WSU Today: Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025

News

Students in the middle of filming in front of the Wichita State mural in the RSC.

Wichita State’s episode of ‘The College Tour’ now available to watch

The Wichita State episode of “The College Tour,” an Amazon Prime original series, is now live on WSU’s website. You can watch the full hour-long episode or explore the 20 individual segments at wichita.edu/thecollegetour.

This episode offers a unique opportunity to experience campus through the eyes of Wichita State students, highlighting WSU’s student-centered, innovation-driven mindset. Share it with prospective students, families, alumni and anyone interested in life at WSU to give them a glimpse of what it means to be part of Shocker Nation.

For campus marketers, a SharePoint toolkit is available with everything needed to promote the episode and individual segments, including social media and newsletter copy, downloadable segments and more.

The episode will premiere on Amazon Prime starting May 27.

K-12 Student Organization students. Left to right: Bailey Spencer, Ian Stevens (President), Bramwell Slaven (VP), Ben Patterson, Madison Ammerman, Julia Mead, Charlize Lichlyter

WSU K-12 student organization leads secondary P.E. inservice session at South High School

WSU K-12 student organization members led an engaging P.E. session at South High School’s professional development in-service Feb. 14. Inspired by their Kansas Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (KAHPERD) conference presentation, they introduced innovative games like soccer bowling, H-ball and soccer hockey to over 60 P.E. teachers. These interactive sessions followed an Olympic-style format that the students have successfully used in their own classes.

The goal was to provide educators with fun, creative strategies to enhance student engagement in physical education. Teachers participated in activities and a Q&A session.

This hands-on experience allowed WSU students to apply their knowledge in a real-world setting, strengthening their academic and professional development while making a meaningful impact on local educators.

Today is the day to vote on the USD 259 School Bond

Today is election day, and the Shockers Vote Coalition encourages Shockers to get out and vote.

Do you have questions about the election and voting? Shockers Vote has you covered:

Check your voter registration and polling location.
Additional information about voting in the Sedgwick County may be found on Sedgwick County’s website.
Learn more about the USD 259 Bond Vote.

Do you still have questions? Email Shockers Vote at CivicEngagement@wichita.edu.

SAC is searching for Shockers Got Talent judges

The Student Activities Council (SAC) is hosting the second annual Shockers Got Talent at 7 p.m. March 28 in the CAC Theater and SAC is currently looking for faculty/staff volunteers to serve as judges.

Judges would need to be available on the day of the show beginning at 6:15 p.m. through the end of the show at approximately 10 p.m. Judges will receive one complimentary guest ticket. Submit your interest form by midnight March 7 at wichita.edu/SGT. If you have any questions about the event, email traditions@wichita.edu.

The event features up to 12 talented student acts from a wide variety of backgrounds, with the winning act receives a $1,000 scholarship.

Events and Recreation

Join President Muma and the President’s Executive Team for employee appreciation day

You are cordially invited to join the National Employee Appreciation Day celebration with President Rick Muma and his executive team from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday, March 7 east of Rhatigan Student Center.

Confirm attendance by RSVPing online by Monday, March 3 to meet the executive team, have a hamburger or hotdog and enjoy yard games.

Student Success, DSS, & Ablah Library invite you to solve The Case of the Missing Grades. A Shocker's grades have mysteriously vanished and it's up to you to crack the case. 2/26 (Wed) from 2 PM - 4 PM at Ablah Library. Gameplay at 3 times: 2 PM, 2:30 PM, & 3 PM. Image of a magnifying glass and Clue-inspired character cards featuring the logos of Office of Student Success, WSU Libraries, and TRIO Disability Support Services.

Students needed to solve ‘The Case of the Missing Grades’ — a study skills workshop — at Ablah Library

TRIO Disability Support Services, University Libraries and the Office of Student Success invite students to solve “The Case of the Missing Grades,” an interactive, Clue-inspired study skills workshop where study skills meet detective work. The event will be from 2 to 4 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 26 in Ablah Library.

Step into the role of a student gumshoe, sift through the evidence, solve puzzles and interview the usual suspects, all while uncovering key strategies for academic success.

Interested students can find more information on ShockerSync and University Libraries’ Instagram.

Join the Causes and Issues Fair in the RSC Feb. 26

Visit with community advocacy organizations at the Causes and Issues Fair. The event will take place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 26 on the first floor of the Rhatigan Student Center.

Learn about local resources and how to get involved in organizations that matter to you. Email csb.grad@wichita.edu with any questions.

Attend the 3rd annual Women’s leadership Initiative Luncheon with Mayor Wu — updated date of March 25

Join the Women’s Leadership Initiative from noon to 1:30 p.m. March 25 in 305/306 Rhatigan Student Center, Beggs Ballroom for a presentation by Wichita Mayor Lily Wu at the third annual Women’s Leadership Luncheon.

Mayor Wu will share her journey of leadership and career development, discussing how to lead authentically, navigate challenges and transform obstacles into milestones for success. She will also talk about the impact of women mentors and role models on her journey, offer recommendations for cultivating empowerment and personal growth in the workplace, and share her strategies for balancing professional responsibilities with personal life.

Mayor Wu, serving since January 2024, brings a wealth of experience from her 12-year career as a journalist with KAKE and KWCH. As a Gore Scholar at WSU, she holds dual bachelor’s degrees in international business and integrated marketing communication. She has also contributed to the Barton School of Business Dean’s Alumni Council and the WSU Alumni Association Board.

RSVP to the luncheon

Text: Join us for a retirement celebration in honor of Karen Porter. Image of Karen Porter standing in front of Jardine Hall and surrounded by a graphic of a yellow wreath.

Attend retirement celebration for Karen Porter Feb. 25

Join the Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships for a come-and-go retirement celebration in honor of Karen Porter from 3 to 5 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 25 in 142 Rhatigan Student Center, Harvest Room. Remarks begin at 3:30 p.m.

Karen has served as a senior financial aid advisor in the Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships for 30 years. During this time, she has worked with more than 20,000 students as they pursued the finances needed to assist in their education. Help the Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships wish her a happy retirement.

Biannual e-waste and shredding event. Sponsored by the NetApp Green Team

Save the date: NetApp spring E-Waste and Shredding event scheduled for April 25

Visit NetApp on the Innovation Campus for its semesterly campus-wide e-waste and shredding event from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday, April 25 in the NetApp parking lot, lot 44S.

The following are items that can be disposed of during the event:

Personal documents accepted for secure shredding
All personal electronics accepted, including appliances
- Note: For recycling old TVs, refer to Sedgwick County’s recycling guide
Secure data destruction for e-waste (hard drive shredder)
On-site assistance available for larger loads

The event is sponsored by the NetApp Green Team.

Faculty and Staff Resources

Learn more about the course evaluation tool: CES

Periodically, information will be posted regarding Watermark’s Course Evaluations & Surveys (CES) tool to help users better understand Wichita State’s new course evaluation tool.

Today’s focus is on accessing CES.

While in Blackboard, instructors can access CES anytime by choosing “Tools” from the main menu and selecting “CES Course Evaluations.” It can also be directly accessed via the links provided in emails sent to the instructor.
Watermark Course Evaluations & Surveys Dashboard will appear.
Widgets will appear on the dashboard. When a task is available for a course, it will display information. If not, it may state “No Project Found.”
The “Manage Courses” widget will only appear when that option is open and available to instructors.
There is a dedicated CES website that includes additional information.

For questions, contact Sandy Ranney at evaluations@ces.wichita.edu.

Presentations and Talks

Two hands hold a book open. Accompanying Text: Getting Your Book Published: From Proposal to Print. February 26th, 1-3pm. Ablah Library, Collaboration Hub. At the bottom of the image, from left to right, logos of the Faculty Advancement, Retention and Excellence Office, the University Press of and Kansas, and The Graduate School.

Graduate School to host discussion on getting your book published

Join the Graduate School as it hosts the senior editor of the University Press of Kansas, David Congdon from 1 to 3 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 26 in the Ablah Library Collaboration Hub. Congdon will discuss how to get your book published at the event, “Getting Your Book Published: From Proposal to Print.”

Join CAPS and CARE Team for special presentation: ‘Living with Loss,’ tools for navigating grief

CAPS and CARE Team invite you to join them for a special collaborative event focused on understanding and navigating grief. “Living with Loss” will explore various types of grief, the healing process and provide practical tools to help you cope with loss from 3 to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 25 in 265 Rhatigan Student Center, Lucas Room.

Attend the ‘Advising Undecided & Exploratory Students’ professional development session Feb. 26

Academic and specialized advisors who completed various eTutorials during the fall semester from NACADA: The Global Community for Academic Advising will be hosting a series of professional development sessions during the spring semester for all advisors (academic advisors, specialized advisors, faculty advisors, etc.).

Angela Blackerby from College of Engineering Advising, and Aaron Evans and Alexandra Lazarova from Shocker Career Accelerator will host a professional development session on “Advising Undecided & Exploratory Students” from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 26 in 135 Woolsey Hall, INTRSUT Bank Classroom.

For more information or questions, contact Brett Bruner, assistant vice president for Student Success & Persistence, at brett.bruner@wichita.edu.

Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry hosts seminar by Dr. Elijah Schnitzler from OSU

Join the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry for its next weekly seminar at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 26 in 224 McKinley Hall. The department is honored to host Dr. Elijah Schnitzler from Oklahoma State University who will deliver a talk titled, “Processes that Govern the Direct and Indirect Climate Effects of Carbonaceous Aerosol from Biomass Burning and Plastic Pollution.”

Student Resources

Want to learn more about the McNair Scholars Program? Attend an upcoming info session

Are you an undergraduate with dreams of earning a doctorate? The McNair Scholars Program is now accepting applications.

Why become a McNair Scholar? The benefits include:

Academic advising and personalized mentoring
Hands-on research opportunities and conference presentations
Graduate school application assistance
Exclusive workshops and seminars to enhance your skills and knowledge

If you are interested in learning more, attend one of the upcoming info sessions:

11 a.m.-noon Wednesday, Feb. 26 in 165 Grace Wilkie Annex
2:30-3 p.m. Feb. 26 virtually — email mcnairscholars@wichita.edu for a virtual link

For more information, call 316-978-3139 or visit the McNair Scholars website.

HALA Scholarship for Community Service now open to applications

The HALA Scholarship for Community Service assists students in completing their program of study at WSU. The scholarship was established in 1991 and provides scholarships to outstanding Wichita State students.

The purpose of the scholarship is to provide financial assistance to students while promoting the value of community service to foster a sense of civic duty and commitment to the university and greater Wichita area. The key objectives of the scholarship are to aid in the retention and graduation of WSU students.

To achieve these objectives, the scholarship includes awards based on financial need, academic achievement and service activities. Awarded students must agree to engage in community services activities for WSU and/or community-based organizations. The deadline to apply is March 24.

Complete the application