Category: Events and Recreation

The Barton School of Business invites the campus community to celebrate the retirement of Joan Adkisson, executive director, Finance and Administration, who has served Wichita State with dedication and distinction for over 22 years. A come-and-go reception will be held between 3 and 5 p.m. Monday, Feb. 9 in 141 Woolsey Hall, Fidelity Bank Ballroom. Light refreshments will be provided.

The Barton School hopes you will join in honoring Joan’s years of service and celebrating her many contributions to Wichita State and the Barton School community.

Next week, starting Monday, Jan. 26 in the Shocker Success Center, Adult Learning is holding an event for adult learners to get to know their peers. Each day, it will have representatives from each college at the event so students can connect and get to know them.

Each event will take place from 10:30 to 11:15 a.m. in 301 Shocker Success Center, next to the Adult Learning suite. 

• Monday, Jan. 26: College of Engineering
• Tuesday, Jan. 27: Fairmount College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
• Wednesday, Jan. 28: College of Applied Studies and College of Fine Arts
• Thursday, Jan. 29: College of Health Professions
• Friday, Jan. 30: Barton School of Business

Start your semester off right by joining the Student Activities Council (SAC) for its spring 2026 open house from 4 to 6 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 27 in 233 Rhatigan Student Center, Santa Fe Trail Room. Learn about SAC and involvement opportunities, play some games and meet new people at this come-and-go event.

You can also get a sneak-peek at some of SAC’s upcoming events for the semester. There will also be free food.

This event is coordinated by the Student Activities Council. For questions about the event, call 316-978-3022 or email sac@wichita.edu.

What if you could put your business instincts to the test, make real business decisions and see the results play out in minutes? The Center for Entrepreneurship, in collaboration with the NextGen Entrepreneurs Student Organization, is hosting a fast-paced game competition that puts your strategy, risk taking and creativity to the test.

Whether you’re just exploring entrepreneurship or gearing up for the Shocker New Venture Competition, this is an event you won’t want to miss.

New semester, new stress? Snuggle therapy dogs instead. Student Success and University Libraries invite the campus community to PAWS & Relax from 10 a.m. to noon Wednesday, Jan. 28 at Ablah Library. Friendly therapy dogs from Love on a Leash will be on hand to help you unwind and recharge.

Research shows that spending time with animals can help reduce stress and boost mood — making this a paws-itively perfect break between classes or meetings. The drop-in event is open to the campus community.

Faculty, staff and students are invited to join Wichita State Connect for a short service project from noon to 1 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 4 in Wichita State Connect in celebration of National TRIO and GEAR UP Day with the annual Books & Bears initiative, delivering a book and a bear to neighborhood elementary schools.

Help spread encouragement:

• Write short, uplifting notes for students
• Assemble candy bags to be shared at the Books & Bears event later this week

No experience needed, just bring your heart for service and community. Stop by for all or part of the hour and help show students they are supported, seen and rooted in resilience.

Join the Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity (UReCA) Hub at a research social from 2 to 4 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 27 in the Ablah Library Digital Scholars Commons Area. This social event creates a welcoming and engaging space that builds community among everyone involved or interested in research — faculty, students, staff and community members.

These gatherings also help raise awareness of ongoing research projects. Light snacks and games will be provided.

A blood drive is being hosted on campus from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 27 and Wednesday, Jan. 28 in the Heskett Center lobby.

All donors will receive a $20 e-gift card to the merchant of their choice. To schedule your appointment visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-733-2767 and use sponsor code: WichitaState.

The blood drive is hosted in partnership with the American Red Cross Student Chapter at Wichita State.

Welcomefest takes place during the first four weeks of the spring semester and features dozens of activities designed to help you kick off the new year and get connected on campus. Popular programs for new and returning Shockers include Winter Welcome from 3 to 6 p.m. Jan. 22 in front of Shocker Hall, the Involvement Fair from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 29 in the Rhatigan Student Center and a variety of social, cultural and involvement-focused events.

Whether you’re looking to meet new people, find your community or jump into campus life, Welcomefest has something for you. To explore all the opportunities that await you, visit wichita.edu/welcomefest.

Welcomefest events are hosted by Wichita State departments and student organizations across campus and coordinated by Student Engagement & Belonging. If you have questions, call 316-978-3022 or email seb@wichita.edu.

While your studies are important, equally important is getting to know your peers and just having fun during your college years. Thankfully, there’s no shortage of events at Wichita State designed just for that.

There are over 200 Registered Student Organizations on campus, all hosting regular events throughout the semester. Check out ShockerSync to learn more about the different organizations on campus and view the calendar of events every day for new activities.

To help get you started, Welcomefest has dozens of events now through Feb. 15 to help students like you engage with your peers, including the 2026 Winter Welcome from 3 to 6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 22 in front of Shocker Hall with bumper cars, curling, warm drinks, light snacks and community.

Additionally, WSU’s thriving fine arts and athletics scenes give Shockers like you a chance for a deeper connection to the community. With your Shocker ID, you can attend all WSU fine arts and athletics events on campus at no additional charge, thanks to the Student Government Association. You can get started with:

• Women’s basketball versus Memphis at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 20 in Charles Koch Arena.
• Men’s basketball versus East Carolina at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 21 in Charles Koch Arena. You can reserve your free ticket now at goshockers.com/StudentTickets.