Author: Caelin Bragg

Dear WSU Faculty:

As you’ve likely heard, Emmy Award-winning journalist Norah O’Donnell will be our guest for the 2024 Craig W. Barton Speaker Series on March 21, 2024. O’Donnell is anchor and managing editor of the CBS Evening News. She also anchors all CBS News’ Election Specials and is a “60 Minutes” contributing correspondent. She has covered six presidential elections and interviewed every living U.S. president.

This will be an incredible opportunity for students from across campus to hear about and learn from O’Donnell’s decades of experiences covering events around the globe and conducting news-making interviews with world leaders.

I strongly encourage you to include O’Donnell’s visit as part of your curriculum for your spring 2024 classes, as she’s sure to offer our students valuable and evocative insight and advice about current and political affairs from around the world.

The Craig W. Barton Speaker Series, which was established in 2021, is an annual event that aims to expose students to differing points of view and encourage critical thinking and conversation.

There are two opportunities for students to engage with O’Donnell during her visit to Wichita State:

• At 3 p.m. on March 21, there will be a moderated Q & A with students led by SGA President Iris Okere with opening remarks by Dr. Jeff Jarman, director for the Elliott School of Communication. A link for students to sign up for the afternoon event will be provided to faculty for their curriculum and distributed through Shocker Blast.
• At 6 p.m. on March 21, O’Donnell will deliver a keynote address in Miller Concert Hall followed by a moderated discussion. This event is open to the public, and students are welcome and encouraged to attend. Access to tickets will be available Feb. 1, 2024.

Both events will offer distinct experiences for our students, and they both promise to be informative, enriching, and entertaining.

For more information about the Barton Speaker Series visit wichita.edu/bartonseries or call Carmen Hytche at 316-978-3142.

Sincerely,

Shirley Lefever
Executive Vice President & Provost

COVID-19 testing remains available at the Molecular Diagnostics Laboratory (MDL), 4174 S. Oliver, building 174H, for all students, faculty, staff and the general public at no cost.

Need a test? Self-scheduled appointments are available Monday through Thursday 7 a.m.-4 p.m. or Friday 7 a.m.-2 p.m. Guaranteed results within 24 hours of receiving the test.

Preston Schroeder, formerly the assistant director in the Office of Civil Rights, Title IX & ADA Compliance (CTAC), has been promoted to director of investigations to reflect his increased scope managing the university’s investigations and informal resolution processes pursuant to equal opportunity, affirmative action, ADA/Section 504 and Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972.

Preston recently joined WSU after 13 years of service with the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office. While with the sheriff’s office, Preston served as a detective in the Exploited and Missing Child Unit’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. Preston later served as a sergeant in both the Investigations Division and Professional Standards Unit.

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 Dr. Shirley Lefever, provost and executive vice president at Wichita State, who went to college as a first-gen student.

The Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships and the Office of Online & Adult Learning (OAL) invites adult learners to attend its “Steps to Unlock Every Dollar” event from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 29 in the Grace Wilkie Annex.

Meet with Heather Hill, financial aid advisor and fellow adult learner. At the come-and-go event, attendees will learn about federal aid, scholarships and other opportunities to help get the best out of their investment at Wichita State.

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 Raul Leyva-Montes, a current first-gen student at Wichita State, about their first-gen experience.

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 Sheney Redmond, a current first-gen student at Wichita State, about their first-gen experience.

In recognition of her accomplishments and commitment to raising continuing generations of teachers, Provost Shirley Lefever, executive vice president, has been selected as the 2024 Hans C. Olsen Award for the Distinguished Teacher Educator from the Association of Teacher Educators (ATE).

The award was established by ATE to select and honor individuals whose contributions to the preparation of teachers are worthy of special recognition, and it will be presented in-person at the ATE 2024 annual meeting in March during the awards gala.

Fall 2023 graduates may find information regarding their diplomas on the Registrar website (wichita.edu/diplomas). Graduates should keep in mind the following information:

• The deadline to submit a name change on the diploma is the last day of classes, Dec. 7.
• The diploma distribution date for the fall 2023 semester is Feb. 8, 2024. Diplomas can be picked up at the transcript window on the first floor of Jardine Hall, and graduates must show identification.
• Graduates can also request to have the diploma mailed to them for a fee through myWSU under the myClasses tab, “Graduation Links” and “Request for Diploma Mailing.”

Undergraduate students who wish to take courses after graduation need to reactive their record after receiving their diploma.

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 Anna Heacock, a current first-gen student at Wichita State, about her first-gen experience.