On behalf of all of us at Wichita State University, I extend our warmest congratulations for your achievements. Your hard work and dedication have brought you to this moment, and we couldn’t be prouder.
As you take the next step, know that everyone in Shocker Nation is proud of you, and we are rooting for your success every step of the way. And we are, of course, always ready to welcome you back. Whether it’s a visit, another degree or perhaps to cheer on the next generation of Shockers. Congratulations once again and best wishes for your future endeavors.
Returning Shockers, before you start relaxing for summer break, it’s important to stay informed on recent federal regulations regarding aid packages and make sure you are prepped for the fall semester by enrolling now. Please read this important new information:
With changes to federal regulations on aid awards effective July 1, starting in the 2026-27 school year, students in part-time status (11 credit hours or fewer in the semester) will receive a reduced amount of federal loan offers than students in full-time status (12 credit hours and over).
Students who drop from full-time to part-time status during the semester will be required to pay back the difference in loan amounts to the federal government.
By finalizing your schedule by the priority date of July 1, you’ll ensure you receive the correct loan packages, Pell Grants and other financial aid offers. If you haven’t finalized your schedule by then, you may miss out on potential aid or face delays in receiving your aid.
Unsure about which courses you should take in the fall? Meet with your academic advisor, who can guide you through the process of checking your degree progress and enrolling you in fall courses.
Jonathan Cross and Stephen Cross Jr., investment adviser representatives with Voya Financial, will be available for in-person meetings at Wichita State Monday, May 11 and Tuesday, May 12. Faculty and staff can get one-on-one advising and review their Voya Financial accounts as part of their KBOR retirement plan, or new employees can receive assistance in enrolling in their KBOR plan.
If you are interested in meeting with Jonathan or Stephen, you can schedule a time to meet and select “Wichita State University / One-On-One Financial Counseling” while selecting your location. Time slots are limited, so reserve a time soon. For questions, you can call 316-788-0788.
The table below is to assist instructors with certain dates regarding CES. These dates are for the summer 2026 semester.
The first column includes the various start/end (part-of-term) dates for summer semester courses that start in May.
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.
President Rick Muma stopped by the Shocker Success Center and Ablah Library May 7 to visit with students preparing for finals for this month’s Rick Rewards. President Muma chatted with the students studying and handed out snacks and meal vouchers to help them finish the semester strong.
Rick Rewards is awarded each month by President Muma to show his appreciation for the efforts of the campus community.
More than 2,400 students are eligible to participate in Wichita State University’s 128th spring commencement ceremony on Friday, May 15 and Saturday, May 16 in Charles Koch Arena. There will be four ceremonies to celebrate the graduates:
Friday, May 15: Graduate ceremony
All graduate degrees will be awarded at 7 p.m. Friday, May 15. The featured speaker will be Aishah Alhomsi, president of Wichita State’s Graduate Student Association.
Saturday, May 16: Undergraduate ceremonies
9 a.m. — Fairmount College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the College of Fine Arts and the Dorothy and Bill Cohen Honors College. The featured speaker will be Sarah Kephart, a leader in inclusive arts education and an accessibility advocate.
1 p.m. — The College of Applied Studies and the College of Health Professions with featured speaker Marc Farha, co-CEO of CAA ICON.
5 p.m. — The W. Frank Barton School of Business and the College of Engineering with featured speaker Richard Dinkel, executive vice president CFO of Koch Inc.
Dr. Kandatege Wimalasena, professor of biochemistry, passed away April 30.
Wimalasena served Wichita State for over 35 years where he primarily researched the toxins that can cause Parkinson’s disease. He was recognized as a WSU Bender of Twigs in 2014.
A visitation will be from noon to 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 6, followed by funeral services from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m., at Reflection Pointe Funeral & Cremation Services, 3201 S. Webb Rd.
President Rick Muma talks with Shocker Design Experience mentors Yuridia Abrego, Alexander Kimble and James Wright — current students who have completed the course and now help guide others through the experience. The program helps students develop critical thinking, teamwork, problem-solving and project management skills through hands-on learning.
