K-State Olathe will announce five graduate degree programs at first anniversary celebration on April 26

Thursday, April 26, 2012

by Kristi Northcutt

One year after opening its doors, the third campus in Kansas State University's three-campus system, K-State Olathe, will announce its first five graduate degree programs at an invitation-only anniversary event on April 26.

"These degree programs we will announce are focused in and support the areas of animal health and food safety, areas we promised our taxpayers, alumni, industry and community that we would deliver as part of the Johnson County Education Research Triangle tax initiative that was passed to bring us here in 2008," said Dan Richardson, CEO of K-State Olathe.

Since opening on April 26, 2011, K-State Olathe has welcomed more than 12,000 people in the facility, hosted more than 500 events and 15 major conferences. All 10 of the campus' labs are being filled by industry and academia, including a research and development lab for Lenexa-based Ceva Biomune, the U.S.-China Center for Animal Health, Smart Vet, Urban Water Institute, Advanced Manufacturing Institute, the Center for Animal Health Innovation and a food science lab.

Through K-State Olathe's K-12 outreach programs, more than 1,800 students from Johnson County's six school districts as well as from the Greater Kansas City area have attended events on campus, as well as in their schools in the fields of animal health and food safety. Summer institutes for K-12 educators for a graduate credit have also been developed.

"We've had an outstanding first year," Richardson said. "The partnerships and progress we've made are unparalleled; the degree program announcement is a perfect way to top off our success this year."

More information about the new programs will be available on the website following the announcement at the event.

Kansas State University Olathe advances the mission of Kansas State University by integrating education, research and entrepreneurship, focused on animal health, food safety and security to address the needs of a rapidly changing world.