Fall 2020 enrollment at Kansas State University is mirroring national and state trends related to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The university’s overall enrollment is 20,854, down 865 students from a year ago, for a 4% drop. Enrollment on the Manhattan campus is down 6.1% in all students, with the majority of the dip in undergraduate student enrollment, which is down 6.9%. However, Karen Goos, vice provost for enrollment management, added that the university’s strategic enrollment management efforts are showing progress in the university’s recruitment efforts with a 7.5% increase in applications before the pandemic.

"Our 4% drop is much lower than expected and we know the next year will bring strong opportunities for growth when our new Missouri Tuition Match Program, providing in-state tuition to qualified Missouri students, takes effect in fall 2021," Goos said (read more about the tuition match program). "Our new scholarship plans also are making a difference and helping more students, with more than $46 million awarded to K-State students this academic year."

On the growth side this fall, undergraduate enrollment is up on both the Kansas State Polytechnic and K-State Olathe campuses. Online program enrollment also jumped by 10.8%. (Read more about the growth at Kansas State Polytechnic.) The most significant growth is in K-State’s student retention and graduation rates. Freshman-to-sophomore retention is up 1.3% to a record 87.1%. Moreover, the student retention rate is up 7% since the university put plans in place to reach a 90% retention rate by 2025.

K-State will celebrate its spring, summer and fall 2020 graduates in combined ceremonies on Nov. 20 for the Polytechnic campus and Nov. 20, 21 and 22 for the Manhattan campus. LEARN MORE

The shows must go on: McCain Auditorium launching new livestream series

In most years, the McCain Performance Series at K-State would be in high gear at this time. But with the performance series canceled through December, McCain Auditorium will offer a new livestream event series called McCain Connected, a collection of curated shows only available online.

Most McCain Connected events will be free of charge, although there will be a few where a ticket will be required for purchase to view the show. Some events will happen live on the McCain stage or at other locations around the world, while others will be prerecorded and made available exclusively to the McCain audience. Donations will be accepted with links provided during the stream.

View shows

The K-State student performance season for theatre, dance and opera also has been adapted to the COVID-19 pandemic. The new approach is through a partnership between the School of Music, Theatre and Dance, and the A.Q. Miller School of Journalism and Mass Communications. Structured similar to L.A. Theatre Works, an international leader in audio theatre production, the adjusted performance season provides students the opportunity to learn new storytelling methods, voice acting techniques and broadcasting standards, while providing the Manhattan community and beyond free access to the students’ performances and artistry.

Virtual performances include an audio performance of “Macbeth” by William Shakespeare and three original dance works created for the camera by K-State dance faculty.

View schedule

 

Accommodating students and providing access for all during COVID-19

In October, Jason Maseberg-Tomlinson ’03, ’19, director of the Student Access Center, presented a virtual talk on “Accommodating Students and Providing Access for All During COVID-19.”

Maseberg-Tomlinson discussed ways to accommodate students during the COVID-19 pandemic. He shared some of the new accommodations and questions that have arisen since March 2020. Maseberg-Tomlinson also gave an overview of the new accommodation system, AIM, and how that can assist faculty with letters of accommodation and the Student Access Center Test Center.

There may not have been a parade, a pep rally, or some of Kansas State University's other favorite Homecoming traditions this year, but Wildcats still found a way to make 2020 Homecoming fun. 

This year's theme was "K-State Family Game Night," and activities were conducted in a virtual format due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. 

Even though we couldn't gather in person, K-Staters connected through a virtual 5K, online trivia game and more. View the 2020 Homecoming student competition winners, and keep scrolling to view highlights from this year's events!

At the K-State Homecoming football game, the Wildcats beat the Jayhawks, 55-14. Although a Homecoming win is always worth celebrating, the day was extra special for students Marissa Lux and Bennett Shipley. 

At the Homecoming game, Lux and Shipley were announced as the 2021 K-State Student Ambassadors. They’ll begin a new adventure of representing the student body at K-State Alumni Association and university events.

Lux is a junior in communications studies from Olathe, Kansas, and Shipley is junior in marketing, also from Olathe, Kansas.

Established by the K-State Alumni Association in 1977, the Student Ambassador program elects one male and one female student each year to represent the student body at Alumni Association events throughout the state and at university activities. Lux and Shipley will visit with prospective students and alumni; attend Student Alumni Board meetings and activities; assist with programming on campus such as the Alumni Fellows program, All-University Homecoming Committee and other special events; and assist the President’s Office as needed.

They were elected during Homecoming Week by a student vote from a group of six semifinalists. The ambassadors serve a one-year term, and each receives the Kirk Family Student Ambassador Scholarship of $2,500, clothing from Manhattan clothing store Borck Brothers and an official K-State ring from Balfour and the Alumni Association.

Get to know Marissa Lux and Bennett Shipley through the questionnaires below!

Marissa Lux

Lux is a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority. She served her sorority as its 2020 communications director and as chair of its Homecoming Committee for the Crazy Cat Kickoff event. Additionally, she is involved with Student Governing Association, serving as a 2018 intern and a 2019 student senator for the College of Arts and Sciences. Lux also serves as a student ambassador for New Student Services, a counselor for Wildcat Warm-up and as a student worker for the K-State Alumni Association’s communications team.

Why is K-State important to you?
It has provided an atmosphere for me to grow and challenge myself academically and personally. K-State treats students as individuals, not as another number on a college campus. We care about our students. K-State is so much more than just an education, it is an unbeatable experience.

Why did you decide to run for Ambassador?
K-State helped me find my support system and make life-long memories. I have been able to share my love of K-State with incoming students while working at the Office of Recruitment and Admissions; this has showed me how grateful I am to be a Wildcat. I want to continue sharing everything that our university has to offer so that even more students can find their home at K-State.

What is your greatest challenge to overcome in projecting a positive image about K-State?
I decided to run for Ambassador because of the way K-State makes me feel. It is these emotions that drive me to want to share K-State with others. The challenge is not everyone feels the same emotions. I will need to convey K-State in a way that others can experience the emotion of being a K-Stater while they may not attend K-State yet. I know that students create their own experience, but it is my goal to be able to share what that experience could be.

What qualities do you have that will allow you to succeed in the role of an ambassador?
I am real and I am passionate. My quality of being real with people will allow me to relate with students and make them feel like I am talking to them like I would with anyone. I am very passionate in everything I give my time to, my passion will shine through in my ability to be an ambassador.

Bennett Shipley

Shipley is a member of Phi Delta Theta fraternity. He has previously served his fraternity as vice president of communications. Additionally, he has served as a member of the K-State Homecoming Committee, the 2019 Wildcat Request Live emcee and has served on the K-State Athletics Student Advisory Committee.

Why is K-State important to you?
It has been a place where I have been able to grow as a person and learn more about myself. I have also had the opportunity to connect with so many great people and experience some great things.

Why did you decide to run for Ambassador?
I have had an interest in representing K-State in one way or another since I was a freshman. I have a strong passion for this university, and I want to use my communication and relationship skills to represent K-State to the fullest.

What is your greatest challenge to overcome in projecting a positive image about K-State?
My greatest challenge to overcome when projecting a positive image on K-State would be when students see that I am from a larger town and might think that I cannot relate to students from a small town. When in fact, my parents are from small towns and while growing up I was able to experience and understand what it’s like growing up in a small town as well as the pride people have from growing up in a small town.

What qualities do you have that will allow you to succeed in the role of an ambassador?
Qualities that will allow me to be successful in the role of Ambassador are that I am personable, passionate, and I am a leader. I enjoy being around people and I can strike up a good conversation with anyone. I am passionate about everything I do, so I know I will bring passion into the role of Student Ambassador. Lastly, I will apply my leadership experiences to this role and work hard to represent every K-Stater to the best of my ability.

In his opening remarks for the fourth annual KSUnite, Kansas State University President Richard B. Myers ’65 acknowledged that this year’s event would be a little different. 

Myers spoke to K-Staters virtually through Zoom, rather than from a podium in person, as he had in years past. Yet even though Wildcats could not physically gather together due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the mission of KSUnite lives on.

“The reasons for KSUnite remain the same, and are even more important,” Myers said.

Since 2017, K-Staters have gathered one day a year to commemorate “KSUnite,” a movement where the entire K-State community joins together to celebrate and discuss diversity and inclusion on campus.

The 2020 event included virtual guest speakers Clint Smith, a staff writer at The Atlantic and the author of Counting Descent, and artist Bunky Echo-Hawk. Discussion continued throughout the afternoon with breakout sessions on a variety of topics.

“We can all share and learn from one another,” Myers said of the purpose for KSUnite. “We must walk our talk.”

Three students were invited to share their experiences as part of the KSUnite introductory session, and they encouraged and challenged K-Staters to do more to make the university a truly welcoming place:

Learn more about KSUnite

As you're making your holiday list (and checking it twice!), don't forget to add a little purple pride. 

The K-State Alumni Association offers a variety of unique, exclusive, K-State-themed gifts that make a great holiday surprise for your favorite Wildcat. 

Check out some of our favorite picks below, or shop the whole collection online. Also, as you're doing your holiday shopping this year, did you know that you can use the INTRUST Bank Powercat Credit Card to support the K-State Alumni Association with every swipe?

Learn more