Co-Curricular events have a huge impact on student learning and community building. Students often note that they remember these out of the classroom experiences as the time when they were most able to bond with their peers and connect what they were learning inside the classroom to their lives.
For our K-State First CAT Communities and First-Year Seminars, our program requires three outside of the classroom co-curricular events. These can range from short field trips to local businesses, theatre performances, lectures, athletic games, or exhibits and tours.
K-State First Book
One of these events should connect to the K-State First Book (KSFB) common book of the year. Often KSFB will bring the author and provide a large campus-wide event for all of our classes, but there are also typically a series of engaging faculty/staff lectures and other exciting events related to the book that could be used as well.
Student/Community Perspectives and Experiences
One of these events should focus on broader student/community perspectives and experiences, which emphasizes fostering a rich understanding of indentities and prepares students to collaborate effectively with their peers at the university as well as colleagues in their future careers. This will play a significant role in enhancing students' cultural competency skills and encouraging participation in the valuable learning initiatives throughout the university. Depending on the selected common book for the year, that event could also align with this focus.
Community Building
We also recommend that one event have a more specific focus on building the community within your class. Hiking the Konza, escape room puzzling, Challenge Course adventures, attending athletic events, or even something simple like a bowling night gives students the chance to get to know each other better and build up their communication and collaboration skills.
K-State First is typically able to fund one co-curricular event per class at about $10 per student. This funding is offered on a first-come, first-served basis. Many events on campus are free and sometimes offered virtually. If you do plan on taking your class to an event that costs money, you will need to fill out our Co-Curricular Event Funding Form at the beginning of the semester. Also, please keep in mind that food and sports tickets are not allowable expenses.
K-State First is often able to leverage our campus and community connections to find discounts, free admission opportunities, and expedite reservations. We will need at least two weeks notice before the event as this will allow us to do things like buy a packet of tickets for an event, reserve a van for travel, reserve lanes for bowling, or schedule a tour or visit at a facility.
Co-Curricular Event Funding Form
To make sure the majority of your students are able to attend all three events and to provide us the necessary time for scheduling and reservations, we recommend that you plan your co-curricular events as you prep your course and include them in your syllabus and schedule. This gives your students the chance to get the events scheduled into their calendars right away at the beginning of the semester.
If individual students have a time conflict, you can work together to plan a make-up activity with them.
In the events tabs below you will find a list of events that have already been scheduled and/or that are ongoing each fall that you can use to easily incorporate into your existing course syllabus/schedule.
We also recommend that you create an assignment for these and make them worth points to attend (you can do so as part of your students' participation grades to encourage attendance at these as well as in class).
One of the most powerful learning components of the co-curricular events happens when students are given the opportunity to reflect on the experience together. You can create an assignment with 3-4 reflection questions to gauge the impact on each student individually, and also set aside some class time to discuss their thoughts about the event and connect it more fully to your class outcomes and goals. This integration of the co-curricular event outcomes will help students build a bridge between their academics and lived experiences.
Some example reflection questions are below:
Below are events that are planned for the upcoming fall semester. Use these as you plan out your syllabus/schedule. Be sure to check our K-State First events calendar and the University Calendar periodically for updated information and other upcoming options that might work for your class! Students can also find the events on OrgCentral as well.
Join our campus and community-wide events this fall!
Dave Isay, award-winning radio producer, founder of StoryCorps and author of the 2026 K-State common read "Callings: The Purpose and Passion of Work" will give an hourlong lecture that explores themes from the book. Tuesday, September 29, 7:00 pm, Ballroom, K-State Student Union
Exploring who you are, what you bring, and the path that will help you get you there. This event is an opportunity for students to meaningfully connect with one another, explore the themes from Callings about how passion, perseverance, and purpose can transform a job into a calling, and build a community of support so that students feel seen, connected, and that they have resources at K-State to pursue their passions. Tuesday, November 17, 6:30-8:30 pm, Ballroom, K-State Student Union
New Student Convocation
Your K-State Journey Starts Here - this year’s convocation we will hear from many speakers, who will share a voice of a community that is focused on belonging and student success.
Sunday, August 23, 5:00 pm, Bramlage Coliseum
Beach Museum Student Welcome Reception
Immerse yourself in the K-State First Book, Callings, by Dave Isay, and view the museum's Common Work of Art connected to the book. Enjoy activities, games, and refreshments, and explore the Beach Museum while you're there! Learn more and download the event flyer.
Thursday, August 27, 5:00-7:00 pm, Beach Museum of Art
APDPro Find Your Calling, Design Your Impact
Inspired by K-State’s 2026 First Common Read, Callings: The Purpose and Passion of Work by Dave Isay, this event brings students together for an honest conversation about finding meaningful work and the unexpected paths that can lead to meaningful work. Hear from professionals who have taken different routes into their careers, changed direction, followed new opportunities, and discovered purpose along the way. The panel will explore a question that many students are beginning to ask: What is the work you were meant to do and how did you get there?. This APDPro event open to all K-Staters. Sponsored by the College of Architecture, Planning, and Design. More information at https://events.k-state.edu/event/apdpro-kickoff-event-find-your-calling-design-your-impact
Wednesday, September 9, 2026, 5:30-6:30 pm, Regnier Forum
K-State First Book Author Talk: An Evening with Dave Isay
Dave Isay — award-winning radio producer, founder of StoryCorps and author of the 2026 K-State common read "Callings: The Purpose and Passion of Work" — will give a public lecture at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 29, in the K-State Student Union.
The hourlong lecture, which is free to the public, will explore themes from "Callings," a collection of stories centered on people who found purpose and meaning in their work through passion, service and perseverance.
Tuesday, September 29, 7:00 pm, Ballroom, K-State Student Union
K-State MANRRS Common Read Panel Discussion
Join members of MANRRS (Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Related Sciences) for a discussion and panel presentation on Callings.
Register for the meeting link here. Sponsored by MANRRS. Part of the Fall 2026 K-State MANRRS Week.
Monday, October 5, 12:30 pm, Zoom
Engineering Your Calling: Conversations with Engineers About Purpose and Career
A panel with alumni from Engineering, followed by student discussion groups to talk about the students' career goals and what they can do to get there. Open to students in the College of Engineering; part of Career Milestones.
Thursday, October 8, 4:00-5:30 pm
K-State First Book Dialouges: Find Your Callling
Exploring who you are, what you bring, and the path that will help you get you there.
“For those of you in search of your calling, consider yourself warned: this pursuit takes discipline, resilience, enormous sacrifice, and tremendous hard work. At those moments when the fear creeps in and you’re unsure of where to go or what to do next, remember to trust your instincts always. Relentlessly follow your curiosity, allow yourself to be led by what truly moves you. And don’t compromise your values - ever.”
This event is an opportunity for students to meaningfully connect with one another, explore the themes from Callings about how passion, perserverance, and purpose can transform a job into a calling, and build a community of support so that students feel seen, connected, and that they have resources at K-State to pursue their passions.
Tuesday, November 17, 6:30-8:30 pm, Ballroom, K-State Student Union
Ongoing Events:
The 2026 Common Work of Art
Location: Beach Museum
To complement the K-State First Book selection, the museum presents Elizabeth “Grandma” Layton’s Business Business Business, You Gotta Have Art, the 2026 Common Work of Art. The drawing depicts Layton with her second husband, Glenn Layton, who often served as her model and muse.
In the context of this year’s First Book, the couple’s hats invite reflection on work and success: How does the contrast between “BUSINESS” and “You gotta have ART” suggest different ideas about careers and achievement? What kinds of jobs today require both creativity and business expertise?
Sponsored by the Beach Museum. More information at the Beach website.
Indigenous People’s Day
The conference is hosted each year by the Indigenous Faculty & Staff Alliance. Visit www.ksu.edu/indigenous-alliance for more information.
Division of Student Belonging
The department provides leadership in building an inclusive campus climate that fosters mutual understanding among diverse groups. The office works with deans, department heads, faculty and other key units throughout the university. Check out their website for upcoming events.
Ebony Theatre’s First Friday
K-State’s Ebony Theatre hosts First Friday in the Sandy Chastan Purple Masque lobby on the first Friday of each month during the academic year. The monthly arts-infused social gathering gives a variety of student performers of color a chance to share their work while attendees gather for conversation and refreshments. And, each month a multicultural student organization is honored for their work on campus. First Friday is free and open to the public.
International Student Center Coffee Hours
Coffee Hour is a culturally enriching experience designed to give international students a chance to present their country and culture to others in an open and relaxed setting. Student presenters share their thoughts and feelings on a variety of topics and issues concerning their country’s culture, history, and politics and also promotes awareness and discussion among those attending the presentation. Enjoy a cup of coffee and sample traditional cuisine from the presenter’s culture. Check their events page for details.
Beach Museum of Art
Think of the Beach Museum as an extension of your classroom. Their team of educators offers tours of the exhibitions with options to connect to your curriculum using exercises in critical thinking, visual literacy, writing, movement, and/or artmaking. To schedule tours visit their website or email bmaeducation@ksu.edu. Some things to keep in mind:
Goblin Games and Village Geek Games
Goblin Games is a great spot for to find board games, RPGs, Tabletop Mini Games, and the accessories you need to play! Village Geek is a place for gamers of all ages and levels. Both can help teach basic games, organize an event, rent out a space to play, and more!
Konza Prairie Trails
Konza Prairie’s hiking trails wind through lowland gallery forest, cross Kings Creek, and climb over ancient limestone ledges into the native tallgrass prairie. Enjoy spectacular views with a moderate walk with occasional steep climbs, uneven footing and narrow pathways.
K-State Challenge Course
A challenge course is composed of wood, poles, cables, logs and belaying systems that are used for activities such as ice breakers, group initiatives, and low and/or high element challenges. Explore your options on their website.
K-State Insect Zoo Tours
These sessions have live animal interaction and are led by a member of the Entomology department. Schedule a tour online.
Locked Manhattan
The first escape room adventure in Manhattan, Kansas. An hour of fun, challenging, and unique entertainment with an unforgettable story. K-State First classes receive a discount - so be sure to work with our office before making any reservations.
Union Bowling Center
For a “strike-ingly” fun experience, get together at the Wabash Cannon Bowl for your next bowling party or event. The casual, laid-back venue features 16 bowling lanes and a party room. Lane rentals for large parties are available. Learn more on their website.
Sunset Zoo
Looking for a deeper exploration of the natural world? The Education Staff offer a variety of adventures to meet your needs! Schedule 2 weeks ahead and K-State students enjoy free admission.
Career Center
The Careeer Center designed their events to connect K-State students and employers. Check their website for Career Meet-Ups and other event information.
College of Arts and Sciences Discovery Expo
For current and prospective students! Prospective students are invited to join from 12:30-2 p.m., with an optional campus tour afterwards. Check their website for more information.
Morrison Family Center for Student Well-being
The Morrison Family Center for Student Well-being (MFCSW) mission is to develop programs and services that empower individuals to make positive choices in pursuit of their well-being. With a focus on proactive and relevant skills, they provide opportunities for students to enhance their well-being to become WellCATS for Life. Visit their website to request presentations, a visit from Oakley, create a well-being plan, and more!
K-State Athletics
Attend an athletics event together, including football, baseball, basketball, soccer, and volleyball. Events schedule and ticket information available online.
K-State Department of English
Connect with visiting writers and speakers. Upcoming events in the series can be found here.
K-State Music Theatre and Dance
Attend student performances as they pursue their creative passions and expand and develop their talents to share with others. A full lineup of upcoming performances can be found here.
McCain Performance Series
McCain Auditorium is the campus cultural center for the live performing arts. McCain has a rich history of bringing world- class engaging experiences to northeastern Kansas. A full lineup of upcoming performances can be found here.
OrgCentral
OrgCentral is K-State’s online student organization management and student engagement platform. Students can explore upcoming events, engage in student organizations, and connect with other students using the platform. All registered student organizations have a group page in the system to manage their organizational operations.
Undergraduate Research Symposium
Scholar Development and Undergraduate Research hosts opportunities for K-State students to present their research. Visit their website here, which serves as a landing zone for information regarding upcoming symposia or presentation opportunities.
University-Wide
For additional ideas, explore the University Calendar to see a list of all upcoming events happening at K-State.
UPC Events
The Union Program Council provides various events and films throughout the year that are free to attend. Check out their event calendar for more information.
Wildcats Make a Pact - CARE Center
Wildcats Make a Pact is a bystander intervention training that provides participants with the skills to help them intervene safely when they see behavior that puts others at risk for violence, victimization, or perpetration. These include speaking out against rape myths and sexist language, supporting victim/survivors, and intervening in potentially violent situations. Please contact the CARE office directly at (785) 532-6444 or email ksucare@ksu.edu to discuss scheduling Wildcats Make a Pact sessions.
If you are interested in introducing various campus resources to your students but already have planned your three cocurricular outside of the classroom events, you might consider reaching out to incorporate an in-class presentation. The following offices and programs provide various workshops, trainings, and informational sessions.
Looking for a presentation or workshop on student success resources? Request a presenter to cover K-State specific resources as well as academic and life skills information.
Your requests for a Career Center presentation should be made at least 2 weeks before your preferred program date. Staff availability is limited for presentations after typical business hours and is best arranged at least a month prior to your requested date. Request a speaker for career-related topics. Career Readiness Curriculum includes the following topics:
The CARE advocates offer a variety of interactive training options designed to engage audiences and offer insight about best-practices from the advocates extensive experience working with survivors of sexual violence, dating violence, domestic violence, stalking, and sexual harassment. If you would like to have someone from CARE give a presentation, facilitate a discussion, or provide prevention education materials, please ksucare@ksu.edu. For preparation and planning purposes, please make your request at least two weeks in advance.
The CSI provides opportunities for students to get connected, engaged, and involved on campus. First-year students may especially be interested in the Cat Trax program, which serves as a roadmap to experiences every K-State student should have, such as joining a student organization, attending campus events and activities, participating in K-State traditions, and much more! Contact the CSI to schedule a presentation about student involvement resources, programs and opportunities!
The Education Abroad Office can customize classroom presentations based on your available time and needs. Presentations can be short 10 minute overviews about study abroad, information about programs for specific majors or fields of study, Q&A sessions with study abroad returnees, or they can be longer presentations by study abroad peer advisors or members of their staff. Complete the information form here or email overseas@ksu.edu to request a classroom presentation.
Actionable and relevant workshops help students actively participate in their well-being journey, and encourage K-State students to make well-informed decisions regarding their health and well-being. Request a presentation on their website.
The Office of Civil Rights and Title IX is engaged in coordinating K-State’s compliance with laws, regulations, executive orders and other applicable polices that uphold our guiding principles. It also serves as a resource for the University. Visit the website for upcoming events and resources for you and your students.
Peer financial counselors can provide any student group a financial presentation. Request a presentation online. Some of the topics include:
The Scholar Development and Undergraduate Research (SDUR) team connects undergraduate students with opportunities for research, professional development, graduate school preparation, and educational funding sources. Scholar Development and Undergraduate Research houses the Developing Scholars Program, the McNair Scholars Program, and the Office of Nationally Competitive Scholarships. Along with these formal programs, SDUR provides grants for research and travel opportunities, hosts undergraduate research symposia in fall and spring, and holds informative seminars for all interested students. Some of our programs are eligibility-specific, and some are open to any undergraduate student. From scholarship opportunities, to research, to a cohort of your peers, they hope to connect with you. Contact them by emailing sdur@ksu.edu. For more information visit the SDUR website.
Faculty and staff are integral to the goal of improving student writing. If you would like a short presentation about the Writing Center in your class, or if you would like for them to facilitate a writing workshop, please fill out the Qualtrics outreach form.
Accessibility
Check with your students to make sure they have access to a computer and the internet. If access is an issue, offer resources and alternatives.
Films and Theatre Productions Available for Online Streaming
K-State has a variety of online resources where you can find movies, theatre productions, documentaries, educational videos, and more that are free for you and your students!
Visit guides.lib.k-state.edu/streaming_video for a full list of titles available. Fill out the Video Request Form to access and use them in your classes.
General Resources for Online Events (K-State)
General Resources for Online Events (Beyond K-State)
Hosting a Watch Party
Watch a movie/show together using the Google Chrome Extension and have a Netflix Party, or use another platform that aligns more with your needs! If you’re using Zoom, use the following directions to get started:
Jackbox Games
If someone has purchased Jackbox, they can share their screen and allow others to remotely log in to play. As long as everyone can see the screen, they can use their phones to play along.
Talent Show or PowerPoint Party
Explore some of your students’ talents and interests in a fun, lighthearted way with a talent show or planned PowerPoint Party.
Trivia
Use a Random Trivia Generator, or create your own trivia game.
Yoga
Share your screen of a YouTube Yoga (or any workout) class, and get moving together.
