Kansas State University

search

The Loop

Category: Student Programs

Facilitators needed for Wildcat Dialogues

Posted on by Staley School of Leadership

Wildcat Dialogues is an intercultural leadership experience designed to introduce first-time students to tools they can use to engage in meaningful dialogues across differences to help create communities of belonging at K-State. 

Are you ready to serve as a small group facilitator? Sign up by Monday, Sept. 9. K-State students, faculty and staff are invited to join us as facilitators. Facilitators are needed each year to play a critical role helping first-year students connect with each other, share their stories and engage in meaningful dialogue. Training is provided and facilitators will get a free Wildcat Dialogues T-shirt.

Wildcat Dialogues will take place 7-9 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 18, at the K-State Student Union. In addition, facilitators are needed to host a small make-up session 3-5 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 24.

As a small group facilitator you will:

  • Guide groups of 8-10 students in a dialogue to help them develop skills in intercultural leadership
  • Actively contribute to the university in its mission to create a campus culture of belonging for all students
  • Develop your own ability to facilitate meaningful dialogue around difficult topics

How can you join us? All facilitators will participate in training on intercultural learning and small group facilitation, as well as detailed information on the program for Wildcat Dialogues.

To prepare, there is a short training module to complete on Canvas, and facilitators will need to attend a training session and practice session.

Facilitators will need to attend one of the following training sessions in-person at the Leadership Studies Building:

  • 9-10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 10
  • 1-2:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 11
  • 5-6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 11
Additionally, first-time facilitators (and anyone who would like to) will be asked to attend a facilitation practice.
  • 6:30-7:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 16
  • 10-11 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 17

Are you ready to serve as a small group facilitator? Sign-up using this link by Monday, Sept. 9.

Join us as a facilitator and gain essential skills during this applied learning opportunity.

Have questions or want to know more? Check out the FAQ’s about the event or email Tamara Bauer or Austin Drake, Staley School of Leadership, tamara@ksu.edu or adrake329@ksu.edu.

 

Create belonging at Wildcat Dialogues on Sept. 18

Posted on by Staley School of Leadership

Video preview: WIldcat Dialogues. Participants share what you can expect at this event.

Are you in your first year (or first time) at K-State? Join us for a K-State tradition – Wildcat Dialogues.

Mark your calendars for 7-9 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 18! Wildcat Dialogues is an intercultural learning and leadership event designed for all first-year K-State students. This evening provides an opportunity for meaningful dialogue and building connections, as we work to create a community of belonging for all. For those who can’t attend Sept. 18, there is a make-up session 3-5 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 24. See registration forms for details.

Registration is due by Sunday, Sept. 15:

During Wildcat Dialogues, students will:

  • Learn how to create communities of belonging
  • Build cross-cultural relationships through meaningful dialogue
  • Engage in active listening, empathy and perspective-taking
  • Build a skillset to understand cultural differences and similarities

Continue reading “Create belonging at Wildcat Dialogues on Sept. 18” →

Students facilitate learning with local JAG-K

Posted on by Staley School of Leadership

Being a part of the Staley School of Leadership means having real-world opportunities to practice leadership. Jess Pittenger, a sophomore majoring in philosophy in the pre-law track with a minor in leadership studies, experienced this firsthand.

Pittenger, a co-chair for the Staley School Ambassadors’ education committee, developed a plan to facilitate a leadership learning experience with the organization JAG-K (Jobs for America’s Graduates Kansas). This nonprofit organization provides elective classes for Kansas high school students, offering academic resources, assistance with post-graduation plans, and exposure to extracurricular activities.

Continue reading “Students facilitate learning with local JAG-K” →

Build your network through ‘Cats Connect

Posted on by Staley School of Leadership

Looking for a way to meet new people and connect with others? Sign up for a ‘Cats Connect group beginning the week of Sept. 16.

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 program at Kansas State University designed to build community through conversation.

As a Health-Promoting University, Kansas State University is dedicated to supporting the holistic health and well-being of each student, faculty, and staff member. One aspect of well-being includes social health, which is the ability to form meaningful relationships that provide support, guidance and encouragement. Over the past two years, ‘Cats Connect has worked to improve mental health and social well-being by connecting more than 950 K-Staters! Building relationships within ‘Cats Connect can help protect against stress, anxiety and depression. Positive relationships also increase student satisfaction and retention, as well as faculty/staff engagement.

Graphic image with pictures of groups of people from 'Cats Connect sessions

‘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). There are two fall 2024 sessions to choose from:

  • Session 1 will meet weekly beginning the week of Sep. 16, through the week of Oct. 14.
  • Session 2 will meet weekly beginning the week of Oct. 21, through the week of Nov. 18.

Registrations for Session 1 are due by Tuesday, Sept. 10. Continue reading “Build your network through ‘Cats Connect” →

K-State faculty mentor McNair Scholars through Summer Research Internship

Posted on by Staley School of Leadership

Scholar Development and Undergraduate Research, housed in the Staley School of leadership, recognizes and celebrates the 2024 McNair Mentors for their contributions to the Kansas State University McNair Scholars’ academic and professional growth as they prepare for graduate education. McNair mentors play a large role in the development of the undergraduate researchers and are helpful in providing a trajectory toward graduate education.

McNair Scholars interviewed and invited a faculty member to serve as a mentor for their Summer Internship. This summer, eleven K-State faculty members are serving as mentors through the Scholars’ 8-week summer internship, taking place June 6-July 26.

As a mentor, each faculty member will:

  • Guide the scholar through completion of research project including submission of written materials
  • Help the scholar understand theoretical frameworks and methodologies
  • Encourage understanding of discipline-specific professional trajectory, such as expectations for graduate program applicants

Thank you, to the following mentors for the 2024 McNair Summer Internship: Continue reading “K-State faculty mentor McNair Scholars through Summer Research Internship” →