Author: Caelin Bragg

The annual Strategic Communications Seminar was held Jan. 29 in the Rhatigan Student Center. Attendees were able to choose to attend two of five sessions to gain additional insights, tools and tips to help improve marketing and communication efforts in their university departments.

Materials from the seminar are now available to view.

The University Police Department encourages all students, faculty, staff and visitors to remain safe while driving and walking across campus.

WSUPD offers the following safety tips to both drivers and pedestrians:

For drivers:

• Follow all traffic laws, including driving at or under speed limits and coming to a full stop at stop signs.
• Stop for all pedestrians and offer proper clearance for them to cross the road.
• Be vigilant when approaching intersections. Even if you have a green light, pedestrians may still be crossing.
• Be prepared for pedestrians to suddenly cross the road if you see them approaching a crosswalk. They may not give you adequate signals they will cross before doing so.
• Make sure to use your blinkers when making turns, and check that you don’t accidently have your blinker on when you don’t intend to turn.
• When making turns, make sure to check for pedestrians in front of you as well as where you are turning into.
• If you see a yellow light, slow down and proceed with caution when it is safe to do so. Pedestrians may start crossing as you pass through.
• Be extra vigilant when visibility is low, such as at night or in heavy rain, snow or fog.
• Consider using the Wichita State Transit buses when traffic is high or visibility is low, or when you have to drive a considerable distance across campus.

For pedestrians:

• Follow all traffic laws and traffic signals that tell you when and when not to cross.
• Always use marked crosswalks. Many drivers are not expecting pedestrians crossing elsewhere.
• Check for cars coming from both directions before you begin to cross the road.
• Remain vigilant for cars when crossing the road. Pedestrians have the right of way on roads, but drivers may not see you crossing in time to slow down.
• Make sure drivers coming from both directions have clear sight of you before you cross the road.
• When using a crosswalk, make it clear that you are about to cross before doing so to give drivers enough time to see you, slow down and let you through.
• If a driver has their car blinker on, make sure they are slowing down and completing the turn before crossing the road. They may have a malfunction or left it on by mistake and may not be turning.
• Be extra vigilant when visibility is low, such as at night or in heavy rain, snow or fog.
• Consider using the Wichita State Transit buses when traffic is high or visibility is low, or when you have to walk a considerable distance across campus.

Are you feeling overwhelmed prioritizing, studying and juggling multiple roles while trying to meet your academic deadlines? Time management will always be one of the biggest challenges for college life, but students can find resources for improving their time management skills from Student Success at wsu.news/SuccessTip3.

Looking for lunch options on campus? Head over to the Rhatigan Student Center for your choice of Starbucks, Panda Express, Chick-fil-A, Freddy’s or Sushi-Do. Get the essentials from Starbucks; put together your own sides and entrees for a meal at Panda Express; use the kiosks at Chick-fil-A and get a text when your food’s ready; order ice cream and fries for a sweet treat from Freddy’s; or get fresh sushi at Sushi-Do.

Wichita State University has selected the 2026 recipients of the Harry Gore Memorial Scholarships. Each student will receive a $64,000 scholarship to attend Wichita State starting in fall 2026.   

• Mackenzie Bucl, McKinney Boyd High School (Texas)
• Kayden Lankford, Valley Center High School (Kansas)
• Samantha McClintock, Central Christian Academy (Wichita)

A total of 528 students competed in the Distinguished Scholarship Invitational (DSI) in November. To be invited to compete, students had to have a 27 or higher ACT score, or a 3.5 or higher GPA, or rank in the top 10% of their class. Once invited, students completed an application, essays and competed in an on-campus leadership competition. On Jan. 22, 11 finalists came back to campus for final interviews.  

As with all the Gore Scholars since 1954, the three recipients this year are involved in their schools and communities and plan to do the same at WSU. 

Let’s build a high-energy Shocker Zone designed to spark curiosity, celebrate innovation and connect thousands of visitors with the incredible people and programs across WSU at this year’s FutureFest. All colleges, departments and divisions are invited to host an engagement footprint in the Shocker Zone.

For questions or more information, you are invited to attend one two virtual information meetings:

• 2 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 4
• 10 a.m. Friday, Feb. 6

Join the Office of Strategic Communications and Marketing for the ninth annual Strategic Communications marketing and communications seminar for faculty and staff from 10 a.m. to noon Thursday, Jan. 29. And if your team is looking to order promo items for your office, visit the Vendor Fair from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

The opening session, breakout sessions and Vendor Fair will all be held on the third floor of the Rhatigan Student Center. Gain additional insights, tools and tips to help you improve your marketing and communication efforts. Attendees may choose to attend two of five sessions.

The Student Wellness Center in the Steve Clark YMCA houses Student Health Services (SHS) and Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), both designed for students’ well-being in mind. You can schedule an appointment for your medical needs with SHS at studenthealth.wichita.edu or schedule counseling with CAPS at wichita.edu/caps.

The Wichita State University Police Department wants to remind Shockers to stay vigilant of scammers. Make sure you’re informed of the telltale signs of scammers:

• The police will never notify an individual over the phone that they have a warrant for their arrest. Additionally, the police or legitimate companies will never demand payment over the phone through cryptocurrency, such as Bitcoin, or through gift cards.
• Do not share personal or financial information over the phone unless you are certain of the caller’s identity. If you are ever concerned a caller may be a scammer, hang up and find a phone number from a trusted source, such as an official website or phonebook, and call back to confirm their identity.
• Make sure to reach out to law enforcement if you have been contacted by a scammers or have fallen victim to them. WSUPD can be contacted at 316-978-3450, and the Wichita Police Department can be contacted by dialing 911. You can also file a police report to the Wichita Police Department by calling 316-268-4221.

And share this information with your friends and family so they know to not engage with potential scammers. WSUPD is here to help the campus community stay safe and hopes that everyone can help keep their peers safe from scammers. If you have questions, email WSUPD at police@wichita.edu.

Are you ready to find a career fit for you and your major? Check out these resources from the Shocker Career Accelerator:

PathwayU is your assessment tool to explore different majors and careers, whether you are currently undecided or looking to change. Go to wichita.pathwayu.com, sign up using your WSU email (first initial, middle initial, last name and maybe a number, @shockers.wichita.edu) and click “Start Assessment.”

What Can I Do With This Major? hosts information on more than 100 different majors and fields, including potential careers, advice on how to get the most out of your major, professional organizations related to your major and more.

Want to get more personalized guidance while getting started? You can schedule an appointment with an SCA career coach through Shocker Central, emailing sca@wichita.edu or calling the office at 316-978-3688.