Applied Learning

Applied Learning Imperative

Applied Learning and Next-Gen K-State

In September 2023, under the leadership of President Linton, the University launched the Next-Gen K-State Strategic Plan. This plan is comprised of ten bold imperatives designed to position K-State as a next-generation land-grant university by 2030. Imperative three focuses on providing real-world, real-time experiences for every student before they graduate.

"We will provide every degree-seeking student with applied learning experiences before they graduate, fulfilling our commitment to prepare students for life beyond K-State starting early in their college experience."

The Staley School of Leadership has been charged to engage faculty and staff across the university, and community and industry stakeholders to advance this important work. As a community, we will meet this ambitious goal by better understanding existing opportunities and deepening and expanding access for all students. Applied learning experiences have the potential to give students confidence and clarity in their future careers — and competence and purpose as they pursue it.

Meet our Team

Our Team

Mary Tolar, Ed.D.

Dean, associate professor, Staley School of Leadership

“Applied learning is in K-State’s DNA and centers our students in how we deliver our land-grant mission. I’m as excited for the impact on our communities, industries, and neighbors as I am for all our students who will deepen learning and build skills engaging real-world challenges in real time.”

Kerri Keller

Kerri Keller, Ph.D.

Director, K-State Career Center

"My doctoral dissertation was examining internships as a high-impact educational practice. I also teach a class for students who are completing internships during the fall and spring semesters. I love hearing about the real-world, hands on learning experiences of our students!"

Brent Holliday, M.A.

Assistant director, Education Abroad

Beth Powers, M.A.

Director, Scholar Development and Undergraduate Research

“Applied learning is learning in action – I can’t imagine a more worthy way to help K-State continue to thrive.”

Trisha Gott, Ed.D.

Associate dean, assistant professor, Staley School of Leadership

"For K-Staters, community is the why and community-based learning - is the how. Through connecting classrooms with communities students learn with and from the community and apply new knowledge directly to those challenges."

Emily Lehning

Emily Lehning, Ph.D

Roots and Legacies

Strategic Partner

"Applied learning is enriching, engaging, and an opportunity to connect students with interesting, real-life challenges. It is a great way to make learning come alive and for students and K-State to make a difference. I am excited to see K-State expand offerings for students and expand our reach into more communities, businesses, and organizations."

Maggie Billman

Programs/project coordinator, Staley School of Leadership

"As a K-State graduate, I know how deeply I was impacted by learning experiences beyond the traditional. I am honored by the opportunity to support these experiences for each degree-seeking student."

Campus Communications

Read news and communications related to the imperative.

October 12, 2023 Letter to Campus from Dean Mary Tolar

K-State Today

Letter to campus from Dean Mary Tolar

Submitted by Mary Tolar

Dear colleagues,

"By 2030, we will provide every degree-seeking student with applied learning experiences before they graduate, fulfilling our commitment to prepare students for life beyond K-State starting early in their college experience." With this imperative in our Next-Gen K-State strategic plan, we commit to deepening and expanding students’ real-time, real-world learning experiences, giving all students confidence and clarity in their future careers — and competence and purpose as they pursue it.

The Staley School of Leadership has been charged to engage faculty and staff across the university and community and industry stakeholders to advance this important work. I am writing today to update you on the steps we will take this year to build on the successful programs K-State has in place and begin to scale the work to meet our 2030 goal for all undergraduate students to benefit from an applied learning experience.

To elevate and deliver an impactful and unmatched student experience, applied learning at K-State must deliver on two counts. We must ensure it is both comprehensive and excellent. To do this, we must first establish baseline participation rates, a means by which to identify and evaluate types of applied learning experiences, and a mechanism to track and report student participation. We must also work to understand, support and build partnerships with industry, government and communities to provide excellent applied learning experiences that resonate with diverse learners, disciplines and professions. To ensure access to these experiences by all students, we will also work to secure necessary philanthropic support.

We must also undertake this work in phases, beginning with undergraduate students and then expanding to include all degree-seeking learners. As President Linton shared in his budget investment announcement, the university has provided $250,000 from the "One K-State" investment pool to launch our Next-Gen K-State initiative to expand the learning experiences available to our students outside classroom walls. With the help of Kerri Keller, executive director of career services, I am in the process of building a team and designing the work this year to:

Engage academic partners across the university to define, identify and map excellent applied learning experiences already offered.
Understand what opportunities, gaps and obstacles exist.
Launch a grant program to incentivize the expansion of opportunities through our academic departments.
Pilot a grant process to provide direct support to students to enable them to take advantage of these opportunities.

As a model next-generation land-grant institution, we will build on the world-class research of our faculty, our extraordinary alumni networks, and rich partnerships across the state and around the world to create and scale exceptional applied learning. We aim to not only empower students with experiences that position them for immediate and lifelong success but also to engage students as essential partners in serving our land-grant mission, helping our stakeholders meet the challenges they face right now across the state and beyond.

This is an exciting time at K-State. We will be sharing more information soon as plans develop. I look forward to working together with all of you as we make real-time, real-world learning experiences a true differentiator for our students and for K-State.

Sincerely,
Mary Tolar
Dean, Staley School of Leadership

February 27, 2024 Letter to Campus from Dean Mary Tolar

Next-Gen K-State Applied Learning Imperative: Letter to campus from Dean Mary Tolar

Submitted by Mary Tolar

Dear colleagues,

As we find our rhythm with the spring semester, I find inspiration from our students. Their commitment to learning, contributing and connecting — with new ideas, with one another, with our communities — models Next-Gen K-State and inspires confidence in a truly bright future.

I am writing today to update you on progress to meet our 2030 goal for all students to benefit from an applied learning experience. The imperative in our Next-Gen K-State strategic plan is a commitment to provide every degree-seeking student with real-time, real-world learning experiences before they graduate. Last fall, I shared an update outlining the beginning phase of the work, investment from the One K-State fund, and steps we will take to build on the successful programs K-State has in place and begin to scale our offerings to include all degree-seeking students.

A core team is working diligently to create a framework for this imperative. The team's initial charge is to deepen the understanding of applied learning by examining models at peer institutions, reviewing the growing body of literature and considering various types of learning experiences. Their synthesis of the applied learning landscape in higher education is the foundation for developing a model for K-State that is both comprehensive and excellent, as called for in the strategic plan.

An essential first step is to define applied learning in a context that supports identifying, tracking and scaling exceptional learning experiences for all students. We must commit to a shared definition of applied learning, the types of applied learning experiences supported in our K-State model and shared definitions of each. The core team is providing draft definitions based on their early work.

We invite you to review and provide feedback on draft definitions for applied learning at K-State and the four initial applied learning experiences — education abroad, internships, service-learning and undergraduate research. Your input will be used to further refine the definitions and support the next steps of identifying and evaluating types of applied learning experiences. The survey is available through March 19.

Our work continues. Next steps in further shaping the framework for applied learning at K-State include:

Engaging academic partners across the university to identify and map excellent applied learning experiences already offered.
Understanding what opportunities, gaps and obstacles exist.
Piloting a grant process to provide direct support to students to enable them to take advantage of these opportunities.
Launching a grant program to incentivize the expansion of opportunities through our academic departments.

Engaging the larger university community to deepen the conversation about what applied learning means for our university is a vital part in building a sustainable program. The survey for your input on the definition of applied learning and the initial applied learning experiences is a start. Watch for additional updates and outreach in the coming months, and visit our website to learn more.

Real-time, real-world learning is what our students want, what K-State does well and what a bright future requires. There is good work ahead!

Sincerely,

Mary Tolar
Dean, Staley School of Leadership

Timeline

Achieving the bold imperative to provide applied learning experiences to every degree-seeking student by 2030 will require a phased approach.

Phase 1: Discovery and Design

Fall 2023

This phase featured review of national literature and peer programs. Targeted site visits were conducted. A core team of university leaders convened to draft definitions of applied learning and initial applied learning experiences based on early findings.

Phase 2: Continued Discovery and Design, Early Implementation

Spring 2024

This phase involves engaging academic partners across the university to define, identify, and map excellent applied learning experiences already offered. The mapping exercise will clarify opportunities, gaps, and obstacles. Working definitions will be available for the university to provide input.

Outreach to partners in communities, including our alumni, business, and industry colleagues will help inform a model that bridges K-State communities with the goal of expanding access to real-world, real-time experiences.

Phase 3: Continued Discovery and Design, Implementation

Summer 2024

This phase will focus on accountability. Further examination of mechanisms for tagging and tracking applied learning experiences will include analysis of existing systems and benchmarking systems used by peers.

Initial plans for a program to bridge K-State communities for expanded access to applied learning experiences will be shared.

Phase 4: Continued Design, Implementation, and Assessment

Fall 2024 and Spring 2025

This phase will include designing and launching a grant program to incentivize the expansion of opportunities through academic departments. A pilot grant process will be developed to provide direct support to students to enable them to take advantage of applied learning opportunities.

During this phase, we will identify additional applied learning experiences and engage in a process to define, identify, and map those already offered. Work will center on how to scale offerings and institutionalize access to applied learning.

Consideration of how to offer inclusive and varied experiences for all learners will be explored. Input on applied learning for all degree-seeking students will be gathered. This work will connect applied learning experiences to all learners, including online.

Phase 5: Implementation and Assessment

Fall 2025 and Beyond

Grant programs for expansion of opportunities and to support students in participating in applied learning experiences will be readied for further implementation.

Applied learning participation baselines will be established for many student groups. Implementation and assessment efforts will be solidified.