K-Statement

 

CHANGES TO STUDENT LOANS CAN BOOST K-STATE VALUE Two recent changes to the federally guaranteed student loan program are good news for students and can help with their educational costs for the coming school year, said Larry Moeder, assistant vice president for student financial assistance and admissions at K-State. "The changes, part of the recently enacted Ensuring Continued Access to Students Loans Act of 2008, will reduce the need for high-cost private student loans," Moeder said. "They also can help make a K-State education, already cited as one of the nation's best values, even more affordable." In 2007, K-State was recognized as one of Kiplinger's 100 best values in public college education and was one of the Princeton Review's best value colleges in America. The first change to the student loan program increases unsubsidized federally guaranteed student loan eligibility by $2,000 for a typical undergraduate per academic year. "To continue emphasizing responsible student loan borrowing, K-State is notifying students enrolled for the fall 2008 term of this additional available assistance." The law also introduced a new repayment option for parents of dependent students borrowing under the Federal Parent PLUS Loan program. "Until now, repayment on a Parent PLUS Loan typically began for the parent borrower 60 days after the loan has been disbursed," Moeder said. "The new repayment option will allow the parent borrower to begin repayment six months after the dependent student has ceased to be enrolled on at least a half-time basis, which is typically after the student has graduated. This repayment option is particularly beneficial because economic concerns are on everyone's minds." Moeder said K-State has e-mailed information on the changes to all students who have been admitted.   NOTEWORTHY   Richard A. Marston published "Presidential Address: Land, Life and Environmental Change in Mountains," Annals of the Association of American Geographers, Vol. 98, No. 3. More Noteworthy

Under new management

In his first year as executive director of McCain Auditorium at Kansas State University, Todd R. Holmberg has engineered a performance schedule that embraces Americana as well as contemporary satire, sharp-tongued comedy along with razor-keen musical theater, Irish step dancing and urban opera. Read more

 

Oil exploration in the lab

Research by Zhijian "Z.J." Pei and Wenqiao "Wayne" Yuan could advance the large-scale cultivation and manufacturing of oil-rich algae for biofuel. Read more

 

UP CLOSE

Three for all

The members of the Tallgrass Trio are willing to tune up for almost any type of music. The group has performed everything from original compositions, easy listening tunes and contemporary pop from bands like Radiohead, to traditional classical music. No matter what's on the page, the members of the group agree that they just want people to enjoy their music. Read more

 

PLAUDITS

 

SMILE FOR THE WORLD WIDE WEB CAM

Jack Taylor, assistant director of undergraduate admissions, answers questions from YOUniversity TV producer Kara Matuska about why students choose K-State and the process of becoming a Wildcat.

YOUniversity TV, a Web-based video producer, was on campus July 2 to film a tour of K-State that is slated to appear early this fall on its Web site, http://www.youniversitytv.com. The short video tours of college campuses are made with a young audience in mind.

Matuska also interviewed Michael Wesch, assistant professor of anthropology, and Chris Sorensen, university distinguished professor of physics and 2007 CASE/Carnegie national professor of the year, about the experiences K-State students can expect in the classroom.

 

RAIN GARDEN EARNS SKABELUND DESIGN AWARDS

The International Student Center's perennial garden, designed to absorb runoff from storms, has earned recognition from two landscape architecture organizations.

The Prairie Gateway Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects presented Lee R. Skabelund, assistant professor of landscape architecture, with a 2008 award of excellence for his work on the project. The society's Central States Conference also has recognized Skabelund with a 2008 award of merit in the built-design category.

 

 

POINTS OF PRIDE Konza in the nation's capital The Konza Prairie Biological Station is the subject of an exhibition in Washington, D.C. "A Sea of Tallgrass: The Konza Prairie" runs through Sept. 12 at the U.S. Department of Interior Museum. The exhibition consists of photographs by Judd Patterson, who earned a master's in geography from K-State in May. The exhibition's curator is Deborah Wallis Wurdinger, who earned a bachelor's in anthropology from K-State in 1993.

 

 

OH, BY THE WAY

 

"UPGRADE K-STATE" SURVEY RESULTS AVAILABLE

The "Upgrade K-State: Tell Us What You Need" report is now available at http://upgrade.k-state.edu/results

The report, which compiles results from Upgrade K-State e-mail comments, targeted IT focus groups and open forums held this spring, offers a broad scan of the current state of K-State's information technology services and future needs as perceived by a wide range of K-Staters.

More than 230 people participated in the focus groups and open forums and more than 100 comments were received by email. The information gathered here provides a foundation for future strategic planning for the next generation of IT services at K-State.

The report is being used by the Campus IT Needs Assessment Working Group to develop recommendations this summer for the provost and the computing executive committee regarding next steps to better align central IT services with critical campus needs. In addition, central IT leadership and staff will review the documentation for "quick win" action items to improve central IT services. To provide additional feedback or comments, please visit the Upgrade K-State Web site at http://upgrade.k-state.edu

 

HOT-WEATHER OPTIONS AT THE BEACH MUSEUM

If it's too hot or rainy to go outside and the kids are bouncing off the walls, the Marianna Kistler Beach Museum of Art has two new activities that will let families learn about the museum and the world around them.

ARTotes contain worksheets, books, activities and games that help families explore the permanent collection, said Kathrine Schlageck, senior educator at the Beach Museum. Three varieties of totes are available so far.

"The series out now focuses on the elements of art," Schlageck said. Totes on shape, form and line are available now; color and texture will be available by the end of the summer.

The second new activity is the Exploration Station in the new wing of the museum. The station has activities and resources that will change with the wing's exhibitions. The station's current focus is "More Than Words: Illustrated Letters From the Smithsonian Archives of American Art."

"When people stop at the Exploration Station they can make postcards and mini travel journals inspired by the exhibition," Schlageck said. Visitors can take home their creations.

"The overall idea is to provide fun ways for people to learn about the exhibitions and interact with the art," Schlageck said.

For more information, contact Schlageck at 785-532-7718 or drop by the museum on the southeast corner of the campus at 14th Street and Anderson Avenue. Free visitor parking is available next to the building. Normal museum hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays; 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursdays; and noon to 5 p.m. Sundays. The museum is closed Mondays.

 

OPPORTUNITIES CLASSIFIED • A recording of classified job opportunities is available 24 hours a day on the Employment Information Line, 785-532-6271. • A list of employment opportunities is posted at www.k-state.edu/hr/ • For additional information, call 785-532-6277 or come to the Division of Human Resources in 103 Edwards Hall. Applications are accepted 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. weekdays. UNCLASSIFIED • A complete listing of vacancies can be seen at www.k-state.edu/affact/ • For additional information, call the office of affirmative action at 785-532-6220 or come by 214 Anderson Hall.