By Tim Schrag ’12 / Photos by David Mayes ’96 and K-Stater files
Note: This article originally appeared in the fall 2019 issue of K-Stater magazine.
Dean of students. Take a moment to ponder such a role.
To do it justice a person most likely needs to be a good listener, engaging and entertaining, a creative problem solver, pragmatic, but still polite. They need to be the institution’s biggest cheerleader, while still championing the concerns of students.
Do famous fictional deans from iconic college movies and television fit the prototype? Not really.
Who might then?
Perhaps, Pat Bosco ’71, ’73, who was Kansas State University’s vice president for student life and dean of students until he retired in June 2019 after nearly 50 years of service to K-State, does? Let’s take a closer look at why.
“I just wanted to continue to make an impact at the school I loved. My advancement at K-State was primarily in the student affairs side: student crisis, leadership training, student activities, university governance issues, as kind of a jack of all trades. It wasn’t until Jon Wefald came in 1986 that things changed. His first day, he called me in his office and said, ‘I’ve got a new assignment for you. In addition to your current student life work, you’re going to direct our new universitywide recruiting program.’ The rest is history.” - Pat Bosco ’71, ’73
He helped develop programs, including K-State First, All-University Open House, K-State Childcare Services, the Parents and Family Association and the program that would become the Staley School of Leadership Studies, among others.
After being charged in 1986 by then-president Jon Wefald to grow K-State’s enrollment, Bosco grew the student population from approximately 16,500 students to 20,000 in just four years. From 1986 until 2014 K-State would post record enrollments on a yearly basis. Because of his leadership, K-State became the No. 1 choice for Kansas high school seniors and remains so today. He also created K-State’s admissions representative program that would later serve as a model for other institutions.
“The state of Kansas had never ever seen a student recruiting team like the one we assembled in 1986-87. We were recruiting pioneers. The school superintendents and principals of the state were shocked and thrilled at how fast we built our recruiting program,” Wefald wrote in his 2016 memoir, The Transformative Years at Kansas State.
Bosco gave out his home phone number to parents of incoming freshman and transfer students every summer at enrollment and orientation.
“Dr. Bosco has worked tirelessly to personally connect with many prospective students and their families. He is famous for his knowledge of high school mascots, remembering individual names, and always wearing purple,” said Emily Harsch Lehning ’98, ’00, ’08, associate vice president of student life and director of New Student Services. “Dr. Bosco has a gift for asking great questions to learn about a student’s interests and future goals and he remembers! Many people have been persuaded to take a closer look at K-State and allow us to ‘roll out the purple carpet’ for them and ultimately found K-State to be their home away from home because of Dr. Bosco.”
He is a national leader in student life, enrollment management and student affairs. His expertise, knowledge and perspectives are courted by state and national organizations.
“I have known Pat since my days as a K-State student. He has been a mentor to me and so many others for more than 45 years,” said Amy Button Renz ’76, ’86, president and CEO of the K-State Alumni Association. “The K-State Alumni Association has been fortunate to collaborate with Pat and the Office of Student Life through a variety of student recruitment events over the years. I don’t know of another alumni association that has this type of partnership. K-State is a better university due to Pat’s ability to personally connect with alumni and students.”
Bosco came to K-State in 1969 from a community college in upstate New York, where he had been involved in student government.
The university garnered his attention after he saw an evening news report on Sen. Mike Mansfield’s Landon Lecture. Bosco wrote a letter inquiring about the university. He wanted a strong residential campus experience. The school he wanted to attend needed to have a college of education rather than a department. He also wanted to join a fraternity and ROTC.
About a week later, he received a personal letter from Dick Elkins ’56, ’63, who was then the assistant director of admissions, answering all of his questions. The stationery had an image of Willie the Wildcat on it with the phrase, “So you want to be a Wildcat?”
“I remember calling him with the letter in my hand and having the admissions office receptionist answer the phone by saying ‘Welcome to K-State. How can I help you?’ I remember his voice was reassuring. They had me sold. That incredible encounter was quite a life-changing moment.”
Bosco would join Delta Sigma Phi fraternity, K-State’s Army ROTC program and Student Governing Association. In his second semester on campus, he was elected student body president.
He graduated in 1971 with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education. After graduation, Chet Peters ’47, ’50, his mentor and then-vice president for student affairs offered him a job and he began his career at K-State as director of student activities.
He would later earn his master’s degree from K-State in educational administration in 1973 and his doctorate in higher education from the University of Nebraska in 1982.
“I just wanted to continue to make an impact at the school I loved,” Bosco said. “My advancement at K-State was primarily in the student affairs side: student crisis, leadership training, student activities, university governance issues, as kind of a jack of all trades. It wasn’t until Jon Wefald came in 1986 that things changed. His first day, he called me in his office and said, ‘I’ve got a new assignment for you. In addition to your current student life work, you are going to direct a new universitywide recruiting program.’ The rest is history.”
Bosco would help build K-State’s name and reputation statewide and then nationwide. That meant pounding the pavement in the state’s 105 counties with his team of admissions representatives. Along with that, he developed a pitch where he touted the university’s accolades and amenities to prospective students. If there’s a statistic about K-State he will enthusiastically tell it to anyone who will listen.
As time has gone on he’s gained notoriety for his purple wardrobe — especially his ties. For the past decade or so he’s even sported purple vehicles with custom paint jobs. He jokes that if you ever catch him without purple, he will get you a scholarship.
He always makes time for K-State students and parents wanting to meet with him regardless of the situation.
“I’ve been privileged and honored to be that go-to person,” Bosco said. “We promise authenticity. We’re in a McDonald’s society where people want answers right away and to know that you’re listening and we try to do that in the Division of Student Life and it’s been pretty successful.”
“He is someone who sincerely relates to students and their family members,” Renz said. “The foundation of his legacy is found in his personal touch and his advocacy for students and the programs and services that support them. Pat Bosco’s impact will continue through future generations by the lives he has touched and will be a part of K-State forever.”
What's next for Dr. Bosco?
He’s working on putting together a podcast called Boscology, which will offer life lessons on authenticity, management and leadership advice.
Listen to the podcast, boscology101.libsyn.com.
Along with that, he’s hoping to play more poker, spend time with his wife Susan ’76, ’89, ’98, his children Chris ’96 and Mary ’01 and grandchildren.