Author: Caelin Bragg

One of the most defining aspects of Shocker Nation is our athletics programs, made up of your peers, and with your Shocker ID, you get admission to all home athletics events at no additional charge, thanks to the Student Government Association.

And today, Feb. 4, you can attend Shocker men’s basketball’s home game against Charlotte at 6:30 p.m. in Charles Koch Arena. Claim your student ticket online now by going to goshockers.com/StudentTickets.

Wichita State students have the opportunity to test their business strategy skills and compete for scholarships in the upcoming ERPsim Competition, hosted by the Barton School of Business.

The competition challenges teams to manage a virtual company using an SAP enterprise resource planning (ERP) simulation. Participants make real-time decisions related to pricing, production, inventory and finance while competing against other teams in a dynamic market environment. The experience is designed to build data-driven decision-making skills, cross-functional collaboration and resume-ready experience.

The top three performing teams will receive tuition awards, with $4,000 for first place, $2,000 for second place and $800 for third place. The top team can also advance to a national competition in March 2026.

The ERPsim Competition will take place from 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 27 in the Woolsey Hall atrium. Registration is open through Feb. 15, with preparation sessions running Feb. 16-26.

Students who have completed at least one core business course or have a minimum of one year of industry experience are eligible to participate. Teams consist of three to four students, and individuals may register and be matched with a team.

GoCreate, a Koch Collaborative, at Wichita State University was recently honored by the Kansas Department of Commerce with a Merit Award in the nonprofit category of the To The Stars: Kansas Business Awards.

“This award represents the collective effort of the entrepreneurs, mentors, and partners who believe in our work,” said Kimberly McCollum, associate director of GoCreate. “Being recognized shows that creating access to innovation and opportunity across Kansas, especially in rural and underserved communities, is having real impact.”

Nominees were reviewed and scored for various criteria, including training and educational programs, which is where GoCreate excels. The makerspace has helped more than 100 innovation-driven projects move from idea to commercialization through prototyping, applied R&D and mentorship programs, while simultaneously expanding access for rural and underserved communities across the state.

“We’re always striving to enhance the human potential within our community, which includes students, members and even ourselves,” said Ken Wiseman, GoCreate operations and facility manager. “The future is always changing, but this award is proof that the team and the community will always rise to the challenge.”

GoCreate’s mission mimics the university’s mission: to be an essential educational, cultural and economic driver for Kansas and the greater public good.

“This award is a great reminder that our mission matters,” said McCollum. “GoCreate has always been about creating a welcoming, supportive space where people feel empowered to take ideas further. Being recognized for that tells us we’re on the right path. It gives us momentum to keep growing, expanding access, strengthening the state’s entrepreneurial pipeline and supporting entrepreneurs who are shaping the future of our state.”

Housed within the John Bardo Center at Wichita State, GoCreate is a premier workspace open to creators of all ages and experience levels to bring their ideas and projects to life. The 18,000-square-foot space features studios for 3D printing, design, electronics, woodworking, finishing, metals, welding and textiles with an evolving inventory of sophisticated tools, machinery and equipment. Members and receive the expert training can take advantage of all the materials and equipment GoCreate has to offer.

Faculty: Have you submitted SEAS (Student Early Alert System) feedback yet? SEAS is open for all students. Use it to flag concerns around attendance, participation, assignments and quizzes/exams. If no students are at risk in your class, check the “no students at-risk” box.

New this week:

• No Academic Activity: Use this to flag students who haven’t engaged in your class at all (no communication, no course logins, no work submitted, etc.). Student Success will follow up.
• Student Progress: If a flagged student improves, remove the alert to help us track impact.

Access SEAS via myWSU > Home or Teach/Advise tab > SEAS link.

For more information about SEAS, visit the SEAS website.

The prominence of the Wichita Biomedical Campus on the downtown skyline will grow in the coming weeks as workers install the exterior’s finished look.

Terracotta cladding, metal panels and ultra-high performance concrete panels will soon cover the orange backup wall panels now visible on much of the nine-story building’s exterior. With the building around 85% enclosed, interior work is beginning with drywall, painting and tile.

“They’re working hard right now to get the building enclosed, especially because it’s winter,” said Stacy Christie, director of special projects and facilities planning for the Wichita Biomedical Campus. “They’re doing a great job.”

Meet Vivian Salazar, a mechanical engineering student who turned her passion for problem-solving into a meaningful internship at Amazon Robotics. In this student spotlight, Vivian discusses her work with Amazon’s fulfillment systems, her role at The Smart Factory by Deloitte and how hands-on experiences like GoBabyGo shaped her engineering career.

Explore how Wichita State’s applied learning approach helps students bridge the gap between classroom theory and real-world innovation in manufacturing, robotics and sustainability.

Join Wichita State and individual teams/departments as they prepare future Shockers for a lifetime of success. The university is raising money for the United Way’s Champions for Literacy initiative, which puts books and supplies into the hands of students in the Shocker Neighborhood.

Reading helps children build cognitive skills, gain a deeper understanding of the world, improve their concentration and fuel their imagination. As an educational driver for the state of Kansas, Wichita State is committed to helping students of all ages achieve success and become the leaders of tomorrow.

Students not reading proficiently by the fourth grade are four times more likely to drop out, and illiteracy often continues into adulthood. Donations to the campaign stay local to the Shocker Neighborhood through United Way of the Plains to alleviate illiteracy in the community.

Join the next meeting of the WSU Faculty/Staff Club from 3:30 to 6 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 18 at Club 95 in Partnership Building 11. The event will feature the Fairmount College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, College of Applied Studies, College of Innovation and Design, and Cohen Honors College with a rotating slide presentation.

There will also be three live presentations starting at 4:30 p.m. from:

• Joe Mazzara, director of Wichita State Esports, providing an overview of esports at Wichita State, including the teams’ accomplishments and the impact they’ve had on campus
• Francis Connor, associate professor and chair of the Department of English, and Darren DeFrain, professor of English, will discuss their upcoming book, “No Choice but Action: The Kansas Postpunk Revolution”
• Troy Tabor, director of innovation intelligence in the College of Innovation and Design, will host “A conversation with AI” with faculty and staff

Come have fun and enjoy the company of your colleagues as well as some good music, food and drink.

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.