Kansas State University

• Upcoming events, meetings and important dates
• Human Resources: Holiday and leave guidance
• Congrats to our Staff Spotlight Awardees!
• Faculty Spotlight: Laurie Johnson publishes book on American culture wars

CANCELED – Coffee Collab

Canceled due to scheduling conflict

Tue., Nov. 6 | 10-11:30
Student Union, Room 227

Faculty Meeting

Thu., Nov. 21
4-5 p.m. | 114 Willard Hall

All faculty and staff are welcome.

CANCELED – Dec. 5 faculty meeting

Arts and Sciences Holiday Party

TENTATIVE
Thu., Dec. 5 | 4-6 p.m.
Location to be decided

The Dean’s Office will host a collegewide social to celebrate the holidays and our ArtSci community. Stay tuned for more details.

Commencement Ceremonies

• Graduate School Commencement
  Fri., Dec. 13 | 1 p.m. | Bramlage Coliseum 
• Arts and Sciences Undergraduate Commencement
  Sat., Dec. 14 | 8:30-10 a.m. | Bramlage Coliseum
  Concourse workers arrive at 7 a.m., before graduates line up at 7:30.

Other events around the college and university

Post-Election Connection

Wed., Nov. 6 | 1:30-5 p.m.
Spectrum Center, 207 Holtz Hall

This is an opportunity for all K-Staters to decompress and find community after a stressful election season. Enjoy a cozy atmosphere, activities and fall treats, as well as pizza courtesy of the Alumni Association!

KSUnite: Stronger Together

Nov. 13 | 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
K-State Student Union
Classes will not be canceled for this year’s event.

We are “One K-State,” unified in meaningful, sustained actions that benefit all Wildcats. Through honest, transparent conversations, we foster a culture where everyone feels they belong.

• 10 a.m.-2 p.m. | Community Portrait Project with Nate McClendon (interactive activity)
• 10 a.m.-2 p.m. | Cats Cupboard Food Drive Donation Drop-Off
• 11 a.m.-2 p.m. | Kansas State Community Resource Fair
• Noon-1:15pm | K-State Community Panel
• 1:15 p.m.-2 p.m. | KSUnite Ice Cream Social

Bilingual Spanish-English storytime for your little ones

Saturdays, Nov. 2, 9, 16, 23 | 11-11:30 a.m.
Manhattan Public Library

The department of modern languages has teamed up with Manhattan Public Library to present ¡Cuenta Cuentos! Tell Tales!, a weekly bilingual Spanish-English storytime throughout November! It is aimed at children ages 3-8, but all are welcome! More information is on the MPL event calendar.

Important dates

Nov. 11 – Veterans Day (university open, classes in session)
Nov. 24-30 – Thanksgiving break for students
Nov. 28-29 – Thanksgiving holiday/Campus closed
Dec. 6 – Last Day of Classes (Grade rosters created at 5 p.m. in KSIS)
Dec. 9-13 – Final Exams
Dec. 14 – Arts and Sciences Commencement
Dec. 10 – Deadline to Return I-NR Grade
Dec. 17 – Grades Due by 5 p.m. (4 p.m. if grading in CANVAS)
Dec. 18 – Grades available in KSIS
Dec. 25-31 – Winter Break: Reduced University Activity—Campus Closed

View full 2024-2025 academic calendar

Annual University Holiday Memo

The university has released its annual Holiday Memo, which provides information about holidays and reduced activity during Winter Break.

Veterans Day – Nov. 11

The university will be open and classes in session on Veterans Day, Monday, Nov. 11. Only employees required to conduct necessary business should be requested to work. Non-exempt employees who work shall be compensated at 1.5 times (either time or pay). Exempt staff who work will be given equivalent time off at a later date. More info is in the Holiday Memo.

Discretionary Day: Use it or lose it

Be sure to use your 2024 discretionary day by Dec. 21. You can determine if you have an available discretionary day by logging into Employee Self Service/HRIS. If a line for “D-Day” appears, you have an available discretionary day (an hours balance will not be displayed). Once you use your discretionary day, the line will disappear.

Congratulations to Emily Mann, academic advisor in the College of Arts and Sciences, and Tari Philips, accounting specialist in the Division of Biology, on being selected for university Staff Spotlight Awards! This monthly award recognizes university staff for their service to the K-State community.

Mann was selected for the August award. Her nominator said that she thinks strategically about each student’s case and does extensive research to help create the most efficient degree plan possible, mindful of time and money. When students are in a rut, Emily helps them think strategically about new pathways available to them, and she continually develops her advising skills to better serve her students.

Philips was selected for the September award. Her nominator said that she is an outstanding accounting specialist who has assumed substantial responsibilities beyond that position, including training new personnel, and is generous with her time and expertise to keep the Division of Biology business office running smoothly.

Political science professor publishes book on America’s culture wars

K-State political science professor Laurie Johnson has released a new book called The Gap in God’s Country. It argues that although America’s culture wars may seem to have erupted in the past couple of decades, they go back centuries. Learn about the book and upcoming live sessions with Dr. Johnson.