UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Wednesday, August 16, 1995
5D
Dean of journalism still looking out for school
Kautsch hopes to improve lab operations for students
By Dan Gelston Kansan staff writer
KU students have access to an awardwinning newspaper and a radio station that can transmit its message around the globe via the Internet.
Mike Kautsch, dean of journalism helped make these accomplishments a reality
Kautsch first came to Lawrence in 1979. At that time he was an investigative reporter for the Atlanta Journal, coming to Lawrence as a visiting lecturer. Kautsch said he was intrigued by teaching and felt so at home he decided to stay on as assistant professor
Mike Kautsch
"Lawrence was just the perfect place for me," Kautsch said. "It was an ideal place to live. And being in the classroom and getting to share and teach the knowledge that I had was a great joy."
After six years of teaching, Kautsch left Lawrence in 1985 for a fellowship in New York City. Kautsch conducted research on whether the media covered business fairly.
New York couldn't capture Kautsch's heart as Lawrence had, and he yearned to come back, he said. In 1986, he became a candidate for dean of journalism at KU, and on July 1, 1987, he became the dean, replacing Lee Young.
"Becoming a dean was something I never really envisioned," Kautsch said. "The job was a tremendous challenge, and I was anxious to help direct the future of the school."
Kautsch said he had specific goals he wished to attain. They included an increase of visiting professionals who would meet with students, greater internship opportunities, and a school that has professors who are concerned about students and willing to act as mentors.
"I really like the way the school defines its mission and tries to fulfill it," Kautsch said. "We want the students to know they are gaining experience from professors who are dedicated to them and genuinely care about helping them."
During Kautsch's tenure, The University Daily Kansan has won numerous intercollegiate writing championships; the student magazine, the Jayhawk Journalist, celebrated its 25th anniversary; and KJHK, the student radio station, became available worldwide on the Internet.
"Winning prizes and seeing the continued excellence in these programs demonstrates talent on the part of the students and development of the talent by the school." Kautsch said.
"Because of his background in journalism, he brings insights into daily journalism that other people couldn't offer," Jess said. "Being in charge of professors is like taking 25 puppies out for a walk without a leash. You have got to let everybody do their own thing."
Paul Jess, 20-year professor of journalism, has been impressed by Kautsch's work.
As for the future, Kautsch said maintaining and improving existing lab operations was his top priority. He also would like to see a television station for the school to give students broadcast experience. The delay in the development of the station has been his biggest problem.
"The erosion of state support that is needed to fund projects like this is a serious and frustrating problem not just for me, but for the deans," Kautsch said.
The school made its first step toward solving this problem with the premiere of Channel 14 last spring. Channel 14 is a workshop for television broadcast students. The station broadcast its first newscast in the spring.
Kautsch hopes to make the station a permanent addition to the school, but he said he didn't know when the station would be available on a full-time basis.
"We're always looking for ways to get better and maintain the excellence and tradition we have," Kautsch said.
School of Law has wide appeal
Students have access to services not offered at other KU colleges
By Robert Sinclair
Kansan staff writer
The KU School of Law is one of the few professional schools with its own library, office of admissions, registrar, career center and clinical programs. The only thing that might be missing is a dean who teaches.
The school has close to 500 students with another 180 expected in the fall. These students are overseen by about 30 full-time faculty members.
Even Dean Michael H. Hoeflich teaches a first-year contracts class and an upper-level land transactions class.
Actually, it has that too.
According to Georgann Eglinski, associate dean of administration, one of the school's most integral parts is the Law Library.
"Although the trend is toward electronic sources, the printed word is still very important to us." Edlinski said.
The 325,000 volume library is used for studying, researching and also houses a
computer center and many faculty offices. In addition, students can learn techniques for finding cases, statutes and memoranda, said Peter Schanck, director of the law library.
Since the school does its own admissions and recruiting, the admissions office also plays an important role.
"Students have to learn to search for the law," he said. "That's principally what they do at the library."
According to Diane Lindeman, director of admissions, her job primarily consists of processing applications, visiting with prospective students and overseeing recruitment activities on campus.
Like the University, the law school even has its own registrar. Eglinski said that the School of Law had very different needs for its registrar though.
"As an undergrad, I know I was intimidated by this building," she said. "We encourage students, if they have any interest, to stop by."
"Law school classes are different from almost all other graduate classes," she said. "For the most part, the testing is at the end of the semester only. The tests are rigorous, some would say grueling."
While some test sections are multiple choice, for the most part these are 3-4 hour essay exams.
Since this type of exam takes longer to
grade, the registrar helps keep track of the grades and inputs them into the computer system.
The school also has its own career center. The office of career services has three main responsibilities: explaining the range of opportunities in both legal and non-traditional fields, job posting and managing the on-campus recruiting.
Another aspect of the school is its clinical programs. These are public programs, which are run through the school. Students not only get class credit but also gain experience in various fields.
Some of these programs are:
Clinical education has become very valuable to students," Eglinski said. "It provides practical experience under close supervision."
Douglas County Legal Aid — students working with the public
The Defender Project — dealing with post-conviction issues at local opioids
Elder law office - working with senior citizens
The Detective Press — working with post-conviction issues at local prisons
Elder Law Clinic — working with senior citizens
Public Policy Clinic - students working with legislators
Criminal Justice — placing students in prosecutor's offices.
School of Social Welfare on success track
According to Egilinski, all of these clinics also are beneficial to the public.
"The dean is very committed to the law school serving the state," she said.
By Tara Trenary
Kansan staff writer
The educational mission at the School of Social Welfare is not unique, but most of its goals are being reached ahead of schedule.
"We seem to be ahead of the curve on a lot of the challenges that face the University," said Charles Rapp, associate dean of social welfare.
He said that the school ranks near the top in University measures including
Ann Weick
external funding, enrollment management faculty and student diversity and faculty productivity.
When Ann Weick became dean in 1988,
external funding, a major school goal, was about $300,000 annually. External funding reached $2.5 million last year.
Additionally, Weick established the Office of Social Policy Analysis in an attempt to better the welfare of Kansans.
"The Office of Social Policy Analysis is a vehicle for organizing the considerable human resources of the school and the larger university to do the research and analysis necessary for enlightened and fiscally sound social-policy responses," Weick said.
For its efforts, the school has won numerous awards throughout the years including one for the collaboration between the University and the state department of mental health. Another was for an exemplary mental health program, Rapp said.
But the school faces its share of difficulties. One is the demand for post-graduate policy training and consultation.
After graduating, students are required to continue to update their degrees, Rapp said. Education and scholarly programs are needed at KU for these graduate students.
"Trying to do that with shrinkin resources will be a challenge." Rapp said.
resources will be a challenge. Rapp said.
Another major challenge is the high number of students who apply to the school. The social welfare program is in demand and quality students are being denied admission. With more resources, the school of social welfare could expand. Rapp said.
Every school faces challenges, and the school of social welfare has met those challenges and is progressing rapidly. Liane Davis, associate dean of social welfare, said that Weick was the best person at the school for articulating the school's vision and giving direction for this reality.
"The school has thrived under her dean- ship," she said.
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