Category: Featured Stories

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 

Wichita State has installed new parking signs to clear up confusion about where students, faculty, staff, and visitors can park.

The signs feature prominent block letters: “V” for visitors; “S” for students; and “F” for faculty and staff. Reserved lots and parking spaces are still marked with red signage as before. For the first time, the signs will include lot numbers, allowing for easier wayfinding.

Visitors to WSU may park without an ePermit three times each semester before an ePermit is required. ePermits are only required during the enforcement period: 7 a.m. – 5 p.m. on weekdays when school is in session.

The inauguration ceremony for President Muma is set for 2:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 29, in the Hughes Metropolitan Complex, located at 29th Street N. and Oliver. The event will also be livestreamed on YouTube and on campus television monitors. The theme for the event is “Inspired by the past. Focused on the future.”

The Kansas Board of Regents appointed Muma as the 15th president of Wichita State University in May. He had been serving as interim president of Wichita State since September 2020.

To save the date or for more information, call 316-978-3258 or email inauguration@wichita.edu.You can also visit the link below.

U.S. Army Capt. Scot Mullis is the next Wichita State University Army Reserve Officers’ Training (ROTC) military department chair and assistant professor.

Mullis has been an APMS with Wichita State ROTC since September of 2020. He is a 2010 graduate from the University of Missouri with a Bachelor’s Degree in history and he is currently pursuing his Master of Arts in education.

Multidimensional support systems are the key to preventing bullying and cyberbullying and can help lessen the psychosocial side effects of being a victim of bullying, according to a study done by one Wichita State researcher.

“To prevent school bullying and cyberbullying, teachers, parents, siblings, peers, neighbors, community, job status, religion and school policy must be involved in the prevention program,” said Dr. Jeoung Min Lee, assistant professor in Wichita State University’s School of Social Work.

Aliphine Tuliamuk is in Japan with her daughter. She is sharing her biggest athletic moment with Zoe, born on Jan. 16, while breastfeeding.

Tuliamuk had to fight for this moment, to run the Olympic Marathon in Sapporo while caring for Zoe.

An ancient Wichita Indian town recently rediscovered by Dr. Donald Blakeslee — Fairmont College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Department of Anthropology professor and archeologist — is being excavated with help from Shocker students. The town, called Etzanoa, may have been the second-largest settlement on the continent at the time.

For the first time in Wichita State history, the Barton School of Business has awarded three, multi-year scholarships to transfer students committed to joining the business program, in association with the Phi Theta Kappa honor society.

WSU remains committed to providing educational opportunities at no or low cost to senior citizens.

The recently announced change in fee structure will not impact the cost to senior citizens who audit WSU courses. The letter sent to seniors last week can be disregarded. We regret the confusion caused by that.

Individuals 60-plus years of age will continue to not pay course fees. Occasionally, as has always been the case, a course will have incidental costs for supplies needed to participate in class activities. In those cases, students will be responsible for those expenses.

WSU will be sending a letter of clarification to the seniors who received the previous letter.