It has been over 30 years since the Graduate School called any place other than Fairchild Hall their home. As mentioned in our Spring 2017 Graduate School Alumni Newsletter, the Graduate School established a new residence in Eisenhower Hall in March 2017.
As part of the all-campus Space Migration that first started in 2015, the Graduate School team put a proposal together to relocate their office space from Fairchild Hall to the former College of Arts and Sciences Dean Suite in Eisenhower Hall, and to add additional space on the first and third floors for new professional development and research programs. The Graduate School received news that the proposal was accepted in summer 2016.
In addition to the Dean’s suite on the first floor, the Graduate School now has a classroom for professional development events, an office for the Graduate Student Council, and a second office suite for the degree analysts. In the basement, we acquired a break room for Graduate School staff and a small storage closet.
The biggest news is the allocation of space on Eisenhower Hall’s third floor. (Faculty and graduate students from the departments of History and Modern Languages were once the sole occupants of the third floor.) Now, the Graduate School will occupy the majority of the third floor along with a few GTA offices in the Department of Modern Languages.
This summer, our project has been to renovate the third floor of Eisenhower to be functional in the fall semester. For the first time at K-State, the Graduate School will offer collaborative space dedicated just for graduate students for interdisciplinary research initiatives, class projects, and drop-in work spaces. With the help of graduate students and Graduate School staff, we have been able to make our mark by painting and integrating old and new office furniture throughout the third floor.
With the support of a Graduate School alumna, we were able to purchase a bit of new furniture for the collaborative spaces. However, we are using much of the existing 1950’s desks and chairs until we are able to secure newer items.
In addition to offering collaborative space for graduate students to conduct research, there will also be a small Graduate Student Lounge. The Lounge offers a place to encourage social interaction, collaboration, and partnership among graduate students across all disciplines. As a central gathering place for graduate students, the lounge will feature a variety of seating types, a media nook and a coffee bar.
Over the past few years, the Graduate School conducted research to find out what graduate students need, want and expect out of their graduate school experience at K-State. Graduate students, who are also parents, have expressed interest in having a space where their children can play while they work. The Parent Work Space will offer children of graduate students a chance to play while their parent(s) work on his or her research or scholarly work. The room includes a wall where children can draw with chalk!
Also available on the third floor will be a campus partner’s office. Campus partners will have an office to hold meetings with graduate students throughout the semesters.
“The Career Center is very excited to partner with the Graduate School and provide consultations for graduate students in the new student service partnership room,” said Andrew Kohls, assistant director, Career Center. “Our presence there will reaffirm our commitment to serving graduate students with their career needs; whether that be looking for a part-time job to help with financial burdens, searching for an internship, or helping with interview preparation for a full-time position. The Career Center will meet students where they are at in their career journey and assist them in any way that we can. Our partnership will also provide us a new avenue in which we can connect graduate students to specific programs and workshops, as well as our career fairs.”
“Powercat Financial has been students ‘go to’ service for free financial advice on topics such as student loan planning and repayment, credit management, saving and budgeting, and understanding job offers,” said Jodi Kaus, director of Powercat Financial. “Now Powercat Financial will be going to graduate students but providing easy access to its services directly within the Graduate School’s new student services area on Eisenhower’s third floor on Mondays starting September 11. Graduate students may request a Powercat Financial appointment and indicate in their KSIS appointment request submission that they are a graduate student wanting an appointment in Eisenhower.”
With the available space on the third floor, we also are providing space to groups that do not have any office space on campus. The Postdoctoral Association and Fulbright Scholars will have their own offices.
We are excited about our new location and encourage K-State graduate alumni to visit us anytime they are on campus and tour our new space. If you are interested in supporting the Graduate School with any of the spaces in Eisenhower, contributions or in-kind gifts of any of the following items are greatly appreciated – lightly used is certainly fine!
- 32 inch flat screen tv with a USB port
- small tables and desks
- table and floor lamps
- children’s toys and books
- chalk board erasers
- crayons and coloring books
- washable magic markers
Please email Associate Dean Geraldine Craig a photo of any furniture or lamps that you might have to donate and she will be in touch. Children’s items can be dropped off at the Graduate School or contact Associate Dean Craig.
If you have questions about the Eisenhower space or any of the exciting new programs going on in the Graduate School, please contact Dr. Carol Shanklin.