The change comes as the K-State Scholarship Network (KSN) transitions from Blackbaud AcademicWorks to Next Gen Scholarship Manager. Associate director of scholarships Vanessa Flipse said the new KSN will function the same as the previous network but improve the student experience and fix common issues, including the earlier limitation that allowed students to view only one academic year of scholarships.
With the updated system, students and administrators will be able to view scholarships for more than one academic year. Flipse said students will be able to see awards available to them across multiple years, rather than losing access to prior applications after a scholarship period closes.
K-State’s foundation contract with Blackbaud is set to end in February 2027. To prepare for the transition, the Office of Student Financial Assistance formed a committee to review different scholarship platforms, and selected Next Gen to support a smoother switch. Students are encouraged to become familiar with the new network and complete scholarship applications, including any that require answers to specific questions.