Author: Kim Sandlin

Do your notes make sense? Are they organized and in an appropriate format to study? The Shocker Learning Center at Lindquist Hall (room 107) is here to help.

If the pages of your textbook are covered with highlights because you aren’t sure how to decide which information is important, or you need tips on how to organize your notes to prepare for an exam, we can help. Visit the link below to get some quick tips online, or go to the Shocker Learning Center for help in person.

Did you know there is an academic calendar updated each semester with dates about payment arrangements, enrollment, breaks and finals? These are important dates for you to put in your personal calendars.

The COVID-19 pandemic has elevated our awareness of the importance of mental health. In honor of National Suicide Prevention Week Sept. 5-11, support students both in and out of the classroom by becoming a mental health advocate. You can help spread the message of mental health support in several ways.

1. Join us at 8 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 11 in front of the Rhatigan Student Center for the inaugural Suspenders4Hope Run for Hope and 1-Mile Walk in Honor to benefit StopSuicideICT.  Find more information about registering a team and donating at supenders4hope.stopsuicideict.com.
2. Go to suspenders4hope.com and complete the #WeSupportU Preventing Suicide Training to learn more tools for supporting our students who may be struggling.
3. Follow, like and share @ShockersCAPS to help the message of hope reach students.
4. Wear a Suspenders4Hope shirt as a visual display of your support for mental health and to help decrease mental health stigma. Shirts are available for purchase at the Shocker Store. Wear them often, especially on Fridays.
5. Participate in the #WeSupportU Mental Wellness in the Classroom card project. This project is designed to give you a series of short five to 10-minute exercises that can be performed with any group of students to promote well-being and connectedness. Request a set of cards here.

The COVID-19 pandemic has elevated awareness of the importance of mental health. In honor of National Suicide Prevention Week Sept. 5-11, support your peers both in and out of the classroom by becoming a Suspenders4Hope mental health advocate. You can also spread the message of mental health support in several ways.

• Join us at 8 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 11 in front of the Rhatigan Student Center for the inaugural Suspenders4Hope Run for Hope and 1-mile Walk in Honor to benefit StopSuicideICT. Find more information about registering a team and donating at supenders4hope.stopsuicideict.com.
• Go to suspenders4hope.com and complete the Preventing Suicide Training to help give you more tools for supporting those who may be struggling.
• Follow, like and share @suspenders4hope to help the message of hope reach our community.
• Wear a suspenders shirt as a visual display of your support for mental health and to help decrease mental health stigma. Shirts are available at the Shocker Store. Wear them often, especially on Fridays.
• Be sure to tag @suspenders4Hope and use the use #WeSupportU in your suspender shirt selfies.

If you or anyone you know is in crisis, and you need to speak with a crisis counselor, you can call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) 24 hours a day. Asking for help is a sign of strength.

Wichita State University is committed to preserving and supporting freedom of thought, speech and expression on our campuses.

Read about our values and work around this, as well as a statement by the Kansas Board of Regents on our website.

As we create a better normal after the last year-and-a-half, it’s important students know who their team members are so that they can receive student-centered, wraparound support. To help with this goal, each academic college has a success coach assigned to it to help their students create individual plans of action based on each student’s strengths and needs.

The coaches then partner with other areas such as academic advising, the CARE Team and Shocker Career Accelerator, if needed, to provide support and opportunities to help you maximize your potential for success. Coaches also support students with their motivation, time and priority management, procrastination, test preparation, study skills and accountability.

Would you like to share your ideas, questions or feedback for the planning of the 2022 orientation program? If so, you can attend one of the orientation feedback sessions virtually or at the Rhatigan Student Center (RSC) on the following dates:

• 2-3:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 24 virtual session
• 2-3:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 29 at the RSC (room 319)
• 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept.30 at the RSC (room 319)

A feedback form will be made available later in September for those who are unable to attend or for those who prefer to keep their comments anonymous.

Space is limited for the in-person sessions, so please RSVP.

Have a paper to write but you’d rather watch the next season of your favorite series on Netflix? Managing time, priorities and life roles along with all of your academic deadlines can get overwhelming, but Wichita State’s student success coaches are here to help.

Visit the time management page located at Wichita State’s Student Success website. Students can also meet with a peer success coach at the Shocker Learning Center located in Lindquist Hall (room 107).

Are you feeling overwhelmed prioritizing, studying and juggling multiple roles while trying to meet your academic deadlines? Time management will always be one of the biggest challenges for all college students but Wichita State’s student success coaches are here to help.

Students who want to to improve their time-management skills can find tips and resources in the Time Management section of the Student Success website.

Students can also reach out to their professional success coach for help on time management.

If you are a student who has a learning, mental or physical disability, make sure you have registered with the Office of Disability Services. The ODS team will help you make sure you have the accommodations you need in all of your classrooms and university activities so you can meet your goals.

Even students that have had some injuries or need assistance under some temporary circumstances qualify. Check out their resources early so you can benefit from their help throughout the semester.