Author: Caelin Bragg

Wichita State faculty and staff can purchase their tickets to the Shocker men’s basketball game against Kansas State at 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 21 at home in Charles Koch Arena prior to the public sale.

Want to get your tickets now? Go to goshockers.evenue.net, click “Enter Promo Code” on the top right of the page and enter promo code “ACCESS” to get early access to the Dec. 21 tickets.

As the holiday break nears, you will notice ongoing and new construction across Wichita State’s 330-acres and beyond. 

Main campus:

Public Policy and Management Center
The Public Policy and Management Center will move into Garvey International Center, 3203 E. 17th St., in early December.

Corbin Education Center
Corbin Education Center remains closed with repair work underway this fall to replace equipment in mechanical room damaged by a chilled water line break in March.
The College of Applied Studies will likely move back into Corbin at the end of the spring 2025 semester.

McKnight Art Center
Construction will begin soon on ventilation upgrades on the second floor of McKnight North. Work is scheduled to finish by the fall of 2025.

Duerksen Fine Arts Center
Construction will begin after the fall semester to add a single occupancy restroom and lounge area in the B wing.

Wichita Biomedical Campus:

Construction work on the Wichita Biomedical Campus site continues.
At the beginning of November, crews finished up the 270 auger cast piles that were drilled 65-feet deep. Shoring has been installed and now the elevator pits are being dug. They will begin pile caps, and perimeter foundations next.
Road closures around the site will begin in January along with the installation of a tower crane that will be built to begin placing structural steel in February 2025.
You can watch a live broadcast of the construction online at: bigview.ai/wichitabiomedicalcampusliveview.
Construction is anticipated to be complete by the end of 2026.

Innovation Campus:

NIAR Hub for Advanced Manufacturing Research
Construction on the NIAR HAMR building began in May. Construction is expected to be complete by the end of 2025.
The 170,000-square-foot building is partly funded by an EDA grant and will house advanced manufacturing research labs and associated offices. The building will be located on Innovation Boulevard between the Partnership Building 1 and The Suites. The first floor is primarily labs with offices on the second floor.

Partnership Building 3B
P3B, located between Partnership Building 3 and The Smart Factory @Wichita, is under construction. It will house the Forensic Crime Gun Intelligence Laboratory for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

Athletics:

University Stadium Phase 1A
Construction is underway on Phase 1A on the east side of University Stadium (formerly Cessna Stadium).
Crews are moving dirt to prepare for construction that will include ticketing, restrooms, concessions and bleacher seating.
Phase 1A completion is scheduled for May 2025 before KSHSAA Track and Field State Championship on May 30-31.
Phase 1B will begin after KSHSAA Track and Field State Championship. Phase 1B will consist of widening the field and installing a nine-lane track.

Wilkins Stadium
Construction on the indoor practice facility next to Wilkins Stadium is underway. Steel will arrive on site in late November. The facility is scheduled to be complete in March 2025.

Pickleball courts
Construction will begin by the end of 2024 on three pickleball courts on the lawn area between Heskett Center, Hubbard Hall and Lindquist Hall.
The sculpture “Canto IV – A” will be relocated to the grass area west of McKnight Art Center.

Wichita State delivered a third consecutive sweep to cap off a dominant run through the American Athletic Conference (ACC) tournament, defeating Florida Atlantic 25-22, 25-19, 25-19 to secure the program’s first NCAA tournament bid since 2017.

The Shockers (18-13) will learn their postseason destination at next week’s NCAA Volleyball Selection Show, scheduled for 5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 1 on ESPN. The first and second rounds of the NCAA tournament take place Thursday, Dec. 5 through Saturday, Dec. 7.

The victory represents Wichita State’s second AAC championship and first in a conference tournament. The Shockers won the 2017 regular season title when the conference did not host a tournament. Overall, Wichita State has now won five conference tournaments, with the previous four coming in the Missouri Valley Conference (2004, 2013, 2015, 2016). WSU will be appearing in the NCAA tournament for the 12th time in program history.

Join the rest of the Shocker community, faculty, staff and retirees, to celebrate Dr. Shirley Lefever, executive vice president and provost, and her journey at a retirement reception from 3 to 5 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 5 at Wichita State Connect.

Lefever has been with WSU for over 20 years. Come wish her well as she moves on to this next chapter of her life.

President Rick Muma and First Gentleman Rick Case cordially invite the Shocker community, faculty, staff and retirees, to the annual Wichita State Holiday Party from 2 to 5 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 4 in the 305/306 Rhatigan Student Center, Shirley Beggs Ballroom. Attendees will be greeted by the President’s Executive Team. Faculty, staff and retirees will also receive a complimentary holiday glass — the third in a yearly series of vintage WuShock glasses — while supplies last (one per person).

The Holiday Party is a come and go event, and food and beverages will be available to attendees. RSVP to one of three different times to help catering prepare enough food.

On Nov. 20, the Kansas Board of Regents approved a request from Wichita State to enhance the name of the on-campus baseball stadium to Eck Stadium, Home of Tyler Field at Gene Stephenson Park.

The stadium name was enhanced to honor Hall of Fame coach Gene Stephenson who was the head coach at Wichita State from 1978-2013.

“We are grateful to the Kansas Board of Regents for their support of this important honor,” said Wichita State Director of Athletics Kevin Saal. “Gene Stephenson developed Wichita State into a national baseball power, advanced one of the top facilities in the country and even today, continues his loyal support of this beloved program.  We are proud to enhance the naming of this incredible facility in Coach Stephenson’s honor.”

Rob Gerlach, executive director of the Office of Tech Transfer and Commercialization; Zeeshan Khan, IDP program manager, business/innovation programs; and Dr. Jessica Provines, assistant vice president for wellness and chief psychologist sat down with Lisa Mueller for the “AUTM on the Air” podcast Nov. 20.

They discussed Wichita State’s innovative Suspenders4Hope program, including its collaborative nature with industry and how tech transfer helps push the program, and how it is making an impact.

Listen to the episode on YouTube, visit the website or listen to the episode wherever you get your podcasts.

Wichita State University has launched the Institute for Rehabilitation Medicine and Assistive Technology (IRMAT), an innovative collaboration focused on addressing disease and disability through applied research and technology. IRMAT will serve as a hub for cutting-edge, patient-driven research and development of transformative technologies to improve the quality of life for individuals with physical and cognitive disabilities.

The groundbreaking collaboration brings together Wichita State’s College of Health Professions, College of Engineering, and Industry and Defense Programs, along with inaugural clinical partners Ascension Via Christi’s Rehabilitation Hospital, Heartspring’s Outpatient Services and the Robert J. Dole VA Medical Center, to accelerate scientific advancements and develop assistive technologies.

Dr. Lyndsey Brown — assistant clinical professor and school counseling program coordinator in the Department of Intervention Services & Leadership in Education — was interviewed by U.S. News and World Report for a story on supporting a child’s learning experience.

Dr. Brown provided insight as an expert in the field and offered advice on the importance of giving written affirmation when kids are learning.

President Rick Muma visited Wichita State Esports during one of the team’s training sessions to recognize the team as the next recipient of Rick Rewards. President Muma recognized the accomplishments and growth of the teams over the past few years, including hosting the successful D-Air Capital Games event that saw nearly 200 people from across the Midwest visit campus; multiple top finishes from the individual teams; and helping middle school and high school students learn about esports with annual summer camps.

Rick Rewards is awarded each month by President Muma to show his appreciation for the efforts of the campus community.