Kansas State University

Homecoming Week Oct. 5-11

• • • • • Philanthropy 5K | Sun., Oct. 5
        • Paint the ‘Ville | Mon. Oct. 6
        • Children’s Carnival | Wed., Oct. 8
        • Parade and Pep Rally | Fri., Oct. 10
        • K-State Football vs. TCU | Sat., Oct. 11

View more Homecoming activities

K-State AI Symposium: Humans and the Machine

Oct. 14-16
Hale Library, Manhattan Public Library, Zoom

This three-day event offers university and non-university community members an opportunity to learn about artificial intelligence through keynote presentations, panels and workshops. Attendees will gain insight into AI’s latest advances, uses in various disciplines, and ethical and societal issues, as well as hands-on experience through guided demonstrations.

‘The Cure Starts with Us’ Power Luncheon

Oct. 15 | 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.
Holiday Inn at the Campus
Registration is required.
$25/person

Join in this impactful program designed to bring together cancer survivors and advocates to enhance cancer patients’ well-being. Guest speaker Nate McClendon will present “More Than Cancer: The Perception of Self.”

Art and Math Seminar Series

Oct. 23 and Nov. 20
Noon-1 p.m.
Online meetings

Join these global dialogues on visual creativity inspired by mathematical sciences and the history of science.

This seminar series hosts distinguished speakers across disciplines—mathematicians, scientists, engineers, computer scientists, art and math historians, architects, artists, and educators—offering fresh perspectives at the intersection of art, mathematics and science. All K-Staters are welcome. Registration is required.

“Environmental Ethics and Confucianism” lecture

Fri., Oct. 24 | 1:30 p.m.
Regnier Forum, Regnier Hall

Marion Hourdequin, Professor of Philosophy, Colorado College

Can a tradition that’s more than 2,500 years old shed light on contemporary issues related to climate change, the environment, and intergenerational ethics?

Sponsored by the Primary Texts Certificate program and Redbud Foundation, the Live Ideas Lecture Series focuses on primary texts that can inspire us and help us better understand our world.

Extension and Engagement Week

Oct. 20-24

Learn, lead, engage and help fulfill K-State’s land-grant mission by tackling challenges and doing good in Kansas and the world. Conference and other events will inform about various topics including ADHD; engaging with the media, K-State Extension, and K-State’s research foundation; GIS and data analytics; customer relationship management; food and health; and more.

Research and the State Graduate Student Poster Forum

Oct. 28 | 10-noon, 1:30-3:30 | Regnier Atrium
Awards ceremony: 4:30 p.m. | Regnier Forum

Support graduate students at this research poster forum! More than 84 grad students from seven colleges and 25 academic programs will present posters about their research and share why it’s important to lawmakers and citizens of Kansas. Ten will be selected to represent K-State at the annual Capitol Graduate Research Summit in the spring.

Grad students wishing to present must register by Oct. 6. Abstracts are due Oct. 13.

College apparel webstore opening soon!

The College of Arts and Sciences apparel webstore will open soon! College-branded T-shirts, sweatshirts, polos, jackets, hats and more will be available for a brief time in purple, black and gray. And you can choose free shipping to Calvin Hall or shipping to your home for a fee. Watch your inbox for the store announcement later this month!

College Faculty Meeting

Nov. 6 | 4-5 p.m. | 106 Kedzie

All faculty and staff are welcome. Only faculty members eligible to vote in Faculty Senate elections may vote. The next meeting will be Dec. 4.

Important Dates

• Oct. 17 – Wildcat Pause Day (no classes)
• Oct. 27 – Spring 2025 Enrollment Begins
• Oct. 31 – Last Day to drop class with “W” on transcript (16-week classes)
• Nov. 11 – Veterans Day (not an observed university holiday)

View full 2025-2026 Academic Calendar

Course enrollment begins Oct. 27. Faculty and staff members with advisor responsibilities should be reaching out to students, scheduling campaigns, and meeting with students to support them during enrollment. More information about enrollment dates is on the Priority Dates & Enrollment Times page.

Searching for grant funding?

Register for training sessions led by Laura Hohenbary, College of Arts and Sciences grant specialist.

• Tue., Oct. 21 | 11 a.m.-Noon | 301 Calvin Hall
• Wed., Oct. 22 | 10:30-11:30 a.m. | 301 Calvin Hall
• Individual sessions may also be requested using registration link above.

Applied Learning integration grants

Fall 2025 ALE Incentive Grant applications are now open and will close on Oct.15. Any campus partner interested in integrating Applied Learning Experiences is encouraged to view the opportunities on the Applied Learning Experiences Incentive Grants page or to contact the ALE team at appliedlearing@k-state.edu.

Undergraduate Research Awards

Tell your students! Undergraduate degree-seeking students enrolled in any major in the College of Arts and Sciences are invited to apply for research awards to conduct projects with faculty mentors. Applications due Nov. 1.

GROW and EXCITE programs seek partners, volunteers

K-State’s KAWSE Office works to increase the participation, retention and advancement of future STEM students. KAWSE seeks faculty members to propose workshops for its GROW program, and K-State students to serve as ambassadors/mentors to middle and high school students in its programs.

Health Benefits – Enrollment required

All benefits-eligible employees must re-enroll for 2026 health benefits, even if not intending to change coverage. Open Enrollment is Oct. 1–31.

Time and Leave – Get trained on new system now!

The new Time and Leave System launches Oct. 26! Register now for training.

K-State Supervisory Foundations training

Registration for K-State Supervisory Foundations Pillar I Offering is open. This program is for supervisors of University Support Staff (USS) and Unclassified Professionals. Please direct questions to learning-develop-hr@k-state.edu.

Performance Management reminder

It’s time for Unclassified and USS staff to begin employee self-reflections. Complete the self-reflections form between now and Nov. 30 and submit it to your supervisor before year-end performance review conversations. Find it on HR’s Performance Management Forms page.

Veterans Day policy – Nov. 11

The university will be open, and classes will be in session Tue., Nov. 11. Only employees required for necessary business should work. Non-exempt employees working on Veterans Day will be compensated 1.5 times (time or pay). Twelve-month exempt staff or faculty who work that day will be given equivalent time off. Employees working on Veterans Day should email their department timekeeper with their supervisor copied. See PPM Chapter 4860.

Voting privileges – Election Day, Nov. 5

Polling locations are generally open 7 a.m.-7 p.m., allowing most employees to vote outside of work hours. Employees unable to vote outside of work hours should be allowed time to vote without leave being charged.

Gabe Kerr receives KBOR Faculty of the Year Award

Gabe Kerr, professor of mathematics, was recognized by the Kansas Board of Regents with a Faculty of the Year award for his outstanding contributions to teaching, student success and service to the university!

The award especially honors his work to support students’ mathematical literacy and advancement through initiating and implementing the Math Pathways program to help students effectively navigate the mathematics curriculum.

“One of my favorite parts of working with students comes when I see them acquire skills that they initially felt were inaccessible,” said Dr. Kerr.

Economics and psychology programs among top in nation

Our undergraduate economics and psychology programs were ranked among the top in the nation by U.S. News and World Report!

Economics jumped 22 places to tie at No. 139. Psychology appeared in the rankings for the first time at No. 113.

John Fliter publishes book on creation of fair labor standards

John Fliter, associate professor of political science, has published the book, “U.S. v. Darby Lumber: The Triumph of Fair Labor Standards,” available through University Press of Kansas and Amazon.

The book tracks the historic fight for fair labor standards since the eighteenth century. Shining a light on the changing ideological landscape of the Supreme Court in the twentieth century, Dr. Fliter shows how the court’s groundbreaking decisions led to the creation of the Fair Labor Standards Act in 1941, guaranteeing rights that are the norm today, such as the eight-hour workday, five-day workweek, and minimum wage.

Teaching excellence is a top priority of our college! Each year, we present several awards for exemplary teaching and honor the recipients at a celebration in the spring.

Stacia Gray, senior instructor and Writing Center director, English

Her nominator, Anne Phillips, professor and associate department head of English, said:

“Professor Gray is an essential, admired, and consequential member of the English Department. Whether she is teaching required courses such as Expository Writing, degree-requirement courses such as Early American Literature, a 500-level course on Writing Center Theory, or creating a harmonious and productive environment as she directs the Writing Center, Stacia ensures that all students feel safe, engaged, motivated and successful.”

A senior in English Education, said:

“I have never known a time in which Stacia did not open her office to meet with students. I have spent numerous hours with her navigating research and assignments. Her dedication and willingness to meet for any occasion displays a sincere investment in her students’ intellectual development and makes her an irreplaceable educator.”

Arts and Sciences departments showcased their majors, minors, certificates and applied learning opportunities at the Arts and Sciences Discovery Expo Sept. 10 in the Union. A few lucky students won scholarships and other prizes!