August 10, 2021

Successful program code update

Graduate School Admissions have successfully implemented the program code updates to the CollegeNet system as part of the Tuition and Fees update.  This update took many weeks of dedicated work by Graduate School staff, and is now functioning.  Applications submitted will have the updated codes, which are based on the campus selected.

GRADUATE STUDENT SUCCESS

August 13 summer graduation deadline approaching

Masters and doctoral students planning to graduate in Summer 2021 must complete all requirements by 5:00 PM, Friday, August 13. Students and their major professors are encouraged to refer to the Graduate School’s graduation checklist for summer 2021 to make sure all requirements are completed to graduate in August.

Message to prepare grad students for Fall semester

On August 9, a message was distributed to all graduate students enrolled for the fall 2021 semester to remind them about orientation activities and highlight key COVID-related guidelines for returning to a physical campus. You can read the message to see what was shared and to help reiterate this information to students in your program.

Successful start with revised orientation format

This year, the Graduate School took a different approach to our graduate student orientation activities, and thus far, the changes have been well received. One key change was that we offered two virtual sessions on two occasions (July 20 and August 4) several weeks earlier than orientation activities have been held in previous years. We are pleased that so many graduate students tuned in to these sessions. Across the two offerings,

• over 230 students participated in the “Getting Started in Grad” session (addressing enrolling in classes, tuition, billing, technology resources, student ID, parking, and Lafene access)
• over 150 participated in the “Orientation for New GTAs, GRAs, and GAs” (addressing expectations, responsibilities related to Title IX, work hours, payroll, health insurance, and other benefits for grad assistants)

Students were engaged during the sessions (asking many great questions and sharing guidance with each other) and expressed appreciation during and after the sessions. Recordings: Students who could not join the live sessions can still benefit by viewing recordings available on our orientation webpage.

Registration Open! Research and the State poster session

Graduate students from all disciplines are invited to participate in the Graduate Student Council's annual Research and the State graduate student poster session, to be held October 27, 2021. Ten presenters will be selected to represent K-State at the annual Capitol Graduate Research Summit (CGRS) held in the spring. Additionally, Research and the State is a great opportunity for graduate students to share their research or scholarly work with the campus community. Registration deadline: September 17, 2021.

GRADUATE PROGRAM DIRECTORS

Change in Degree Analysts

Angie Pfizenmaier and Stephanie Wacker, degree analsysts, will now be assisting the Colleges of Health and Human Sciences and Education, respectively, in those capacities. Jamie Clark, degree analyst, recently accepted another position and her last day at the Graduate School was Friday, August 6th. A search will soon begin to fill the position. Congratulations and best of luck to Jamie!

Graduate Applications Processing

The deadline for departments to recommend admission for international applicants for Spring 2022 is September 1, 2021 for individuals who are living outside of the United States or for applicants who are currently enrolled at an institution in the United States who plan to travel outside of the USA prior to January 2022. The deadline to recommend those who are currently in the USA and do not plan on traveling outside the USA is October 1, 2021.

Graduate Faculty Applications Processing

Graduate faculty membership is required for instructors who teach 600-level and above courses. The monthly deadline to have new Graduate Faculty memberships considered at the next Graduate Council Academic Affairs committee meeting is the 10th of the month. Please ensure that new hires for graduate-level instruction have graduate faculty membership.

GRADUATE FACULTY

Save the date for Fall Semester Brown Bags

All Brown Bags will be held from 11:30am-12:30pm and will be in-person with an option to attend via Zoom.

• September 21, 209 Union
• October 19, Konza Room Union
• November 15, 209 Union
• December 13, 209 Union
  
  

UPCOMING EVENTS AND DEADLINES

View the Graduate School’s full calendar of events.

This newsletter is distributed to department heads, graduate program directors, graduate program contact staff, and graduate faculty. Graduate students receive a weekly email on Mondays from the Graduate Student Council. Information about student events and opportunities are also shared here to keep graduate program administrators, faculty, and staff informed.