Author: Caelin Bragg

Wichita State University is not just reshaping downtown Wichita with the Wichita Biomedical Campus; it’s redefining health care education by harnessing the dynamic interplay between health care and the humanities.

WSU’s new Academic Center for Biomedical and Health Humanities, or HealthHum as it’s been monikered, aims to increase the visibility of a wide range of research and teaching in areas related to health care and humanities beyond the traditional health professions.

Dr. Susan Castro, director of HealthHum, said putting a sociologist or a philosopher in the room when big decisions are being made can change the trajectory of care and improve the outcomes of medical research.  

A new space is now open on the Wichita State campus called Wichita State Connect. Dr. Alicia Thompson, former superintendent of USD 259, will lead Wichita State Connect.

Wichita State Connect is in the former Wonder School, next to the National Institute for Aviation Research. It will serve as a hub for preK-12 field trips, mixers and professional development opportunities for educators and to provide WSU academic colleges and programs chances to engage with schools, industry and community partners.

Masud Chand, professor of management, was featured in an article from WalletHub on the best Visa credit cards, providing insights on reasons to get a Visa credit card.

Take a break and meditate with other instructors and staff from 2 to 2:30 p.m. every Tuesday via Microsoft Teams.

Use the new Teams link for the Tuesday, March 19 session. Participants meet for two separate meditations, each about 10 minutes long. During the March 19 sessions, participants will work with sound for the first meditation and work with self-talk for the second.

Come for one or both sessions. The second meditation stars around 2:15 p.m. Meditations are only online Tuesday.

The 2024 Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity Forum (URCAF) will take place Friday, April 12 in the Rhatigan Student Center.

The purpose of the important event is to enable WSU’s undergraduate student researchers to present research under the guidance of faculty mentors. Students who have conducted research in 2023-24 are encouraged to submit an abstract for a poster presentation. Winners in each category of applied sciences, natural sciences and engineering, and social sciences and humanities will receive a $250 prize, and second place finishers will receive $100. All participants will be provided lunch at the Rhatigan Student Center and will gain valuable experience exhibiting their research.

Abstract submissions are due by March 29. Early submissions are encouraged.

Information about the event can be found on the URCAF webpage. For questions, contact John Hammond at john.hammond@wichita.edu.

Wichita State University is home to nearly 5,000 first-generation students, individuals whose caregivers weren’t able to complete a college degree and who lack the firsthand experience to tackle college life. To help with their transition, Wichita State offers a number of resources to first-gen students to support them during their time in college, including F1RST GEN SHOCKERS.

Hear from Brittany Hopkins, graduate student success specialist in the Graduate School and a current employee at Wichita State who went to college as a first-gen student, about the first-gen experience.

For a second year, Wichita State will show off its unique cultural and educational assets while welcoming the community to campus during Open Streets ICT – WSU and Shocker Neighborhood on April 14. 

Open Streets ICT is a community-building event on a closed street, intended to promote healthy active living and social engagement. The event is free and open to the public. 

Make sure to catch the latest episode of the “Forward Together” podcast. Join President Rick Muma when he talks to Dr. Bobby Berry, assistant dean and assistant professor for the College of Applied Studies, about serving students and his research and work with first-generation students.

Watch the episode online or listen on Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, Amazon Podcasts or Apple Podcasts (iTunes).

The next episode will feature representatives from GoBabyGo. Subscribe to be notified when new episodes are available.

Shocker baseball will host the Nebraska Corn Huskers at 6 p.m. Wednesday, March 13.

Wednesday is Wild West Wednesday: The first 300 fans will receive a boot-shaped shot glass and country music will be coming through the speakers at Eck Stadium all night long.

Faculty and staff receive $6 admission for all baseball games by presenting their Shocker ID at the Eck Stadium Box Office on the day of the event.

Join University Press of Kansas (UPK) staff — including Tim Paulson, director; Kelly Chrisman Jacques, assistant director; and Joyce Harrison, editor in chief — from 3 to 5 p.m. Wednesday, March 27 in 266 Rhatigan Student Center, Pike Room, to answer common questions like:

• How do I revise my dissertation into a book?
• How do I find the right publisher?
• What does a job in publishing look like?

The event is open to the entire campus community at no additional charge, and light refreshments will be provided.

UPK is one of more than 150 worldwide university presses who publish books that contribute to important scholarly and public debates. Founded in 1946, UPK represents all six state universities: Emporia State University, Fort Hays State University, Kansas State University, Pittsburg State University, the University of Kansas and Wichita State University.