Regional community visits
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The university for the people of Kansas
K-State's commitment to integrating engagement across all we do is central to our mission as a next-generation land-grant university. The continuation of the community visits is one way we are prioritizing engagement and driving partnerships that address real-world challenges.
Fall 2024 community visit
K-State spent Nov. 13-20, 2024, visiting several counties in central Kansas: Saline, Lincoln, Mitchell, Ellis and Barton counties.
About the initiative
K-State's regional community visits foster relationships and connections across the state, allowing yet another venue for K-State to carry out its land-grant mission for the state of Kansas.
We spent the 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 academic years painting the state purple and engaging with Kansans in all 105 counties. View the regional community visit dashboard to learn more about where we've been.
See all the communities we visited during our first two years of visits.
Why these visits are a priority for K-State
We are living our land-grant mission, engaging with Kansans through intentional visits across the state. The regional community visit program is designed to:
- Establish a consistent opportunity for engaging with, listening to and learning from Kansans directly within the communities they call home.
- Recognize and reaffirm the strong relationships K-State holds with Kansas communities through our K-State Research and Extension network, industry partnerships, community. engagement/volunteerism, and educational partnerships
- Strengthen and create new relationships that support Kansas citizens.
- Celebrate our alumni who contribute to Kansas communities, as the K-State graduates who power our state's workforce are integral in building a stronger future for Kansas.
- Empower K-State students from your region to share their K-State experience and how they will take what they have learned to make the world a better place.
- Heighten awareness for and access to the educational and experiential opportunities K-State offers to the next-generation of difference-makers.
News and updates
Read news and communications related to the initiative.
Previous communications:
- May 20, 2024: K-State highlights ongoing engagement from two years of presidential community visits
- April 11, 2024: Community visit spotlight: K-State researchers and students drive change through groundwater quality education in south central Kansas
- March 18, 2024: Learn about the successful community visits to Reno County and Seward County
- March 5, 2024: Reno County and Seward County community visits start today, follow along on K-State social media
- Feb. 26, 2024: K-State travels to Reno, Seward counties for March 5-7 community visits
- Feb. 15, 2024: Celebrating the successful Jackson County community visit
- Jan. 30, 2024: Media advisory: RSVP now to attend Feb. 6 open forum for K-State community visit to Jackson County
- Jan. 25, 2024: Connected 'Cats students help lead K-State community visits across Kansas
- Jan. 19, 2024: Community visit spotlight: Applied learning experiences prepare students for the future
- Nov. 17, 2023: K-State provides recap, photos of successful community visit to Barton, Ellis, Norton, Phillips and Smith counties
- Nov. 7, 2023: Series of five community visits starts today, follow along on K-State social media
- Oct. 31, 2023: Media advisory: Media invited to attend open forums, other K-State community visit events from Nov. 7-9
- Oct. 16, 2023: K-State travels to five counties for series of regional community visits from Nov. 7-9
- Oct. 12, 2023: A recap of the successful Allen County community visit
- Oct. 4, 2023: Allen County community visit starts today, follow along on K-State social media
- Sept. 27, 2023: Media advisory: Media invited to attend Allen County open forum, other K-State community visit events on Oct. 4 and 5
- Sept. 13, 2023: K-State travels to Allen County region for community visit on Oct. 4 and 5
- Aug. 8, 2023: Community visit spotlight: Southeast Kansas organizations use innovative tools to teach students about nutrition
- Aug. 4, 2023: Community visit spotlight: K-State Research and Extension agents collaborate to meet needs of immigrant populations
- June 22, 2023: K-State selects locations for 2023-2024 community visits, celebrates first year of success across the state
- May 16, 2023: Celebrating the Thomas County community visit with recap, photos
- May 10, 2023: Thomas County K-State community visit happens today, follow along on social media
- May 3, 2023: Media advisory: Media invited to attend Thomas County open forum, other K-State community visit events on May 10
- May 2, 2023: Learn about successful Finney County community visit with recap, photos
- May 1, 2023: Community visit spotlight: Textron Aviation enhances student experiences through workplace engagement
- April 25, 2023: Finney County K-State community visit continues today, follow along on social media
- April 13, 2023: Media advisory: Media invited to attend Finney County open forum, other K-State community visit events on April 24 and 25
- April 4, 2023: K-State provides recap, photos of the successful Crawford County community visit
- March 21, 2023: Community visit spotlight: Topeka's comprehensive approach serves the unsheltered
- March 15, 2023: Media advisory: Media invited to attend Crawford County open forum, other K-State community visit events on March 28
- Feb. 28, 2023: Take a closer look at the successful Sedgwick County community visit with recap, photos
- Feb. 20, 2023: Sedgwick County K-State community visit starts today, follow along on social media
- Feb. 9, 2023: Media advisory: Media invited to attend Sedgwick County open forum, other K-State community visit events on Feb. 20 and 21
- Feb. 7, 2023: Community visit spotlight: K-State Olathe addresses industry needs in the Greater Kansas City region
- Jan. 27, 2023: A recap of the successful Shawnee County community visit
- Jan. 23, 2023: K-State kicks off series of spring community visits as part of presidential initiative
- Jan. 17, 2023: Community visit spotlight: Ellsworth community partners increase awareness of mental health
- Jan. 11, 2023: Media advisory: Media invited to attend Shawnee County open forum, other K-State community visit events on Jan. 23
- Dec. 12, 2022: Celebrating Central Kansas community visit success with recap, photos
- Dec. 5, 2022: Central Kansas regional community visit happens today, follow along on social media
- Nov. 28, 2022: Community visit spotlight: Farmers in Rattlesnake Creek watershed use water conservation methods
- Nov. 28, 2022: Media advisory: Media invited to attend Central Kansas open forum, other K-State community visit events on Dec. 5
- Nov. 9, 2022: Learn about successful Greater Kansas City community visit with recap, photos
- Nov. 1, 2022: Greater Kansas City community visit starts today, follow along on K-State social media
- Oct. 24, 2022: Media advisory: Media invited to attend Greater Kansas City open forum, other K-State community visit events on Nov. 1 and 2
- Oct. 17, 2022: K-State celebrates success of Ford County community visit, prepares for Nov. 2 Kansas City visit
- Sept. 23, 2022: Connected 'Cats student leaders bring K-State experiences to Kansas communities
- Sept. 20, 2022: Media advisory: Media invited to attend Ford County open forum, other K-State community visit events on Sept. 27
- Sept. 12, 2022: Charting our future with Next-Gen K-State strategic planning (Letter from President Linton)
- Sept. 7, 2022: Keep community visit momentum going with communications resources, toolkit
- Aug. 30, 2022: Reminder: K-Staters invited to participate in Sept. 1 Flint Hills regional community visit
- Aug. 22, 2022: Media advisory: Media arrangements for Sept. 1 Flint Hills regional community visit
- Aug. 17, 2022: Launching our statewide regional community visits initiative (Letter from President Linton)
- Aug. 16, 2022: K-State launches statewide community visit initiative; Flint Hills visit will be Sept. 1
- June 29, 2022: A letter from President Richard Linton
- May 5, 2022: Charting our future in a new K-State strategic plan (Letter from President Linton)
Core planning team
- Gregg Hadley, director, Cooperative Extension, co-team leader.
- Tim Steffensmeier, director, Office of Engagement, co-team leader.
- Mirna Bonilla Salazar, program manager, Office of Engagement.
- Jeff Ebeck, K-State graduate student.
- Courtney Hallenbeck, associate director, Office of Recruitment and Admissions.
- Jennifer Tidball, communications director for K-State 105, Division of Communications and Marketing.