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Information on K-State's Current Programs

KSU/ESU Minority Intern Program

Purpose of the Program:
· to facilitate career development in academic librarianship for qualified minority applicants
· allow interns to gain practical experience by initially rotating through all KSU Libraries' departments before choosing an area of specialization
The goal of the program is to not only increase the number of minorities in the library profession, but also to increase diversity among KSU Libraries’ staff.
The successful applicant in the Intern Program:
· will be a member of KSU Libraries’ faculty at the rank of “Instructor”
· will receive a salary equivalent to approximately half of that of a full-time entry level professional position
· will accrue vacation and sick leave as a part-time employee of Kansas State University
Who Qualifies?
Eligible candidates must be a member of a minority group that is under-represented in the field of librarianship. This includes: Black, Hispanic, Asian or Pacific Islander, American Indian or Alaskan Native, as listed in the Appendix 2, “Race/Ethnic Identification,” of document R10-87 Kansas State University Affirmative Action Plan (December, 1999).
Work/Training Schedule
The internship is divided into two phases:
Phase one is designed to expose the intern to various responsibilities and routines of departments within the University Libraries.
Phase two allows the intern to explore an area of librarianship of his/her own special interest, by choosing any department in which he/she desires to work. (Approval of the department head is required.)
The intern must be enrolled at SLIM for two of three semesters each academic year (spring, fall, summer). The intern must also work at the Libraries two of the three semesters. The internship can extend from one and one half to three years.
Work schedules can be very flexible:
· attend school full time one semester and work full time one semester
· go to school part-time and work part-time
· go to school full-time, working intermittent hours and full-time during semester breaks
· work two or three days of the week; go to school for weekend intensives and take telenet classes (many of which are offered at K-State)

http://www.lib.ksu.edu/depts/dowmrc/minority_intern_program.html

Post-MLS Multicultural / Diversity Residency Program at Kansas State University Libraries Overview

Kansas State University Libraries defines diversity broadly, to mean all those categories of difference which may give rise to negative stereotyping and/or discrimination between people. The proposed Residency Program will incorporate many of the objectives of the "Comprehensive Diversity Plan for KSU Libraries," demonstrating the organization's commitment to increasing and supporting diversity within the Libraries and across the university. The program will be defined by the Libraries' Diversity Team and other committed individuals.
Philosophy
In support of the University's strategic theme to "enhance a diverse multicultural environment," KSU Libraries affirms the educational value of diversity, and the belief that diversity enriches every aspect of the university experience. In order to enhance the diversity of the KSU Libraries' staff, we propose that a two-year post-MLS Library Residency Program be created. That, in turn, will help create an environment that prepares students for life and work in a diverse, global community.
KSU Libraries supports the belief that staff development and education are essential if advocacy for and commitment to diversity are to be supported by the Libraries' staff. The organizational climate resulting from a successful staff development program will improve our ability to hire and retain qualified individuals from more diverse groups. It will also produce a more "inter-culturally competent" staff that can effectively serve the University's increasingly diverse population.
A two-year post-MLS residency program has the potential to support the University's strategic theme in an innovative and highly-effective way.
Program Purpose
The purpose of the proposed Residency Program is to:
· attract and retain good candidates who will further the goal of the Library to diversify its staff to the KSU Libraries, K-state community, and library and information professions.
· help the resident librarian build skills for success in an academic, faculty position.
· help create a diverse community of university faculty and staff that reflects both our multi-cultural society and individual differences.
Objectives
The residency will provide unique opportunities for individuals from diverse groups to pursue a career in academic librarianship through:
· work in an academic setting under the guidance of knowledgeable, experienced, successful mentors
· practical application of skills and experiences comparable to those of entry-level professionals
· career development opportunities in a supportive environment
Mentoring
Because the purpose of the Residency Program is to identify individuals who have the potential to develop the skills required for professional positions, the individual(s) selected will be paired with specially-selected, trained mentors who will be able to help them develop those skills. A 'multiple mentors model' will be adopted so that every resident will have the benefit of the guidance and wisdom unique to different individuals among the staff. For example, a resident may spend time with one individual who excels at navigating the online catalog, with another whose knowledge of databases is especially good, with another whose style of interacting with specific user groups is superb, and with another whose ability to handle concurrent, multiple demands is exceptional, etc. Mentors will also assist the resident to learn the timetable/process required of tenure-track faculty. Mentors will be chosen in consultation with the resident so that the resident's needs and interests can be expanded.
Program Specifics
· Resident Librarian's assignments will be made by Department Chairs, in coordination with the Director of Administrative Services.
· Assignments will involve a variety of tasks, problems, opportunities, observations, and challenges. Assignments will not be of a clerical or routine nature. Special projects may be undertaken. Assignments may include desk duty at reference points for which orientation will be provided through the General Reference Training Program for non-tenure-track faculty
Salary and Benefits
· salary similar to that of entry-level professional and comprehensive compensation package
· office space with access to personal computer
· identification of internal/external trainers and mentors
Qualifications
· potential to meet requirements for becoming academic library faculty
· graduate degree from a library/information program accredited by ALA
· interest in academic librarianship
· individual would increase diversity (as defined by the Comprehensive Diversity Plan...) of the library faculty
· excellent interpersonal and communication skills
· ability to work in a team environment
Evaluation
Evaluation of the Resident Librarian will be on-going. Each Resident Librarian will be evaluated on the same criteria as are other library faculty. The success of the program itself will be evaluated by how it meets the University's and the Libraries' strategic goals.
Procedure
Standard procedure (letter of interest stating qualifications, resume, transcripts, references).

Admission to the program will be competitive and will require signing a memorandum of agreement.

http://www.lib.ksu.edu/depts/dowmrc/residency.html

Dow, K-State establish diversity partnership

The Dow Chemical Company announced a commitment of $1.5 million to the K-State Foundation to establish the Dow/KSU Diversity Partnership Oct. 5.
“We are very grateful for Dow’s generous support of this partnership,” said President Jon Wefald. “Supporting a broad base of diversity initiatives is key to our commitment to prepare our students to be productive citizens in an increasingly diverse society.”
Speaking on behalf of Dow, executive vice president Arnold Allemang said, “Dow has funded multicultural scholarships and programs in K-State’s College of Engineering since 1999. Now, we are very pleased to establish a comprehensive diversity partnership with K-State that supports scholarships and program initiatives in three colleges and several other areas.”
The Dow/KSU Diversity Partnership will:
* Fund scholarships for multicultural students in the Colleges of Engineering and Business Administration.
* Provide funding to the College of Engineering’s Multicultural Engineering Program and the Women in Engineering and Science Program.
* Provide scholarship support to two Dow Diversity Scholars who will work on diversity initiatives with K-State’s office of diversity and dual career development, the K-State Tilford Group, the KSU Foundation and the K-State Alumni Association.
* Provide support to a partnership between K-State’s College of Technology and Aviation and Tuskegee University that combines K-State’s professional pilot degree program with any degree program at Tuskegee.
* Provide funding to the Dow Multicultural Resource Center in Hale Library.
* Provide funding to the First Tee Program at Colbert Hills Golf Course.
Dow is a leading science and technology company headquartered in Midland, Mich. With annual sales of $30 billion, Dow serves customers in more than 170 countries and a wide range of markets including food, transportation, health and medicine, personal and home care, and building and construction.

http://www.mediarelations.k-state.edu/WEB/News/InView/101801dow.html

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