Photo of an instructor teaching a class with the text, "Perspective on Pedagogy. Tuesdays at 2 p.m., March 21-April 11. Meeting ID: 995 5894 3346. Password 841141. www.wichita.edu/perspectives"

Fairmount College of Liberal Arts and Sciences’ next Perspectives series will focus on pedagogy. This week’s Perspectives is on “Active Learning.”

To engage students and encourage their success are hallmarks of successful teaching approaches. Panelists will discuss activities that foster in-class participation while boosting student and instructor confidence. Dr. Andrew Hippisley, dean of the Fairmount College, will host, and Brien Bolin, professor of social work and associate dean for student success, will moderate the panel.

Each episode in the Perspectives series will be presented at 2 p.m. Tuesdays, through April 11 via Zoom. Recordings will be made available afterwards on the Fairmount College YouTube channel.

Photo of students and staff of the Office of Special Programs at the National TRIO Day 2023 event.

In February 1986, a congressional resolution declared that Saturday, Feb. 28, 1986, should be designated as “National TRIO Day” to commemorate the annual achievement of the federal TRIO programs in communities across the country.

With a long history of 50 years, and an impressive portfolio of 10 TRIO programs, the Office of Special Programs (OSP) marked the whole month of February for celebrating the accomplishments of TRIO and GEAR UP (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs) at Wichita State and the larger community.

The 10 programs offered by OSP:

  • The Communication Upward Bound
  • Talent Search and Talents Search South
  • Upward Bound Wichita Prep
  • Upward Bound Math Science
  • Disability Support Services
  • Student Support Services
  • McNair Scholars Program
  • Educational Opportunity Centers
  • Veterans Upward Bound
  • Partnership GEAR UP program and the state-wide Kansas Kids @ GEAR UP program

The TRIO and GEAR UP programs at WSU primarily serve first-generation and low-income students primarily in Wichita Public schools and state-wide school districts. The programs cover students from middle school through high school and college.

Under the leadership of Deltha Colvin, associate vice president of college readiness and retention programs, and the WSU program administrators, the OSP has celebrated in several ways, such as hosting workshops for students and teachers, student recognition banquets, College Access, Retention and Success conferences, and, since 2019, community services.

For 2022-23, the OSP program highlights have included several community service opportunities for the students. The Talent Search programs have decided to continue spreading reading and literacy by participating in the community library program in the Wichita neighborhoods. Participants of the Educational Opportunity Centers program along with the Upward Bound Wichita Prep program staff and students have actively participated in the Operation Holiday program, through which needy families receive assistance. The Veterans Upward Bound program participants have celebrated the TRIO cause by volunteering at the Lord’s Diner during 2022.

The Haysville GEAR UP program organized a National TRIO/GEAR UP Day on November 11, 2022. About 306 students participated. The event consisted of presentations by WSU offices such as admissions and financial aid. Activities included a campus tour, college resource fair and TRIO workshops.

The Student Support Services program has used this celebration to promote social justice, diversity, and equity through retention through various student activities.

For more information, contact Colvin at deltha.colvin@wichita.edu.

Join the Department of Physics for its next seminar at 2 p.m. Wednesday, April 5 in 226 Jabara Hall and also via Zoom

The speaker for the seminar is Dali Sun, associate professor of physics from North Carolina State University. He will present, “Chirality-induced Spin Selectivity Effect in 2D Chiral Hybrid Perovskites:  Chiral-Phonon-Activated Spin Seebeck Effect.”

Graphic with a photo of Caroline Tallent, 33, and the text, "Wichita State Softball | Wilkins Stadium Upcoming Series. April 4th | 6:00pm" and the WuShock and OSU logos.

Shocker softball will host Oklahoma State University at 6 p.m. Tuesday, April 4 in Wilkins Stadium.

Students receive admission for all homes games at no additional charge with Shocker ID.

Intervention Services & Leadership in Education (ISLE) will host a Graduate Program Fair from 4 to 8 p.m. Monday, April 10 in Woolsey Hall. The event aims to inform potential students about ISLE graduate programs and help prepare them for graduate school.

The schedule for the event will be “Why go to grad school & where to apply” from 4 to 5 p.m.; the graduate student panel from 5 to 6 p.m.; and the graduate fair from 6 to 8 p.m. All students considering graduate school are invited to learn more about the graduate programs within ISLE.

For more information or questions, contact Valerie Thompson at valerie.thompson@wichita.edu.

Photos of Robert Bubp and Marco Hernandez.

Robert Bubp explores his immediate environment to examine alternate notions of place and space. Marco Hernandez delves into issues associated with the societies and politics of contemporary Mexican and Mexican-American cultures.

Both are faculty at WSU’s School of Art, Design and Creative Industries and artists featured in Transmissions: The XXIV Faculty Biennial, on exhibit until April 22 in the Polk/Wilson Gallery in the Ulrich Museum of Art. Join them at 11:15 a.m. Tuesday, April 4 at the Ulrich Museum to learn about their inspiration and processes.

Join the Department of Mathematics and Statistics for a public lecture by Dr. Pamela Harris, associate professor at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

The lecture, titled “Parking Functions: Choose your own adventure,” will take place at 3 p.m. Friday, April 7 in 372 Jabara Hall. Refreshments will be available at 2:30 p.m. in 353 Jabara Hall.

University level committee service is an excellent opportunity to participate in shared governance and foster collegiality across colleges. The Rules Committee is in the process of recruiting faculty to serve on various Faculty Senate committees.

To assist the committee, faculty should complete the survey by Friday, April 7 to indicate their level of interest in serving on these committees.

The Faculty Senate thanks faculty for their participation.

WSU Food Truck Plaza. Established 2016

Follow Wichita State Food Truck Plaza on Facebook.

Advanced Material Processing Techniques for Wettability Modification and Vehicle Lightweighting | Dr. Avik Samanta, Post Doctoral Associate from Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) | From 9:30 to 11 a.m. Monday, April 3 in 262 Rhatigan Student Center

The Department of Industrial, Systems and Manufacturing Engineering within the College of Engineering is hosting Dr. Avik Samanta, a post doctoral associate from Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, from 9:30 to 11 a.m. Monday, April 3 in 262 Rhatigan Student Center.

Samanta will present “Advanced material processing techniques for wettability modification and vehicle lightweighting,” followed by a lecture on “Stress transformations and Mohr’s circles.” Students, staff and faculty are invited to attend the event, and food will be served.