KANSAS WESLEYAN RECEIVES MULTIPLE COLLEGE OF DISTINCTION™ HONORS The tradition of excellence continues at Kansas Wesleyan University, as it was named a College of Distinction™. This is the third year in a row that the university has received this honor. Kansas Wesleyan has also been named a Christian College of Distinction™ and a Kansas College of Distinction™ for 2016–17. Each of these honors represents national recognition of the school’s excellence, as
demonstrated in four areas: engaged students, great teaching, vibrant community and successful outcomes. It points to Kansas Wesleyan as an institution with exceptional quality of studies and classes taught by faculty, not graduate students or teaching assistants. Colleges of Distinction™ also provide innovative learning and service experiences and an active campus, with opportunities for personal development.
FARM TO TABLE
KANSAS WESLEYAN FUN FACT: The 1880s was a decade marked by the expansion of higher education in Kansas, with 12 small colleges, including Kansas Wesleyan University, opening their doors in a six-year span.
LOCAL FARM IS LIVING LAB FOR SCIENCE STUDENTS A local farm is giving science students out-of-the-classroom experiences while generating farm-to-table produce for the dining hall. Kirk Cusick, who has been an adjunct professor at Kansas Wesleyan for two years and teaches in the Ecospheric Studies and Community Resilience program (formerly Environmental Studies and Community Resilience), grew up on the Whispering Cottonwood Farm and riparian area located on the northeast side of Salina. Students from the Biology, Ecology and Ecospheric Studies and Community Resilience classes use the farm as a living lab to reinforce concepts learned in the classroom. Several students volunteer at the farm and help plant and harvest fruits and vegetables that are now being used by Sodexo in Shriwise dining hall.
The Ecospheric Studies and Community Resilience program launched in 2014; the first student in the program graduated in May. Students in the program also participate in hands-on experiences at the world-renowned Land Institute—co-founded by alumnus Dr. Wes Jackson ’58—located just a few miles from campus.
“Multiple student activities occur at the farm, including experiments and planting. We also support two interns,” said Cusick, who has created the Whispering Cottonwood Institute, a not-for-profit that provides opportunities for people to connect with nature. “I hope that students will be inspired by our beautiful earth so they will care for it deeply in any professions they pursue,” said Cusick. “I want them to understand the interdependence of all things in nature, and I hope they recognize that everything they do has an impact.” Angelique Archuleta (Archie) ’17, Kally Johns ’16 and Diego Sanchez ’13 harvest produce that is being used by Sodexo in Shriwise Dining Hall. Archuleta and Sanchez are summer interns at Whispering Cottonwood Farm.
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