Author: Caelin Bragg

The elevator in Duerksen Fine Arts Center is back in operation after it was temporarily out of commission for part of the spring semester.

As we head into the summer season, you’ll notice ongoing and new construction across Wichita State’s 330 acres and beyond.

Corbin Education Center

The phased move back into Corbin Education Center has begun.

Esports, College of Applied Studies Advising, faculty and staff are back in the building.

Classrooms will remain closed throughout the summer and the building is anticipated to be fully occupied in the fall. The building has been under repair following a chilled water line break in the basement mechanical room in 2024.

University Stadium Phase 1A/1B

Construction is wrapping up on Phase 1A on the east side of University Stadium (formerly Cessna Stadium) in time for Wichita State to host the 2025 KSHSAA State Track and Field Championship May 30-31.

This first phase of construction includes bleacher seating, a pavilion building with ticketing, restrooms and concessions as well as a plaza and parking lot between the stadium and Devlin Hall.

Phase 1B will begin in June and will consist of widening the field to hold a regulation-sized artificial turf soccer field and installing a nine-lane track.

Wilkins Stadium

Construction is almost complete on the indoor softball practice facility adjacent to Wilkins Stadium. Inside the building is a netted softball infield that is divisible into batting and pitching practice areas.

McKnight Art Center

Construction is underway for ventilation upgrades on the second floor of McKnight North. Work is scheduled to finish by the fall of 2025.

Brennan I, II and III demolitions

Demolition of the three buildings is planned for summer 2025. TRIO/Upward Bound staff are in the process of moving to their new home in Grace Wilkie Hall/Grace Wilkie Annex.

Parking lot/sidewalk/Parking Garage maintenance

Maintenance and repairs are planned for multiple parking lots/sidewalks throughout campus over the summer as well as scheduled maintenance for the parking garage south of the RSC. Specific closure dates will be posted in WSU Today.

Ablah Library

Repairs are underway on the basement level to replace flooring damaged by the flooding in the spring. Look for announcements from the library on the status of the project.

Grace Wilkie Hall/Grace Wilkie Annex roof replacement

A roof replacement project is scheduled for the summer of 2025. Fencing will be installed around the perimeter of the building as work progresses.

RSC bowling remodel

Construction is underway in the basement of the RSC to create offices and a team room for the women’s bowling team. The project is anticipated to be complete by the end of the summer.

Shocker Studios expansion

Construction is underway for an expansion for Shocker Studios located at WSU South on Harry Street. The project will create four new classrooms and additional office space for the growing SODA program. The project will be complete in time for fall classes.

NIAR Hub for Advanced Manufacturing and Research

Construction on the NIAR HAMR building continues to progress. 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 is 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 by Deloitte @Wichita, is under construction. It will house the Forensic Crime Gun Intelligence Laboratory for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

The following table is to assist instructors with certain dates regarding CES. The dates shown below are for the summer 2025 semester.

• The first column includes the various start/end (part-of-term) dates for summer semester courses that start in June.
• The second column includes dates meant for instructors. This is the timeframe when instructors will receive emails about the CES process and procedures that they should complete. Instructors will receive additional emails during and after the student CES access dates.
• The last column includes the dates that CES will be available for the students to complete course evaluations.

CES summer 2025 – Courses with June start dates:

Course start/end dates	Instructor CES process dates	Student CES access dates
June 2 – June 7	May 21 – June 4	June 5 – June 6
June 2 – June 14	May 28 – June 11	June 12 – June 13
June 2 – June 28	June 6 – June 20	June 21 – June 27
June 2 – July 19	June 27 – July 11	July 12 – July 18
June 2 – July 25	July 3 – July 17	July 18 – July 24
June 9 – June 14	May 28 – June 11	June 12 – June 13
June 16 – June 21	June 4 – June 18	June 19 – June 20
June 16 – June 28	June 11 – June 25	June 26 – June 27
June 16 – July 12	June 20 – July 4	July 5 – July 11
June 23 – June 28	June 11 – June 25	June 26 – June 27
June 30 – July 5	June 18 – July 2	July 3 – July 4
June 30 – July 12	June 25 – July 9	July 10 – July 11
June 23 – July 19	June 27 – July 11	July 12 – July 18
June 30 – July 25	July 3 – July 17	July 18 – July 24

The table below is to assist instructors with certain dates regarding CES. The dates shown are for the spring 2025 semester.

• The first column includes the various start/end (part-of-term) dates for spring semester courses.
• The second column includes dates meant for instructors. This is the timeframe when instructors will receive emails about the CES process and procedures that they should complete. Instructors will receive additional emails during and after the student CES access dates.
• The last column includes the dates that CES will be available for the students to complete course evaluations.

If your course is in bold, then your spring 2025 CES evaluation process will start soon. Review the start/end dates in each column so you know when your access to the CES system will start and end.

Read below for more information on course evaluations for the summer 2025 semester.

• The evaluations are administered according to the course’s part-of-term dates.
• All CES email communication will come from WSU Evaluations. Every email includes information about the CES process and informs instructors of any action that needs to be completed.
• The CES Administrator programs the pre-determined dates for each process. This pre-determined schedule cannot be modified. The CES tasks are sent at midnight on the scheduled start date and will end at 11:59 p.m. on the scheduled end date.
• CES results will be available at the end of the semester and will continue to remain accessible afterwards. Results will only be available if there are four or more responses.
• There is a dedicated CES website that includes additional information.

Michelle Locke has been named the associate vice president of Financial Services. She was previously serving in the position on an interim basis.

Locke initially joined Wichita State as university controller in 2021. She earned a Master of Accountancy with a concentration in financial accounting and auditing from the University of Texas at El Paso in 2012

To reach Locke, email michelle.locke@wichita.edu or call 316-978-5103.

One coach is synonymous with building Wichita State University baseball into a power. This spring, his name is given proper places of honor in the stadium he helped turn from dream into one of the sport’s showplaces.

Earlier this month, “Gene Stephenson Park” was added to Eck Stadium, home of Tyler Field, at a ceremony and unveiling. On Friday, May 16, his jersey No. 10 will be recognized on the stadium’s Wall of Honor in left field before the 6 p.m. game vs. Memphis.

“Build it, he did,” WSU athletic director Kevin Saal said at the unveiling ceremony for the sign on the Eck Stadium facade. “He built a lot of something. He built decades of something from nothing.”

Creating two hours of a dramatic production on stage at Wichita State’s Wilner Auditorium can take long hours and weeks of work.

WSU students charged with that behind-the-scenes labor now earn more money for their time and expertise, thanks to State of Kansas Applied Learning Funds. Twenty-three students are paid to work in more types of career-focused jobs, such as social media, costumes, fund-raising, lighting and scenes in the School of Performing Arts — all while still earning their degree.

The paid applied learning allows the School of Performing Arts to boost its student workforce and increase their pay. Paid positions in this field, said Cheyla Clawson, director, School of Performing Arts said, are usually at a low pay rate and are hard to find outside the university.

Dr. Steven Skinner, professor of electrical and computer engineering, will assume the role of interim dean of the College of Engineering beginning June 9 to facilitate a smooth transition from Dean Anthony Muscat, whose last day at Wichita State will be June 30.

Skinner is an experienced leader who previously served as interim dean from 2019 to 2020. He brings a steady, collaborative approach and a deep commitment to students and faculty, and to the mission of the university.

The university is grateful for his leadership in the College of Engineering as the university begins the search for a new permanent dean.

The Office of Civil Rights, Title IX, & ADA Compliance (CTAC) has invited two finalists for the position of director of ADA & Section 504 compliance to campus for interviews Tuesday, May 20 and Thursday, May 22.

Each candidate will facilitate a presentation outlining how they intend to lead ADA compliance and accessibility efforts at an institution of higher education in 2025. Presentations will begin at 12:45 p.m. and conclude at 1:45 p.m. with an open Q&A session.

To RSVP, contact Linda Sims, executive assistant for CTAC, at linda.sims@wichita.edu.