While some students sit in classes filled with peers the same age as them, there are older fellow Wildcats with military experience in the student body that some students may be unaware of. K-State offers many different military related resources and benefits to those who come to K-State, making the university an attractive place for military personnel pursuing a college education.
First and foremost, military personnel stationed as active duty in Kansas, their dependents and members of the Kansas National Guard are granted an in-state rate for tuition and fees at K-State. Military training and experience can also be evaluated for possible college credit toward the pursued degree.
There are also many on-campus resources that can aid anyone who is military affiliated better acclimate to a collegiate atmosphere.
Veterans Center
Located on the ground floor of the K-State Student Union, it includes couches and chairs for lounging or studying, as well as tables and computers to work on homework or recreational activities. This center could be used as a comfortable space to network with other K-State student veterans. The Veterans Center has undergraduate and graduate students who can assist anyone with questions or concerns from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. during the week.
Office of Veterans Affairs
The Office of Veterans Affairs, located at 221 Anderson Hall, assists students with up-to-date information affecting military affiliated students. This office can assist in answering questions or concerns about the GI Bill benefits, as well as direct people to other resources with more information.
Office of Military Affairs
The Office of Military Affairs, located at 24A Anderson Hall, serves K-State by providing expert knowledge in military affairs relating to ongoing and future educational, research and outreach efforts. Serving as a primary conduit to military institutional and community partners, it aims to help K-State be recognized as one of the most military-inclusive campuses by 2025.
Institute for the Health and Security of Military Families
The Institute for the Healthy and Security of Military Families addresses the health and resiliency of national and international military personnel, veterans and their families. The institute provides development and management of military families focusing on specialized training on working with military families, conduct comprehensive research and provide services to Kansas and the U.S. about the current and future needs of military families.
Military Family Provider Network
The Military Family Provider Network supplies Kansas with mental health and substance abuse professionals, primary care physicians and other professionals dedicated to providing complete, competent and sensitive care to military families.
Operation: Military Kids
Operation: Military Kids is the U.S. Army’s collaborative effort with K-State and other military-affected communities to support the children and youth impacted by deployments. It also helps support community networks and educational opportunities for military-connected youth and their families.
National Veterans Wellness & Healing Center – Flint Hills
Originally developed by a team of researchers, soldiers, clinicians and citizens of Kansas, the National Veterans Wellness & Healing Center – Flint Hills is becoming a focal point for a holistic, behavioral health treatment in Kansas and leading the U.S. in the emotional recovery of combat veterans.
Operation Educate the Educators
Supported through K-State’s College of Education, Operation Educate the Educators strives to educate pre-service professionals to meet the needs and expectations of military-connected students across the country. K-State students in the college of education are able to learn about the unique needs of students who are military-affiliated before encountering them in their future classrooms.
“A Walk In My Shoes” documentary
Created through K-State’s College of Education, “A Walk In My Shoes” documentary sheds light to pre-service educators, as well as others who view the documentary, about topics surrounding deployments, frequent moves, leaving friends, family, schools and communities, social or emotional needs of children and adolescents, post-traumatic stress disorder and the power of military bonds through service.
These are only some of the on-campus resources that could assist military-connected or military-affiliated students ease into collegiate life but there are others at K-State, in Manhattan and on Fort Riley.
K-State and Fort Riley renewed their partnership for the fourth year in 2013. Having this agreement helps strengthen ties students have to civilian life and continues to make K-State one of the most military-inclusive universities in the nation.
Specific colleges at K-State offer unique partnerships with both Fort Riley and Fort Leavenworth. Some of these colleges include the College of Education, the College of Human Ecology and the Division of Continuing Education.
Only a few colleges within K-State currently have a partnerships with local military instillations, but more will be coming once agreements are reached. This will assist in continuing to make K-State military-inclusive and allow a higher visibility for students who are military-affiliated.
