April 7, 2020    Events and Deadlines

This newsletter is distributed to department heads, graduate program directors, graduate program contact staff, and graduate faculty. 

Updated Graduate School Contact Information

Graduate School contact information updated by task or activity has been posted on the Graduate School web page. We hope this will assist you in directing inquiries to the appropriate points of contact.

Graduate School FAQs related to COVID-19

The Graduate School's list of frequently asked questions addresses if/how Graduate School and university deadlines, events, and procedures have been impacted as a result of K-State's limited campus operations during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Spring Graduation Deadlines Extended to May 8

Masters and doctoral students planning to graduate this semester should be familiar with graduation requirements and deadlines. The deadline to complete all requirements (submission of final exam ballot, ETDR ballot, and ETDR) for spring 2020 graduation has been moved from April 17 to May 8. Students should refer to the appropriate Deadlines for Graduation and ETDR Submission Checklist for instructions on completing all graduation requirements.

Any graduate student not meeting the May 8th deadline will be required to enroll in the summer if they plan to graduate in August.

Spring Commencement to be Combined with Fall Commencement

As announced last week, the traditional commencement ceremony for spring 2020 graduates will be combined with the fall 2020 ceremonies scheduled for December 11. As has always been the Graduate School's practice, masters and doctoral graduates unable to attend the commencement ceremony associated with their semester of graduation are welcome to attend a later commencement ceremony. Graduates who plan to attend a later commencement ceremony simply need to notify the Graduate School.

Urgent Notification: Document Submission

Since the Graduate School is physically closed and the team members are working remotely, it is imperative that all documents are submitted electronically, preferably using the electronic forms available on the Graduate School website. Ballots and other documents that cannot be submitted using electronic forms should be sent via email as PDF document(s) to the designated degree analyst or to grad@ksu.edu for processing. View a list of Graduate School contact information for various tasks and activities.

Note: Approval forms cannot be processed without having an approved Program of Study in place with the Graduate School.

Use of Zoom to Schedule Defenses and Processing of Ballots

The Graduate School team is supportive of graduate students continuing their scheduled defenses during this modified class schedule so they can meet graduation deadline. Major professors should work with their graduate students, members of their supervisory committees, and outside chair for doctoral students to conduct the defenses via Zoom. The video conference form will not be required during the modified class delivery time period. Major professors should contact their designated degree specialist to notify them of their defense plans. Please note that Request for Final Examination should be submitted electronically during this time.

Ballots will continue to be sent to outside chairs for doctoral students and major professors for masters. The ETDR ballot will be sent electronically to major professors.

Emails with votes for final examination of committee members can be sent to outside chair for doctoral students and to major professors for masters. These ballots can be sent as PDF document to the assigned degree analyst. Votes for ETDR ballots should be sent to the major professors. These should be submitted as PDF documents to the designated degree specialist.

For programs that normally require other students to attend the public component of defenses (seminar), the Zoom session can be recorded and the link shared with the students to view at a later date. If the public presentation is recorded, it is strongly recommended to schedule two Zoom sessions: one for seminar/public presentation and one for the committee meeting.

Home Testing & Webinar Series for TOEFL and GRE At Home Tests

ETS is pleased to announce expanded availability of at home testing for the TOEFL iBT® test and GRE® General Test. The tests will now be available in all locations where the computer-delivered tests are normally available, with the exception of Mainland China and Iran. While currently there is sufficient capacity for students to register immediately and test a few days later, we suggest that you encourage prospective students to register as soon as possible for the best chance to secure their preferred date and time.

Registration for the at home solutions for the TOEFL iBT® test and GRE® General Test is open for students in selected locations. Learn more about this new test delivery method at an upcoming webinar. There are several dates available — register today! In the meantime, find details about security measures and answers to other questions you may have on the TOEFL® and GRE® web pages dedicated to this purpose.

Graduate Program Directors

Graduate Student Appreciation Week, April 6-10

This week is national graduate student appreciation week. Graduate students make important contributions to research and scholarship and teaching and mentoring undergraduates. This week is an especially important time to acknowledge graduate students as they continue in these roles while also working toward their own degrees and managing personal responsibilities, such as parenting and caring for aging family members. Please take a moment to express appreciation to your graduate students!

Graduate Applications Processing

Whilst we are, at this time, coping with the challenges associated with the pandemic, the Graduate School continues to process applications for
admission for summer 2020 and fall 2020 as appropriate. Departments are encouraged to continue to submit program recommendations for applications and to work with applicants in determining if a deferral is appropriate. As more definitive information becomes available, please look for guidance in future releases of the newsletter.

The Global Postgraduate Diversity Resource

The Council of Graduate Schools, with support from Educational Testing Service (ETS), has created The Global Postgraduate Diversity Resource. This online tool is designed to help universities improve their diversity programming by looking at resources written by university leaders, researchers, government officials, and journalists. The website currently includes over ninety resources from universities across the globe as well as essays on pressing issues in global higher education diversity from university leaders. The website aims to help faculty, postgraduate students, and administrators develop a common language for improving diversity and inclusion at postgraduate institutions around the world. This resource will be updated with new essays and resources throughout the year. If you would like to request the addition of a resource or resources, please use this online form or email Matthew Linton.

Pre-arrival Online Graduate English Support Courses

Due to test postponements as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak, online versions of DAS 176 (Reading), DAS 177 (Writing), and DAS 178 (Listening) will be offered April 6-May 29, 2020 for students eligible for admission to graduate programs for Fall 2020 who have iBT TOEFL or IELTS scores that are close to those needed to meet the English Proficiency requirement. These courses allow students the opportunity to improve their English and demonstrate proficiency by earning grades of B or above in these courses prior to their arrival on campus. Registration requirements can be found here.

Call for nominations: Distinguished Thesis and Distinguished Dissertation Awards

The Graduate School is now accepting nominations for the MAGS/ProQuest Distinguished Thesis Award and the CGS/ProQuest Distinguished Dissertation Award. This year's award categories are 1) Mathematics/Physical Sciences/Engineering and 2) Social Sciences. These awards serve to recognize theses and dissertations that make an unusually significant contribution to their field. Each graduate program may submit one nomination for the thesis award and one nomination for the dissertation award. Please visit the award web pages for more information. Nominations must be submitted to the Graduate School, 113-119 Eisenhower Hall, or via email to Megan Miller (mmmiller@ksu.edu) no later than 5:00 pm on May 1, 2020.

Graduate Faculty

Graduate Council Elections

Don't forget to cast your votes for those nominated to serve on the Graduate Council! Please remind the graduate faculty in your departments of this important event. Ballots were sent via e-mail to the graduate faculty addresses on record.

Commerce Bank and WT Kemper Foundation Distinguished Graduate Faculty Award

The Graduate School is accepting nominations for the Commerce Bank Distinguished Graduate Faculty Award. The award honors current members of the graduate faculty who are recognized nationally and internationally for their leadership and contributions to graduate education at K-State and their outstanding scholarly achievements. Recipients of the award will receive an honorarium and will be recognized during the fall Graduate School commencement ceremony and during a public lecture to the campus community. The materials noted below should be submitted as one Word or PDF file to dgf@k-state.edu by May 1, 2020.

Research Brownbag Discussions

Join Vice President for Research Peter Dorhout and staff to learn how the university is addressing the changing research and compliance landscape around international travel, research data management, attending conferences in embargoed nations and new regulations and more. Discuss your concerns or questions that you have around these topics. What is K-State doing to protect our researchers? What are best practices and protocols at this time? Monday, April 13 at noon – Topic: TBA. Join via Zoom.

Open/Alternative Textbook Initiative Information Session

The Open/Alternative Textbook Initiative provides grants from $2,000-$5,000 for instructors to adopt or create open educational resources for their classroom. The initiative aims to make education more affordable for K-State students. Since being launched in 2013, it has saved students nearly $5 million. This session will only be offered online, Tuesday, April 14 at 12:30pm to 1:30pm. Join via Zoom.

Message from Provost Taber: Guidance on A/Pass/Fail Grade Option for Students

As announced by Provost Taber, for all students, undergraduate and graduate, the deadline for selecting to have a course graded A/Pass/Fail has been extended to Friday, May 8, 2020. If a graduate student wishes to select this option, they will be required first to discuss with their advisor and obtain his/her approval and obtain the graduate program director's signature. Graduate students must earn a minimum of a C to receive a Pass (P) if approved by their major professor. From the Graduate School perspective in approving the program of study and reviewing degree requirements, we can accept a P. Students admitted on academic probation and required to earn an A or B on designated courses are not able to select this grading option.

K-State biology professors honored by American Society of Mammalogists

Don Kaufman, professor in the Division of Biology, and Glennis Kaufman, retired research assistant professor, adjunct research assistant professor of biology and a graduate faculty member at the university, were recognized by the American Society of Mammalogists with the establishment of a graduate student research award named in their honor. This financial award will be given annually to support graduate student research focused on population, community or behavioral ecology of native grassland mammals in the Great Plains and Canada Prairie Provinces. The first Kaufman Research Award, valued at $2,500, will help finance the field research of the awardee during 2020-2021.

Education professor publishes article about teacher shortages in Kansas

Tuan Nguyen, assistant professor of curriculum and instruction, recently published "Teacher Attrition and Retention in Kansas: A Case Study of Geographically Rural States with Persistent Teacher Shortages" in the Online Journal of Rural Research and Policy. This article may be freely accessed on the Online Journal of Rural Research and Policy's website. The journal is a multidisciplinary research journal based at Kansas State University and is published under the direction of managing editor Bonnie Lynn-Sherow of the Chapman Center for Rural Studies.

Graduate Students

Virtual Brown Bag Lunch Discussion

Graduate students are invited to join Dean Shanklin, Associate Dean Dissanayake, and Dr. Miller for a virtual brown bag lunch every Wednesday at noon. This is an opportunity for graduate students to ask questions and stay connected. Join the discussion via Zoom.

GSC Zoom Coffee Hour

The GSC executive team will hold a Zoom coffee hour every Friday at 1 pm for graduate students to check in, say hello, ask questions, voice concerns, etc. Join via Zoom.

Graduate Student Leadership Workshop Series: Civic Leadership and Citizen Scholarship

As members of the K-State academic community, our studies and work are situated – physically and virtually – within local and global communities facing complex challenges. We all play a role in the civic mission of our institution, to generate knowledge and talent to advance the well-being of those communities. This session will help participants explore their present and future work, and consider how relationship, dialogue, and practice can be an explanatory lens to make sense of citizen-centered, community-engaged scholarship. April 13, 11:30 am - 1:00 pm. Join by Zoom.

Beyond the Professoriate Webinar – 3 Things You Should Do Now to Maintain Momentum in Your Job Search

Join Beyond the Professoriate co-founder L. Maren Wood, PhD for this webinar on job searching through these unprecedented times. April 16, 11:00am CST.

After attending the webinar, you will be able to:

• Identify 3 action steps you can take towards continuing your post-academic job search.
• Develop a strategy to prevent feeling overwhelmed.
• Develop a plan for shifting online job search strategies.

Advanced registration is required. 

Graduate Student Leadership Workshop Series: Intercultural Leadership

Leading across cultures requires us to intentionally recognize and address inequity in order to build a more socially just world. In this session, we will explore interpersonal and systemic elements of culture, power, and privilege and how these impact the practice of leadership and the creation of inclusive classrooms, labs, and workplaces. April 23, 11:30 am - 1:00 pm. Join by Zoom.

Mental Health Support

Our world is dealing a major public health concern, and we all are learning how to navigate new approaches to school, work, and other major facets of life. As a result, students may experience heightened levels of stress, anxiety, or other emotions. The following resources are available to students in need of mental health support.

• K-State Counseling Services – available for phone consultations, 785-532-6927
• National Grad Crisis-Line – 877-472-3457

Enrollment for Summer and Fall 2020

In an effort to allow the university community time to adjust to remote teaching, learning and advising, administration has decided to delay the start of enrollment for the summer 2020 and fall 2020 semesters by one week. The early enrollment period for returning students will now begin on Monday, March 30 and end on Friday, April 24. Students may find newly scheduled enrollment time in KSIS in Student Center > Enrollment Dates. Questions or concerns should be directed to the Office of the Registrar, registrar@ksu.edu.

Academic Achievement Center Online Resources

K-State's Academic Achievement Center is offering the following academic success resources online and available to support all K-State students as they complete coursework and other academic activities remotely for the remainder of the semester.

• Academic Coaching is available to all K-State students from 9 am-5 pm Monday-Friday. No appointments are necessary. Academic Coaches can help with, navigating online learning, connecting to campus resources, understanding course expectations, academic and time management challenges, and more!
• Academic Success Tools: The AAC has many academic success tools and resources online along with guides and videos to implement these tools.

Career Center Online Resources

The Career Center is committed to assisting students during this challenging time and has a variety of resources available:

• Individualized appointments with career advisors via Zoom, phone or email. Students may schedule through Handshake.
• Job/Internship listings via Handshake: Employers are still adding opportunities, and they are updated daily. Please go to the main Career Center webpage and sign in with purple "Student Login" button.
• Zoom presentations on career related topics—for classes or clubs. Contact Andrew Kohls at andrewkohls@ksu.edu for more information.
• Andrew's Advising Resources—Resume/Interview Guide, Salary Negotiation Tips, Resources for Diverse/Multicultural students and more.

Graduate Student Council Travel Awards 

May 1 is the deadline for graduate students to apply for GSC travel awards for travel to academic and professional events that begin anytime in July.

CONFERENCES CANCEL IN RESPONSE TO COVID-19: The GSC is aware that many professional conferences have been canceled in an effort to mitigate spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19). Students who were allocated a GSC travel award for an event in March or later were sent a message with instructions for requesting reimbursement for non-refundable expenses.

FUTURE TRAVEL AND TRAVEL AWARDS: The GSC will continue to accept travel award applications for events scheduled in June and beyond, and applications must be submitted by the appropriate deadline. However, per the announcement made on March 14, all university-affiliated or sponsored travel is banned until further notice, and students should not make travel arrangements until the ban is lifted.

Accepting Applications - Science Communication Fellowship

The Science Communication Fellowship is specifically designed for graduate students and post-doctoral researchers and is Sunset Zoo's flagship program of it's Behind the Science initiative. Fellows will enhance their science communication skills through a dynamic, engaging, and participatory workshop series. They also will develop a hands-on educational activity to use in multiple settings at Sunset Zoo and beyond, as well as a personalized webpage to engage multiple audiences with their work on Sunset Zoos Behind the Science website. Application and more information available on the Sunset Zoo website. The application deadline is May 1 at 5:00 pm.

Graduate Research Opportunities at DOE National Laboratories

The Department of Energy's (DOE) Office of Science is pleased to announce that the Office of Science Graduate Student Research (SCGSR) program is now accepting applications for the 2020 Solicitation 1. The SCGSR program supports supplemental awards to outstanding U.S. graduate students to conduct part of their graduate thesis research at a DOE national laboratory/facility in collaboration with a DOE laboratory scientist for a period of 3 to 12 consecutive months—with the goal of preparing graduate students for scientific and technical careers critically important to the DOE Office of Science mission. The SCGSR program is open to current Ph.D. students in qualified graduate programs at accredited U.S. academic institutions, who are conducting their graduate thesis research in targeted areas of importance to the DOE Office of Science. Direct questions to the SCGSR Program Manager, Dr. Ping Ge, at sc.scgsr@science.doe.gov. Applications are due 5:00pm Eastern Time on Wednesday, May 6, 2020.

MD Anderson Cancer Center's TRIUMPH Translational Postdoctoral Fellowship

The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center is currently accepting applications for the CPRIT TRIUMPH Postdoctoral Fellowship in Translational Cancer Research. This three-year fellowship provides basic, translational, and clinical training and aims to further develop talented PhD or MD/PhDs into successful clinical/translational research scientists. Applications are reviewed quarterly with the next cycle due date of June 30, 2020. Additional information regarding eligibility, application process, and current trainees and program alumni profiles are found on the CPRIT TRIUMPH website. Please contact Dr. Kari Brewer Savannah, Program Manager, with any questions.