Kansas State University

Welcome to the Spring 2026 semester! We hope it’s off to a great start! If you need help with anything, contact our Center for Student Success and Engagement at 107 Calvin Hall (8 a.m.-noon, 1-5 p.m.) or artsci@k-state.edu.

Watch for our monthly college newsletters in your K-State inbox to get important information and useful tips.

In this issue, you’ll find:

• Upcoming events and important dates
• Opportunities and resources
• New podcast spotlights K-State people and projects
• Teaching Spotlight—Dr. Ivan Blank, Mathematics
• Congratulations to these awardees!

The Dean’s Office wishes you a stimulating, fun and successful semester!

Civil Rights Teach-In — Knowledge in Motion: From Ancestral Language to Future Cures

Wed., Jan. 28, 2026 | 2:30-5 p.m.
Leadership Studies Building, McVay Family Town Hall

Join in the 12th Annual Civil Rights Teach-In, proudly presented by our college during K-State’s annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Observance Week. It is a free, come-and-go event that’s open to the public.

This teach-in explores how knowledge—whether carried through language, preserved in libraries, or generated through scientific inquiry—can shape history, advance justice for all, and save lives. The talks invite us to reflect on whose knowledge is valued, how access to information fuels innovation, and why recognizing and protecting knowledge systems is central to civil rights and collective liberation.

Schedule

• 2:30 – Greeting & Land Acknowledgment, Dr. Kimathi Choma and Rita Hawzipta (Kiowa)
• 2:35 – Welcome by College of Arts and Sciences Dean Chris Culbertson
• 2:40 – “Top Secret Mission: The Navajo Code Talkers of World War II”
• 3:30 – “Impacts of Libraries: From Peter Pan, the Fall of Rome, and the Titanic to Modern-Day Therapeutic Discovery”
• 4:20 – Panel Discussion and Q&A with Drs. Harrison and Rafferty

Presentations

“You Can’t Do That with Statistics!” seminar presentation

Wed., Jan. 28 | 4-5 p.m.
163 Justin Hall

Sponsored by Department of Statistics

Chris Bilder, a statistics professor at University of Nebraska-Lincoln and a K-State alum, will discuss the problematic statistical data and analyses that led to the decision to eliminate the statistics department at UNL last December. This “tale of failed shared governance” will describe how faculty metrics of productivity were analyzed and suggest better practices moving forward.

Bilder, a fellow of the American Statistical Association, is well-known for his high-quality, innovative teaching, demonstrated by over a decade’s worth of lectures on YouTube.

Flapjack Friday

Feb. 6 | 8-11 a.m. | Business Bldg Atrium
Sponsored by Applied Learning Experiences

Free pancakes for the K-State community! Plus, information about exciting applied learning experiences!

Chapman Center Research Showcase

March 5 (changed from March 6)
3:30-5 p.m.
112 Leasure Hall

This showcase will feature a panel presenting research sponsored by the Chapman Center for Rural Studies, an announcement of the latest Interdisciplinary Research Grant recipient, and information about future funding opportunities. Refreshments will be provided.

Mark your calendars! — K-State Social Media Week is April 13-17

The 5th annual K-State Social Media Week is scheduled for April 13-17. Events will be offered in a variety of formats, including in-person, online and hybrid. All students, faculty, staff, alumni and community members are invited. More info coming soon.

View all College of Arts and Sciences events

Important dates

See university academic calendar for more details.

• Jan. 20 – First Day of Spring 2026 Classes. Late Enrollment Fee assessed.
• Jan. 26 – Last Day to ADD Course(s) without instructor permission
• Jan. 30 – Instructors may drop students for non-attendance
• Feb. 9 – Last Day for 100% Refund (16-week classes)
• Feb. 13 – A/Pass/Fail Grading Option Request Deadline
• Feb. 13 – Academic Progress Reports Available in SSC-Navigate
• Feb. 16 – Census: 20th Day Deadline for making changes to program/plan
• Feb. 16 – Last Day for 50% Refund (16-week classes)
• Feb. 23 – Last Day to Drop Classes – no ‘W’ grade(s) on the Transcript (16-week classes only)
• Mar. 3 – Graduation Application Deadline for inclusion in Commencement Program
• March 15-22 – Spring Break!

Tip:  Students can find the drop deadlines for all classes, including non-standard classes, by clicking on the calendar icon next to each class in their KSIS Student Center Academics area.

Register for K-State scholarships by March 15

Complete your K-State Scholarship Network profile by the March 15 priority date for your best chance at scholarships funded by donors to K-State colleges, departments and other units and organizations.

Graduating this spring or summer?

Apply for graduation through your KSIS account by March 3 to have your name in the commencement program. Even if you don’t plan to attend the commencement ceremony, the application is required to graduate. Stay up to date by regularly checking the Commencement and Graduation website. And watch your K-State e-mail for graduation and commencement updates from the college and university.

If you have any questions, contact our college’s Center for Student Success and Engagement, 107 Calvin Hall, artsci@k-state.edu.

Arts and Sciences Mentorship Program

This Mentorship Program is open to all undergraduate students in the College of Arts and Sciences. Students are paired with professionals who provide insight and guidance for career preparation and help students develop a professional network. It is facilitated on WildcatLink. Activate your account by signing in with your K-State eID. Sign up by Sun., Feb. 8, to be onboarded before the program launches Tue., Feb. 17. For questions, contact the program coordinator, Paige Altwegg, paltwegg@k-state.edu.

Employer Pitch Night for Arts and Humanities

Thu., Feb. 19
5:30-7 p.m.
Zoom via Handshake

K-State Career Center Events include themed Employer Pitch Nights, which are informal, virtual meetings designed to connect K-State students with employers. You’ll hear a short pitch from companies about what they do and the opportunities they have available. Then, you can chat with employers one-on-one or in small breakout groups.

You can attend any Pitch Night, but this one is geared towards arts and humanities careers.

Chapman Scholars Program supports research and applied learning

The Mark Chapman Scholars Program provides $5,000 scholarships for five outstanding undergraduate students to do research or other applied learning experiences during the summer. Applications are due March 1.

Read about the 2024-2025 Chapman Scholars.

Undergraduate Research Awards

Our college is committed to offering all Arts and Sciences students research opportunities, and we help make it possible by providing $1,500 Undergraduate Research Awards every semester.

Apply for summer by March 1 and for fall by May 1.

Other research opportunities are offered by the Johnson Cancer Research Center, Chapman Center for Rural Studies, K-State’s Office of Scholar Development and Undergraduate Research.

Developing Scholars Program

The Developing Scholars Program aims to increase access and broaden participation in undergraduate research. It offers high-achieving, serious-minded students the opportunity to do faculty-mentored research in their field of study. Scholars receive academic, social and financial support while integrating into K-State’s intellectual arena. Applications are due March 1!

Present your research!

• Undergraduate Research Day at the Capitol
  Apply by Jan. 26 to present your research at the Capitol in Topeka on Feb. 26. 
• K-State Undergraduate Research Symposium
  Register by March 27 to present your research at the symposium on April 23 at the Student Union. Take advantage of this opportunity to showcase your fall or spring research and practice communicating your findings to a broad audience.

Submit your poetry or art for Current Voices event!

Poetry and art works may be submitted for the Current Voices event that Kansas Water Institute will host on March 24 in celebration of World Water Day. The event will feature poetry readings, music, and art exhibits that celebrate and spotlight water and how it affects our lives.

K-State students are invited to submit poetry and art by Feb. 6 for exhibit consideration. Cash prizes will be awarded.

College and university student achievement awards

• University Award for Distinguished Undergraduate Student in Research
  Nominations due Feb. 15
• Doug Benson Award for promoting belonging
  Applications due March 15
• Alumni Association student awards
  Nominations due March 9

Nominate your research mentor for an award!

The University Distinguished Faculty Award for Mentoring of Undergraduate Students in Research recognizes outstanding contributions to the development of undergraduates in research projects at K-State. Nominations are due Feb. 15. Learn more.

Free help with math, physics and statistics

Visit our new Quantitative Learning Center in 105 Cardwell Hall to get help with your math, physics and statistics courses! GTAs are there 9:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. to offer drop-in assistance for undergraduates. You can also use it as a quiet space to work independently. More information, including the staffing schedule, is on the math department’s Walk-in and Online Help page.

Free help with writing

The English department’s Writing Center assists undergraduate and graduate students in both synchronous and asynchronous modalities. Students can sign up for an on-campus or online video session to discuss a range of topics, from idea-mapping and outlining to drafting and revision.

The “Get Written Feedback” program allows students to submit their writing and get feedback within 48 business hours. Consultants address clarity, organization and development of content.

Tutoring sessions are by appointment and scheduled through the website.

University guidance on free expression

As a higher education institution, where thousands of perspectives and viewpoints convene, we provide space for civil discourse to express ourselves and learn from each other. Please see the university’s latest policies, guidance and resources related to free speech and expressive activity.

Check out the new K-State podcast, COMMediators (on Spotify)! It is produced by students and faculty in our A.Q. Miller School of Media and Communication in collaboration with Wildcat 91.9 FM, a student-run radio station. The podcast explores the intersection of media and communication through the lens of research, engagement and innovation. Its episodes delve into faculty and student projects and senior capstone initiatives, and some spotlight alumni who are experts in their fields.

For questions, email mediacomm@k-state.edu.

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.

Ivan Blank, professor of mathematics, was presented a Ronald N. Gaches Teaching Award recognizing innovative teaching of upper-level undergraduate courses.

His nominator, math professor and department head Pietro Poggi-Corradini, said this about Dr. Blank:

“[He] is an extremely popular instructor and can convey difficult, abstract concepts in ways that the students can understand. He is making a difference in these students’ lives and in their ability to be successful at the next level.”

Walter Baybutt, then-junior in mechanical engineering, said:

“Dr. Blank’s teaching methods are enthusiastic, thorough, and helpful. If a student struggled to grasp a concept, Dr. Blank would go above and beyond to provide relatable examples that made even the most problematic topics trivial.”

Anthropology professor recognized by American Association for the Advancement of Science

Congratulations to Marta P. Alfonso-Durruty, associate professor in the Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Social Work! She was selected to receive the American Association for the Advancement of Science’s 2026 Robert W. Sussman Award for Scientific Contributions to Anthropology. The award recognizes meritorious scientific contributions to the field of anthropology by mid-career anthropologists.

Dr. Alfonso-Durruty has made exceptional contributions to biological anthropology, particularly through her studies of skeletal biology, diet, and population history. Her research integrates biological and cultural perspectives to enrich our understanding of the lives and interactions of past peoples in the Andes and Patagonia.

She has also provided vital leadership in the field, including as a National Science Foundation rotator program director for biological anthropology.

College selects 32 Undergraduate Research Awardees