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Kansas State University

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Kansas State University
File:Seal lg.png
MottoRule by Obeying Nature's Laws
TypePublic, State, University
Established1863
Endowment$396.8 million[1]
PresidentDr. Jon Wefald
Academic staff
1,191
Undergraduates20,000
Postgraduates3,000
Location
Manhattan
,
Kansas
,
U.S.
CampusCollege town; 668 acres (main campus)
ColorsRoyal purple  
NicknameWildcats Powercat
AffiliationsNASULGC, ASAIHL
Websitewww.k-state.edu

Kansas State University, officially named "Kansas State University of Agriculture and Applied Science" [2] but commonly shortened to K-State, is an institution of higher learning located in Manhattan, Kansas, in the United States. A branch campus, including the College of Technology and Aviation, is located in Salina, Kansas.

Kansas State has an official enrollment of 23,332 students for the 2007–2008 school year.[3]

History

Kansas State University, originally named Kansas State Agricultural College, was founded on February 16, 1863 as a Land Grant institution under the Morrill Act. The school was the first Land Grant college newly created under the Morrill Act although several other universities claim to be the oldest Land Grant school. K-State is the third-oldest school in the Big 12 Conference and the oldest public university in the state of Kansas.

The institution was initially located on the grounds of the old Bluemont Central College, which was incorporated in Manhattan by the Kansas Territorial legislature in 1858. The university moved to its present site in 1875.

The early years of the institution witnessed debate over whether the college should provide a focused agricultural education or a full liberal arts education. During this era, the tenor of the school shifted with the tenure of the Presidents. For example, President John A. Anderson (1873-1879) favored a limited education and President George T. Fairchild (1879-1897) favored a classic liberal education. Also during this era, in 1882, the study of home economics originated at Kansas State. Currently, the university offers a full range of majors and many graduate programs.

Dickens Hall, from a 1907 postcard

Recent history

The name of the school was changed in 1927 to Kansas State College of Agriculture and Applied Science. In 1955, the name was changed again to Kansas State University of Agriculture and Applied Science to reflect a growing number of graduate programs. From 1943 to 1950, Milton S. Eisenhower was President of the University, being succeeded by Dr. James McCain, who served from 1950 to 1975. Buildings, including residence halls and a student union, were added to the campus in the 1950s. The 1960s witnessed demonstrations against the Vietnam war, though fewer than at other college campuses. Enrollment was relatively high through most of the 1970s, but the university endured a downward spiral from approximately 1976 to 1986, when enrollment decreased to 15,500 and a number of faculty resigned. In 1986, Dr. Jon Wefald assumed the presidency of Kansas State University. The university community responded well to Wefald's management style, and enrollment and donations increased under his leadership. Wefald also introduced an innovative student recruitment office, which lured students from all over Kansas and the United States, and expanded the international student program.

Historic buildings

After the school moved to its present location in 1875, Holtz Hall was the first new building erected, in 1876. It is now the oldest free-standing building on campus. The signature building at Kansas State University, Anderson Hall, was erected in three stages between 1877 and 1884. The building, now listed on the National Register of Historic Places, has housed the University's administrative offices for most of the 20th century.

Academic profile

Anderson Hall

Since 1986, Kansas State ranks first nationally among state universities in its total of Rhodes, Marshall, Truman, Goldwater, and Udall scholars.[4]

Kansas State University has 60 academic departments in nine colleges: Agriculture; Architecture, Planning, and Design; Arts and Sciences; Business Administration; Education; Engineering; Human Ecology; Technology and Aviation; and Veterinary Medicine. The well-regarded A.Q. Miller School of Journalism and Mass Communication is located within the college of arts and sciences. The graduate school offers nearly 100 master's degree programs and nearly 50 doctoral programs.

In 1991, the former Kansas Technical Institute in Salina, Kansas was merged with Kansas State University by an act of the Kansas legislature. The College of Technology and Aviation is located at the Salina campus, and is commonly referred to as K-State Salina.

K-State is also known for its distinguished lecture series: Landon Lecture, Lou Douglas Lecture, Huck Boyd Lecture and Dorothy Thompson Civil Rights series.

K-State implemented an academic honor code in 1999.[5] When students are admitted, it is implied that they will adhere to the Honor Pledge: "On my honor, as a student, I have neither given nor received unauthorized aid on this academic work."

Research and cultural resources

Physics

Hale Library

Among the university's research facilities are the James R. Macdonald Laboratory for research in atomic, molecular and optical physics and the NASA Center for Gravitational Studies in Cellular and Developmental Biology. The excimer laser, which made LASIK eye surgery possible, is among the inventions discovered by Kansas State researchers.[6]

Other research facilities include:

Agriculture

The university has had a long-standing interest in agriculture, particularly native Great Plains plant and animal life. The Kansas State University Gardens is an on-campus horticulture display garden that serves as an educational resource and learning laboratory for K-State students and the public. The Konza Prairie is a native tallgrass prairie preserve located south of Manhattan, which is co-owned by The Nature Conservancy and Kansas State University and operated as a field research station by the Department of Biology. The university also owns an additional 18,000 acres across the state that it operates as Agricultural Experiment Stations in research centers in Hays, Garden City, Colby, and Parsons.

Arts and culture

The university is home to several museums, including the Marianna Kistler Beach Museum of Art, the KSU Historic Costume and Textile Museum, and the Chang, Chapman and Kemper Galleries which feature faculty and student artwork. The university also offers an annual cycle of performance art, including concerts, plays and dance, at McCain Auditorium.[7]

Waters Quad just North of Hale Library

Landon Lecture Series

The Landon Lecture Series is offered by Kansas State University for students, faculty and the community. The Landon Lecture Series is named in honor of former Kansas governor and presidential candidate, Alfred Landon.

Prominent leaders and former leaders, primarily political or heads of government, have given speeches in the series. On January 23, 2006, U.S. President George W. Bush delivered the University's 143rd Landon Lecture at Bramlage Coliseum. On March 2, 2007, his predecessor, Bill Clinton, delivered the 149th Landon Lecture.[8] Overall, six U.S. Presidents and three foreign presidents have given Landon Lectures at K-State.[9] There are approximately four speakers per year.

Athletics

Main article: Kansas State Wildcats

Kansas State's sports teams are called the Wildcats. Their official color is royal purple, with white and silver being used as complementing colors in logos and uniforms. They participate in the NCAA's Division I and in the Big 12 Conference. Sports include football, basketball, cross country and track, baseball, golf, tennis, rowing, equestrian and volleyball.

Basketball

Powercat
Powercat

Kansas State's men's basketball team began competition in 1902. The program has appeared in 22 NCAA basketball tournaments. Kansas State played the University of Kentucky for the national championship in 1951, reached the Final Four four times, the Elite Eight 11 times, and the Sweet Sixteen 16 times. When Street & Smith's Annual listed the 100 greatest college basketball programs of all time in 2005, K-State ranked 22nd. Despite the strong tradition, in recent years the Wildcats struggled on the court. Following the 2006-2007 regular season, the team was invited to the NIT Tournament under first-year head coach Bob Huggins. The wildcats ended the season going 23-12, two wins shy of the school single-season record for victories. Shortly after, Huggins left to coach his alma mater West Virginia. The team replaced Huggins with first time collegiate head coach Frank Martin.

Football

Kansas State's football team began play in 1893. Despite some shining moments in the 1920s and 1930s, the school was historically one of the worst programs in the NCAA until 1989, when the athletic department hired Bill Snyder as head coach. Success and high rankings followed, culminating in a #1 national ranking during the 1998 season and a Big 12 Conference championship in 2003. Bill Snyder retired following the 2005 season, and Ron Prince was named the new head coach. In his first season, Prince guided the Wildcats to their first winning record in three years, played Rutgers University in the inaugural Texas Bowl, and posted the best record among all new head coaches hired in 2006, at 7-6.[citation needed] Prince's second season ended with a 5-7 record. The KSU Marching Band, also known as the Pride of Wildcat Land, performs at all home football games.

Baseball

Kansas State's baseball team began play in 1897. The Wildcats earned what is believed to be the school's first varsity championship in 1907 under coach Mike Ahearn. The Wildcats went on to win a Missouri Valley Conference championship in 1928 and Big Six Conference championships in 1930 and 1933. The Wildcats have not won a baseball conference championship since. Recently, fifth-year head coach Brad Hill has led the Wildcats to three consecutive years of 30-plus wins, including a trip to the Big 12 tournament in 2007. Hill's teams have also earned national rankings in three of his first four seasons. This upcoming season will see the Wildcats return seven position-player starters, its entire starting pitching rotation, and second team All-American closer Daniel Edwards.

Distinguished alumni

Main article: List of Kansas State University people

Beginning with the first graduating class in 1867[10], a number of Kansas State alumni have gone on to distinguished careers. Presently, both U.S. Senators from Kansas are graduates of Kansas State University. Other graduates currently serve as the Vice-President of Liberia, the Chancellor of the University of Colorado-Boulder, and the Chief Operating Officer of the Cincinnati Reds. Kansas State alums have been enshrined in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the College Football Hall of Fame, and have earned Emmy Awards and Olympic gold medals.

Campus

The main campus of Kansas State University in Manhattan covers 668 acres. Since 1986, Kansas State has added over 2 million square feet (186,000 m²) of buildings to the campus, including a new library, art museum and plant sciences building.

Main campus buildings

Northern Campus in October
Bluemont Bell and Dickens Hall

Student Life

Residential Life

Kansas State has 10 residence halls on campus: Boyd Hall, Ford Hall, Goodnow Hall, Haymaker Hall, Marlatt Hall, Moore Hall, West Hall, Putnam Hall, Van Zile Hall, and Smurthwaite as well as the KSU Jardine Apartments. Ford and Boyd Halls are all female and Marlatt Hall is all male. The residence halls are divided into three complexes: Derby, Kramer, and Strong. [11]

Student Organizations

Kansas State has more than 400 student organizations. [12]

Student Media

Radio Station: Wildcat 91.9 Student Radio
Newspaper: The Collegian
Yearbook: Royal Purple Yearbook
Television: Purple Power Hour & Manhattan Matters

References

  1. ^ "KSU Foundation" (English). Total assets at the end of fiscal year 2006.
  2. ^ http://www.vet.ksu.edu/handbook/general/ksu.htm
  3. ^ "Board of Regents Announces 2007 Fall Semester Enrollment" (PDF) (Press release). Kansas Board of Regents. Retrieved 2007-09-20.
  4. ^ "Consider K-State" (English). Retrieved 2006-09-25.
  5. ^ "KSU Honor Code". Retrieved 2007-03-02.
  6. ^ "Kansas State University Achievements" (English). Retrieved 2006-09-25.
  7. ^ "McCain Auditorium website". Retrieved 2007-09-20.
  8. ^ "Landon Lecture Series - Past Speakers". Retrieved 2007-09-20.
  9. ^ "Landon Lecture Series - New Speakers". Retrieved 2007-03-02.
  10. ^ Record of the Alumni of the Kansas State Agricultural College. 1914.
  11. ^ http://housing.k-state.edu/reshalls/compare.php
  12. ^ http://www.k-state.edu/directories/orgs.html
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