CPB Community Service Grant (CSG) Compliance - WKAR

As a Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) Community Service Grant (CSG) recipient, Michigan State University and WKAR present this information and documentation to ensure transparency in business matters to the general public.

Contact WKAR
(517) 884-4700
404 Wilson Road Room 212
East Lansing, MI 48824

WKAR Station Management

WKAR Radio

GM/Executive Director: Shawn Turner | ssturner@wkar.org
Chief Financial Officer: Scott Gascon | smg@msu.edu
Head of Development: Melanie McGuire | melanie@wkar.org
Head of Programming: Jamie Paisley | jamie@wkar.org
Head of Broadcast Operations: Drew Henderson | drew@wkar.org
Head of Comm. Outreach: Julie Sochay| jsochay@wkar.org
Head of Educational Services: Robin Pizzo | robin@wkar.org
Head of Interactive/Web Services: Bill Richards | billr@wkar.org
Head of Marketing/Promotion: Julie Sochay | jsochay@wkar.org

WKAR TV

GM/Executive Director: Shawn Turner | ssturner@wkar.org
Chief Financial Officer: Scott Gascon | smg@msu.edu
Head of Development: Melanie McGuire | melanie@wkar.org
Head of Programming (Interim): Shawn Turner | ssturner@wkar.org
Head of Broadcast Operations: Drew Henderson | drew@wkar.org
Head of Production: Brant Wells | brant@wkar.org
Head of Comm. Outreach: Julie Sochay| jsochay@wkar.org
Head of Educational Services: Robin Pizzo | robin@wkar.org
Head of Interactive/Web Services: Bill Richards | billr@wkar.org
Head of Marketing/Promotion: Julie Sochay| jsochay@wkar.org

WKAR Governing Board (MSU Board of Trustees)

WKAR-AM, FM and TV are licensed to the Board of Trustees of Michigan State University. For additional information please visit: trustees.msu.edu/about/.

Dianne Byrum – term ends 1/1/25
Dennis Denno - term ends 1/1/31
Dan Kelly – term ends 1/1/25
Renee Knake Jefferson – term ends 1/1/23
Sandy Pierce - term ends 1/1/29
Brianna T. Scott – term ends 1/1/27
Kelly Tebay – term ends 1/1/27
Rema Vassar – term ends 1/1/29

* Trustee Term End Dates

Community Advisory Board

WKAR-AM, FM, and TV are owned and operated by a state university and therefore are not required to have a Community Advisory Board.

Open Meetings Policy

WKAR-AM, FM and TV are licensed to the Board of Trustees of Michigan State University. The Trustees comprise the governing body for WKAR. The MSU Board of Trustees meets several times per year. Please visit trustees.msu.edu/meetings/ for details on the Board of Trustees meeting dates.

2023 Meetings

All Board meetings are action meetings and begin at 9:30 a.m. unless otherwise indicated.

Jan. 11, 2023 - Election of officers
Feb. 10, 2023
Apr. 21, 2023
Jun. 14-16, 2023 – Retreat and Meeting
Sep. 8, 2023
Oct. 27, 2023
Dec. 15, 2023

These meeting dates will be publicized on both the WKAR website and the Michigan State University website. WKAR radio and television will make on-air announcements on three consecutive days, at varying times, once each calendar quarter. These announcements provide guidance on how the public may obtain information on the time, dates and location of Trustees meetings. Notice of these meetings will be sent via letter, email, fax, telephone or in person to individuals who have specifically requested notification.
When an agenda item specifically related to WKAR is on the docket, notice will be placed on the WKAR website.

Financial Reporting Requirements

WKAR makes the annual Audited Financial Statements and Annual Financial Reports submitted to CPB available to the public, both online at the station's website, and in paper along with the stations FCC Public File in the main office: 404 Wilson Road, Room 212, East Lansing, MI 48824-1212.

WKAR adheres to a discrete accounting system, which allows the grantor and auditor to discretely track funds within the accounting system.

Diversity Statement

WKAR Public Media is committed to fostering a culture of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) to maintain a fair, unbiased work environment and to enhance our ability to effectively serve the public as a trusted media organization. As a dual licensee and departmental unit of Michigan State University (MSU), WKAR adheres to all policies as outlined by the MSU Board of Trustees, including the Board’s commitment to DEI.

WKAR is committed to promoting respect among employees, students, visitors, volunteers and all members of the community. We believe our mission is best fulfilled when we embrace and promote understanding of the diversity in our community as both a value, and a practice.

For WKAR at MSU, DEI is defined as:

DIVERSITY represents our varied collective and individual identities and differences. We recognize that diversity is a central component of inclusive excellence in research, teaching, service, and outreach and engagement. We are committed to engage, understand, promote, and foster a variety of perspectives. We affirm our similarities and value our differences. We uphold that to truly be excellent, a university must support diversity.
EQUITY goes beyond fair treatment, opportunity, and access to information and resources for all, although these are crucial to the success of the university. Rather, equity can only be achieved in an environment built on respect and dignity in an environment that acknowledges historic and contemporary injustices. We are committed to intentionally and actively redressing barriers, challenging discrimination and bias, and institutionalizing access and resources that address historical and contemporary social inequalities.
INCLUSION actively invites all to contribute and participate. In the face of exclusive differential power, we strive to create balance. Every person’s voice is valuable, and no one person is expected to represent an entire community. We are committed to an open environment and campus where students, alumni, staff, faculty, and community voices are equally respected and contribute to the overall institutional mission.

With the benefit of being located on the campus of a major research university where free and open exchange of viewpoints is valued and encouraged, as well as in the heart of the state's capital, WKAR staff, leadership, and governance are committed to taking action toward achieving our DEI goals. The College of Communication Arts and Sciences has invested in a Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion position to help guide the College and WKAR’s efforts. The station is preparing plans to develop a specific position for the station as well.

WKAR Public Media Diversity Goals

To recruit and retain a diverse workforce that is representative of our community.
To provide equal opportunity in employment.
To educate our management and staff annually in best practices for maintaining an inclusive, equitable and diverse environment for all persons.
To assist in developing a more diverse future workforce with professional skills in the broadcasting/media industry by recruiting candidates for WKAR internship opportunities through participation in minority or other diversity-based job fairs.

As outlined in WKAR’s Strategic Plan, the station is taking action over the next three years to better reflect our community across platforms through our staffing, content, partnerships and the audiences we reach.

Related Resources

By taking advantage of the additional resources offered by Michigan State University, WKAR is proud to utilize, endorse and implement the following:

Annual Diversity Reports

WKAR publishes a yearly Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) report detailing the hiring and outreach practices during the preceding year. It is available under the ‘Public File' section on the website at wkar.org.

In addition, every year Michigan State University compiles a report to reflect diversity and inclusion as dynamic activities that take place at the university each year. The report is presented annually in the spring to the MSU Board of Trustees and is available to the public online.

Visit Institutional Diversity and Inclusion > Data and Information: Diversity at MSU

Training Programs available for management and appropriate staff

MSU is currently facilitating a DEI Strategic Planning Process for the University. The vision for the future of DEI at MSU includes formalized leadership for DEI within all units; alignment with institutional goals and efforts; sustainability plans and regular assessments and reporting. The MSU Human Resources Department, Office of Inclusion and Intercultural Initiatives, and the Faculty and Organizational Development Office provide online, instructor-led, and customized training on key areas such as leadership, inclusion, and employee relations. Examples of specific topics include:

Recognizing and Preventing Violence in the Workplace
Preventing, Investigating and Reporting Sexual Harassment
Best Practices in Recruiting and Hiring
Recognizing Bias

WKAR has created a DEI Taskforce and there is an expectation that all supervisors and staff of WKAR routinely take advantage of these educational resources.

EEO Requirements

All personnel hiring is handled with the Human Resources division of Michigan State University, which exercises its own EEO policy. Further, WKAR will comply with the hiring and reporting practices as required by FCC regulations. Yearly EEO reports are posted on the station's website at wkar.org/public-file.

Employment Statistics

In addition, these documents are available for viewing with the FCC Public File:

Local Content and Services Report

Donor Lists

Donor lists will not be sold, rented, loaned, traded, or otherwise transferred to outside parties. WKAR will periodically remind contributors or donors of this privacy policy.

updated 5/15/2023