Category: News

In response to the current inclement weather, Wichita State University will move to remote operations, effective immediately. Critical campus operations will remain open.

Critical campus operations that will remain open include student housing, dining options (which may reduce business hours as needed), campus police, facilities services, research laboratories (at faculty discretion), student wellness (which may reduce business hours as needed) and operations otherwise designated by the president, athletic director or any vice president.

At this time, university operations are expected to resume Wednesday as scheduled.

Due to forecasted inclement weather, the upcoming Title IX training event scheduled for Monday, Jan. 8 and Tuesday, Jan. 9 has been canceled.

The organizers thank everyone who RSVP’d, and the training will be rescheduled for a later date in the spring semester.

Beginning spring 2024, students employed in a Federal Work Study position will now be allowed to work up to 30 hours per week. Keep in mind that scheduled hours are determined by department needs.

Federal Work Study program is a need-based financial aid program that offers employment opportunities for students with financial need. The program provides students with valuable work experience, skills, flexible work schedules and enhances their education while providing financial assistance.

With the change in maximum hours, the hope is to increase on-campus employment opportunities for students while providing additional financial assistance, valuable work experiences and enhancing educational experiences at Wichita State.

All other eligibility requirements for Federal Work Study employment remain in effect.

For more information on the Federal Work Study program, visit the Federal Work Study webpage. Looking for an on-campus job opportunity? Visit Handshake to search and apply for open positions across campus.

For questions regarding Federal Work Study, contact the Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships at 316-978-3430.

The Regional Institute on Aging at Wichita State is pleased to announce a new funding opportunity for graduate student or faculty projects and research, supported by a gift from the estate of Evelyn Cassat, that addresses issues related to facilitating well-being in older adults.

Sustaining physical, cognitive and social interaction is a central focus of maintaining well-being across the life span. Funding will be provided for projects and research at WSU that contribute to knowledge and practice related to well-being in older adults. Projects of all types will be considered, however particular attention will be given to proposals containing an intergenerational component and that ally with this year’s focus area of environmental and sustainability efforts. Anticipated funding rates will range between $2,000 to $15,000, with a maximum funding amount of $20,000 for a 12-month period.

Proposals may be either for program activities, evaluation efforts or foundational and applied research. Activities and research projects that actively involve undergraduate and graduate students at WSU are expected, however all proposals that have the potential to improve understanding of age-related issues and/or that improve the quality of life for older adults in Wichita and the surrounding area will be considered. Research projects must also include a plan for obtaining future funding from external sources to continue the research.

Beginning spring 2024 with pay period two (Dec. 24, 2023-Jan. 6, 2024), students employed in a Federal Work Study position will now be allowed to work up to 30 hours per week (60 hours per pay period) while classes are in session.

With the change in maximum hours, the hope is to increase on-campus employment opportunities for students while providing additional financial assistance, valuable work experiences and enhancing educational experiences at Wichita State.

All other eligibility requirements for Federal Work Study employment remain in effect.

Find more information on the Federal Work Study Program on its webpage (wichita.edu/workstudy). For information on hiring Federal Work Study eligible students, visit the work study hiring process webpage (wichita.edu/workstudyhiring).

For questions about Federal Work Study, contact a financial aid specialist for Federal Work Study at finaidpostaward@wichita.edu.

The Barton School of Business proudly welcomes Gene and Yolanda Camarena as its dynamic Entrepreneurs-in-Residence duo for the spring 2024 semester. Gene, serving as the president and CEO of La Raza Pizza, Inc., brings unparalleled expertise in the business realm. Complementing his prowess, Yolanda, a dedicated leader with a significant career as a social justice and equity advocate in education, enriches the community with her invaluable insights. Together, they form an exceptional team poised to inspire and elevate our academic and entrepreneurial landscape.

“Yolanda and I are deeply honored to embark on this meaningful journey as Entrepreneurs-in-Residence at the Barton School,” Gene Camarena said. “Recognizing the pivotal role education played in our own success, we are committed to ensuring that our achievements extend beyond personal accomplishments. Fueled by a passion for community progress and prosperity, our role allows us to uplift others through thoughtful and collaborative opportunities, championing a legacy of shared success and empowerment.”

Wichita State University proudly announced that its interdisciplinary student team, CosmoShox, has secured a spot in the top 10 teams in the NASA Spacesuit User Interface Technologies for Students (SUITS) Challenge. Organized by the College of Innovation and Design and guided by faculty members Kristyn Waits and Maggie Schoonover, the CosmoShox team is gearing up for the second phase of this competitive challenge.

CosmoShox is composed of exceptionally talented students composed of both undergraduate and graduate-level students representing a range of academic disciplines in four different WSU colleges:

• Denae Sawyer, innovation design
• Desmond Cockrell, graphic design
• Elaine Duff, geology and planetary sciences
• Elliott Chambon, aerospace engineering
• Marianna Fronciani Farina, mechanical engineering
• Nathan Lewis, innovation design
• Savannah Denny, graphic design
• Yumi Kikuchi Coronel, innovation design

“The inclusion of students with backgrounds in graphic design, geology, innovation design, aerospace engineering and mechanical engineering underscores the interdisciplinary nature of our approach to challenges,” said Dr. Jeremy Patterson, dean, College of Innovation and Design. “CosmoShox exemplifies the power of collaboration, and we are proud to support these students as they make significant strides in the NASA SUITS Challenge.”

If the CosmoShox team successfully passes their software design review with NASA in April, they will be invited to the Johnson Space Center in Houston for Test Week, an invaluable opportunity for hands-on testing and collaboration with leading experts in the field.

Wichita State will offer only the Blackboard Ultra course format after spring 2024 semester, and that’s going to mean a lot of work getting ready for summer and fall for many professors, but the December issue of “Teaching Today” has the basic information needed to get started.

Many professors mistakenly believe they are in Blackboard Ultra but are actually teaching Classic courses. Please have a look at this month’s “Teaching Today” to learn more. For questions, reach out to the Office of Instructional Resources at OIR@wichita.edu.

Tune in to KMUW starting at 8 a.m. Friday, Dec. 15 to hear President Rick Muma join the station’s end of year fundraising campaign. Catch President Muma on 89.1 FM or listen live on KMUW’s website.

Student Government Association (SGA) is the governing body of all students at Wichita State. It represents and advocates for student needs and issues on campus through local, state and federal government officials. SGA is made up of the executive branch, legislative branch, judicial branch, Office of the Student Advocates, association agencies and several other commissions and tasks forces. All of these groups are available to help serve students and their needs.

SGA allocates over $11 million worth of student fees that funds services such as Student Health, Campus Activities, educational scholarships, the Sunflower and more. Other initiatives include:

• Association scholarships
• Individual and organizational funding
• Food for Fines
• Menstrual product program
• Shocker Support Locker