Category: News

Read about the newest research and innovation coming out of Wichita State by checking out the August 2023 edition of Research & Innovation News.

Learn more about a $100 million contract NIAR secured for digital transformation, the impact WSU and WSU Tech have on the Kansas economy, how engineering students are using their skills to help an Ecuadorian village, and more.

Research & Innovation News publishes every other month. Subscribe to the mailing list.

Dr. Jennifer Friend, dean, College of Applied Studies, will throw out the first pitch at the Wichita Wind Surge baseball game against the San Antonio Missions at around 6:45 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 31 at Riverfront Stadium to kickoff Educator’s Night sponsored by Credit Union of America.

The game is scheduled to start at 7:05 p.m.

The WSU Child Development Center (CDC) has an open Pre-K spot for the current school year. Kids for the room need to be going to kindergarten in fall 2024.

Call 316-978-3109 or email Jillian Hoefer, director of the CDC, at jillian.hoefer@wichita.edu for more information.

Watermark’s Course Evaluations & Surveys (CES) tool is Wichita State’s new course evaluation tool. Find more information over the coming weeks in WSU Today about CES.

Today’s focus is “What Is CES?”

• CES is a course evaluation platform from Watermark. The evaluation portion of the platform is called “Course Evaluations & Surveys” and at WSU, is referred to it as CES.
• CES has replaced SPTEs as the source for course evaluations.
• CES is easy to use and is integrated with Blackboard.
• CES results are electronic and will be available at the end of the semester.
• Using CES should increase response rates.
• There is a dedicated CES website that includes additional information.

For questions, contact Sandra Ranney, CES administrator, at evaluations@ces.wichita.edu.

Labor Day is coming up Monday, Sept. 4, Shockers, and that means classes will not be in session, and certain services on campus will have adjusted hours.

Keep in mind the following availability of services for Labor Day:

• Housing and Residence Life: The front desks will remain available to help with services like mail, lock outs and emergencies 24/7. Phones will be monitored, but emails will not be responded to until Tuesday, Sept. 5. For emergency requests, students can contact the front desk of their building or the resident assistant on duty: Shocker Hall, The Suites, The Flats.
• University Police Department: Officers and dispatchers will still work as normal. Use the intercom at the front door of UPD’s office or call 316-978-3450 to contact dispatchers.
• Fuzzy’s Taco Shop: Open 10:30 a.m.-10 p.m.
• Sesame Mediterranean Kitchen: 11 a.m.-8 p.m.
• Jersey Mike’s: 10 a.m.-9 p.m.
• Shocker Dining Hall: 7 a.m.-10 p.m.

The First Year Research Experience (FYRE) is open to new Wichita State students from all majors. Through a competitive application process, students are matched with ongoing research projects led by WSU professors in numerous STEM disciplines. Selected students will participate in active laboratory research for 8-10 hours per week, culminating in a poster presentation about their work.

The FYRE applications are due Oct. 10, with interviews and selection occurring in November. Students earn three hours of honors credit and a letter grade for successful completion of FYRE in the spring 2024 semester. Through the FYRE program, students gain perspectives about research and mentoring for developing their career plan.

The Cohen Honors College is seeking mentors to work with students selected to participate in the First-Year Research Experience (FYRE) in STEM. The mission of the FYRE in STEM program is to build a community of students, faculty and professionals from various backgrounds to support young STEM majors or potential majors as they form identities as members of the scientific community and improve the likelihood that they will persist to graduation.

To continue the success of FYRE in STEM, the program is looking for dedicated research mentors from across campus who can provide an appropriate short-term STEM research project in the spring 2024 semester. Faculty, graduate students and/or other STEM professionals at WSU should apply by Oct. 15.  Faculty are also encouraged to nominate graduate students to serve as FYRE mentors. All mentors will be matched with students based on interest. Questions may be directed to Moriah Beck at moriah.beck@wichita.edu or 316-978-5476.

If you know of a first-year undergraduate student who may be interested in applying to the FYRE in STEM program, direct them to the FYRE in STEM Student Application. Faculty can apply online.

The Rhatigan Student Center and its departments will close Sunday, Sept. 3 and Monday, Sept. 4 for Labor Day. Regular hours of operation can be found online.

Did you know the Rhatigan Student Center offers a daily study room for students? Each day, the RSC designates an open meeting room as the official study room of the day.

The room will be unlocked and open to students to come and go as they please to study all day. The rooms are supposed to be a quiet, shared space. Check out the RSC’s Instagram stories daily to find out which room is the study room.

Amid the bustling campus life, a dedicated team works to uphold the values of integrity, responsibility and accountability. Introducing the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards (SCCS), where every day is an opportunity to shape a more respectful and harmonious campus environment.

The SCCS Team consists of Kyle Wilson, director; Liz Thornton, coordinator; and Grace Henderson, graduate assistant. Throughout the academic year, SCCS will post in WSU Today and Shocker Blast, ensuring that the campus community is aware of its policies and the services that it provides to campus.

The Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards isn’t just about enforcing rules; it’s about cultivating a culture of integrity, accountability and growth. With Kyle, Liz and Grace at the helm, the office hopes to be a beacon of positive change, fostering a campus where students thrive as responsible and compassionate global citizens.

You can find SCCS in A1060 Shocker Hall, and it would love to chat and get to know campus community. Here’s to shaping the leaders of tomorrow, one ethical decision at a time.