Kansas State University has established the Institute for Community Health and Well-being, a new initiative designed to address the pressing challenges facing Kansas communities while advancing the university's land-grant mission of research and engagement that serve the state.
KANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY
Office of External Engagement
Rural Kansas communities face a multitude of challenges, including population decline, health disparities, limited access to health care, housing shortages, child care needs and digital divides. The Institute for Community Health and Well-being brings together K-State's broad expertise — spanning agriculture, education, public health, engineering, business, architecture and social sciences — to design and implement coordinated, evidence-based solutions that strengthen communities across the state.
"Kansas communities are resilient, but they need support to thrive," said Susan Metzger, director of strategic interdisciplinary program development. "The institute leverages K-State's tremendous talent and presence throughout the state. By connecting our faculty expertise with community needs and coordinating our efforts, we can have a far greater impact than working in isolation. That is One K-State in action."
The institute — backed by initial funding from the One K-State Strategic Investment Fund — will be at the forefront of driving progress for the Next-Gen K-State strategic plan, which identified Community Health and Well-being as a core opportunity area. In recognizing that economic prosperity depends on the health and well-being of Kansas communities, the institute also directly supports the Kansas Board of Regents' Building a Future strategic plan.
How the institute works
The institute convenes interdisciplinary faculty and community partners to co-design projects addressing local needs. Through the institute, the faculty and community partners will conduct collaborative research, connect communities with proven practices, provide technical assistance and grant writing support, and engage students in applied learning experiences.
K-State's presence in all 105 Kansas counties, combined with existing interdisciplinary research expertise, positions the university to deliver coordinated solutions that build on established relationships and expertise.
"We're not starting from scratch," said Marshall Stewart, K-State's executive vice president for external engagement and chief of staff. "We have faculty, extension staff and community partners already doing this work across the state. The institute creates the framework to align these efforts, share resources and amplify impact."
Building partnerships and capacity
The institute's work will involve close collaboration with K-State's Economic Development team and external partners, including the Kansas Health Foundation. Through the institute, local communities will have access to faculty support to assist with grant writing and collaborative projects, and some local initiatives will receive small community grants.
By engaging students in applied learning experiences alongside faculty and community partners, the institute addresses immediate challenges and prepares the next generation of leaders in public health, rural education, community development and public service.
"Our students see firsthand how research translates into real-world solutions," Metzger said. "Many go on to build their careers serving the communities they've worked with. That's powerful."
Impacts and outcomes
The institute's approach focuses on creating measurable change at multiple levels:
Short-term: K-State faculty, staff and students have increased awareness of rural community needs; community leaders gain insights from research-informed practices.
Medium-term: Communities implement evidence-based strategies to improve health, housing, food access, childcare and digital connectivity; external funding and partner investments expand.
Long-term: Health disparities are reduced, community wellness indicators are improved, and K-State is a national leader in community-engaged research and rural well-being.
Short-term: K-State faculty, staff and students have increased awareness of rural community needs; community leaders gain insights from research-informed practices.
The institute advances K-State's commitment to being a leader in community-engaged scholarship while addressing the most pressing challenges facing rural America. It demonstrates the responsibility of a land-grant university to leverage its expertise, presence and partnerships to create sustainable, measurable improvements in community health and prosperity.
"This is what land-grant universities are meant to do," Stewart said. "We're here to solve problems that matter to the people we serve. The Institute for Community Health and Well-being embodies that commitment."
K-State has committed $500,000 to support the institute over the next two to three years as it establishes partnerships, launches interdisciplinary projects and builds the infrastructure for long-term success.