Dear Shocker family,
Higher education is undergoing profound change, and Wichita State is no exception. These shifts are reshaping how we support faculty, staff and students, allocate resources and organize our work. In the face of it all, our leadership team — Provost Monica Lounsbery and I included — are united in our commitment to be as transparent as possible, while remaining collaborative and caring for our people. This is the reason for this communication.
We’ve gained some clarity on the state budget following the legislative session. As Senior Vice President David Miller has shared, Wichita State will receive a 2.5% compensation pool increase for eligible positions funded through the state general fund. In addition, and like many public institutions, we’re navigating long-term pressures, including projected declining enrollment (especially international enrollment), increasing operating costs, flat state funding for base operations, and new obligations in athletics. This means we must be thoughtful stewards of every dollar we currently have and ones we will have access to next year.
Let me be clear: Our goal is to make budgetary changes through internal reallocations, handle any position adjustments through attrition, and move toward a standard university practice of efficiency and optimization, while implementing a moderate tuition increase. To facilitate this, we are examining all areas to improve efficiency and more fully optimize our base operations. For example, in Academic Affairs, we’re working to reduce the number of course sections that fall below an 80% fill rate. That’s part of a broader effort to optimize how we’re deploying our people. By working more efficiently, we can repurpose savings into areas such as compensation, growth and innovation.
These efforts are about operating with clarity and purpose. Wichita State must continue to adopt sound, salient business practices while staying true to what makes us a great place to learn and work. This will be an ongoing process that calls for transparency, trust and flexibility.
We are also responding to challenges beyond our budget, including multiple federal executive and state actions. Provost Lounsbery and I are in regular contact with each other and with federal and state leaders to advocate for our campus and uphold our responsibilities under the law. We convene with deans, institutional leaders and constituencies on a regular basis to discuss the latest developments and take actions as needed. If you are unaware of specific campus practices to address these challenges, please know that this does not mean they are going unaddressed. Be assured that various members of our campus community are providing strong support to anyone affected by the changing state and federal landscape.
In the midst of these complexities, we still find so much to celebrate, especially our students. The school year is nearly over, and we’re incredibly proud of the hard work of every student and the faculty and staff who continue to support them along the way. In all of this, we are reminded that our students are why we’re here.
I realize there is uncertainty as we adapt to changing realities. If needed, please reach out to your supervisor/director for assistance and additional support.
Finally, staying focused on our vision, mission, and core values is important in this moment. We know this approach works, so let’s keep trusting it and moving forward together.
Thank you for all you do for Wichita State and for one another.
Rick Muma
President
