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Arts and Sciences Faculty/Staff Newsletter

UPCOMING EVENTS

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

graphic about The Race Card Project event 10/11/23Wed., 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

graphic with info about Coffee Collab grant-writing event Oct. 12, 2023Thu., Oct. 12 | 10-Noon
Hale Library, Room 307
Faculty and staff are welcome. Registration requested.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ArtSci Drop-By

graphic with info about ArtSci Drop-By event Oct. 12, 2023Thu., Oct. 12 | 5:15-7 p.m.
JP’s Union Station
All ArtSci staff and faculty are invited.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

‘A.I. and the Future’ symposium

A.I. and the Future partial graphic

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

Willie Wildcat and K-State Cheerleaders walk in parade

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

graphic with info about Coffee Collab Nov 7, 2023Presented 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

CONGRATS!

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

photo of person taking photo of cropTrevor 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

photo of Dr. Jeffrey PickeringJeffrey 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

photo of Dr. Pankaj BaralPankaj 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

photo of Dr. Brianne HeidbrederBrianne 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

Image of cover of book, African Interventions: State Militaries, Foreign Powers, and Rebel Forces, by Drs. Emizet F. Kisangani and Jeffrey PickeringEmizet 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.

NEED-TO-KNOW

Gen Eds and College Requirements

To adjust to K-State’s new general education system, K-State Core, which will go into effect Fall 2024, we are establishing a new set of college requirements. Information about progress is on our Degree Requirements page.

The first read and discussion happened at the Sept. 7 faculty meeting. A second meeting will be held Sept. 28 to vote on the requirements.

Every program must provide a catalog update that aligns it with the new gen eds, incorporates the updated college requirements, and shows all 120 CH of requirements for the degree. If a program offers both BA and BS, we must submit a separate set of requirements for each degree by November.

It is very important for all ArtSci faculty and advisors to be aware of and provide input on these curricular developments, both within your units and at the college level. Please note faculty meeting dates and watch for updates.

 

Human Resources

Open Enrollment for 2024 insurance coverage begins October 1 and ends October 31 at 11:59 p.m. You must enroll to maintain or change your insurance plan. If you do not enroll, you will default to Plan N with HRA.

Watch K-State Today for the upcoming 2024 Benefits Fair and health insurance information.

New employees (since August), the coverage you selected for 2023 does not roll over to next year; you must re-enroll. If your coverage is effective Sept., Oct., Nov. or Dec. 2023, you will have two portals to enroll in.

J1 visa holders, Plan J continues to meet Department of State requirements.

If you’re leaving K-State at semester’s end, we suggest you log in and waive coverage for 2023 to avoid paying premiums when you don’t have insurance.

UPCOMING EVENTS & DEADLINES

graphic showing info about Arts and Sciences Coffee Collab at the Sunderland Innovation Lab Sept 15, 2023
Coffee Collab: Innovation Lab Tour

Fri., Sept. 15 | 10-11:30 a.m.
Hale Library, Sunderland Innovation Lab
For all ArtSci faculty and staff

 

 

 

 

Faculty Meeting

Thu., Sept. 28 | 3:30-5 p.m.
004 King Hall

 

graphic showing info about the ArtSci Drop-By Sept. 28, 2023
ArtSci Drop-By

Thu., Sept. 28 | 5:15-7 p.m.
JP’s Union Station
For all ArtSci faculty and staff

 

 

 

 

Peterson Public Lecture in Physics

Oct. 3 | 4:30
101 Cardwell Hall
Presenter: John C. Mather, principal scientist emeritus of the James Webb Space Telescope and recipient of 2006 Nobel Prize in Physics

 

Flyer for K-State Soccer's faculty and staff appreciation night Oct. 5, 2023K-State Soccer vs. Houston – Faculty and Staff Appreciation Night

Oct. 5 | 7 p.m.
Tickets only $2!
The team will recognize an impactful professor as well as all faculty and staff members. And it’s $2 Day so tickets and some concessions are reduced to $2!

 

 

 

 

 

The Race Card Project

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

 

Coffee Collab: Grant Writing Workshop

Thu., Oct. 12 | 10-Noon
Hale Library, Room 307

 

Faculty Meeting

Thu., Oct. 12 | 3:30-5 p.m.
Location TBA

 

ArtSci Drop-By

Thu., Oct. 12 | 5:15-7 p.m.
JP’s Union Station

 

‘A.I. and the Future’ symposium Oct. 16-19, poster abstracts requested by Sept. 15

A.I. and the Future partial graphic

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 at Hale Library. The project director is Raelynne Hale, raehale@ksu.edu.

Posters are invited. Abstract submission deadline is Sept. 15.

 

View all ArtSci events on Localist

 

Share your department’s events!

We encourage you to tell us about your department’s events and to add them to the Localist calendar. If you tag the college in your event entry, it will populate to the college’s calendar and homepage. To share events with us or get help submitting to Localist, contact Kate Williamson at kate89@ksu.edu.

 

Upcoming Award Nomination Deadlines

Sept. 18 – Dean’s Office deadline for Coffman Chair for Distinguished Teaching Scholars nominations

Sept. 18 – Dean’s Office deadline for University Distinguished Professor nominations

Sept. 18 – Dean’s Office deadline for Honorary Degree nominations

Oct. 6Commerce Bank Presidential Faculty/Staff Award for Distinguished Services to Historically Underrepresented Students – Office of Diversity

RESOURCES & OPPORTUNITIES

University Distinguished Professor appointments

Nominations for 2024 university distinguished professor appointments can be made by any tenured K-State faculty member by Oct. 2. The college deadline to submit for dean review is Sept. 18. Read announcement

Commerce Bank Presidential Awards for Diversity

Nominations for the Commerce Bank Presidential Faculty/Staff and Student Awards for Diversity are due Fri., Oct. 6, 2023. Learn more

K-State Internal Grants/Awards

Johnson Cancer Research Center faculty research awards and student research awardsDue Oct. 1 (and March 1) annually

Chapman Center for Rural Studies Interdisciplinary Research GrantDue Oct. 27, 2023

VP for Research Faculty Development Awards and University Small Research GrantsDue Oct. 2, 2023 (and March 4, 2024) 

  • Faculty Development Award: Support for travel to international meetings or to meet with program officers from potential external sponsors. For travel/projects occurring Jan. 1 to June 30, apply in the fall. For travel/projects occurring July 1 to Dec. 31, apply in spring. 
  • University Small Research Grants: Seed grants to support early research, scholarly activity and other creative efforts.  

K-State Global – Development Grants for online courses – Due Oct. 2023

ArtSci Grant Writing Workshop (ArtSci Coffee Collab series)

Thu., Oct. 12 | 10 a.m.-noon | Hale Library, Room 307
For College of Arts and Sciences
faculty, staff and students
Led by 
Theresa Merrick, Asst. Dir. of the Writing Center

Learn best practices for grant writing and explore strategies to make proposals and narratives more impactful. Connect with fellow writers and share your grant writing wins and woes. Refreshments provided. Registration requested.

Lead an activity for ‘Girls Researching Our World’

photo of girls playing with sandArtSci faculty and staff are encouraged to lead a STEM activity for middle school students at the Girls Researching our World, or GROW, workshop Oct. 7. Activity proposals are due Sept. 23. Learn more

CONGRATS!

Ashley Rhodes receives Iman Outstanding Faculty Award

graphic about Dr. Ashley Rhodes getting Iman Teaching Award which includes photo of Dr. Rhodes

Ashley Rhodes, teaching professor in biology, has received a Dr. Ron and Rae Iman Outstanding Faculty Awards recognizing her dedication to her students and work. read more

 

 

English, Habitat for Humanity, and Institute for Civic Discourse and Democracy partner on community asset mapping project

Photo of Dr. Ania PayneAnia Payne, assistant professor of English, was awarded a $5,000 Engaged Scholarship Research/Creative Activities Grant to complete a collaborative project with Manhattan Area Habitat for Humanity titled, “Community Asset Mapping Through Front Porch Conversations and Writing.” read more

They will partner with Institute for Civic Discourse and Democracy facilitators to collect stories from members of Manhattan’s downtown neighborhoods. Listen to the KMAN interview.

 

Steinmetz explores cybercrime prevention in new book

Image of cover of book, Against Cybercrime: Toward a Realist Criminology of Computer CrimeKevin Steinmetz, professor of criminology, has published the book, “Against Cybercrime: Toward a Realist Criminology of Computer Crime.” It seeks to address the root causes of cybercrimes and chart a course for how computer crimes are studied. read more

 

 

 

 

 

Punnet honored for distinguished service

Photo of Ian PunnettIan Punnet, professor of practice in the A.Q. Miller School of Media and Communication and advisor for Wildcat Radio, has received a Kansas Association of Broadcasters Distinguished Service Award in honor of his exemplary service to the community, state and broadcast industry. He will be inducted into the KAB Hall of Fame this fall. read more

 

 

 

Sun co-authors high-impact publication about AI study

Tianjun Sun, assistant professor in psychologyTianjun Sun, assistant professor in psychology, was a co-leading author of a study published in the Journal of Applied Psychology. The study, “How well can an AI chatbot infer personality?: Examining psychometric properties of machine-inferred personality scores,” was selected as a high-impact article by the American Psychological Association. read more

 

 

 

Dirks publishes mental health and music education research

photo of Dr. Rachel DirksRachel Dirks, assistant professor and director of orchestral studies, published two works on the intersection of mental health and music education. She and colleagues published the study, “Mental Health and String Education: Identifying Key Concerns Within the American String Teachers Association Community,” in String Research Journal, and she contributed the chapter, “Student and Teacher Mental Health: Nurturing Wellbeing Within a Climate of Trust,” to “The Oxford Handbook of Care in Music Education.” read more

Cranford directs development of family opera with Lyric Opera of KC

photo of associate professor Jerry Jay CranfordJerry Jay Cranford, associate professor of theatre, will work with a prestigious team to develop a new family-friendly opera based on the short story “The Haberdasher Prince” by Dina Gregory.  read more

 

 

 

 

 

Wallace receives grant to study cervical cancer

Dr. Nicholas Wallace sitting at hood in laboratoryNicholas Wallace, associate professor in biology, received a $418,000 R21 Exploratory/Developmental Research Grant from NIH to study how HPV turns normal cells into deadly cancer cells. The goal of the project, “Defining the ability of HPV oncogenes to promote mutagenesis,” is to make chemotherapy less toxic. read more

 

 

 

Hope receives grant to establish biorepository

photo of Dr. Andrew Hope, K-State Division of BiologyAndrew Hope, assistant professor of biology, received an NSF grant to establish a biorepository for mammals and mammalian parasites. read more

 

 

 

 

 

Crosby receives prestigious lifetime appointment to Society of Antiquaries

photo of Mark Crosby, associate professor of English and director of the Digital Humanities CenterMark Crosby, associate professor of English and director of the Digital Humanities Center in the College of Arts and Sciences, has received a prestigious lifetime appointment as a fellow of the Society of Antiquaries. read more

 

 

 

 

See more good news on our News page!

 

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Share your unit’s news!
Contact Marcia Locke, marcia@ksu.edu.

Arts and Sciences Dean’s Office
110 Calvin Hall
785-532-6904 | asdeans@k-state.edu
Hours: Mon.-Fri., 8 a.m.-noon and 1-5 p.m.

View past issues on the college’s Newsletter page.

Greetings from the Dean!

Dr. Chris Culbertson

Welcome to the 2023-2024 academic year! We hope you had a great summer! Below, you’ll find helpful information and updates about the college and upcoming events. We have planned some fun and informative activities for staff and faculty and hope you’ll join us.

Coming up first is our Arts and Sciences Welcome Social at 4 p.m. Wed., Aug. 16, at the Alumni Center Tointon Great Room. Catch up with colleagues and meet new faculty before classes begin. We’ll provide refreshments. (The ArtSci New Faculty Welcome will immediately precede it.)

We also urge you to attend faculty/staff meetings, especially this semester as we revise our college general distribution requirements for ALL degree programs. We need your input on this very important process. We also will be developing a college workload policy, as dictated by KBOR, and discussing how to align our college strategic plan with the university’s.

Please review the Next-Gen K-State Strategic Plan Draft shared by President Linton and Provost Taber on July 19, and respond to the feedback survey by Aug. 25. You can find them both in this K-State Today announcement.

We are working hard to improve our systems and communication with everyone in the college, build a good foundation and strategic plan, and set the college up for success. If you ever have questions or concerns, please reach out to me. Your active input is important for continuing to improve our college. We’re here to help you thrive as K-State ArtSci faculty and staff members.

Respectfully,

Chris Culbertson, Dean
Professor of Chemistry
K-State College of Arts & Sciences

Need-to-Know

New Department Heads

We welcome those who recently started serving as department heads!

  • Peri Da Silva, head of economics
  • David Schmitt, head of psychological sciences
  • Christie Launius, interim head of social transformation studies
  • Colene Lind, acting head of A.Q. Miller School of Media and Communication
  • Perla Reyes, acting head of statistics

 

Human Resources
Pay periods and pay dates

Please note, 9-month employees’ first paychecks will deposit on Sept. 1. The last paycheck of the academic year will deposit on May 24. View all pay periods and dates.

Conflict of Interest

Unclassified Staff must complete the Conflict of Interest form each year. If you have not done so already, please do so as soon as possible. Reminder emails will be sent from the college beginning Aug. 23. Log in to HRIS > Employee Self Service > Personal Information.

HealthQuest

To receive your premium discount for 2024 health insurance, you must earn 40 credits before December 31, 2023.

  • Once you have earned the 40 credits, print that page from your HealthQuest portal.
  • You’ll need to set up a new account if you haven’t done so yet for 2023.
  • Employee enters employee ID.
Student employee hires

Student employees must complete their hiring paperwork before they begin working. Complete the Student Hire form, have your department head sign it, and submit it to your Human Resources liaison. We will work as quickly as we can to get your student hired.

 

Important dates for students and course planning

Please read this overview of fall syllabi resources and requirements from the Provost’s Office and update your syllabi to include the mandatory K-State Course Syllabi Statements.

Consider including these dates in your program for the benefit of students:

  • Sept. 11: Last Day for 100% Refund for Standard Classes
  • Sept. 15: A/Pass/Fail Grading Option Request Deadline
  • Sept. 18: Last Day for 50% Refunds for Standard Classes
  • Sept. 25: Last Day to Drop Classes with no ‘W’ grade reflected on official transcript
  • Oct. 27: Last day to Withdraw from a course with ‘W’ grade reflected on official transcript

Progress reports will be available in SSC Navigate Fri., Sept. 15, and will close Mon., Sept. 25. All faculty are expected to participate in progress reports and provide feedback on their students. The goal is to provide an early warning system for at-risk students, allowing timely intervention by advisors and university resources to support student success. Learn more here.

University Academic Calendar 2023-2024

 

Gen Eds and College Requirements

K-State is implementing a new general education system, K-State Core, effective Fall 2024.

To adjust to this new system, the college is establishing a new set of college requirements. Information about progress and the working group drafting the proposal will be posted to the college’s Faculty/Staff Resources page soon.

The first read and discussion of these requirements will occur at the Sept. 7 faculty meeting. A second meeting will be held Sept. 28 to vote on the requirements.

Every program will need to provide a catalog update that aligns it with the new gen eds, incorporates the updated college requirements, and shows all 120 CH of requirements for the degree. If a program offers both a BA and a BS, we will need to submit a separate set of requirements for each degree. These should be submitted by this November.

It will be very important for all faculty and advisors in the college to be aware of and provide input on these curricular developments, both within your units and at the college level. Please be sure to note the dates of faculty meetings and be on the lookout for updates.