Putting new Cats first

K-state first staff

K-State First celebrates its 10-year anniversary of helping students transition to college

Ten years ago, Kansas State University created a program to address student retention among first-year to second-year students: K-State First. Since its inaugural year, the program has grown exponentially. Two integral pieces of the program are the First-Year Seminar (FYS) courses and Connecting Across Topics (CAT) learning communities— both initiatives designed to help first-year students establish a solid foundation for the rest of their college careers. With the formation of K-State First, K-State now has the highest first-to-second-year retention rate among Kansas Board of Regents institutions.

K-State First is also home to the university’s common reading program, the K-State Book Network, and a one-on-one mentoring program, Guide to Personal Success, which connects students with faculty, staff and alumni to grow their network and get to know the K-State family on a personal level.

K-State First by the numbers

  • 4 ways K-State First helps students transition to college:
    • fosters campus community and feelings of belonging
    • offers opportunities for diverse activities and interactions
    • raises academic expectations with engagement and compassion
    • empowers students with a strong sense of personal responsibility and social agency
  • 86% freshman-to-sophomore Universitywide retention rate, up from 78% a decade ago  
  • 87% retention rate for freshman-to-sophomore students enrolled in a First-Year Seminar or CAT Community, compared to 84% for students who didn’t participate in either
  • 86% retention rate for first-generation freshman-to-sophomore students enrolled in a CAT Community, compared to 79% for first-generation students who didn’t participate
  • 63% six-year graduation rate for first-generation students enrolled in a First-Year Seminar, compared to 51% for first-generation students who didn’t participate in FYS or a CAT Community
  • 46% four-year graduation rate for first-generation students enrolled in a First-Year Seminar, compared to 27% for students who didn’t participate in a FYS or a CAT Community
  • 42 CAT Communities and 58 First-Year Seminars offered in fall 2019, serving approximately 1,844 students from all seven of the undergraduate colleges on the Manhattan campus
  • 46 CAT Communities and 60 First-Year Seminars planned in fall 2020, with the capacity to serve approximately 2,300 students

To support K-State First, contact Heather Strafuss at heathers@ksufoundation.org or 785-775-2146, or give online.

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heather strafuss

Heather Strafuss Fundraising services manager

785-775-2146
heathers@ksufoundation.org