Author: Sara Ornelas

The Department of Defense (DoD) has designated South Kansas as a Defense Manufacturing Community (DMC), making the region eligible for $5 million through the Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation’s Defense Manufacturing Community Support Program. The initiative is led by Wichita State University’s National Institute for Aviation Research (NIAR).

The annual faculty and staff fall address is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. today at the Beggs Ballroom located in the Rhatigan Student Center. The event will also be available via a YouTube livestream.

President Richard Muma, with the assistance of several university representatives, will outline key focus areas for the coming year:

• Access and affordability
• Applied learning and digital transformation
• Interdisciplinary research

It’s great to see so many Shocker faces on campus! Keep yourself safe and healthy, enjoy our beautiful campus, and best of luck this semester.

Hello, Shockers! After more than a year of virtual classes and Zoom meetings, it is with particular enthusiasm that I welcome you back to Wichita State! I look forward to seeing all your faces around campus, in meetings, and in our classrooms.

In this time of uncertainty around COVID-19, it’s particularly important that we take measures to promote and protect our own wellness, as well as the health of our loved ones and the community.

One such precaution you can take is getting vaccinated against COVID-19. As a licensed physician assistant myself, I have taken this step, and know these vaccines are an important part in ending the pandemic. We’ve made it easy for you to receive a vaccine at Student Health located in the Wellness Center. We are also requiring masks in our classrooms and labs, and we’re strongly recommending masks be worn in all other indoor spaces on campus. 

As we head into the fall semester, I hope you’ll also take some time to enjoy a meal in the RSC, take a stroll around our beautiful campus, and connect with other members of our Shocker family.

During the coming weeks and months, I look forward to talking with all of you about how we can work together to achieve our shared vision for Wichita State. I hope to see you in person or virtually at our annual faculty and staff fall address on Wednesday.

Again, welcome back, Shocker family. And best of luck in all your endeavors.

Go Shockers!

Amanda Phanivong, a Wichita State University senior studying integrated marketing communication, recently began a fellowship with the Kansas-based Storytime Village Inc. While working there with their marketing and special events cohort, Phanivong has fully embraced her time with the Storytime team.

With the start of a new academic year, I would like to welcome each of you to Wichita State University. Whether you are new to WSU or returning, we are happy you are here.

I know the stress associated with the pandemic has taken a toll on many of us. Please know the mental well-being of our students is important to me. I encourage you to protect your mental wellness and the mental health of others by talking openly about mental health, checking in on your fellow Shockers, and taking advantage of university resources. 

One way to do this is to complete the #WeSupportU Preventing Suicide training and becoming a #WeSupportU Mental Health Advocate for mental wellness at WSU. The training is free to all Shockers using a valid WSU e-mail address when creating a login. You will also receive a free Suspender4Hope shirt! Additional resources are available at the following links: 

• Counseling and Prevention Services is the on-campus mental health care provider for enrolled students. 
• The Care Team provides a proactive and supportive multidisciplinary team approach to prevention, assessment and intervention for students or employees. 

Again, welcome to campus, and best wishes for a very successful academic year!

Go Shockers! 

Dr. Shirley Lefever, interim provost

With the start of a new academic year, I would like to welcome each of you to Wichita State University. Whether you are new to WSU or returning, we are happy you are here.

I know the stress associated with the pandemic has taken a toll on many of us. Please know the mental well-being of our employees and students is important to me. I encourage you to protect your mental wellness and the mental health of others by talking openly about mental health, checking in on your fellow Shockers, and taking advantage of university resources. 

One way to do this is to consider becoming a #WeSupportU Mental Health Advocate. This resource provides the tools you need to help create a supportive mental health culture here at Wichita State. Additional resources are available at the following links: 

• The Employee Assistance Plan provides information, short-term counseling, advice, and referrals from licensed professionals who understand the stresses we all face every day.
• Counseling and Prevention Services is the on-campus mental health care provider for enrolled students. 
• The Care Team provides a proactive and supportive multidisciplinary team approach to prevention, assessment and intervention for students or employees. 

Again, welcome to campus, and best wishes for a very successful academic year!

Go Shockers! 

Dr. Shirley Lefever, interim provost 

For this week’s Tuesday Talks, watch Nurse Heather Stafford, Student Health Services associate director;  Camille Childers, SHS director; Dr. Chris Leonard, Counseling and Prevention Services associate director; Caitlin Nolen, First-Year Programs intern; and Michelle Barger, a new college parent, as they discuss what parents need to know about keeping students healthy at Wichita State.

Dear Shockers:

I hope this finds you and your families well and enjoying this last little bit of summer. It’s hard to believe that it is already August. We are eagerly awaiting your arrival on campus and ready to welcome you back. There are already countless plans in the works for campus activities, and I encourage each of you to take advantage of all Wichita State has to offer this fall.  

In early June, given the positive decreasing trend of reported COVID-19 cases in our community along with the ready availability of vaccines, the university transitioned back to in-person operations. However, as we have said since the beginning of our pandemic-management efforts, our top priority has always been the health and safety of our entire campus community. This is no less true today than it was a year ago. The university has been monitoring the rapid spread of the Delta variant across the country and in our own community. Given this increasing positivity rate and the dangers associated with the Delta variant, the university is taking proactive steps to mitigate spread of this variant on our campus.  

Therefore, effective immediately, all students, faculty, staff, and visitors — regardless of vaccination status — will be required to wear a mask in all campus classrooms and laboratories. Additionally, we encourage all members of our campus community to wear masks in all other indoor campus locations.  

We believe this small step will greatly increase our chances of keeping our campus open for in-person business and keeping our students in the classroom.  

As we continue to weather this public health crisis, we are counting on everyone in Shocker Nation to continue to take measures to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus.  

Vaccination remains our strongest tool against community transmission and spread. The university encourages all on our campus to get vaccinated if they are able. Vaccines are widely available and are free to students, employees, campus partners, and their families from Wichita State Student Health Services. Go to www.wichita.edu/covidvaccine to learn more.   

The Eugene M. Hughes Metropolitan Complex, at the corner of 29th and Oliver, offers free walk-in testing for everyone. For more information, call 316-978-3734. Students and employees can also get tested through Student Health Services.  

This is a complex, challenging, and fluid situation that continues to evolve rapidly. We will communicate further updates as they become available.  

Sincerely,  

President Rick Muma, Wichita State University 

Wichita State continues to review its campus health and safety measures in light of the increasing community spread of the COVID-19 Delta variant. Our top priority has always been – and remains – the health and safety of our campus community. We appreciate your patience as we work to keep our campus open, continue meeting in person, and keep students in the classroom. Additional information will be available soon.