September 7, 2021

Graduate School Launching Search for Executive Assistant

Cynthia Brott, the Graduate School Executive Assistant, has moved to the office of Shared Services Accounting. The Graduate School is in the process of launching a search for a new Executive Assistant. All inquiries that would normally go to Cynthia should now go to gradinfo@ksu.edu. Messages will then be routed to the appropriate team member.

Graduate School Degree Analyst search in progress

A search is in progress for the degree analyst who will work with the programs previously supported by Stephanie Wacker. Details of the position can be found on the Human Capital Services website.

GRADUATE STUDENT SUCCESS

Outstanding Doctoral Candidates Recognized by University Distinguished Professors

Three doctoral candidates have been recognized for their outstanding work as recipients of this year’s University Distinguished Professors Graduate Student Award. The winners are Dryden Baumfalk, doctoral candidate in human ecology specializing in kinesiology; Alisa Pajser, doctoral candidate in psychology; and Tahmineh Azizi, doctoral candidate in mathematics. Read the full news release recognizing these students.

Support graduate student mental wellbeing – panel discussion today

On September 7th from 12-1pm, graduate students are invited to a panel discussion on common mental health challenges including stress, anxiety, depression, and imposter syndrome. Dealing with these challenges is particularly difficult during the ongoing pandemic. The panel will discuss these challenges and outline the resources available for students to address them; panelists include a doctor from Lafene, a counselor, a professor, and current students. Students can attend in-person in 227 Union or by Zoom.

NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) Information Session

The Office of Nationally Competitive Scholarships, the Graduate School, and the Office of Research Development are hosting an information session on the National Science Foundation’s Graduate Research Fellowship Program (NSF GRFP) on September 8, 2021 at 3:30 pm via zoom. A panel of faculty members who have served on review panels for this program will discuss tips and provide advice that you will not find in this program’s Request for Proposals. Students will also have an opportunity to talk about their research ideas with the panel. This session should be of interest to graduate students and undergraduate seniors, since both are eligible to apply. Advance registration is requested.

Library and Your Research workshop series begins Sept. 13

The Library and Your Research is a free workshop series offered by K-State Libraries that helps graduate students enhance and professionalize their scholarly pursuits. The workshops are held via Zoom on Mondays through November 15 from 1:30-2:30pm. Workshop details are listed on the Libraries’ events page.

Graduate Student Coffee Chat with the Dean

Graduate students are invited to this informal chat for discussion with Dean Petrescu on September 14 at noon.  Talking with graduate students is a great way for Dean Petrescu to learn more about graduate student success as well as how to address challenges and continue to enhance graduate student life at K-State. The chat also provides a space for graduate students to help each other be successful by sharing their experiences. Register to attend in-person (118 Eisenhower) or virtually via Zoom.

FREE registration for Academic Career Success Conference

The Graduate School and Graduate Student Council will sponsor registration for graduate students to participate in the Academic Career Success Conference hosted by Beyond the Professoriate. This is a two-day virtual conference on Sept. 25 and Oct. 2. K-State graduate students who wish to attend, should complete the Graduate School’s registration form by September 20 (do not register directly on the conference site). The Graduate School will submit and pay for student registrations.

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

Using Application Fee Waivers

Departments that wish to pay the application fee for graduate applicants may purchase fee waiver codes from the Graduate School. Purchased codes may be given to prospective students so that their application fee can be waived. Codes are available usually in minimum orders of 5 codes. When purchasing, please indicate the quantity of Domestic ($65) and/or International ($75) applications codes that are required. Requests should be sent to jphoran@ksu.edu.

File Programs of Study

As the fall semester begins, please be sure to follow up with your students to make certain they have an approved program of study on file at the Graduate School. Full time students must file a program of study before the end of their second semester to ensure student success.

Help your students find current Graduate School forms and webpages

Including links to Graduate School forms and web pages in your department website can make it easy for students to find Graduate School information and materials. If your department has old Graduate School forms posted on your site, please replace with a link to our Forms page. As a reminder, you can also easily reach our Forms page from the purple four-box feature on our homepage. Since the Graduate School website was updated last December, many URLs within our site have changed. If your site includes links to outdated URLs in the Graduate School site, many are programed to redirect to the correct page. For any that do not redirect, please contact our office if you need assistance finding the new page in our site.

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.

Nominate outstanding GTAs for Graduate Student Teaching Excellence Award

Departments are invited to nominate outstanding graduate teaching assistants (GTAs) for the GSC/MAGS Award for Graduate Student Teaching Excellence. Each department may nominate one masters and one doctoral GTA for the teaching award. Department nominations are due to College Deans offices by October 1.

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.