K-State achievements--2002 All-University

Kansas State University achievements

2002 All-University

* Kansas State University's Lafene Health Center has earned continued accreditation through 2005 from the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations. The health center, which provides health services to K-State students, has been continuously accredited since 1968. Only 24 university health centers in the nation are currently accredited by the Joint Commission. September 2002

* The U. S. Patent Office has issued Patent No. 6,410,940 (June 25, 2002) to a physics team at K-State for its invention of a micro-size optical element capable of both producing and detecting light. Inventors Hongxing Jiang, Jingyu Lin, Sixuan Jin and Jing Li have developed an optically-active structure at a diameter smaller than a human hair based on III-nitride wide bandgap semiconductors. When the structure is forward-biased, it forms a micro-size light emitting diode; when reverse-biased, it forms a micro-size detector. The tiny structures in array can be used as a miniature display, a detector, a sensor, or as a hyper-bright LED. The patent, assigned to the KSU Research Foundation, is for "Micro-size LED and detector arrays for mini-display, hyper-bright light emitting diodes, lighting, and UV detector and imaging sensor applications." July 2002

* Noted for its environmentally sound practices, K-State's Colbert Hills Golf Course is an Audubon International Certified Signature Sanctuary, the first such facility and the only one in the state of Kansas. Colbert Hills is a Certified member of the Signature Program in very good standing, according to officials of Audubon International, who point out that they are proud to work with Colbert Hills. Spring 2002

* The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools accreditation team sent formal notice to Kansas State University's president Jon Wefald that K-State has received accreditation for the next 10 years, 2002 to 2012. The Institutional Actions Council voted Feb. 25 to continue K-State's full accreditation. The Commission Board of Trustees validated that action through its validation process, which concluded March 1. K-State has been fully accredited since 1916. March 2002

* With the help of a national grant, Kansas State University's Beach Museum of Art is designing a program for children to explore the link between reading and art. The museum will use a $50,000 Museum Connections grant from the MetLife Foundation to create literacy and visual literacy programming based on a future museum exhibition, "Beyond Oz: Children's Book Illustrations From the Region." Each crate will contain five to six books from the exhibition, a curriculum with related art activities and other special materials to engage children with the books, such as puppets and felt boards. They will be available in January 2003. January 2002