UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Wednesday, March 9.1994
5
Employers pay for workers' schooling
Employee education benefits companies
By Gennifer Trail
Kansan staff writer
OVERLAND PARK — Rudy Summerville, Kansas City, Kan., graduate student at the Regents Center, is pursuing a master's degree in social welfare while his employer, Children's Mercy Hospital, picks up the tab.
"If the hospital hadn't paid for it, I wouldn't be in school," he said.
Summerville is one of many students at the center whose employers help pay for their education.
Mary Thompson, a KU accountant in charge of sponsored students, said telling how many students' education were paid for by their employers was impossible because the University did not keep track of that figure.
However, some companies send a
small number of employees to the center and a few companies send many employees.
For example, Black and Veach,
1500 Meadowlake Parkway, an Overland Park engineering company, pays for about 50 students to attend the center. Burns & McDonnell, 4000 E.
63rd St., a Kansas City, Mo., engineering and architectural company, provides the opportunity for about 20 students to attend the center. Also,
Allied Signal, 2000 E. Bannister Rd., a Kansas City, Mo., engineering company, pays for 15 students' classes at the center.
Burns & McDonnell and Allied Signal both pay all education costs. Black and Veatch pays 100 percent if the employee gets an "A," and progressively less for lower grades.
All three engineering companies require that the course work be related to the employee's job before they will pay for the classes.
Black and Veatch, said that employee education benefits often had served as training for new employees.
Roy McIntosh, director of training at
"New employees come with a certain set of skills," he said. "Albeit they are knowledgeable and very intelligent, they don't know our company. So we send them to one or two technical courses."
Allied Signal offers to pay for the education of employees who retire early and employees who are laid-off. In these cases, the former employees are allowed to take classes from any subject matter they want.
Jerry Mosakowski, an early retiree from Allied Signal, is studying engineering management at the center in preparation for starting his own engineering company. Allied Signal is allowing Mosakowski to use up to $10,000 over two years for his education.
"The education money was one of the major incentives that made me decide to retire early," he said.
Hallmark Cards, Inc., 2501 McGee Trafficway, Kansas City, Mo., also allows its employees to take courses in whatever subject they choose, said Jim Bryden, education and training systems administrator.
The Children's Mercy Hospital, 2401 Gillham, Kansas City, Mo., and Trinity Lutheran Hospital, 3030 Baltimore Rd., Kansas City, Mo., each pay for about seven employees to attend the center.
"Although we only pay $2,500 per year for an employee's education, we do not limit what course he or she takes," he said. "No matter what class is taken, the employee will have a better understanding of human behavior."
Floyd Walker, public affairs officer at Allied Signal, said that employee education is valuable.
"Employee education pays incredible dividends to a company and is a golden opportunity for employees," he said.
Student interns inform public about environment
By Ashley Schultz Kansan staff writer
Four KU students are serving as interns as part of a six-person staff at EcoLink Ltd, an environmental information service renting space on the campus of Rockhurst College in Kansas City, Mo.
The four were recruited in mid-January because of their background in the University's environmental studies program, said Amy Trainer, an intern at EcoLink and president of KU Environs, an environmental group.
The service began fielding calls in late January from people who needed
Trainer answers those calls and loads research into computers 11 hours a week.
"We're expanding our database all the time," Trainer said. "We're always putting in new information."
help with environmental questions. The service directs the callers to appropriate organizations, government agencies and businesses.
Database topics include air, energy legislation, recycling, waste and water. The database contains about 500 referral resources.
Trainer said most callers' questions had revolved around recycling, especially where to recycle hazardous
household wastes such as paint
The service handles 10 to 20 calls a day, said Susan Braud, executive director of the service. Its goal is to handle about 600 calls a day, she said.
"I realized that there was a need for centralizing environmental information in the community," said Braud, who started EcoLink last year.
Braud said the telephone service was the tip of the iceberg. The computerized information can be downloaded into clients' computers with a modem.
Lawrence is a natural target for expansion because it has a reputation for caring for the environment, she
said.
Braud said that EcoLink would like to set up a branch on the KU campus. Also, she said, it is considering a toll-free phone number that would make using the telephone service easier for Lawrence residents.
Several Kansas City area businesses have sponsored the service. Kansas City Power and Light gave EcoLink an $80,000 grant in the fall semester to help it get off the ground. Brand said.
EcoLink can be reached at (816)
822-8222 from noon to 8 p.m. Monday
through Thursday, from noon to 5
p.m. Friday and from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Saturday.
---
Did she say "Yes"?
No one deserves to be sexually assaulted.
Sexual Assault Prevention and Education Program a program of the Emily Taylor Women's Resource Center 115 Strong Hall, 864-3600
---
---
Clothing Concepts presents a Warehouse Sale One Day Only!
Wednesday March 9th 10 a.m. -7 p.m.
Holiday Inn, Main Ballroom (Enter Convention Center) 200 Macdonald Dr. (Turnpike Access)
TOYS & T-SHIRTS 15% OFF
TOYS, GAMES, & A MOOSE UPSTAIRS!
CREATION STATION
728 MASSACHUSETTS LAWRENCE - 841-1999
Cost KutterIGA
*Check Cashing
*Post Office
*Carry Outs
*Deli
*Bakery
*Videos
843-2313
9th & Iowa
Ragu
Spaghetti Sauce
meat, plain or mushroom
Buy one
Get one FREE
30 oz.
American Beauty
Spaghetti
Buy one
Get one FREE
6oz. pkg
IGA Paper Towels Buy one Get one FREE
IGA Sour Cream
Buy one
Get one FREE
8oz.
ctn
Prices goodthru Mar.12