MEMORANDUM
To: University Deans
From: Jay Golden, PhD
Date: November 1, 2019
Ref: On Boarding Materials
Cc: Provost Muma
It was a pleasure to briefly meet with many of you in person. I would like to take a moment and thank you for your support and kindness-everything I heard and expected from Shocker Nation. It is obvious that a great leadership team exists at WSU as evidenced by the strong progress the university is making in so many areas.
As I have mentioned during some of our discussions, I am anxious to have the opportunity to hit the ground running which, means taking the time to review and understand important background information. Of equal importance is to ensure that each of you have the opportunity to be able to communicate to me your insights and suggestions so that working together we can make Wichita State University even more impactful for our students and our region.
Attached are a set of questions to help me get caught up and importantly, to provide you the opportunity to offer up your insights and thoughts including how I can support you and your college. I am eager to understand your vision and ideas regarding where you want to take your college. By providing these questions now, I am hopeful to provide you sufficient time to gather the requested information but also have the time to consider some of the broader questions I have put forward. Do not limit your responses to the space provided, use as much as needed. Please place this document and supplemental materials in a labeled binder with dividers for the different sections. Bonus points for fun binder covers. I encourage you make a copy of the binder so we can work through it together.
Your on-going leadership and input are critical to our success. I want you to know that you should feel empowered at any time to bring me your ideas or concerns. Engaged listening, teamwork and transparency are key elements of my leadership style.
I strongly encourage you to engage the leaders in your organization and solicit their input-for example chairs and senate members in your college as well as student leaders. I strongly believe in active engagement and the shared-governance model and, I expect the same from our campus leaders.
Once I arrive full-time in Wichita, I will schedule extended initial meetings with each of you to go over these materials and get to know one another better.In the meantime, feel free to reach out to me by email at: Jay.Golden@wichita.edu.
Finally, each of you has contributed to the incredible positive trajectory of WSU. I want to thank you for your hard work and dedication. I look forward to working with each of you and supporting you as we continue to move this wonderful institution forward.