Category: News

What is a first-gen student?

A first-generation college student is defined as a student whose parent(s) or legal guardian(s) have not completed a bachelor’s degree. A student who is the first person in their immediate family to attend a four-year college/university to attain a bachelor’s degree.

• Focus on first-gen: This week we highlight Jacob Mendez, student engagement coordinator, College of Engineering.
• Graduation cords: Fall 2021 first-gen graduation cords are in route to the colleges. For more information, contact Lydia Santiago, FGShockers@wichita.edu.
• Faculty and staff: If you are interested in being featured as a first-generation profile, contact Lydia Santiago at FGShockers@wichita.edu.
• Thank you Wichita State colleagues and friends for your support during First-Gen Week. Enjoy one last look at the Identity Art Showcase at the Cadman Art Gallery.  The talent of the first-gen artists will remain on exhibit through today, Nov. 19.

The Foundation Accounting Department is providing members with the following Foundation year-end requisition reminders in preparation for the upcoming holiday season.

Foundation Requisition Requests: Please make note of cut-off dates and times during the holiday season.

Gift Card Policy Reminder: Please refer to Wichita State’s Policies and Procedures before purchasing a gift for employees. Please see Campus Policy 13.21/Gifts to Employees: No cash or cash equivalent (i.e., gift cards, may be given as a gratuity, gift or other favor to a University employee from any fund source.) This includes Foundation funds. Any Foundation Requisition requests to reimburse gift card purchases will be denied.

For more information, please reach out to Kimberly Pham at foundation.ap@wichita.edu.

Foundation year-end gift receipt information for 2021 Tax Credit

Checks without a postmarked envelope will need to be delivered to the Foundation Finance Team Office by 4 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 30 as the office will close at this time. Checks with an envelope postmarked by Dec. 31 need to be at the office no later than 4 p.m. Friday, Jan. 7, 2022.

Information for credit or debit cards to be processed in the office will need to be submitted by 4 p.m. Dec. 30.

Online bank drafts and online credit cards will be able to be processed until midnight on Dec. 31.

Work by the Shockers Vote! Coalition helped Wichita State increase its voting rate for students by 19.2% from 2016, according to the 2020 National Study of Learning, Voting and Engagement. Wichita State’s 2020 voting rate of 68.1% is above the national 66% rate, according to the data compiled by the Tufts University Institute For Democracy & Higher Education.

The Rhatigan Student Center (RSC) and its departments will close Thursday, Nov. 25– Sunday, Nov. 28 for the Thanksgiving break. The building and departments will also have altered hours of operation Wednesday, Nov. 24. For specific hours, visit RSC Hours website.

Do you know a faculty member who is deeply engaged in service? Do you know a faculty member who exemplifies any of the following:

• Distinguished service to the university
• Distinguished service to the community
• Notable outreach efforts and forging of connections between WSU and the community
• Long-term commitment to Wichita State through extensive committee service

If so, consider nominating them for the Presidential Service Award. To do this, complete a nomination form, attach a curriculum vitae that includes the nominee’s service activities, and include a letter of support. Previous recipients of this award are not eligible for nomination.

Nominations will be accepted until 5 p.m. Friday, Jan. 28. Please send  nominations to leeann.birdwell@wichita.edu.

Student Health Services will host a flu shot clinic for students, faculty and staff from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. today at the Rhatigan Student Center.

The shots will cost $20. Students can pay with their myShockerHealth portal or with exact cash at the location. Faculty and staff can pay with cash. Participants can also bring their health insurance cards to file with their insurance.

Take your work to the next level and submit your research on any philosophical topic for the Shocker Philosophy Conference Feb. 4, 2022.

Research on the following topics will be accepted?

• Ethics and social justice
• Critial reasoning: biases and fallacies in action
• Aesthetics and art theory
• Sustainablity and environment
• Ways of knowing
• Global perspectives on how to live
• Scientific explanation, reasoning and evidence

Philosophy majors who submit can receive an applied learning credit.  To submit, email your paper with subject line “Shocker submission” to susan.castro@wichita.edu by Dec. 15

Research on the following topics will be accepted?

• Ethics and social justice
• Critical reasoning: biases and fallacies in action
• Aesthetics and art theory
• Sustainability and environment
• Ways of knowing
• Global perspectives on how to live
• Scientific explanation, reasoning and evidence

Philosophy majors who submit can receive an applied learning credit.  To submit, email your paper with the subject line “Shocker submission” to susan.castro@wichita.edu by Dec. 15.

Wichita State Study Abroad Programs appreciates all of the encouragement, support and guidance that faculty, advisors and staff provide to students who are beginning their study abroad journey.

Faculty, advisors and staff play a vital role in internationalizing the student experience at WSU. They do this by creating unique learning opportunities for students from abroad, motivating students to seek study abroad experiences and assisting students with degrees. They also help students identify experiences that fit into degree and career planning while supporting the transfer credit process for WSU students.

Please check out our new webpage to learn more about how you can help support students in the study abroad process and request presentations for your class or student organization.

The newly installed Pickleball Courts at the Heskett Center’s Outdoor Sports Complex are now open. The four courts are located east of the Heskett Center. The courts are lighted and free and open until midnight. Equipment can be checked out in the Heskett Center at no additional charge for students and members

The new Dean’s Advisory Board (DAB) for the W. Frank Barton School of Business at Wichita State University reads like the “Who’s Who” of the business world.