Learning environment, student programs emphasize K-State’s quality education.
“When I visited K-State for the first time, it was an excuse to get out of school for the day,” said Austin Green. “What I didn’t expect was to leave the visit wanting to attend K-State the next fall.”
Now a senior studying software engineering at K-State, Green recalls stark differences between his pre-college visit to K-State and his visits to other universities. After a day filled with direct interaction with faculty, small group discussion with peers, a personal tour of the College of Engineering and individual analysis of his personal strengths and goals, Green’s decision was easy.
“What I took away from the visit was that at K-State I had a name, and at other schools, I felt like I was a number,” he said.
It also became clear that K-State leaders committed extensive resources to helping students succeed and were happy to take time to explain how those resources work. Green remembers feeling impressed by Scholars Assisting Scholars, a peer tutoring program supported this year by corporate gifts from Chevron Phillips, ConocoPhillips, Dolese Bros., Inc. and Phillips 66, along with a grant from the K-State Student Governing Association.
“At K-State, they focus on providing a quality, personal education,” said Green, who eventually utilized Scholars Assisting Scholars during some of his more difficult college classes.
That’s exactly the sort of compelling impression the College of Engineering hopes to replicate with the Engineering Hall expansion of the engineering complex. Scholars Assisting Scholars will be prominently placed in the Collaborative Learning Center near the atrium. Other features like the design teams suite and specialized research laboratories are all focused on improving the student experience.
Faculty, scholarships, learning environment and student programs are all critical for Kansas State University to become a top 50 public research university and for the College of Engineering to meet the student retention goals of the statewide University Engineering Initiative Act.
“Now more than ever, prospective students are waiting to be wowed,” said Darren Dawson, dean of the College of Engineering. “They want to know we care about their individual potential and their goals. We have worked hard to showcase our dedicated faculty and resourceful programs, and now our newly expanded learning environment further reflects our commitment to student success.”
