New Student Convocation
At the beginning of each school year, thousands of students, faculty, staff, and administrators gather together at the New Student Convocation event. It is an opportunity to formally welcome our first-year students to Kansas State University and provide an introduction to our campus. You will be greeted by and hear stories from current students, alumni, and key stakeholders of the university who share a collective voice of a community that cares for and is focused on our students' success.
New Student Convocation and Pep Rally 2026
We hope that after the evening's event you'll see how you belong at K-State, learn a little about our university's history and traditions, reflect on the power of getting involved, and think about what your goals for your academics and college life might be.
If you are an instructor or one of our Learning Assistants and would like some ideas on how to connect before, during, and after the event, explore our quick tips and facilitation guide below!
Convocation is one of the first major events to bring the incoming class of K-Staters together to mark and commemorate the beginning of the college journey, welcome students to campus, and story tell around what lies ahead. The event will feature Kansas State administrative leadership and diverse leaders from the student body and our alumni.
K-State First would like to offer support in how to creatively build community for our first-year students during this important occasion. Below you will find simple tools to attend Convocation with your students and a discussion facilitation guide in to create meaning around the event.
Convocation will be in Bramlage Colliseum at 5 pm on the Sunday before the fall semester begins. Be sure to arrive early when the gates open at 4:30 pm!
We recommend that you reach out to your class, group, or organization to encourage your students to attend together and to make a plan to join them. You might include a brief welcome, explanation of convocation, and details on how to connect by arranging a place to meet and either walk together to the stadium or meet at a designated spot there. Students may be feeling compounded unsureness around the start of school. An invitation to be in community with others while attending Convocation is a perfect way to allay fears, create connection, and start the semester off positively.
Example: Hi! My name is Jess and I will be your Learning Assistant for University Experience this fall. We will be getting together in front of Ford hall at 4:15 pm to walk over to Bramlage Colliseum to attend Convocation Sunday evening. Convocation is the kick-off event for incoming first year students. We are so excited you are here and look forward to seeing you.
During the event:
Convocation watching is simple: find a spot in Bramlage for the event and watch together. The event is designed to engage students through multiple modalities such as videos, music, and powerful welcome messages from members of our K-State campus community.
Additionally, you might find ways for your students to engage with the event as it is happening and with the points and conversation being highlighted by the speakers.
- Discuss what is happening in a GroupMe or Discord channel that you have set up for your class.
- Encourage students to write questions or their thoughts as they are listening.
- Snap a pic of you and your group and share it on social media; be sure to use tag @kstatefirst so we can share it to.
After the event:
To further build community, we recommend creating time and space at the conclusion of the event or during one of your first class periods for students to process and make meaning. Use our Discussion Facilitation Guide to talk about Convocation, its place in a students’ journey, and themes for what lies ahead.
Themes:
- Building community and a sense of belonging
- Breaking down barriers around the college experience
- Being the change and leading where you are at during your time at K-State
- Finding helpers and building a support team
- Approaching college adaptively and navigating uncertainty
Questions:
- What is a comment or point that resonated with you about the Convocation message? Tell us more?
- Many speakers frame their message around the topic of building community; what is a group or organization you would like to connect with during your time at K-State?
- Andrew Smith, the MC for Convocation, uses the term “translator” to describe his role during the event. What surprised you about some of the people you met during the event? How will you uncover hidden meaning or understanding when you don’t know something during your time as a student?
- What excites you about the opportunity to lead or be the change during your time at K-State?
- Some speakers talk about seeking support when things get tough. What resources do you feel like would help you during your first semester and why? What might you do if you get stuck?
- How have your experiences and perspectives up to this poing in your life helped to prepare you for your time at K-State? How will you help to shape our university community?
- Many speakers describe the challenge of navigating college living, learning, and engagement. What tools do you have to help to help you approach college adaptively and navigate uncertainty?
Pep Rally
Be sure to stay after Convocation for the Pep Rally! Hear from our coaches, meet some of the players, and learn all about and engage with our Athletics traditions.
Tips for the evening:
- Be sure to bring along your water bottle as you are walking to Bramlage - it's going to be hot!
- You'll be entering through the Northwest entrance of Bramlage if you are walking over from the residence halls with a group. If you need to ride the ATA bus to the stadium, you'll be dropped off and enter the same way.
- A free dinner for students will be available after the events of the evening.