Thank you for your interest in Grandparents University. Join us on campus for three days and two nights of Wildcat activities specially planned for you and your family. While this event is geared towards alumni and their grandchildren, the event is open to anyone wanting to share their love of K-State with a special child in their lives!
Interested in attending Grandparents University in 2024? Register today!
Register Here https://commerce.cashnet.com/edudean?itemcode=EDUDEAN-6dY
Baking with Cocoa & Chocolate (Best for kids older than 10 years)
In this class you learn about how cocoa and chocolate are made as well as get to taste a variety of chocolate flavors. Discover the different types of cocoa that can be used in baking. If you like to bake and you love chocolate come join us..
Sense-ational Adventures: Unlocking Secrets of our Senses
Step into the fascinating world of Sensation & Perception! Join us for an interactive journey where we unravel the mysteries of how our senses work, discover the tricks our brains play on us, and explore mind-bending illusions firsthand.
Tour of Sheep & Meat Goat Unit
The Physics Demo Show: See Nature’s Rules in Action!
We will perform a series of demonstrations of interesting physical phenomena, with numerous opportunities for audience participation.
10:00 – 11:15am – Session 2
Autographed by Kansas: Making your own Autograph Albums
We will be creating our own autograph albums and explaining what they were used for throughout history and participating in a Kahoot quiz looking at past and present language!
How Pollinators Impact the Food on Our Plates
Learn about how bees and other pollinators help us maintain a balanced and healthy diet.
Tour of Sheep & Meat Goat
Solving Infinite Puzzles in Finite Time
Mathematicians call a repeating jigsaw pattern that covers the plane a tessellation. In this presentation, we will explore these patterns and consider some which were only recently discovered.
1:15 – 2:30pm – Session 3
Baking with Cocoa & Chocolate(Best for kids older than 10 years)
In this class you learn about how cocoa and chocolate are made as well as get to taste a variety of chocolate flavors. Discover the different types of cocoa that can be used in baking. If you like to bake and you love chocolate come join us..
How Pollinators Impact the Food on Our Plates
Learn about how bees and other pollinators help us maintain a balanced and healthy diet.
Tour of Sheep & Meat Goat
Solving Infinite Puzzles in Finite Time
Mathematicians call a repeating jigsaw pattern that covers the plane a tessellation. In this presentation, we will explore these patterns and consider some which were only recently discovered.
3:30 – 4:45pm – Session 4
Solving Infinite Puzzles in Finite Time
Mathematicians call a repeating jigsaw pattern that covers the plane a tessellation. In this presentation, we will explore these patterns and consider some which were only recently discovered.
How Pollinators Impact the Food on Our Plates
Learn about how bees and other pollinators help us maintain a balanced and healthy diet.
Tour of Sheep & Meat Goat
The Physics Demo Show: See Nature’s Rules in Action!
We will perform a series of demonstrations of interesting physical phenomena, with numerous opportunities for audience participation.
Tuesday, July 30th
9:15 – 10:00am – Tour Session
Hale Library
Marianna Kistler Beach Museum of Art
K-State Insect Zoo
K-State Athletics
Grandparents University
Go 'Cats!
Registration included:
Sunday dinner
Monday breakfast, lunch, dinner, and Call Hall ice cream
Tuesday brunch
All tours and activities
A trip to the local pool
One suite for two nights in Haymaker Hall
A t-shirt, bag, and memories to last a lifetime!
You will have the opportunity to share your love of K-State while…
Visiting Manhattan
Interacting with several clubs and departments on campus
Exploring the new additions and modifications to campus
Having fun working together on hands-on learning activities
Meeting other grandparents, parents, alumni, non-alumni and children
Sharing and creating K-State memories with your family
The program is self-supporting and relies entirely on registration fees, donor contributions and sponsor support to cover all expenses.
This multi-generational event gives families the opportunity to experience college life at K-State together. Through this activity, you are also supporting K-State’s land grant mission of reacquainting alumni with the campus.
Required Contact Information
As this is an overnight camp, there are certain forms that we need from all attendees (adults and children). These forms will need to be filled out before the event and will be shared with you by the Event Coordinator in the weeks preceding GPU. It is important that you give us an email and phone number that you check regularly on your registration form, so that we can easily contact you.
Attendees will be required to fill out the registration forms as well as several release forms. The information that you will need for these release forms includes, but is not limited to:
The names and contact information for those attending
The age of the children attending (at the time of the event)
Shirt sizes for all attendees
The names, email, phone, and mailing addresses of the child's parent or legal guardian
A list of any allergies we should be aware of
And the medical information for the child attendees (Insurance, Pediatrician, etc.)
Health Information
Kansas State University does not collect or review health information regarding participants in Grandparents University. However, the University does require certain consent as a condition of participation in the program. All children participating in Grandparents University must have a signed Release, Hold Harmless, and Indemnity Agreement, signed by the child’s parent or guardian, on file with K-State.
Adult participants are required to submit a signed Release, Hold Harmless, and Indemnity Agreement. Grandparents University maintains a list of urgent care facilities and emergency room facilities should you or your grandchild require medical assistance.
A sample Medical Authorization Form will be available also. This form will not be collected by Kansas State University and is not a requirement for Grandparents University. We do encourage grandparents to obtain some form of medical authorization from their grandchild’s legal guardian in the unlikely chance the grandparent may have to make medical decisions for their grandchild.
Cancellation Policy
Registered attendees will be able to receive a refund of their registration fee if they contact the Event Coordinator before the cancellation deadline. GPU is a self-supporting event, therefore the registration fees received from registered attendees goes towards the cost of the planned activities. For that reason, anyone wishing to no longer attend the event must contact the Event Coordinator at least a month before the date of the event in order to receive a refund. Please consider this carefully when registering.
Fees will not be canceled or altered for registered participants who do not attend or do not attend the entire event.
Each child attending Grandparents University must always be accompanied by an adult. No more than two children can be accompanied by one adult. Similarly, no more than two adults may accompany one child.
While this program is designed for grandparents and grandchildren, we recognize that situations may arise where a grandparent is unable to attend and a child's parent or relative may accompany them in the program. The child's parent or legal guardian is required to sign permission forms prior to the event.
Substitutions are allowed only if the substitute completes all the necessary forms, returns them to us completed and signed, AND the substitute matches the demographic of the person being substituted (an adult for an adult or a child for a child).
This program is self-funded so that it does not take away any necessary support from the college. Rates including food, lodging, all planned activities + supplies, gift items for attendees, and many other ancillary items.
Unfortunately, at this time we are not offering any discounts or scholarships for attendees. We would be interested in discussing scholarship opportunities with interested donors.
Bring your walking shoes! We will be walking from the residence halls to various locations around campus. Walking to your locations is optional, as you will have access to your vehicles if you would prefer to drive. Campus parking passes are available on the registration form!
If you think you will need transportation accommodations, please send an email to GPU@ksu.edu.
Campus is significantly quieter during the summer, although some parking lots are not as close to the buildings we will be visiting as others. The Event Coordinator will provide all attendees with a map of campus and parking lot locations. You can choose to add the cost of a parking permit onto your registration fee. This will allow you to park near the dorms and utilize your vehicle throughout the event.
If you have a valid state-issued handicap parking permit, you will still need to obtain a parking pass in order to park on campus. A limited number of spaces are available near your residence hall. Please indicate your special needs on the registration form.
The residence halls have a limited number of rooms for guests with special accessibility needs. If you need assistance getting to and from the activities the planning team will be able to assist you. Please be sure to note your mobility issues or other accommodations you may need when filling out the Special Needs section of the registration form.
K-State Housing and Dining Services operate the cafeteria and are experienced at dealing with food allergies. There will be several food options for every meal, so participants will have a choice of which foods they eat. Cafeteria staff will be available at each meal to help you make the appropriate choices. Please inform us of any food allergies on the registration form so that we can make our staff and caterers aware.
Specific details will be sent to all participants several weeks before the event and will include instructions and times for move-in. Updates may be shared on this website but if you have any specific questions, you can email them to GPU@ksu.edu at any point.
No. The registration rate is all-inclusive, and this program is designed to have participants engaged in the full campus experience. The fee includes staying in a residence hall, eating meals in the cafeteria, attending various classes, etc. You are welcome to stay in a local hotel, however, you will still need to pay the full registration fee.
The residence halls have air conditioning, although the past few years of GPU have been held during very warm weeks. For that reason, if you are concerned about it not being cool enough, we do suggest that people bring fans. Again, fans are a suggestion but not a requirement.
No. The residence halls do have vending machines. If you have medicine or other health-related items that need to be refrigerated, please indicate this in the special needs section during registration or notify us in advance of arriving on campus. Special arrangements can easily be made if we receive advance notice.
The residence halls will provide fitted and flat sheets for the beds, along with a blanket and pillow. Although we attendees from previous years have told us to suggest that attendees plan to bring their own pillows. You are always welcome to bring your own blankets and bedding if you prefer.
The rooms will all have access to a bathroom and shower. The residence halls will also provide bath and hand towels. At the end of the second day, we plan on bringing you all to the local pool, and we ask that you please provide your own pool towels.
Suggested Packing List - None of these are required items
Fan(s)
Comfortable walking shoes
Alarm clock
Extension cord
Night light
Notebook
Camera
Sunglasses
Change for the vending machine (for late-night snacks or drinks)