July 12, 2016
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August 22-Sept. 2
Wildcat Welcome Weeks 
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Editor's note regarding 'Wildcat Weekly' summer schedule
The Wildcat Weekly now will be published on a new summer schedule. The campus's news and events source will be emailed every three weeks until the fall semester begins. Below are the remaining dates:
  • August 2
  • August 23
If you are submitting a story for inclusion in the newsletter, it must be sent via the "project request" tab on the website's communications and marketing page no later than noon the previous publishing day. For questions, email Julee Cobb, communications coordinator, at [email protected].
Kansas' first-ever UAS director to have part-time residency on Polytechnic Campus







 



             








Kansas State University's Polytechnic Campus is a part of another pioneering move in the unmanned aircraft systems industry with its contributions to a newly created UAS position for the state.

Kansas State Polytechnic will be a part-time home to Bob Brock, Kansas' first-ever director of unmanned aircraft. Announced during an event July 5, Brock will maintain offices on the campus as well as at Kansas Department of Transportation headquarters in Topeka.

"It is an honor to host the new UAS director on our campus because it means we are viewed as one of the primary and most influential centers for the advancement of this technology in the state," said Kurt Barnhart, associate dean of research at Kansas State Polytechnic and executive director of the campus's Applied Aviation Research Center. "We have been working for many years to bring awareness to the exciting potential and power of unmanned aircraft, and this position validates a commitment to the growth of UAS from a state level."


To continue reading, please click here.
Polytechnic Campus offers UAS students new emergency management minor through agreement with Kansas Wesleyan University 

The unmanned aircraft systems program on Kansas State University's Polytechnic Campus is adding to its academic offerings through a new collaboration with a neighboring university.

Starting this fall, students in Kansas State Polytechnic's UAS program will be able to enroll in an emergency management minor taken through Kansas Wesleyan University, or KWU, which is also in Salina. Additionally, students in the emergency management program at KWU now are given the option to earn a UAS minor through Kansas State Polytechnic's program. The agreement between the two educational institutions was made official at a July 11 signing event.

"The origin of Kansas State Polytechnic's UAS program was influenced by the devastating effects of the EF5 tornado in Greensburg, Kansas, in 2007 and the need to support first responders and emergency managers with relevant technology that locates survivors and evaluates damage," said Verna Fitzsimmons, dean and CEO of Kansas State Polytechnic. "We are thrilled to have the opportunity to reconnect with those roots through this collaboration and provide our students with another applicable avenue in the ever-expanding field of UAS."

Through this agreement, UAS students will learn how to efficiently operate unmanned aircraft, often known as drones, within disaster sites and how to support the efforts of emergency response teams in crisis situations. The emergency management minor requires 18 credit hours, consisting of four emergency management courses and two emergency management electives. An example of the classes in KWU's emergency management minor option include
Hazard Mitigation and Preparedness, Disaster Response and Recovery, Damage Assessment, Cyberwarfare, Sociology of Disaster, and Victimology.

"Many of our UAS students have ambitions of applying their operations skills in a way that is socially beneficial, and offering the emergency management minor allows them to further their career aspirations while making a contribution to those in need," said Michael Most, K-State Polytechnic associate professor and unmanned aircraft systems program lead. "We also are proud to be able to share the multifaceted uses of UAS technology with KWU students to supplement and diversify their field of study by adding another tool to the emergency manager's toolbox."

Kansas Wesleyan University offers the only four-year emergency management degree in Kansas. Students of that program who elect to receive a UAS minor through the agreement will learn how to best utilize unmanned aircraft when deploying resources at disaster sites as well as how to understand and analyze the data UAS collect. A total of 15 credit hours are required with Kansas State Polytechnic's UAS minor, consisting of three mandatory UAS courses
and two additional courses tailored for either licensed pilots or non-aviators.
Ready for takeoff: high school students earn piloting skills during Polytechnic Campus's first flight academy 

K-State aviation is now being offered to the next generation.

High school students from Kansas, Nebraska and even Canada visited the Polytechnic Campus June 27-29 for the first-ever Fly K-State Academy. During this immersive experience, students completed four missions and earned three and a half hours of flight time while staying overnight on campus and participating in group activities and outings around the city.

The Kansas State Polytechnic Flight Team - which won the prestigious Loening Trophy in 2014 hosted Fly K-State Academy. The team developed the idea after assisting with other aviation programs on campus that only were offered to youth in elementary and middle school. Team members believe a flight program for high school students is essential to their growth as aviators and is a valuable opportunity to experience a college atmosphere.

On the final day of the program, parents and guests gathered for a graduation ceremony honoring the students' accomplishments.

To see more photos from Fly K-State Academy, visit Professional Education and Outreach's Facebook page.

Kansas State Polytechnic celebrates students' achievements, campus contributions in 30th annual end-of-the-year awards banquet

What goes into a college campus running successfully? Though financial contributions might be the first presumption, the majority of a school's ability to prosper is through its people. At Kansas State Polytechnic, students spend countless hours studying and collaborating on class projects; however, they also engage in student clubs, volunteer at events, work campus jobs and help tutor other students. Likewise, faculty and staff members go beyond the call of duty to ensure the campus runs smoothly and the students have a valuable experience.

Kansas State Polytechnic highlights that energy, effort and loyalty during its annual Awards and Recognition Banquet. Celebrating its 30th year, the banquet, held on April 21, brought together more than 150 students, faculty and staff to be honored for their accomplishments throughout the 2015-2016 school year.

"Each person at K-State Polytechnic touches the campus in a unique way," said Amy Sellers, student life coordinator and organizer of the event. "This banquet gives the campus an opportunity to shine a light on the magnificent work performed and the dedication that is given day in and day out. Most importantly, it is a night of pride for the amazing students, staff and faculty that keep K-State Polytechnic buzzing with new ideas, innovations and inspirations."

Close to 30 different accolades were handed out in three categories: Outstanding Academic Student awards, Outstanding Campus awards and Wildcat Pride awards. Within each of those areas, students, faculty and staff were recognized for a variety of reasons, including their program of study or instruction, sportsmanship, involvement on campus, advising and student club performance. Award nominations were open to anyone on campus and then were voted on by an established committee.

To continue reading, click HERE.

A high-five is one of the most recognizable ways two people can share excitement or celebrate a job well done. Kansas State Polytechnic's CEO and Dean Verna Fitzsimmons awards her high-five each week to honor faculty, staff and students for their dedication to the university.
Link
Great job Tim Bower!
Congratulations to professor Tim Bower!  His article "Teaching Introductory Robotics Programming: Learning to Program with National Instruments' Labview" will be published in IEEE Robotics and Automation journal.  Well done!
Thank you to everyone involved with KWU agreement!
I would like to send a high-five out to everyone that took part in bringing the agreement with Kansas Wesleyan University to fruition, as well as those who made the signing ceremony a success.
  • Dr. Michael Most
  • Dr. Alysia Starkey
  • Col. Kurt Carraway
  • Kathy Sanders
  • Kelly Carrico
  • Heather Wagoner
  • Julee Cobb
  • Kendy Edmonds
  • Ellen Fixsen
Starting this fall, students in Kansas State Polytechnic's UAS program will be able to enroll in an emergency management minor taken through Kansas Wesleyan University. Additionally, students in the emergency management program at KWU now are given the option to earn a UAS minor through Kansas State Polytechnic's program. The agreement between the two educational institutions was made official at a July 11 signing event.
 
Congratulations on the awesome team effort! You all have demonstrated that challenging what higher education can be is not a slogan; it is how we operate. Great work and thank you!

Loan Repayment Option for Graduating Students
The state of Kansas is offering up to $15,000 in student loan repayment and up to a 5 year state tax waiver for graduates who establish residency in one of the 77 Kansas counties designated as a rural opportunity zone. For more information, visit the link below:

Employee Tuition Assistance and Spouse/ Dependent Grant
1.  Employee Tuition Assistance
http://www.k-state.edu/sfa/forms/eta.pdf 

Award amount is for tuition only in a K-State course for up to 3 credit hours per term. 

The maximum award amount will not exceed the value of 3 hours at the in-state Manhattan/Salina tuition rate (ie. Campus fees, other institutional fees, etc. are the responsibility of the employee). 

2. Spouse/Dependent Grants (Available in fall and spring semesters only. Not available in the summer.)

http://www.k-state.edu/sfa/forms/dsg.pdf

For dependents with a primary career of undergraduate (full time requirement), the amount of the Dependent/Spouse Tuition Grant award for that semester will equal 7 credit hours at the applicable tuition rate. 

For dependents with a primary career of graduate or veterinary medicine, the amount of the Dependent/Spouse Tuition Grant award for the semester will be equal to 1, 2, or 3 credit hours at the applicable tuition rate. The maximum of 3 credit hours of tuition rate will be awarded to students enrolled in a total of 3 or more credit hours for the semester.

For spouses with a primary career of undergraduate, graduate, or veterinary medicine, the amount of the Dependent/Spouse Tuition Grant award for the semester will be equal to 1, 2, or 3 credit hours at the applicable tuition rate. The maximum of 3 credit hours of tuition rate will be awarded to students enrolled in a total of 3 or more credit hours for the semester.

All jobs, both part-time and full-time as well as internship opportunities, are listed on the Kansas State University CES account. Access your CES account by logging into: 

 

https://www.myinterfase.com/kstate/Account/LogOn?ReturnUrl=%2fkstate%2fstudent

 

For more information about this resource or additional employment resources, or for CES search assistance, please contact Erica Riffel Chapel by email at [email protected], by phone at (785) 826-2674, or in person on the second floor of the College Center.

 

To post a position on the CES system, please send your job descriptions and employer contact information by email to Erica Riffel Chapel at ejr@ksu.edu for immediate posting.