Category: Featured Stories

Wichita State University’s Molecular Diagnostics Laboratory (MDL), a vital resource during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, is now leveraging its expertise to explore new frontiers. By addressing critical gaps in the health care system, the lab is also offering invaluable hands-on training for students, shaping the future of health care.

Building on its pandemic-era success, MDL is now expanding its reach in three significant areas:

• Microbiology services – Collaborating with small, rural hospitals to process their microbiology specimens, ensuring these communities have access to essential and timely diagnostic services.
• Technical consulting and professional services – Offering technical consultancy and professional services to help small hospitals and clinics maintain and achieve certification, empowering them to establish and operate their own laboratories.
• Pathology partnership – MDL secured a contract with Southcentral Pathology, bringing its technical work under Wichita State’s purview.

The Wichita Biomedical Campus is using a $1 million grant to purchase audiology equipment for assessment, teaching, and research, supporting workforce training for in-demand jobs. 

The U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration recently announced the grant, which will be matched by $1 million in local funds.  

“Wichita State University is equipping students with the skills they need to excel in their careers,” Kansas Sen. Jerry Moran said. “This investment from the Economic Development Administration will deliver state-of-the-art technology to WSU to provide students with top-notch training.” 

Kansas is home to more than 15,000 archaeological sites containing arrowheads, ceramics and bison bones. Some of those sites, and people’s ability to learn their stories, are in danger.

Dr. Matthew D. Howland, assistant professor in Wichita State University’s Department of Anthropology, is in the early stages of modeling risks posed by erosion caused by rivers, flooding and agricultural plowing.

Funded by a $49,955 grant from the University of Kansas Center for Research and the Kansas Board of Regents, Howland is first modeling erosion risk at every archaeological site in the state, including Etzanoa near Arkansas City, using satellite imagery and spatial analysis. Kansas is home to 15,835 archaeological sites, according to the Kansas Historical Society.

“How many of these sites are at risk, and what’s the level of risk from these factors? That’s the goal of the project,” Howland said. “When you look at (Kansas), we have a whole lot of agriculture, and we have a whole lot of rivers that are crisscrossing the state. It leads self-evidently to try to understand the impact of erosion on the archaeological record.”

Combined enrollment by headcount across all Wichita State University locations for fall 2024 is 23,806, according to the annual data released today by the Kansas Board of Regents. This is the largest number of students ever choosing to enroll at Wichita State.

The main WSU campus achieved historic enrollment last year with 17,548 students and exceeded this year with 17,700 students.

At WSU Tech, student headcount increased from 5,655 last year to 6,106 this year — also the highest headcount ever for WSU Tech.

“This record-breaking enrollment is a testament to our steadfast dedication to student success and achievement,” said Wichita State President Rick Muma. “It is a direct result of our relentless focus on access and affordability and our commitment to pushing the boundaries of innovation. By aligning our resources and efforts, we are equipping students with the skills and opportunities they need to lead in their careers and drive progress across Kansas and on the global stage.”

Wichita State’s School of Nursing has launched a new Licensed Mental Health Technician (LMHT) pathway. This pioneering program, the first of its kind in the state, will address the growing need for mental health care professions in Kansas.

Key features of the LMHT pathway:

• Coursework is completely online, making the curriculum accessible to individuals across the region.
• All credit hours earned through the pathway can be applied toward a health care degree program for students pursuing further education.
• The School of Nursing is establishing clinical partnerships in rural areas, with the goal of allowing rural students to complete their clinical requirements close to home.

The 2024 CyberCorp Scholars at Wichita State have been announced. The scholarship aims to increase the workforce of cybersecurity professionals in government.

The scholars receive scholarships that cover tuition, a bi-monthly stipend and professional development expenses. This year’s scholars:

• Daniel Halbleib, Bishop Carroll Catholic High School, Bachelor of Science in cybersecurity
• Alexander Pickett, Mill Valley High School, Bachelor of Science in cybersecurity
• Jessica Methman, Southeast High School, Bachelor of Science in cybersecurity
• Hyacinthe Howell, Southeast High School, Master of Science in computer science

Wichita State students now have access to cutting-edge virtual production technology at Shocker Studios with the addition of Synthetic Scenes — a 35- by 11-foot digital wall that will give digital arts students and professionals more tools to create innovative productions.

The digital wall allows actors and other performers to be filmed against any backdrop, and unlike a green screen, the digital wall is live and can be interacted with in real time, meaning performers can react organically, and post-production time is greatly reduced.

Kristyn Waits, a Wichita State alumna, reflects on her journey from an undergraduate student to graduate student. Through transformative experiences like international travel, interdisciplinary collaboration and hands-on learning, Kristyn shares how Wichita State shaped her career and continues to inspire her today.

Wichita State is participating in the VOLARÉ Institute as part of a project to build research capabilities and expand STEM initiatives for Hispanic-Serving Institutions. 

VOLARÉ Institute participants, chosen from an application process, will engage in a series of activities designed to enhance skills and boost the ability to compete for funding while elevating the research enterprise.  

“We are grateful to have been chosen by the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities to participate in the first cohort of the VOLARÉ Institute,” said Coleen Pugh, dean of the Graduate School. “We consider this an important step to attaining our HSI goals, while also contributing WSU’s expertise to the program.” 

Wichita State has been named the 2024-25 Academic Institution of the Year by the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers, the nation’s largest association dedicated to fostering Hispanic leadership in the STEM field.

The award is part of SHPE’s Technical Achievement Recognition program, which recognizes impactful research, professional contributions and community engagement in the STEM community. It will be presented during the STAR Award Gala on Nov. 1 at the Anaheim Convention Center in California.

Wichita State has had a SHPE student chapter since 2008, when it started with five members. The chapter was named the Region Three Chapter of the Year in 2022-23 and 2023-24. During the 2023-24 academic year, there were more than 60 members, and membership for the 2024-25 academic year is expected to be similar or higher. Most of the past SHPE members have been students from the College of Engineering within the university.