Kansas State University

Are you looking for a way to meet and connect with other K-Staters? Do you want to help build our K-State community? If so, sign up for ‘Cats Connect – a new program at Kansas State University designed to build community through conversation.

‘Cats Connect is a peer-to-peer facilitated program designed to help groups of 4-6 Wildcats meet and develop friendships outside of their regular social circles. Groups meet for one hour for five consecutive weeks. During each meeting everyone will have the opportunity to respond to a series of fun and thought-provoking questions and engage in a small connection project.

Students, faculty, and staff are all invited to participate. Groups will be built based on shared experiences and availability.  Participants can select in-person (on the Manhattan campus) or virtual meetings (via Zoom).

The second fall session will meet weekly beginning the week of Oct. 16 through Nov. 27. Registrations for Session 2 are due by Tuesday, Oct. 10.

Below are the available sessions. If you are not available during any of these sessions, there is a space on the registration form to submit your availability.

Undergraduate students

• Mondays from 4-5 p.m.
• Tuesdays from 5-6 p.m.
• Wednesdays from 4-5 p.m.
• Thursdays from 4-5 p.m.

Graduate students

• Mondays from 12-1 p.m.
• Tuesdays from 4-5 p.m.
• Wednesdays from 4:30-5:30 p.m.
• Thursdays from 5-6 p.m.

Faculty/Staff

• Mondays from 12-1 p.m.
• Tuesdays from 4-5 p.m.
• Wednesdays from 5-6 p.m.
• Thursdays from 12-1 p.m.

Each group will be led by a facilitator, who is also a member of the group. They take a leadership role to help the group work through the activities. If you would be interested in serving as a facilitator for a small group, sign-up here.

All facilitators will receive ‘Cats Connect training. Training sessions will be offered:

• 3:30-5 p.m. Monday, Oct. 9 Leadership Studies Building 112
• 3:30-5 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 11, Leadership Studies Building 112

The Morrison Family Center for Student Well-being and the Staley School of Leadership teamed up to bring ‘Cats Connect to the K-State community. If you have any additional questions please reach out to Jenneen LeMay at jalemay@ksu.edu, or Tamara Bauer at tamara@ksu.edu.

Here is what some Wildcats said after participating in ‘Cats Connect:

• ‘‘Cats Connect is a small group so it’s not just you being completely exposed to a bunch of new people, just a small group of people.”
• “It was really good to meet people with different majors and different backgrounds and branch out of my normal group.”
• “I gained new confidence in talking with new people – and, it was a lot of fun!”
• “Meeting people with varying personalities who are going through similar situations that I am in was really reassuring and helped me feel more connected to K-State.”
• “Getting a set time each week to just talk to other people that are in the same situation as I am. It is very calming and nice to just have people to talk to that are outside of the typical circle of people.”

Learn more and sign up to participate on the ‘Cats Connect website.