Author: Kim Sandlin

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.

Each of your classes has a syllabus that serves as the map for the course. In it you will find the learning objectives for the course as well as the schedule of assignments, papers, exams, and other important academic information.

When you have a question about an assignment, revisit the syllabus. Also, understand the grading scale used in each class. Wichita State operates on a plus/minus scale, which is important to know when you are setting goals and study schedules for the semester.

Need help? Attend the Syllabus Party at from 11 a.m.  to 1 p.m. Tuesday in the RSC Harvest Room (142). Can’t make the event and still need help? Connect with a success coach at the link below.

Successful students ask for help from their instructors. Often, students don’t ask because they don’t know how. As faculty and staff, we know that student hours — or office hours — are when instructors set time aside in their office to help students. But to students, many of whom are first-generation, those may be interpreted as hours that instructors are in their offices working and should not be bothered. You can help students feel more confident in asking for help from their instructors by explaining that office hours really mean student hours, which can be found and explained on their class syllabus.

Office hours are student hours. When is the last time you visited one of your faculty members during their office hours? Do you know what that term even means? These are specific times that instructors have set aside to meet with students in their office to answer questions about content from class, visit about research, or chat about career options in their field. Faculty and instructors want to help you succeed, so check out the hours on their syllabus and go visit them! If, for no other reason, to introduce yourself and say “hello!”

If neither of your parents or legal guardians have four-year degrees, you are a first-generation student and are among more than 40% of students at Wichita State.

We are proud of the services and care we offer to our first-generation students and encourage you to check out the numerous services offered in collaboration with the First-Generation Coordinating Council.

Visit our website for events and opportunities, including our college-based TRIO programs and First-Generation Student Celebration Week Nov. 8-12.