Come See Us!
Special Sections Meeting
Broke?
MicroOpen
There will be a Kansan correspondents meeting Tuesday, Jan. 26 in Stauffer-Flint Hall room 100 at 4pm. Anyone is welcome and encouraged to attend.
Interested in working for the Kansan?
Crimson Cate - Hawk's Nest - Pride Room - Union Square
Waco县 Cate - Murphy Bark Snakes
Waco County Cate - Murphy Bark Snakes
For more information, contact the Kansan at 864-4810.
Height Weight
5'1" 137-178
5'2" 142-184
5'3" 146-189
5'4" 151-194
5'5" 156-200
5'6" 161-206
5'7" 165-211
Don't call Mom and Dad,call us...
Hungry?
If you fit in this category and would participate in a KU ExerciseResearch Program you may receive up to
Call:864-0774
$2,000
AUDITION University Dance Company 7 p.m. Wednesday, January 27
Studio 242, Robinson Center No solo material required. For further information, call 864-4264
BAMBINO'S ITALIAN CAFE
1801 MASSACHUSETTS 832-8800
MONDAY
ALL-YOU-CAN-EAT* 5-10p.m.
custom pasta, salad & soda $6.95
TUESDAY
$2.00 Killian's Red & Bud Light Schooners
WEDNESDAY
Boulevard Night
75¢ Pale Ale Draws • 150¢ Wheat Bottles
THURSDAY
$1.95 Martinis • LIVE Acoustic, Folk & Jazz 7-10pm
Jumbo Margaritas $2.00
"on the rocks"
ACOUSTIC SINGERS/SONG WRITERS * 7 - 10 P. M.
FRIDAY
Family-Style-Pasta
Platter serve 2·4 • Starting at $10.50
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
832-8080
1741Mass.
$1.00 Off
any large pizza
expires 12/31/99
Free Delivery
832-8080