Author: Abigail Klein

As we continue to co-exist with COVID-19, it’s important to remember best practices for remaining safe for ourselves and those around us.

Wichita State continues to provide the following preventative services:

• Vaccinations and boosters:
  • Walk-in Student Health Services in the YMCA/Student Wellness Center 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Monday through Friday
  • Walk-in Koch Arena with Sedgwick County Wednesdays 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
• Testing:
  • Walk-in Student Health Services in the YMCA/Student Wellness Center 9am-4pm Monday through Friday.
  • In addition, WSU’s Molecular Diagnostics Lab at 4174 S. Oliver is still providing free COVID-19 PCR collection and testing through the end of December. Learn more at the Molecular Diagnostics Laboratory website.

Masking while indoors on campus is still strongly recommended, as is proper hand washing and staying home when sick.

Thank you for your continued diligence.

More than 2,400 Shockers are eligible for graduation in spring 2022. While each of their journeys is unique, they all share a common connection to Shocker Nation. Here’s what some of our graduates have to say about their time at Wichita State and the future.  

Six Wichita State University women were honored with the Women for Women Innovation Award for spring 2022. The Women for Women’s Innovation Fund is awarded to Wichita State University female students to support innovative ideas that show promise of commercialization.

The Women for Women fund was established in 2020 with contributions to the Wichita State University Foundation to support women leaders and entrepreneurs in moving their ideas forward by providing recipients a boost to “Shock the World.” 

The steel columns and beams rising on the east edge of the Innovation Campus will soon provide a physical centerpiece for the ongoing work of digital transformation at Wichita State University.

The National Institute for Research and Digital Transformation (NIRDT) will occupy the building at 18th Street and Oliver by spring 2023. Construction on the 37,000-square-foot building began in January.

May is mental health awareness month. Counseling and Prevention Services (CAPS) has designed Mental Wellness for Students cards to promote mental health. Each card includes simple, practical tips that encourage students to engage and connect. Today’s card focuses on emotional self-care. Learn how to enhance emotional literacy, navigate emotions, increase empathy, and manage stress effectively, such as:

 • Allowing for quality time with others whose company you enjoy

 • Maintaining contact with valued others

 • Giving self-affirmations and praise

 • Allowing for feelings and expression (laugh, cry, etc.)

Take a moment and think of an activity of emotional self-care that you want to focus on and how you will engage in it. Identify when, where and how frequently you will engage in the activities. Share with someone in your social circle and ask for their support to encourage you to engage in your emotional self-care.

Dear colleagues,

As I shared with you on Wednesday, Wichita State University has parted ways with Director of Athletics Darron Boatright, and we are grateful to Senior Associate Athletic Director Sarah Adams for stepping into the interim role.  

I noted in my previous message that WSU Athletics has a bright future and so much to offer. We will work expediently but diligently to identify a new leader of our athletics program and to get that person on board as quickly as possible.  

This is an important hire for our university, and while we will engage an experienced search firm to assist us in the process, I have asked six members of the Wichita State community to advise me throughout the search. These individuals all have a great passion for Wichita State, share our vision for leadership, and have the insight to assist me as I make a determination of what is next for Shocker Athletics.

I am extremely grateful to the following members of the Search Advisory Group:     

• Angela Buckner, former WSU Women’s Basketball student-athlete and recreation director for Woodard Recreation Center, Fairmount Community Center and Atwater Neighborhood Resource Center
• Lynn Nichols, chair-elect, WSU Foundation Board and CEO of Yingling Aviation   
• Nate Robertson, former WSU Men’s Baseball student-athlete, retired professional baseball player, Maize High School assistant baseball coach, and partner at the Candle Club and LaVela
• John Rolfe, WSU alumnus and president and CEO, Wichita Regional Chamber of Commerce 
• Dr. Clay Stoldt, faculty athletic representative and interim dean of the College of Applied Studies 
• Evan Wessel, former WSU Men’s Basketball student-athlete and financial advisor, Stoutheart Financial Group    

I appreciate the patience and support of all of Shocker Nation as we look forward to the future.     
 

Sincerely,   

President Rick Muma  

Join your fellow Shockers and the Office of Student Engagement, Advocacy & Leadership (SEAL) and volunteer to clear damage from the April 29 storm in Andover 12:30-4:30 p.m. May 3 and 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. and 12:30-4:30 p.m. May 4-6.

Volunteers will need to meet at Andover United Methodist Church at 1429 N. Andover Road between 7 a.m-7 p.m. Transportation will also be provided by the SEAL office for the two separate shifts. Volunteers requesting transportation will need to arrive at the SEAL office at the 216 Rhatigan Student Center at their designated times and dates.

For more information, contact 316-978-7016 or volunteerICT@wichita.edu. 

Credit Union of America was recognized today as a 2022 Champion for Wichita State’s College of Applied Studies, honoring its ongoing engagement and financial support of the future educators of Kansas. CUA has pledged an additional $250,000 to the college to continue funding the Corbin Connect program, ongoing technology needs, scholarships, and programming for CAS students.

The first training lab for the TM1 Budget System training lab for Fiscal Year 2023 will take place 9-11 a.m. April 28 at Jabara Hall 124. Attendants can register through myTraining.

The W. Frank Barton School of Business at Wichita State University is helping Butler Community College students interested in furthering their business education with $40,000 in scholarships. These scholarships will help amplify and activate the coordinated “2+2” program between the two schools where Butler students can receive their associates degree and pursue a business degree at WSU.