K-State First seeks proposals for CAT Communities and First-Year Seminars

K-State First, Kansas State University's first-year experience program, is seeking faculty, staff and departments interested in offering new learning communities or First-Year Seminars for the 2026-2027 academic year.

CAT Communities — Connecting Across Topics — pair two general education 100- to 200-level courses with a one-hour connections course. A cohort of 22 students enrolls in both classes and meets weekly in the smaller connections course, taught by an instructor from one of the paired courses. This one-hour class provides hands-on learning opportunities, helps students explore connections between the two classes and fosters community through engagement with both the instructor and an embedded peer mentor.

New CAT Communities can be designed around students' academic interests, majors or pre-professional career paths and may include a study abroad component. These communities are ideal spaces for students to connect, collaborate and explore shared passions.

Faculty or staff who teach the one-hour connections course receive a stipend and the support of an undergraduate learning assistant. More information about the program and examples of current CAT Communities is available online.

K-State First is also accepting First-Year Seminar proposals. These smaller 100- to 200-level courses, with no prerequisites, are open exclusively to first-year students. First-Year Seminars provide a lively, interactive learning environment with personalized attention and strong student-faculty interaction. Departments offering these classes receive compensation to offset the costs of providing small, high-quality courses.

To submit a proposal or ask questions, contact Brianne Heidbreder at heidbr@k-state.edu. Proposals are due by 5 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 15.