K-State achievements--2003 All-university

Kansas State University achievements

2003 All-university

* K-State set another record for competitive funding for research for fiscal year 2003 that ended June 30. The university announced its fiscal year funding from extramural grants and awards exceeded $95.8 million, an increase of more than $5 million over last fiscal year. K-State's total research funding base exceeded $180 million for the fiscal year. That figure includes appropriated funds as well as gifts for research and scholarly activities received by the KSU Foundation and transferred to the university. November 2003

* Bringing commencement to distance education graduates who are unable to attend their graduation ceremony and providing exceptional support service have earned K-State's Division of Continuing Education and one of its staffers awards from the University Continuing Education Association Great Plains Region. K-State's virtual commencement ceremony, developed for distance education graduates who couldn't make it their on-campus commencement ceremony, received the 2003 University Continuing Education Association Great Plains Region Innovations and Contributions Award, while Melinda Sinn, public information office coordinator for the division, was honored with the 2003 University Continuing Education Association Great Plains Region Support Specialist Award. November 2003

* K-State was ranked 70th out of 351 top American colleges in The Princeton Review's annual "Most Connected Campuses." The Princeton Review is an independent company (not affiliated with Princeton University) known for its test preparation courses, admission and education services, and books. Data used to determine the rating included:
* Computer/student ratio
* Campus network
* Wireless network
* Remote access
* Online registration for classes
* Administrative functions online
* Computer proficiency required
* Computer ownership required
October 2003

* K-State is one of the best public colleges in America, according to the sixth annual report by Institutional Research and Evaluation Inc., an independent research and consulting organization. The designation is based on the organization's annual survey to identify colleges and universities in the United States that are providing students with the very highest quality education. To earn the designation K-State had to meet the three following qualifications: be an accredited, publicly supported, four-year institution that offers bachelor degrees; offer full residential facilities, including residence halls and dining services; and have an entering freshman class in fall 2002 with a high school grade point average and/or SAT or ACT score equal to or above the national average for freshmen entering public institutions of higher education. October 2003

* The KSU Foundation Telefund, the world's largest all-volunteer telephone campaign for higher education, has been highlighted as one of the 10 most innovative college fundraising programs in the country. "Innovations in Annual Giving: 10 Departures That Worked," a Council for Advancement and Support of Education publication, profiled K-State’s annual phonathon as a program that "raises eyebrows — and millions of dollars." Telefund, which celebrates its 25th anniversary in 2004, raised more than $1.4 million in February 2003. In its history, Telefund has received more than $17 million from alumni and university supporters for student scholarships and educational programs. K-State is a national leader among similar colleges and universities based on the percentage of alumni support. While most college and university telephone campaigns depend upon paid callers and computerized dialing systems, K-State's Telefund is driven by volunteers, and the only high-tech component is the automated pledge total scoreboard. October 2003

* K-State was recognized in Kaplan Publishing's "The Unofficial, Unbiased Guide to the 328 Most Interesting Colleges," 2004 Edition, by Trent Anderson and Seppy Basili, as a top school in the following areas:
* Schools where the students enjoy themselves so much they never want to leave
* Schools that attract high school class presidents
* Schools that attract high school valedictorians

The results in this year's guide were obtained through Kaplan's 2004 National Survey of High School Guidance Counselors. This year's survey again utilizes the unbiased professional expertise of Market Measurement, a national market research firm. Market Measurement utilized a pure random sample of U.S. public, private and Catholic high schools obtained from Dun & Bradstreet. The foundation of the survey was telephone interviews conducted within the sample provided for high school guidance counselors. In addition to the statistical information, guidance counselors across the country were invited to share insights about the colleges with which they were most familiar. Many of their comments are included in "The Unofficial, Unbiased Guide to the 328 Most Interesting Colleges." September 2003

In addition, K-State was selected as one of the 328 Most Interesting Colleges by the authors. K-State has a detailed two-page profile in this new book, featuring both institutional data and a description of student life inside and outside the classroom. September 2003

* K-State's Upward Bound and McNair Scholars programs both secured "top 10 percent" grant honors this month from the U.S. Department of Education. The K-State Upward Bound grant application placed among the top 79 grants nationwide — the top 10 percent — from a pool of 792 grants and at least 1,300 applicants. The McNair Scholars grant placed in the top 16 out of 162 grants and 330 applicants. Grant applications are scored and ranked by a panel of education experts based on criteria established by the U.S. Department of Education. Grants in the top 10 percent are awarded for one year longer than the other grants. Award amounts are determined by the number of applicants, school need and available Department of Education funds. Upward Bound secured $414,116 and the McNair program secured $240,043. They also secured a $255,000 four-year grant for the Upward Bound Math and Science program and a $220,000 four-year grant to start an Upward Bound program at the K-State Salina campus. June 2003

* The Marianna Kistler Beach Museum of Art has been accredited by the American Association of Museums. According to the association, only some 750 museums of the 8,000 museums nationwide, are accredited. Accreditation certifies that the Beach Museum of Art operates according to standards set forth by the museum profession, manages its collections responsibly and provides quality services to the public. April 2003

* K-State was named one of the best public colleges in America in the fifth annual report by Institutional Research and Evaluation Inc. The group issuing the report is an independent research and consulting organization specializing in the recruiting and retention of students for institutions of higher education. Each year they identify the colleges and universities providing students the very highest quality education, the report states. No college or university paid to be included in the report. The report states "institutions are included solely on the basis of merit." To qualify for the listing, colleges and universities must be accredited, publicly supported, four-year institutions offering bachelor degrees; offer full residential facilities; and have an entering freshman class in the fall of 2001 with a high school GPA and/or SAT/ACT score equal to or above the national average for freshmen entering public institutions of higher education, the report states. Between April 2 and July 31, 2002, the group conducted its 12th Annual National College Survey, submitting the survey form to the directors of admission at 482 public colleges and universities; 312 of those responded. Only 139 were named to the list. March 2003

* K-State's study abroad program set a record this spring, sending 206 students out of the country to attend a university overseas and experience another culture. Three of these students -- Cathrine Cleavinger, senior in architecture; Victoria Conner, junior in biology; and Kara Nordhus, senior in interior design -- will have most of their costs paid for as winners of the Gilman Scholarship for Study Abroad. The number of students going abroad this spring is 23 percent higher than it was at this time in 2002, when 159 students studied overseas. In fall 2002, only 59 students participated in the study abroad program. Crissan Zeigler, study abroad adviser in the office of international programs, said the numbers of students going abroad has increased every year. February 2003

* Most students who earned bachelor's degrees from K-State between August 2001 and May 2002 found a job within six months following their graduation, according to a report by K-State's career and employment services. The report is based on surveys of the graduates, with 87 percent of K-State's 3,327 bachelor's degree-graduates participating. Of the students participating, 66 percent or 1,920 students, reported they were employed. February 2003

* Kansas State University is the only school in Kansas and just one of three Big 12 universities to be recommended as a school where students can make the most of their education. The recommendation comes from "Rugg's Recommendations on the Colleges," a college guide by Frederick Rugg, a secondary school college counselor. The 2003 guide is the book's 20th edition. K-State is among the schools the guide includes on its "Fred Rugg's 100 Colleges" list for schools the author said he hears more nice things about than about than any others. January 2003