Kansas State University`s College of Agriculture is a recognized leader in agriculture, food and natural resources education, research, and extension. The College`s Department of Communications and Agricultural Education is home to students studying agricultural communications and journalism and agricultural education. The department also provides comprehensive communications expertise for the College of Agriculture and K-State Research and Extension (KSRE). The mission of the department is to improve the quality of life and standard of living for Kansans by: Creating, managing, and delivering research-based information and offering research and teaching in agricultural and environmental communications and agricultural education. A new Agriscience and Technology teaching facility focused on the human dimensions of agriculture, food, and natural resources would serve as its "learning laboratory," or instructional and research home on the College`s Agricultural Research and Teaching Farm. The proposed Human Dimensions Facility will provide the College of Agriculture with state-of the-art agriscience and technology teaching laboratories and classrooms. The facility will allow the College to conduct important educational programs and support the need to fulfill licensing requirements for its graduates who will become ag teachers. In particular, the University does not have specialized facilities for agricultural technology and mechanics, and this coursework is currently taught at multiple high schools in surrounding communities outside of Manhattan. The new facility will promote new synergies and opportunities for the department to develop hands-on learning experiences, engage industry partners, and conduct university and community outreach. In addition, the facility will be more convenient for students and faculty and eliminate the need to commute outside of Manhattan and maintain facility use agreements with public school districts. Expected project funding is TBD and private gifts. The project is include in the Kansas Board of Regent's 2024 Capital Improvement Program (CIP). Information regarding a design team and the contractor selection has not been disclosed. A firm timeline for construction has not been established. *Project information has been obtained through a public capital improvement plan (CIP). A CIP is a financial schedule for short- and long-range projects which is updated regularly. Information listed in the CIP often evolves based on funding availability and the project details, including timeline and value, are subject to change. The content management team will continue to pursue additional details as they become available.
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