Advancing the Next Gen K-State

Vision

The Office of General Counsel will be a valued and sought after strategic partner, recognized for our industry-leading legal expertise, innovative and creative problem solving, and commitment to Kansas State University as the nation’s leading next-generation land-grant university.

Mission

We serve as legal counsel to our client, the University. We empower the University’s teaching, research, and service mission in accordance with legal obligations, policy requirements, and best practices applicable to public research and land-grant universities. We proactively identify and mitigate risk and respond to the University’s legal needs. We engage collaboratively and creatively to provide practical, timely solutions.

Our Goals, Strategies, and Progress

Goal 1: We will be trusted, sought-after advisors

We will build and sustain positive relationships that enable the University to pursue its vision and achieve its strategic imperatives while managing the University’s legal risks and obligations. University leaders will know us, trust us, and seek out and value our involvement from early stages of planning and decision making.

Strategies/Initiatives:

Establish attorney liaisons for each college and major University unit

Liaisons assigned and published by September 2025 (in progress)

Deliver relevant, interactive legal presentations that can proactively mitigate university risk and amplify OGC services

Develop and deliver foundational legal presentations

• • Speech and Expressive Activities on campus (requires eID and Password)

Host presentations and interactive Q&A's

• • DOJ's Final Rule on Digital Accessibility (Summer 2024)
  • Voting and Political Campaign-Related Activities (Fall 2024)
  • Navigating Campus Activism and Protests

Goal 2: We will provide expert, meaningful, and strategic advice.

Our legal capabilities will meet the needs of the Next-Gen K-State Strategic Plan, and our deep understanding of K-State’s next-generation land-grant mission will inform our delivery of counsel that responds to traditional legal demands and proactively empowers the University, colleges, and major units to achieve their own strategic priorities.

Strategies/Initiatives:

Support the University's strategic plan, especially our research, entrepreneurial, and startup enterprise

Deliver legal tools and advice to empower the University’s plans to spark economic development by expanding partnerships and launching startups.

Empower the University's plan for applied learning experiences

We will engage our campus partners to effectuate students’ applied learning opportunities while mitigating legal risk.

Support attorney's legal expertise through purposeful professional development

To retain and recruit exceptional attorney's we will commit to purposeful professional development

• • Each attorney will map an annual professional development plan
  • Areas of needed subject-matter knowledge growth
  • Enhance and demonstrate OGC’s subject-matter expertise

Goal 3: We will champion innovation and operational excellence that enhance our client services.

Our team will implement and utilize new methods to enhance our workflows and deliver helpful advice to best serve the University's priorities.

Strategies/Initiatives:

Adopt a new in-house legal practice management platform that allows us to manage legal matter intake and monitor active legal matters.

Contract with and transition to LawVu practice management platform (Spring 2025)

Develop policy or protocols for the University's engagement of outside counsel and consultants providing privileged advice.

Develop Consultant protocols (Spring 2025)

Additional Resources: