[citation needed] The approved fee was $5 per semester and $2.50 for summer session and began charging students in 1941.

[2] In 1951, President James McCain set the Union as the top priority in new building constructions.

[2] On March 8, 1956, after many years of hard work and deliberation, the K-State Student Union finally opened.

[2] The Grand Opening theme was “Night at the Circus.”[2] As part of the grand opening banquet, there was a student variety show emceed by K-State student, Gordon Jump (The Maytag Repairman and WKRP).

[2] The K-State Student Union assumes the responsibility for the campus's vending program in October 1960.

[2] Pepsi-Cola was awarded exclusive pouring rights to K-State University and all its entities including the Union.

Today, the K-State Student Union houses two theater venues, a food court and Subway, a computer store, a bookstore that includes K-State apparel and merchandise, Caribou Coffee, a Recreation Center that includes bowling, billiards and a golf simulator, a full service Commerce bank and also outside bank ATMs, and a convenience store.

The Union employs more than 500 people, including students, and provides accommodations for countless programs featuring cultural, social, and recreational entertainment.