Editor’s note: Distributed to faculty and staff of FHSU on Friday. Reprinted with permission.
I wish I could start by saying “I hope this note finds you well,” but I can’t because I know this note will find you concerned and anxious as a result of the possible furloughs. While I am also very concerned and anxious, I remain hopeful that our legislators will end the impasse by passing a budget that will keep the state’s economy moving forward.
You are the key to our state’s future; you are the key to moving Kansas forward. Each of you has an incredible impact on our university and on our state. Your dedication, compassion, commitment to each other, to our students, and to the Fort Hays State University family is second to none. I want each of you to know how much I acknowledge, admire and respect who you are and what you do.
No university president ever wishes to have to notify its family that there may be possible furloughs coming. But given the state of affairs in Kansas, I have no choice but to alert you to this possibility. I know many of you are committed to our mission and have made Fort Hays State your home. Many of you have both incomes derived from our university. Many of our students depend on the income derived from their summer work at our University to put food on the table and to meet their academic tuition obligations for the coming year. I am all too aware of this and thus, it is so disheartening to have to make the choices that have to be made.
If the Legislature does not pass a budget by 11:59 p.m. on Saturday, June 6, Fort Hays State, just like every other state agency, will have to cease normal operations and designate just a skeleton crew to continue the mandated close-of-year reports and to meet our contractual obligations. If we are furloughed, beginning 12:01 a.m. Sunday, we may not transact business on behalf of our University. Depending on the day-to-day needs, each of us will be on a day-to-day call-back notice.
Notices will go out later today providing details about the furloughs and telling you where to look for changes in the status of the situation.
News like this is not easy to deliver. I am so sorry to have to be writing this note. Regardless of the outcome of the next days’ legislative activities, I want to continue to thank you for what you do, and I want to remind you how critically important you are to the future of Fort Hays State University. I am so grateful for all your support.
The bonds of family survive in times of trouble and anguish. A family sticks together for better and for worse. Together, our family will survive the ups and downs that are thrown our way.
You all know I have great faith in you. I also believe the best is yet to be and I believe in miracles. Let’s pray together for one now.
Thank you for everything,
Mirta M. Martin, Ph.D., president, Fort Hays State University