K-State's Distributed Learning Commons: Achieving Long-Term Sustainability Through Strategic Partnerships

Abstract

Kansas State University (K-State) has adopted a distributed learning commons model characterized by physically disbursed tools and services, with a growing emphasis on virtual learning spaces. It has been shaped, since the commons opened in 2001, by a combination of factors, including advancing technology, evolving student- and faculty-use requirements, and significant ongoing economic constraints. In lean times for academic budgets, K-State's experience serves to demonstrate how innovative resource leveraging among campus partners and continuous collaboration with users can produce flourishing environments that remain relevant to today's learners even when funds are scarce.