Category: News

The Student Perception of Teaching Effectiveness (SPTE) Request Form for instructors teaching a course for the fall 2022 term is due to the Social Science Research Lab no later than Sept. 28.

SPTEs are still needed to satisfy the requirements regarding the annual Faculty Annual Report (FAR), Tenure and Promotion or post-tenure review. SPTEs will be offered until we switch over to Watermark Course Evaluation and Survey (CES) platform.

For those who have not already submitted a fall 2022 SPTE Request Form, they can download the form at the SPTE Request Forms website.

The College of Health Professions (CHP) has three patient-serving clinics that are open to the public. All clinics are accepting new patients and provide high-quality, affordable health care to the community.

• The Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic–Provides speech-language and hearing services to people across the lifespan. The clinic faculty specialize in speaking, hearing, swallowing and spoken and written language impairments. The clinic offers a wide variety of audiology services, including hearing aid fitting and battery replacement.
• The Dental Hygiene Clinic-Offers a wide range of low-cost preventative, therapeutic and educational dental hygiene services.
• WSU’s General Dentistry’s Services-Include cleanings, fillings, teeth whitening and dental implants. The dental clinic provides services in periodontics, endodontics, oral surgery and prosthodontics.

In addition to a new staff, Wichita State’s Graduate School has made a number of changes to policies and procedures effective the fall 2022 semester. Perhaps the most significant being that catalog year will now be determined by entry semester rather than by when the plan of study is approved. To read more about this change and other news about the Graduate School, please view the Graduate School’s fall 2022 Announcements page below.

The Honore Adversus Foundation will host its annual Show N’ Shine car show in Lot 1 (parking lot between Hillside Avenue and the Duerksen Fine Arts Center) noon-4 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 25. All vehicles not participating in the car show need to be moved out of the lot by Saturday night.

Wichita State’s Human Resources office will close 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Friday, Sept, 23, for a team buidling event. The office will reopen at 1:30 pm. Sept. 23.

Dr. David Guo has been named Wichita State’s Regents Distinguished Professor of Public Finance by the Kansas Board of Regents.  

The purpose of the Regents Distinguished Professor program is to attract and retain established scholars in Kansas whose research projects augment the state’s economic and industrial development.  

“I am enthusiastic about this opportunity to help Kansas families, support Kansas businesses and advance economic prosperity,” said Guo. “I pledge to be a good steward of the prestigious position to bridge academics and practice and make a meaningful impact in the real world.” 

Guo previously held an associate professor position at Florida International University, where he researched and taught courses on public budgeting and finance. He joined the Hugo Wall School of Public Affairs in August. 

“I am extremely pleased that Dr. Guo has been named Regents Professor,” Dr. Andrew Hippisley, dean of Fairmount College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, said. “As an expert in public finance, an experienced community connector, and a champion of applied learning and applied research, he will have a significant impact on the region, the state and beyond.” 

Enter the Fall at the Cadman photography contest by submitting an original photo that showcases the beauty of fall. Participants can capture photos using a phone or the camera of theirchoice. The top 15 submissions will have their photo displayed at the Cadman Art Gallery, located on the first floor of the Rhatigan Student Center. The top three submissions will win a Shocker Store gift card.

Submissions are due Sept. 26. For more information and to enter your submission, visit the Fall at the Cadman webpage. For more information, visit the Fall at the Cadman webpage.

Vicki Whisenhant has been named as the new executive director of human resources for Wichita State University. She will begin her role immediately.

Whisenhant brings expertise in leading organizations through cultural and operational transformation in a collaborative and interactive process. She comes to WSU from Post University in Waterbury, Connecticut, where she was the chief experience officer from 2016 through 2021.

Whisenhant, a 1993 WSU alumna, said she is excited and honored to join Shocker Nation, leading the HR team at the university. She will work collaboratively with leadership, faculty and staff to create an engaging environment for everyone.

Gina Crabtree has been named by Executive Vice President and Provost Shirley Lefever to serve as interim assistant vice president and registrar. In this position, Crabtree will continue to oversee retention efforts as part of Strategic Enrollment Management (SEM) in addition to her other duties.

Crabtree brings a wealth of experience to this role, having served the university for 27 years and the Registrar’s Office for 10 years, as well as playing a key role on the SEM committee. This comes as WSU deepens its focus on the recommendations made by WSU’s National Institute for Student Success, as well as efforts to continue recruitment work led by Bobby Gandu.

SEM was previously under the direction of Dr. Carolyn Shaw, who served as AVP for four years. Under her leadership, the university celebrated a 30-year enrollment record. Shaw now serves as a professor of political science. The university is thankful for Shaw’s dedication.

At its Sept. 15 meeting, the Kansas Board of Regents approved an updated list of peer institutions for Wichita State University.

• Cleveland State University
• Portland State University
• University of Memphis
• University of Nebraska at Omaha
• University of Texas at San Antonio

In fall 2021, President Rick Muma assembled a working committee to assess current and aspirational peers to ensure alignment with the university’s mission and goals. The evaluation focused on institutional characteristics, such as mission, Carnegie Class, enrollment trends (including KBOR priorities), and budget. The analysis was based on the most recent national data designed to identify those institutions that are most like WSU.

Additionally, the following were approved as WSU’s aspirational peers:

• Georgia State University
• University of California at Riverside
• University of Cincinnati
• University of Houston
• University of North Carolina at Charlotte

All of Wichita State’s peers are part of the Coalition of Urban Serving Universities, which is “a president-led organization committed to enhancing urban university engagement and tackling key urban challenges in our nation’s cities.”

Wichita State’s previous list of peer and aspirational institutions was created in 2013.

See Monday’s WSU Today for more news from the regents meeting.