WSU Today: Monday, Sept. 28, 2026

Construction / Maintenance

Site plan of utility work associated with Neff Hall demolition and Geology Building remodel.

Pedestrian routes to be temporarily affected by utility work near RSC, Geology Building and Neff Hall

Please be aware of the following temporary pedestrian route changes due to ongoing campus infrastructure projects:

Rhatigan Student Center (RSC) area

Starting Monday, Sept. 28, the main sidewalk east of the RSC will be closed for sewer line installation and construction:

This work is expected to last approximately five weeks, with an expected completion date of Nov. 2 (this is subject to change).
Individuals who can use stairs may use the stairs on the east side of the RSC to circumvent the closure.
Individuals needing an accessible route should travel through the RSC utilizing the elevator to change floors and the ramp on the northeast side of the building for access to the quad.

Neff Hall/Shocker Success Center (SSC)/Geology Building area

The path between Neff Hall and the SSC will be closed for the remainder of the semester while new utility lines are installed.
The north entrance to the SSC remains open and accessible. An elevator is available to reach the first floor.
The accessible route to the Geology Building is via the ground-level elevator entrance on the south side.
Neff Hall has two accessible exit routes: through the building’s north entrance out onto the quad or through the south entrance to the Geology Building to access the elevator down to the ground floor. The building may not be accessed from the east due to utility work.

Yard signs and wall signs showing detours to Wallace Hall around Neff Hall, Geology Building and the Engineering Building have been added. Should any of these routes change, it will be promptly communicated and the signage will be updated.

Thank you for your patience as these improvements are completed.

Questions may be directed to Facilities Planning at 316-978-3444.

Shocktoberfest

Celebrate community and tradition at the 2026 Shocktoberfest

Wichita State University invites the community to show its black-and-yellow spirit during 2026 Shocktoberfest, a weeklong tradition of Shocker pride, Sept. 28-Oct. 3.

Shocktoberfest has been a Wichita State tradition since 1991 and offers something for everyone, with events for students, alumni and the greater Wichita community.

Below is a sampling of the week’s events:

The bonfire — 7 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 30 at Braeburn Square — Revel in the spirit of Shocktoberfest with WSU Cheer, Marching Band and a few of your favorite athletes. Special performance by Shock Rock, featuring Dr. Monica Lounsbery, senior executive vice president and provost, on lead vocals; and on guitar, Andrew Schlapp, vice president for government relations.
Shocker Pride. Nationwide. Celebrate the Arts — 4-6:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 1 the Ulrich Museum’s outdoor patio — The university is putting a spotlight on the creativity, talent and innovation that define the university’s vibrant arts community. This free, come-and-go event invites the public and campus communities to connect, explore and enjoy live performances and artistic discovery.
Wu’s Birthday Bash — 5-7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 2 at Braeburn Square — The big guy is turning 78 years old! Join the party with food trucks, face painting, games and music.
Brew Market — 3-6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 3 at the Corbin Education Center — Enjoy an afternoon on campus filled with food, drink, and crafts from your favorite local vendors. This family-friendly campus experience will feature music, breweries and food trucks.
The parade — 4 p.m. Oct. 3 — Floats, cars and the Shocker Sound Machine marching band will showcase the very best of Shocker Nation. Get info on parking, the parade route and the best places to sit.

A full list of the week’s events is available at wichita.edu/shocktoberfest.

Get your Shocktoberfest faculty/staff button now

Wichita State faculty and staff can get even more out of Shocktoberfest with the official faulty/staff Shocktoberfest button. Purchase your button and unlock exclusive discounts and perks throughout Shocktoberfest.

Your button gets you:

10% off at the Shocker Store – Save 10% on WSU-imprinted items at both the Shocker Store at the Rhatigan Student Center and Braeburn Square.
10% off for on-campus dining – Enjoy 10% off at participating on-campus dining locations including RSC locations, Shocker Hall Dining and the Market at GroundHouse.
One free Shocker volleyball ticket – Cheer on the Shockers as volleyball takes on Tulsa at 6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 2. with one complimentary ticket per button presented at box office.
One free Shocktoberfest branded tote – Stop by the Shocktoberfest Brew Market to collect your tote from 3 to 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 3.

Buttons are $12 and can be purchased online and picked up at Woodman Alumni Center.

Purchase your button

Shocktoberfest door decorations are on display

Shocktoberfest themed doors decorated by departments are on display around campus through Monday, Oct. 5. Decorations celebrate Shocker pride and include this year’s theme, “Building on Tradition.”

Make your way around campus and see the hard work and creativity that departments have put towards showing their Shocker pride. Awards will be announced at Shocker Madness Saturday, Oct. 3.

Dorothy & Bill Cohen Honors College – Shocker Hall, Building A, located on the first floor across from the information desk
IDP Procurement – 323 John Bardo Center
Office of Student Accommodations & Testing – 118 Shocker Success Center
Shocker Career Accelerator – 320 Marcus Welcome Center, Milly Marcus Annex
Student Engagement & Belonging – 216 Rhatigan Student Center
TRIO Student Support Services – 307 Shocker Success Center
Veteran Upward Bound & Veteran Student Support – 320 Grace Wilkie Hall

Shocktoberfest takes place Sept. 28-Oct. 3. For a full schedule of events and activities during Shocktoberfest, visit wichita.edu/shocktoberfest.

Events and Recreation

A graphic of the Personnages Oiseaux mural on the front of the Ulrich Museum of Art sits in the center of a white background with the text, "Wichita State University. Shocker Pride. Nationwide. Celebrate the Arts - 2026."

Join the arts at WSU for ‘Shocker Pride. Nationwide. Celebrate the Arts’ on Oct. 1

Join the arts at Wichita State for "Shocker Pride. Nationwide. Celebrate the Arts," a spotlight on the creativity, talent and innovation that define the university's vibrant arts community.

Black background with gold and yellow type. Stars and sparks in gold and yellow.

Attend SEM recognition event Oct. 6

Save the date for the come and go Strategic Enrollment Management Recognition event from 10:30 a.m. to noon Oct. 6 in 233 Rhatigan Student Center, Santa Fe Trail Room. Comments will begin at 11 a.m.

Join in recognizing and celebrating the hard work, dedication and contributions of everyone who helped make this possible. Attendees may receive limited edition swag while supplies last.

Research Mixer, October 6, 2026 | 4:30 - 7:00 PM Rhatigan Student Center, Beggs Ballroom, Networking Bingo, WSU Lab Highlights, Keynote Speech by Dr. Moriah Beck, RSVP on The Undergraduate Research & Creative Activity Hub’s website, A unit of the Dorothy and Bill Cohen Honors College, The Undergraduate Research & Creative Activity Hub

UReCA to host Research Mixer Oct. 6

Join the Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity (UReCA) Hub at its second annual Research Mixer from 4:30 to 7 p.m. Oct. 6 in 305/306 Rhatigan Student Center, Beggs Ballroom.

This year, participants will hear from both students and faculty about their current lab highlights, have networking opportunities and hear from Dr. Moriah Beck on the importance of research right now.

RSVP for the event

Together, we can end domestic violence. Attend the PURPLE MILE on October 10th from 9AM - 11AM at the Wichita state Rhatigan Student Center. Decorative images of purple ribbon and people at memorial walk.

11th annual Purple Mile will be hosted at RSC Oct. 10

Attend the Purple Mile in October during Domestic Violence Awareness Month. This is a free event open to campus and community members. The event includes local organizations tabling to share resources, guest speakers and a one-mile awareness and remembrance walk. Each year, the Purple Mile brings together community members, advocates, service providers and supporters to raise awareness, honor survivors, remember victims and promote resources available throughout the community.

Blue sky background with yellow words Ad Astra Conference for First-Generation College Students in script and block fonts.

Register for the 2027 Ad Astra Conference for first-gen students

Register now for the Ad Astra Conference on Jan. 29, 2027. The Ad Astra Conference brings together first-gen students from colleges and universities across Kansas and the surrounding states together for a common experience with a desired outcome of greater persistence to graduation.

The Ad Astra Conference will be held in 305/306 Rhatigan Student Center, Beggs Ballroom in the second and third floor RSC meeting rooms. WSU students can attend for free.

News

2027-28 FAFSA opened early

The FAFSA for the 2027-28 academic year is officially open to all students. Remember to fill out your form by the priority date of Dec. 1 to maximize your financial aid. Completing your FAFSA early ensures you remain eligible for the widest range of grants and aid. Head to studentaid.gov to start your application today.

For help, schedule an appointment with a financial aid advisor on Navigate.

Teaching Tomorrow’s September 2026 issue is now available

The September 2026 issue of Teaching Tomorrow is now available to read. WSU is past the setup stretch and into the full swing of the semester. Rosters have settled, the first rounds of grading are behind you, and by now, you have a pretty good sense of which students are thriving and which ones may need some extra support or encouragement.

This issue is built for exactly that moment. Instead of big-picture course design, it focuses on the small Blackboard features that solve this week’s problems. Whether it be finding the students who’ve gone quiet, making sure feedback is actually being read and handling the flood of one-off requests that always arrives as midterms slowly approach.

There are also a few ARC sessions included that are worth revisiting along with a section on balancing it all as the humdrum of the semester continues on.

September myShockerHealth newsletter is now available

Check out issue 20 of the myShockerHealth newsletter. Monthly, the Student Health Services newsletter provides relevant health information and wellness tips for WSU students and staff.

For this issue, learn more about:

The 100th anniversary and open house during Shocktoberfest
Allergies and how to handle them
Thinning hair
Types of headaches and their causes
Heatstroke
Employee Corner

You can find all previous issues on the Student Health newsletter website.

Student Success and Persistence

There’s still time to register for the LevelUp Your Leadership course, ‘Enhancing Student Success’

Student success is an important responsibility for everyone at WSU and leaders in particular play a vital role in fostering an environment and behaviors that enhance the student experience. In this instructor-led core course on the certificate path available for all levels, you’ll learn effective strategies and share best practices for fostering student success and persistence.

Go to myTraining and register to attend the LevelUp Your Leadership certificate path course, “Enhancing Student Success.” You can also see and sign up for other LevelUp Your Leadership courses.

To learn more about the LevelUp Your Leadership program and other professional development resources, go to wichita.edu/hrprofessionaldevelopment.