University Daily Kansan / Tuesday, November 8, 1988
Campus/Area
3
Engineering dean develops plan
Equipment costs may raise tuition
By Katy monk
Kansan staff writer
A proposed $10 fee for each engineering credit hour has found students unwilling to reach into their student records to signator said the charge is necessary.
Carl Locke, KU dean of engineering and the plan's developer, said recently that the school's equipment maintenance costs far exceeded funds provided by the University or obtainable elsewhere.
The solution, as he sees it, is to turn to those benefiting from the school's computers and laboratory equipment.
The fee would affect not only KU, but Kansas State University and Wichita State University. The Board of Regents tabled the idea at an Oct. 20 meeting, but is expected to act on it at a meeting Nov. 17.
Under the proposal, a student who enrolled in nine credit hours of engineering during a semester would pay a $90 equipment fee in addition to regular tuition.
Locke said the fee would raise more than $300,000 a year for KU's engineering school. His written proclamation came in time frame for implementation of the fee.
A study by the American Society for Engineering Education indicated that KU needs about $1 million a year for acquisition, replacement and maintenance of engineering equipment, according to the proposal.
Because Campaign Kansas money almost never is donated for maintenance, sources for the necessary funds are scarce. The University contributes $90,000 for school-wide maintenance, with some additional money to different departments. Locke said the school was using money allocated for other uses to help pay for equipment maintenance.
The dean noted that many other universities, including the University of Michigan and the University of Missouri, had some form of specific fee for engineering students.
But Brook Menees, student body president and member of the Board of Regents Student Advisory Committee, said his committee rejected that argument. And a petition against the proposal garnered about 300 KU student signatures.
Locke acknowledged that student reaction was mixed. But after hearing his explanation, most students recognized the need for more funds, he said, although many still objected to the means of raising them.
Meeces argued that the school, not the students, should be responsible for financing equipment. The engineering school should show the University and the state that the school's equipment should be a priority item.
But Locke said that the University and the state could not meet the engineering school's massive financial needs when many other departments had dire needs, too. Thus the specific fee is necessary.
In the past, specific fees have been widely used at Regents schools — so much so that the state Legislature protested.
In 1984, the Legislature voiced disapproval of extensive use of the fees and asked that the Regents stop approving them. Menees said approving such fees now could jeopardize the Regents credibility with the Legislature and reduce chances of increased funding from that body.
Menees said he also was concerned that if the engineering school instituted a specific fee, which amounts to a tuition increase for engineering students, other programs would be encouraged to follow that precedent.
Police improving in-house security
By Jay A. Cohen Kansan staff writer
Assigning KU police officers to different shifts, moving copy machines to more secure areas and chaining locks on certain doors were some changes made as a result of an ongoing internal policy change. [Ma], Ralph Oliver, assistant director of KU police, said yesterday.
Oliver said the actions were taken in order to ensure the security of documents and overall security. The internal investigation began in late September after it was discovered that copies of confidential police documents had been delivered to persons outside the department.
The people who took the documents would not normally have had access to them, he said.
Vickie Thomas, University general counsel, said she didn't know whether criminal charges would be filed in connection with the incident. She said that the decision probably would be made by Denney.
Jim Denney, KU police director, said Sunday that the investigation had discovered who took the documents, but he wouldn't reveal the name of the persons or how many people were involved.
would be made by Neither Denney nor Oliver would comment on the possibility of criminal charges
Oliver said that in addition to civil service regulations that restrict officials from discussing personnel matters, the department had been cautioned by the University general counsel's office not to comment on changes because of attempts within the department to form a union.
Both Denney and Oliver emphasized that no personnel action had been taken as a result of employees' unionization or organization efforts. Talk of forming a union has increased since September 1987.
David Lewin, director of personnel services, said that no formal discussions concerning police unionization had taken place. Before formal talks can occur, three steps must be followed to form a state-certified union.
First, the state Public Employee Relations Board, when requested, determines what type of employees belong together as a bargaining unit.
an idea go out declined to comment Second, organizers must show the board that 30 percent of the affected employees are interested in being represented by a specific organization
Lewin said this step had been taken and a decision rendered about a month ago but declined to comment
Third, an election must be held, and the organization must receive more than 50 percent of employees votes.
Citizenship process difficult
By James Farquhar Kwanen staff writer
Foreign students learn how to apply for visas and residency
Kansan staff writer
Sohail Mohammed came to the University of Kansas from Bangla desh and says he wants to stay in this country after he graduates with an aerospace engineering degree.
"The main reason I want to stay is because they really don't have any job opportunities in my field in Bangladesh," the Dhaka, Bangladesh, sophomore said. "I would prefer to stay."
But it's not going to be easy.
lawyer from Kansas City, Mo. spoke yesterday about how foreign students could begin the long and costly process of applying for temporary work visas and permanent residence in the United States.
Because Mohammed is from another country, he will encounter a thick web of laws designed to disqualify most foreigners from gaining permanent residence in this country. Fisherman, an immigration
Howard Eisberg, an immigration
More than 80 people crowded into the Daisy Hill Room at the Burge Union to hear the workshop sponsored by the office of foreign student services.
The process can take up to five years, he said, and there is no guarantee of success. Lawyer fees for permanent residence can range from $2,500 and up, while fees for temporary work visas can cost between $500 and $1,000.
To stay in the country permanently,aliens must meet three qualifications.
First, people must have at least a bachelor's degree in a professional field. Eisberg said, although the definition of such a field is narrow. Second, they must show that their job requires the degree they have. And third, the job they possess while awaiting approval from the U.S. Department of Immigration must be temporary, although in some cases an alien can hold a job with permanent intentions.
Further, when an alien applies for a permanent job, the employer must spend 30 days advertising the position and show that no equally qualified U.S. citizen wants the job.
"The U.S. labor department is there to protect American jobs."
Eisberg said, adding that foreign workers are seen as a threat to U.S. employment. "Sometimes it seems like they are looking for things that are wrong with your application so they can say 'A-ha, we can't let you in.'"
The complicated immigration laws constantly change, he said. And political pressure sometimes relaxes laws temporarily.
laws compel
"Following the elections, the opportunities may not be as available as they are today," he said. "What I tell you today may not be true six months from now."
"But whatever you do, don't rely on hearsay or rumor. Check it out before you make any decisions you may regret."
Chris Kahn, Shawnee senior, waits to see the recruiter from Roche majoring in organizational communications and personel administra tion, will graduate in May. Laboratories at the University Placement Center, Kahn, who is double
Placement Center supports students searching for business opportunities
Kansan staff writer
By Grace Hobson Kansan staff writer
The University Placement Center can help students in what is often looked at as the worst part of the job search - getting started.
"There is no doubt about it— the single most important thing the placement center does is help students begin the search," said Vernon Geissler, director of the center.
Geissler said that for students who commit time and energy to the job search, opportunities abound. But students often procrastinate, beginning their searches only weeks before they plan to graduate.
"You have to start; that's the key thing." Geissler said. "You can put it off and off, but you have to start to get any results."
but you may have. Geissler and the assistant director of the center urge students to begin the job search early. James Henry, assistant director of the center, said that the search took about seven months.
"it there is anything I can emphasize, it is to start early," Henry said.
Terry Glenn, assistant director of the center,
said that students shouldn't confuse the center
To begin the job search, students, or even alumni, can go to one of six placement centers in the University. Geissler said. The professional schools have their own placement centers, and the University Placement Center is open to all majors, especially those in liberal arts and sciences and education.
Geissler recommended that students make an appointment with a staff member to discuss launching a job search.
The next step is to compile a resume, Geissler said. The placement center offers workshops on resume writing, and its bookbook, "Placement Manual," outlines the resume-writing process
Mantuan, obtains the necessary Then students should go to area libraries and placement center libraries to research companies.
Next comes the actual interview. Companies from around the country and even the world currently are interviewing students at the
Education majors go through a more complex process because they must establish a credential file. Glenn said. A credential file is a more extensive record of the prospective employee that includes a resume, letters of reference, grades and transcripts.
with professional placement agencies. Those centers specialize in placing clients in a job, whereas the placement center takes a more holistic approach to the job search.
center. To be eligible for the interviews, students must register, which consists of filling out necessary forms and a resume file and paying a fee. The fee is $10 to interview and be entered on the center's computer data system. For that and a bi-weekly bulletin of job vacancies, the fee is $15.
Students who go through the center may register at any time. The initial registering process is valid for one year, which runs September through September, regardless of the month registered.
To help students with the all-important interview, the center conducts mock interviews. Students schedule an appointment to meet with a staff member, who will act as an interviewer. The tap interviews are played back to the students and critiqued by the staff member on the quality of the students' answers, eye contact, body language and dress.
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