WSU Today: Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2025

Faculty and Staff Resources

Voya Financial in-person KBOR retirement plan consultations to be available at WSU

Leo Wetta, investment adviser representative with Voya Financial, will be available for in-person meetings at Wichita State Monday, Aug. 25. Faculty and staff can get one-on-one advising and review their Voya Financial accounts as part of their KBOR retirement plan.

If you are interested in meeting with Leo, you can schedule a time to meet. Time slots are limited, so reserve a time soon. For questions, you can call Voya Financial Advisors at 316-686-2428.

Request a ‘Discover Your Strengths’ workshop in your courses

The ShockerStrengths Initiative provides “Discover Your Strengths” workshops and activities that are a great plug in option for your courses this semester. Through First Year Seminars to capstone courses, it can help connect students with their top five CliftonStrengths, connect to your course content and encourage students to leverage their strengths academically, personally and professionally.

All workshops include the inventories and materials.

For more information and to request the inventory or a workshop, visit the ShockerStrengths website.

Student Success and Persistence

Help create a more connected and confident student experience in the classroom

Join the Faculty Collaboration Corner where you can co-create innovative classroom strategies, build stronger support networks and foster a deeper sense of belonging. Check out the updated and refreshed Faculty Toolbox and options for Shocker Sparks, Learning Labs, Classroom Remixes and more.

Join author event to rethink how to approach student transitions

The cover to Rethinking Student Transitions

RSVP to hear from the authors of “Rethinking Student Transitions: How Community, Participation and Becoming Can Help Higher Education Deliver on its Promise” to reimagine how we think about students in transition Sept. 11-12.

The experience is designed to help faculty and staff develop creative ways to build stronger connections and a deeper sense of belonging in the classroom and through engagement on campus. During the event, the authors will host sessions for both faculty and staff, lunch is included (if you RSVP), and you’ll hear from current students about their transition experience into Shocker Nation.

Find the agenda and place your reservation on the event website. Space is limited, so RSVP soon.

Growing Innovation and Research

Decorative Image: Office of Research Internal Grant Opportunity

University Research/Creative Award (URCA) proposals are due by Oct. 3 to the Office of Research

Proposals are due to the Office of Research for University Research/Creative Award (URCA) projects no later than 5 p.m. Oct. 3.

The URCA opportunity provides funding of up to $4,500 for faculty to retool or reestablish productive research/creative projects or as seed money to develop pilot data where external funding is available. Proposers must work with a grant specialist in the Office of Research prior to submission and all complete applications require an endorsement from the chair and dean. Incomplete or late applications will not be reviewed or considered.

Please email proposals@wichita.edu today to get started or visit the website for additional information.

News

Vote for WSU in Best of Wichita categories

The Wichita Eagle has released its 2025 Best of Wichita nominations, and Wichita State has been nominated in several categories. The community can vote once a day for their choices in each category through the voting period until 5 p.m. Friday Sept. 5.

Read more of Vote for WSU in Best of Wichita categories

Vote now