Author: Caelin Bragg

Help your students make informed academic decisions by learning when AI can strengthen their work — and when it can’t — at the next Savvy Scholar workshop from 3 to 4 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 21. With the new attendance tracking system, offering extra credit for student participation is now simpler than ever.

AI tools like ChatGPT and Copilot can streamline research tasks, but they may not always provide accurate information. The workshop will show students how to use these tools effectively while evaluating their limitations.

Dr. Mark Schneegurt, a professor in the Department of Biological Sciences, is the latest WSU faculty member to take advantage of the University Libraries-negotiated agreement with Springer and get his article published in Archives of Microbiology, a venerable journal, for free.

Shockers can publish their research articles in many Springer peer-reviewed journals at no cost. The agreement with Springer, negotiated by University Libraries, covers articles written by faculty, staff and students at Wichita State with no page charges and no APCs. Both print and open access fees are entirely waived.

There are dozens of high-quality journals available through this program, covering every area of scholarship. These range from modest journals to those with high impact factors. To find eligible journals, use Springer’s Journal Finder to identify which Springer journal is right for your next paper.

Attend Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity Hub’s (UReCA) Research Mixer starting at 5 p.m. Monday, Oct. 20 in 305/306 Rhatigan Student Center, Beggs Ballroom and learn more about research here at Wichita State.

• WSU lab highlights: Several labs across campus will provide an overview of ongoing projects, future projects and their student research teams. Highlighted faculty are Dr. Steven Skinner, Dr. Moriah Beck, Dr. Jian Wang, and David Klamm.
• Faculty research panel: Learn directly from faculty about the skills, habits and attitudes that make a lasting impression in research settings. Panelists include Dr. Thomas Skinner, Dr. Brendan Clark, Dr. Yang Fu, Dr. David Eichhorn and Dr. Nicki Rogers.
• Undergraduate student panel: This panel highlights the journeys of your fellow Shockers who have explored undergraduate research and want to show just how possible it is. Panelists include Zane Hubble, Genesis Merriett and Dimas Gonzalez.

As enrollment approaches, students should check in on their degree progress by meeting with their academic advisors. By enrolling in a combination of fall, spring and summer classes, students can remain on track with their degree programs and potentially shorten the time it takes to earn a degree. You can find your academic advisor in your myWSU.

A perk of your Shocker ID is access to all fine arts events on campus at no additional charge, thanks to the Student Government Association. Whether you want to listen to concerts from the School of Music or watch theater or dance performances from the School of Performing Arts, there’s something for everyone.

Wichita State’s Innovation Campus hosts Braeburn Square, home to multiple restaurants to satisfy your cravings, whether you’re in the mood for sandwiches from Jersey Mike’s; Mexican with Fuzzy’s Taco Shop; authentic Korean corn dogs from Two Hands; or pizza and burgers from Social Tap.

The Office of Financial Aid is celebrating Financial Aid Day with another open house from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 15 in 203 Jardine Hall — and you’re invited. Grab a snack, meet the team and learn about the services the office offers. Plus, you can enter raffles for great prizes.

Road striping work will continue on campus Oct. 16-17. The work will occur between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m., weather permitting. One lane traffic will remain open, but expect delays and plan ahead.

The following are areas that will be worked on:

• All road markings on Perimeter Road at Shocker Hall to Mike Oatman Drive
• All road markings on North Yale Avenue
• A couple of turn signals at Harvard Avenue and 17th Street
• A new crosswalk going in on Perimeter Road at Sheldon Coleman Tennis Complex and near Lot 7 by the Rhatigan Student Center
• Two turn arrows at the Central Energy Plant

For questions regarding the road work, contact DeeDee Estill-Matos, manager of Building Trades, at daraleen.estill-matos@wichita.edu.

Four Wichita State faculty and staff members have been named 2025 Faculty and Staff of the Year by the Kansas Board of Regents (KBOR), recognizing their excellence in teaching, research, service and student support.

The KBOR awards recognize outstanding contributions by faculty and staff across the state’s universities. 

Wichita State’s 2025 KBOR awardees:

• Dr. Lisa Parcell, Kansas Health Foundation Director of the Elliott School of Communication and professor of communication, Tenured Faculty of the Year. Read more about Parcell.
• Dr. Erin O’Bryan, assistant professor of communication sciences and disorders, Tenure-Track Faculty of the Year. Read more about O’Bryan.
• Marco Hernandez, assistant teaching professor of print media and foundations coordinator in the School of Art, Design and Creative Industries, Faculty of the Year. Read more about Hernandez.
• Dr. Christopher Leonard, director of Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), Staff of the Year. Read more about Leonard.

Shocker men’s tennis sophomore Zaid Al Mashni’s run to the singles round of 16 highlighted the week for the Shockers at the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Central Region Championships in Oklahoma.

Al Mashni, the top seed in singles qualifying at regionals, dispatched Oral Roberts’ Lucas Couy 6-2, 6-4 Oct. 8 to reach the main draw. In the main draw, the sophomore defeated Memphis’ Marcos Castro Fabra 6-4, 7-6 (8) in the round of 64, and followed it with a win over six-seed Jakub Vrba from Arkansas 6-3, 6-4 to move into the round of 16. In the round of 16, Al Mashni fell to Arkansas’ Ben Weintraub 5-7, 6-0, 6-0, ending his run.