Kansas State University

Dear Colleagues,

Freshman enrollment in Arts and Sciences is up for the first time in over 10 years! Thank you for the great job you did to recruit students!

What we did in combination with President Linton’s community outreach, I believe, led to the increase. As a college, we overhauled our recruiting strategy. This included reimagining our Campus Visits, developing Experience Days for prospective students, personalizing our communication with prospective students, and more effectively using and targeting college-level scholarships.

We still have a ways to go to completely implement this strategy, and we are still learning what is most effective, but we are on our way to continuing this trend. We now would also like to do the same thing with transfer students. Thank you again for your help in this effort!

This semester has been busy so far and will continue to be. Thank you, everyone, for your participation in developing a new set of college requirements! This is the first time they have been changed in over 30 years.

Next, we will develop a college workload policy, now required by KBOR. We also have a new program review policy to implement, a college strategic plan to finish, new engagement and teaching policies to start discussing, and several new strategic investment opportunities surrounding bioprocessing, water, rural education, advanced analytics and others that many of us can participate in. We will put out information about these as soon as we can.

ArtSci Enrollment Numbers

Headcount down 112 from last year to 3,965 (-2.7%)
(University up 0.1% to 19,745)

First-time freshmen up 122 from last year to 757 (+19.2%)
(University up 9% to 3,193 | 6.8% in-state, 15.1% out-of-state)

First-time transfers down 7 from last year to 257 (-2.7%)
(University up 2.8% to 1,292)

Update on college degree requirements

An Arts and Sciences faculty vote has resulted in a new set of college degree requirements to align with the new K-State Core. The voting results for the amended requirements proposal were:

Yes: 164 | No: 44 | Abstain: 10 | Total Votes:  218

Our thanks to all who participated, and especially to the working group, the department heads, and the faculty, advisors and staff who provided input and worked within and across their units to improve the proposal, discuss the merits of various options, and advocate for their particular views.

Later this week, information about next steps will be sent to department heads, program and curriculum leads, and advisors. Additional steps are needed to finalize the requirements, but we will begin aligning curricula. Next year, we’ll discuss any changes needed after implementing this version and learning from that process.

From ArtSci Human Resources

Action required—Health Insurance Open Enrollment

You must re-enroll for 2024 health benefits even if you do not intend to change your coverage. Enrollment is open Oct. 1-31. Learn more.

Upcoming holidays

Benefits-eligible employees who earn vacation can view this year’s remaining holidays on this 2023 State Employee Holidays list. Unless there is a specific need for an employee to work on these days, they should not work. If they work, they earn holiday comp time.

Veterans Day is a recognized holiday for employees who earn vacation leave, but the university remains open. Only employees who are required to conduct necessary business should be requested to work. Non-exempt employees who work are compensated at one and one-half times (comp time or pay). Exempt staff who work are given equivalent time off at a later date. Your unit’s HR personnel can tell you how to report hours worked on Veterans Day. 

The university is on limited operations during the last week of December. Please watch K-State Today for further information on the holiday schedule.

Purple Commencement Regalia Requirement

Please be aware and tell your students: Undergraduates participating in Commencement must wear purple regalia. It can be purchased from K-State Campus Store. If students already bought black regalia from the store, they can exchange it for purple. The purple costs $5 more.

Student enrollment begins Oct. 23

Enrollment opens for students Oct. 23. 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 info about enrollment dates is on the Registrar’s Priority Dates & Enrollment Times page.

Evaluations, promotion and tenure

Promotion and tenure recommendations are due to the dean by Oct. 23. Reappointment recommendations are due to the dean by Oct. 27. View 2023-2024 ArtSci Academic Calendar. For information on processes, visit the Provost’s evaluation, promotion and tenure page.

Nominate ArtSci faculty, advisors and staff for awards!

The College of Arts and Sciences annually provides awards to recognize excellence in teaching and advising. This year, we’re pleased to add another award for administrative and support staff. Nominations are due Nov. 1. Submissions should be made to Stacy Vars by emailing asdeans@ksu.edu. Learn more about these awards and nomination processes:

• William L. Stamey Awards for Undergraduate Teaching and Advising
• Ron Gaches Teaching Awards
• Annette Maggio Administrative and Support Staff Award

Alumni Fellow Awards

Nominees for Alumni Fellow awards must be graduates of K-State and have been professionals long enough to distinguish themselves in their fields. Fellows should be currently in the workforce so they can share current industry information with students and faculty. Submit nominations by Nov. 1 to Scott Tanona at asdeans@ksu.edu.

Nominate one of your alums for a Distinguished Young Alumni Award!

This award recognizes two K-State grads per year who are using the leadership and service experience they acquired at K-State to excel in their professions and contribute to their communities. Nominations are due to the Alumni Association by Oct. 27. Learn more.

Presidential Award deadline changes

The provost’s office made corrections this week to the 2023-2024 University Awards Table. Three awards that were initially listed as due Nov. 1 have been returned to spring semester, with Feb. 1 deadlines, as in past years. This means we have more time to submit nominations! Please consider nominating colleagues for these important awards.

Now due Feb. 1 are:

• Presidential Award for Outstanding Department Head
• Presidential Faculty Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching
• Presidential Graduate Teaching Assistant Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching

Funding resources

Funding available for research in artificial intelligence

As a follow-up to the larger Game-Changing Research Initiation Program, or GRIP, the Office of the Vice President for Research is launching GRIPex: AI in the Disciplines, for “ex”ploratory research to build interest and capacity in the game-changing domain of AI. Proposals are due Nov. 1. Learn more.

Chapman Center offers Interdisciplinary Research Grant

The Chapman Center for Rural Studies calls for pre-proposals for its Interdisciplinary Research Grant, which fosters engagement with rural communities. Pre-applications are due Oct. 27. Learn more.

College Meetings

Faculty Meeting – Thu., Oct. 12 | 3:30 | 004 King

Dept Heads Meeting – Thu., Oct. 19 | 8:30 | 206 Union

College All-Staff Meeting – Thu., Oct. 19 | 3:30 | Location to be determined

Events

The Race Card Project

Wed., Oct. 11 | 2-3 p.m.
Hale Library, Room 181
Presented by Tara Coleman, associate professor and programming services coordinator, K-State Libraries

Coffee Collab: Grant Writing Workshop

Thu., Oct. 12 | 10-Noon
Hale Library, Room 307
Faculty and staff are welcome. Registration requested.

ArtSci Drop-By

Thu., Oct. 12 | 5:15-7 p.m.
JP’s Union Station
All ArtSci staff and faculty are invited.

‘A.I. and the Future’ symposium

K-State Modern Languages, Hale Library, and Center for AI and Data Science, as well as the Manhattan Public Library, present the free symposium, “A.I. and the Future: Exploring the intersection of Language(s), Science and Ethics,” Oct. 16-19. Visit webpage for session times and locations. For information, contact Raelynne Hale, raehale@ksu.edu.

Homecoming Week Oct. 22-28

Homecoming Philanthropy 5K | Sun., Oct. 22

Children’s Carnival | Wed., Oct. 25

Homecoming Parade | Fri., Oct. 27

Pep Rally | Fri., Oct. 27

Football game vs. Houston | Sat., Oct. 28

View more Homecoming activities

Coffee Collab: Reimagining your instructor presence while elevating student success and engagement with VoiceThread

Presented by Deborah Goins and Dr. Raelynne Hale
Tue., Nov. 7 | 10-11:30 a.m.
307 Hale Library

VoiceThread is a presentation and storytelling tool that integrates with Canvas and transforms PowerPoint slides, videos, images, voice, text, and drawings into interactive collaborations. Faculty are invited to participate in a pilot program in spring 2024 to test and consider group investment in the product.

ArtSci Drop-By

Thu., Nov. 9 | 5:15-7 p.m.
Union Station by JP’s
All ArtSci staff and faculty are invited.

Student Events—Please tell your students!

Lunch with the Deans: Military, Veterans, Dependents

Wed., Oct. 18, noon-1 p.m.
301 Calvin Hall

Helping Professions Networking Night

Thu., Oct. 19, 5:30-7:30
Bluemont Room, K-State Student Union
Cosponsored by College of Health and Human Sciences

Arts and Sciences Alumni Career Panel

Thu., Oct. 26, 11:30-1:30 p.m.
Muir Room, K-State Student Union

Lunch with the Deans: First-Generation Students

Mon., Nov. 6 | Noon-1 p.m.
301 Calvin Hall

Tell us about your department’s events! We can help promote via newsletters, social media and the university calendar (Localist). In Localist, tag the college and your event will populate to the college’s calendar and homepage. For support, contact Marcia Locke, marcia@ksu.edu, or Kate Williamson, kate89@ksu.edu.

View all ArtSci events on Localist

Statistics and geography faculty help launch Insitute for Digital Agriculture and Advanced Analytics

Trevor Hefley, associate professor of statistics, and Shawn Hutchinson, professor of geography and geospatial sciences, are part of the core administrative team of the recently launched Institute for Digital Agriculture and Advanced Analytics. The interdisciplinary institute will work to transform learning, research and outreach around digital technologies and advanced analytical methods to enhance agricultural, environmental and socioeconomic decision making. read more

Pickering earns Distinguished Graduate Faculty Award

Jeffrey Pickering, professor of political science and security studies, has received a 2023-2024 Commerce Bank and W.T. Kemper Foundation Distinguished Graduate Faculty Award. read more

Baral receives American Lung Association grant

Pankaj Baral, assistant professor of biology, received a $200,000 grant from the American Lung Association to study interactions between the nervous and immune systems in regulating influenza A infection and viral pneumonia. read more

Heidbreder contributes to Topeka Capital-Journal

Brianne Heidbreder, associate professor of political science, has written multiple opinion pieces for cjonline.com/Topeka Capital-Journal. Recently, she wrote about Kansas’s need to weigh the benefits and risks of restricting foreign land investment. read story

Kisangani and Pickering win book award

Emizet Kisangani and Jeffrey Pickering, professors of political science, have won the biennial J. David Singer Book Award from the International Studies Association-Midwest for their book “African Interventions: State Militaries, Foreign Powers, and Rebel Forces.” read more

Faculty Promotions

Every year, the provost’s office announces promotions of tenure-track and tenured faculty whose promotion cases have been fully approved through every step of the process. Non-tenure-track faculty promotions are handled within the college, and our college has many outstanding non-tenure-track faculty members who excel and advance in their areas.

We are happy to announce that in the past year, many excellent ArtSci faculty members have been promoted. Please help us congratulate these hard-working individuals, if you haven’t already:

Amanda Arrington (music, theatre, and dance), to senior professor of practice; Sabreen Gad (geology), to teaching associate professor; John Kilgore (music, theatre, and dance) to teaching assistant professor; Rachel Levitt (social transformation studies) to teaching associate professor; Stephen Loch (music, theatre, and dance) to teaching assistant professor; Lorenza Lockett (sociology, anthropology, and social work) to teaching associate professor; George Matthews (music, theater, and dance) to senior professor of practice; Susan Maxwell (music, theater, and dance) to teaching associate professor; Melissa Neville (music, theater, and dance) to senior professor of practice; Nadia Shapkina (sociology, anthropology, and social work) to teaching associate professor; David Wood (music, theater, and dance) to advanced instructor.