Category: News

The Barton School of Business has announced the appointment of Nikki Beyrle as its new Hospitality Executive-in-Residence and chair of the Hospitality Advisory Board – marking a bold new chapter in redefining hospitality education in Kansas and beyond. Beyrle will lead the program’s transformation into a nationally and globally recognized model of excellence. A group of prominent industry executives joining the Advisory Board will be announced soon.

In her new role, Beyrle will provide visionary leadership, mentorship and industry expertise to drive enrollment growth, elevate student experience and forge powerful partnerships across the global hospitality landscape. She will play a transformative role in strengthening the hospitality industry’s talent pipeline by preparing the next generation of exceptional leaders. Under her guidance, the Barton School will cultivate career-ready professionals equipped with the skills, mindset and innovative spirit needed to redefine the future of hospitality worldwide.

If you are an adult learner graduating this December, stop by Adult Learning in 302 Shocker Success Center to pick up your graduation cord.

Pickup details:

• 8 a.m.-7 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 3
• 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 4-Friday, Dec. 5

Notes:

• Teacher Apprentice Program (TAP) students will receive their cords at the pinning ceremony.
• Online program students can request to have their cords shipped by completing the online request form.

It’s time to begin the process for submission of funding requests through the Student Government Association for the Educational Opportunity Fund and Student Services Fee for FY 2027. Through the student services fee, these programs provide financial support to facilitate students’ academic pursuits (Educational Opportunity Fund) or the funding of programs/activities delivered directly to students (Student Services).

If you’ve submitted requests in the past, the budget/review officer should have received an email from the Budget Office to kick-off the submission process. If you have not submitted requests in the past but are considering submitting a new request, contact Michael Zepeda, Jason Post or Lyndsay Pletcher in the Budget Office at 316-978-3030 for additional information.

Requests are due no later than Feb. 6, 2026.

Order a WuShock bowling ball as a holiday gift and support the student athletes of the men’s bowling program. They are available in eight, 10, 12, 14, 15 and 16 pound options through the Shocker Store online or in-person at the Shocker Sports Grill & Lanes. All proceeds go towards the Shocker Men’s Bowling Scholarship Fund.

Undergraduate student researchers from all disciplines are encouraged to submit their application for the annual Kansas Undergraduate Research Day at the Capitol poster symposium. Participants must:

• Be undergraduates during the 2025-26 academic year
• Have completed research under the guidance of a faculty mentor at a Kansas four-year public institution
• Follow the appropriate methodology of their academic discipline
• Have research of sufficient quality to be presented at a professional academic meeting
• Produce a professional academic poster
• Rehearse their presentations prior to the Capitol event

Applications are due at midnight Jan. 26, 2026.

Wichita State University’s College of Fine Arts is partnering with Movement Musick to offer programing at the Somewhere Works music facility in downtown Wichita. Wichita State University and Somewhere Works will collaborate to open opportunities for innovation, applied learning, new classes and community engagement.

“This pilot partnership allows for enhanced creative collisions,” said Justin Rorabaugh, director of WSU’s School of Digital Arts, as well as WSU’s Shocker Studios. “This opens the door to the sound design world. The collaboration between music and the digital arts can bring sound design to Wichita in a way that’s never happened before.”

Once again, it is time for Old Saint Nick to make his holiday deliveries. For those who are anxiously awaiting his arrival, you can arrange for Santa to send a letter reminding them to be patient and that he’s planning to visit on Christmas Eve.

Visit the WSU Post Office in Morrison Hall to make sure Santa gets the right letters to the right kids. If there’s a child who needs something a little different than what’s listed on the Post Office webpage, call 316-978-3550 or stop by during office hours from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday for more information about other letters children can get from Santa.

Santa’s letters will be available at the WSU Post Office for two weeks beginning Monday, Dec. 1 through Friday, Dec. 12. Each letter has a fee of $2, cash or check only for North Pole postage.

Are you beginning your hunt for the perfect holiday gift? Check out the top gifts under $25 from the Shocker Store.

Applications for the 2026 John A. See Innovation Award will be accepted now through Jan. 16, 2026. The award was established in December 2013 by John A. See to support prototype development, which may include development of products in engineering and science, emerging technologies, development of life-enhancing therapeutic products, creation of application of new knowledge and artistic ventures.

Faculty and students are eligible to apply for the proof of concept award. For more information and access to the online application options go to wichita.edu/innovationaward.

The Shocker Career Accelerator has launched the Post Graduation Outcomes (PGO) survey for all undergraduate and graduate students graduating in fall 2025.

The data collected through Shocker Central provides insights into recent graduates’ employment status, further education and other career-related activities. This information helps create clear, concise and consistent data on the outcomes associated with a college education on a national scale.

Outcomes include:

• Types of employment — full or part-time, contract, freelance, other
• Additional education, e.g., accepted to graduate or professional school
• Still seeking either employment, further education or military
• Starting salary for those employed full-time

How can you contribute to the success of collecting post-graduation outcomes? 

• Encourage your graduating students to take the short (three to five minutes) survey
• Use the marketing text below as a template for your fall 2025 graduates and add it to Blackboard

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🎉 Congratulations on your upcoming graduation from Wichita State! Complete this brief survey, and you can pick up a FREE WSU Alumni T-shirt 🖤💛 at the Shocker Career Accelerator!

Here’s how to participate:

1. Log in to Shocker Central: Use your WSU SSO credentials to access your account.
2. Complete the Survey: You will be prompted to complete the survey after you log in. If you don’t see it, navigate to the “Outcomes” box and click “+Report Status.” for Post-Graduation.

Your feedback is incredibly valuable—it helps us track the success of our graduates and learn more about your next steps, whether that’s graduate school, starting your career, or exploring new opportunities. 🚀

Need help with your job search? The Shocker Career Accelerator is here for you! Call 📞 (316) 978-3688 to schedule a job search appointment. 🎓 Go Shockers! 💛🖤

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FAQ:

What are the dates students can take the Post Graduation Outcomes Survey?
Students graduating in fall 2025 can access the PGO Survey now through June 2026. Students will receive email reminders until they complete the survey.

Who is eligible to take the Post Graduation Outcomes Survey?
Students who submit the application for degree (AFD) are eligible for the semester they intend to graduate.

I don’t have any questions right now, but I know I will soon – do you happen to know who I should contact?
Contact Sarah Mathews at 316-978-6144 or sarah.mathews@wichita.edu.

Need a quick flyer?
Download the QR Code flyer (PDF) and post it for students to scan.