Author: Lydia Santiago

Wichita State is excited to host its annual university-wide F1rst-gen College Celebration elevating and honoring first-gen undergraduate, graduate, staff, faculty and administration beginning Nov. 7-25.

More than 45% of the student body at Wichita State are first-gen students. We celebrate the Shocker F1rst as they are the first in their family to attend college. Highlights will include showcasing first-gen student art through a special exhibition in the Cadman Art Gallery, passing out of F1rst-Gen Shocker swag, pre-game pep rallies and basketball games, a TRIO/GEAR UP day, a first-gen celebration breakfast, a social mingle, and the first ever fall graduate’s cord ceremony.

To elevate the celebration in November, share your events on social platforms using hashtags, #CelebrateF1rstGen!, #IAMTHEF1RST, #F1RSTGEN and #SHOCKER1ST.

For more information, email FGShockers@wichita.edu.

Join other first-generation students at the First Generation Student Organization (FGSO) first fall 2022 meeting 1-2p.m. Thursday, Sept. 8 at 262 Rhatigan Student Center.

A first-gen student is a term that is used to refer to students who are the first in their families to attend college. FGSO was formed as a platform for first-gen students to meet and share experiences and advocate for their needs on campus.

To attend, please fill out the form located in ShockerSync.

Grab a laptop, a WSU ID and head over to the Rhatigan Student Center (RSC) to participate in take the the College Learning Assessment (CLA) Tuesday 8-5 p.m. June 7 at 142 RSC. Reservations can be made online but walk-ins will also be accepted snacks will be provided to all test takers.

Participants who complete the assessment will receive a $25 gift card. There are two choices for a gift card:  A $25 QuikTrip card or in $25 Shocker Dollars that can be used at the RSC Starbucks, Chick-fil-A, Panda Express, Freddy’s, Shocker Dining, Ground House or the Shocker Sports Grill.

The CLA measures the college and career readiness skills of critical thinking, problem solving, and effective written communication. For more information contact, Testing Services as 316-978-TEST (8378).

FIRST Generation Coordinating Council and First-Generation Student Organization will distribute free gold and white cords for first-generation graduates to wear at the May 14 commencement ceremony.  at the following times and dates at the Ablah Library Circulation Desk:

• 7:30 a.m.-10 p.m. May 9-12
• 8 a.m.-5 p.m. May 13

Invitations have already been sent to first-gen students who applied for their degrees. Students must present their Shocker ID to receive the cord.

For more information, contact FGshockers@wichita.edu or follow @wsu_fgso on  Instagram.

The Office of Assessment is Wichita State senior students a chance to earn a $25 QuikTrip gift card or $25 in Shocker Dollars if they complete the Collegiate Learning Assessment (CLA) 8:30 a.m-4:30 p.m. April 26 at the Rhatigan Student Center 142. The test is cosponsored by Testing Services. Snacks will be provided to test takers.

Students can make a reservation online. Walk-ins will also be accepted. Students can also register to take the CLA June 30.

The CLA measures the college and career readiness skills of critical thinking, problem solving, and effective written communication. For more information contact, Testing Services as 316-978-TEST (8378).

Spring and summer 2022 first-generation students can get a free gold and white braided cord 11 a.m.-1 p.m. and 4-6 p.m. Wednesday, April 27 at the Rhatigan Student Center (Room 313). The cord is provided by the  F1RST Generation Coordinating Council and the F1RST Generation Student Organization to acknowledge those who are the first in their family to graduate with a four-year degree.

To get the cord, students must show their WSU ID. For more information, contact FGshockers@wichita.edu.

Faculty and staff are invited to join the Strategic Enrollment Management (SEM) group for their spring 2022 campus highlights brunch event beginning at 9 a.m. April 28 at the Rhatigan Student Center (Beggs Ballroom). During the event, join the SEM group as they present SEM recognitions and announce the winner of the SEM Project Award.

The SEM Project Award will be given to the team or teams, faculty, staff, or both, who have made a notable contribution to meeting SEM goals. Registration is required to attend.

Looking for first-year and senior students to take the Collegiate Learning Assessment.

• The CLA is a 90- minute open-ended assessment that helps WSU measure how well it is teaching critical thinking, analytic reasoning, problem-solving and writing skills.
• Consider it practice for test-taking on graduate school entrance exams.
• Represent WSU in comparison to other school.
• Add it to your resume.

Eligible students who complete the exam will earn a $25 gift card to either QuikTrip or Shocker Dollars ot use at the RSC dining spots, Starbucks, and Shocker Dining Hall.

The committee for Wichita State’s University Village held three meetings Feb. 23 with the potential developer, Lane4 Group and the architecture firm, GMLV Architecture. In these meetings, feedback was received from students faculty, staff, and WSU’s campus community. The feedback has been gathered and posted on the WSU University Village web page.

Feedback is still be taken, visit www.wichita.edu/uvfeedback.

All student, faculty, staff, and WSU’s campus community can visit the UV frequently asked questions web page to review the questions and answers that were assembled. Wichita State University’s Village committee plans to make an announcement of the developer selected in early spring 2022.

The Office of Assessment is offering freshman and senior students a chance to earn a $25 QuikTrip gift card or $25 in Shocker Dollars if they complete the Collegiate Learning Assessment (CLA) through Dec. 17. The CLA is a 90-minute open-ended assessment. 

Why Take the CLA?

• The CLA is good practice for test-taking for graduate school entrance exams, including Graduate Record Examinations.
• Students can add it to their résumé.
• Some students say the CLA is fun because the questions are unlike those on typical tests.
• The CLA represents WSU in comparison to other schools.
• Students can receive a score report that compares them to other seniors at colleges and universities nationwide and with other seniors at WSU.
• The CLA can influence teaching at WSU for years to come.