Kansas State University

College apparel available until Sun., Nov. 9!

Get your College of Arts and Sciences t-shirt, sweatshirt, polo, jacket, hat or bag now! Our exclusive webstore closes at 11:55 p.m. Sun., Nov. 9! We probably won’t have another one until next fall.

Note the new screenprint design and low t-shirt price of $10.98! Plus, you can get free delivery to Calvin Hall on the Manhattan campus! We’ll tell you when your order is ready for pick-up, during the first week of December. You’ll make that selection at checkout.

VISIT THE STORE

International Education Week Nov. 7-21

Nov. 7-21 

Take advantage of K-State International Education Week to become more internationally and interculturally aware and learn about K-State’s many Education Abroad opportunities. Several activities will demonstrate what a rich, global arena our campus is and the many ways we prepare future leaders for a global and inclusive environment.

Professional and Graduate School Fair welcomes all students

Wed., Nov. 12 | 11 a.m.-3 p.m. | K-State Student Union

Prepare for your next step toward graduate and professional degrees. Get information about educational programs and opportunities at a variety of schools. Students and alumni from any major or graduation year are encouraged to attend.

Winter Dance Concert

Thu., Fri., Sat., Nov. 13, 14, 15 | 7:30-9 p.m.
Chapman Theatre, Nichols Hall

An annual showcase of K-State dance students performing works by faculty, student and guest choreographers in the Chapman Theatre in Nichols Hall, which offers an intimate setting with the audience on three sides of the stage.

Bilingual Spanish storytime for your little ones

Sat., Nov. 15, Dec. 13 | 2-2:30 p.m.
Manhattan Public Library

The department of modern languages has teamed up with Manhattan Public Library to present Cuenta Cuentos, a series of bilingual Spanish-English storytimes! It is suggested for ages 5 and up. Find more information on the MPL event calendar.

Commencement Ceremonies

• Graduate School Commencement
  Fri., Dec. 12 | 1 p.m. | Bramlage Coliseum 
• Undergraduate Commencement for Arts and Sciences, Education, and Architecture, Planning, and Design
  Sat., Dec. 13 | 8:30-11 a.m. | Bramlage Coliseum
  Graduates line up at 7:30 a.m.

View all Arts and Sciences events.

Important dates

• Nov. 11 – Veterans Day (K-State is open and classes are in session.)
• Nov. 23-30 – Thanksgiving Break: No Classes
• Nov. 27-28 – Thanksgiving Holiday Observed: Campus Closed
• Dec. 1 – K-State FAFSA priority deadline
• Dec. 12 – Fall 2025 Graduation Application Closes
• Dec. 12 – Last Day of Classes
• Dec. 12 – Graduate School Commencement
• Dec. 13 – College of Arts and Sciences Undergraduate Commencement
• Dec. 15-19 – Final Examinations 
• Dec. 23 – Grades available in KSIS
• Dec. 25-31 – Winter Break | Campus Closed

View full 2025-2026 Academic Calendar.

FAFSA priority date is Dec. 1

K-State’s priority date for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid has been moved up to Dec. 1 for all students. Students are encouraged to submit their FAFSA by Dec. 1 for the best chance for financial aid. Those who do will be entered to win one of ten $500 scholarships.

Fall 2025 Commencement

Congratulations to our Fall 2025 graduating students!

The undergraduate commencement ceremony for the College of Arts and Sciences will be at 8:30 a.m. Sat., Dec. 13, at Bramlage Coliseum, in combination with the Colleges of Education and Architecture, Planning, and Design.

Graduate School commencement will be at 1 p.m. Fri., Dec. 12, at Bramlage Coliseum. 

Regalia ordering deadline is Sat., Nov. 15. Orders that were placed by Oct. 20 can be picked up Nov. 19 at the Campus Store’s Pick-Up Party.

As the combined ceremony is new, some details are still being worked on. Watch university and college communications for more guidance. To the best of our knowledge, commencement participants should note: 

• Undergraduate students arrive by 7:30 a.m. to line up with department. Graduate students arrive by 12 p.m.
• Park in the west lot. 
• Graduates enter through southwest and southeast doors. Guests enter through northwest and northeast doors. 
• Bring your printed Stage Pass! 
• Place tassels on the right and pin honor cords on the left shoulder. 
• Do not carry in items like purses, cameras or anything you can’t wear under your gown. They will not be permitted on the floor. 
• Wear comfortable shoes; you’ll be standing a long time and using stairs. 
• More information is in the university’s Day-of-Celebration Guide. 

Please watch your e-mail for announcements and refer to the Graduation website for more information, including about parking and schedule.

KSU in Italy: Arts and Culture program

Experience Italian culture while earning six credits in Orvieto, Italy, next summer! Choose two of six courses on Italian language, music, food and wine and even fungi, plus photography and storytelling and the biochemistry of wine and cheese fermentation! Financial aid is available. Application priority date is Nov. 20. Education Abroad offers a variety of KSU in Italy programs and many other group and independent opportunities.

Be an Applied Learning Experiences Ambassador and earn a $500 scholarship

Students who are passionate about gaining practical experience outside of the classroom are invited to apply to be Applied Learning Experiences Ambassadors and earn $500 scholarships. Applications are due Nov. 19.

Be a WellCAT Ambassador and earn a $750 scholarship

Promote well-being, create a positive impact at K-State, and earn a $750 scholarship as a WellCAT Ambassador! Ambassadors help plan events, facilitate resiliency trainings, represent their college and support marketing efforts that inspire peers to live well. Apply by Nov. 11 using this form: kstate.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_71ESwmaI5mZIWI6. For questions, email Lindsey Barragar, Health-Promoting University project administrator.

Professional development scholarships available

Blue Key Honor Society offers the Mistler Fellows Award to support student travel to a conference, seminar, summit, or other specific event for personal and professional development and betterment of self and the university. Applications are reviewed monthly.

Funding available to host community-promoting lectures

The College of Arts and Sciences invites applications for the Arts and Sciences Community Lecture Series Grant to host prominent speakers, presenters or performers whose activity would address issues of community, well-being or belonging. Awards are typically $500-1,000. The deadline is Nov. 17.

Congratulations to the winners of our $500 Arts and Sciences Discovery Expo Scholarships! Three of the four winners—Reese, Anagha and Liam—are pictured here with academic advisor Emily Mann. They attended our Arts and Sciences Discovery Expo on Sept. 10 and earned scholarship drawing tickets by visiting with our department representatives about majors, minors, certificates and applied learning opportunities.

Anthropology alum Jordan Thomas ’16 is 2025 National Book Award Finalist

Jordan Thomas, a 2016 anthropology graduate, has been named a 2025 National Book Award finalist in nonfiction for his book, When It All Burns: Fighting Fire in a Transformed World. Thomas is an anthropologist and former Los Padres “Hotshot” wildland firefighter. His book traces the historical, ecological and sociological factors fueling California’s increasingly catastrophic wildfires, woven through the story of one brutal fire season on the crew. He is currently a Chancellor’s Fellow at the University of California, Santa Barbara.

Biochemistry and microbiology alum Vaithish Velazhahan ’18 receives Soros Fellowship for medical school

Vaithish Velazhahan, a 2018 graduate in medical biochemistry and microbiology, recently received a 2025 Paul and Daisy Soros Fellowship for outstanding immigrants and children of immigrants who are pursuing graduate school in the U.S. The recipients were selected from among 2,600 applicants for their potential to make significant contributions to the U.S. and will receive up to $90,000 in funding over two years.

After graduating from K-State, Velazhahan earned a Ph.D. in biological science (structural biology) as a Gates Cambridge Scholar at the University of Cambridge. He is currently pursuing an M.D. at Stanford University with aspirations to practice as a physician-scientist and develop novel therapies for intractable fungal diseases.

While at K-State, Velazhahan did research with Kathrin Schrick, biology, on how dietary flavonoids could help prevent cancer, which led to a first-authored manuscript.

Passionate about global health access, Velazhahan has worked with MEDLIFE in Peru and Ecuador and founded the nonprofit We Save in India, which develops technology to connect doctors with underserved patients.

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.

Michele Janette, professor, English, was presented the Ronald N. Gaches Lifetime Teaching Award. Recipients must be tenured faculty members who have taught at K-State for at least five years.

Karin Westman, English department head, said this about Dr. Janette:

“While Michele’s undergraduate pedagogy of radical empathy may begin within the classroom’s walls or Zoom screen or office hours, it expands beyond those bounds to undergraduate curriculum development, peer mentoring, and campus leadership. This outward expansion adds a significant dimension to her life-long contributions to undergraduate education. In partnership with others, Michele has helped to make our university community more attentive to diverse perspectives and how we can help each other succeed as teachers and scholars.”

Lillianna Lamagna, senior in English, said:

“Michele is someone who commands creative intelligence and thought-provoking engagement. She is someone who guides students into the best versions of themselves [and whom] you hope to run into in the halls to joke and smile with. She shows a multitude of possibilities. Since I have attended K-State, my academic career has and continues to wonderfully flourish, and I can confidently say that it’s because of Michele Janette.”