Kansas State University

A letter from President Myers: Welcome back

Submitted by President Richard Myers

Dear Wildcats,

Welcome back! The start of the new school year brings excitement and promise. As in past years, a lot has happened this summer to prepare for the new semester. Faculty and staff have been hard at work to grow future enrollment, increase scholarships, restore Hale Library and improve campus facilities.

In July, we welcomed Thomas Lane, our new vice president for student life and dean of students. He hit the ground running, delving into university initiatives to strengthen students' personal and academic success. When you see him around campus, introduce yourself to him. I think you will be pleased with his passion for enriching student life. 

Through perseverance, we made it through the past year without our beloved library. This week we should be opening the first floor of Hale. The new Dave and Ellie Everitt Learning Commons on the first floor provides centrally located areas for students to study. We expect that the second floor will open in spring 2020. Thank you to everyone who is working hard to make the library better than ever. 

You have probably seen the prep work as we start construction on the Morris Family Multicultural Student Center located on the east side of the Student Union. Many thanks go out to the Multicultural Center Project Action Team for their work in planning this new facility and to our generous donors who are making this vision a reality. We appreciate everyone's patience in working around the construction site in the months ahead and look forward to a grand opening after the facility is completed in fall 2020.  

After playing on a temporary field for three seasons, K-State Athletics will open Buser Family Park for the Kansas State soccer team. The park has nearly 1,400 bench seats and a press level. The new facility provides locker rooms, coaching staff offices and sports medicine, strength and conditioning areas. Come out and support our women's soccer team as they start what should be their best season yet.  

Once again, our student-centered approach to higher education and dedication to fulfill our land-grant mission are earning K-State top rankings in The Princeton Review's 2020 edition of "Best 385 Colleges" publication. According to recent student surveys, students are happy here and through hard work and opportunities, they graduate to find gainful employment. 

We do have challenges and significant work ahead in areas such as increasing enrollment, updating our K-State 2025 visionary plan and adjusting to our new budget model. However, I am confident that the K-State family is up to those tasks and we will continue to make progress because of our collaborative approach, tireless determination, commitment and hard work.

I would also like to take this opportunity to remind everyone of our K-State Principles of Community.

With campaigning well underway for the fall 2020 national elections, university campuses across the country will be even more susceptible to antagonistic and unfounded statements made through social media posts or other communications that are disparaging to individuals, groups, or differing points of view. As a university, we will not be pulled into the fray of those who wish to create controversy. Please reacquaint yourselves with our Principles of Community and uphold your role in maintaining an atmosphere on campus based on respect for each other and civil discourse.  

Thank you to all the faculty and staff who are constantly putting students first. Thank you to all our students who bring such energy and hope for the future to campus. Please continue your enthusiasm, hard work and friendly nature on which K-State's reputation is built. 

Go Cats!

Richard B. Myers
President