Category: News

For more than 50 years, Wichita State through federally funded TRIO and GEAR UP programs continue to play a vital role in supporting students across Wichita and the state of Kansas helping them prepare for, enroll in and succeed in higher education.

This year, WSU celebrates the expansion of its outreach with 17 active programs, including four new additions:

• Veterans Student Support Services
• Student Services STEM
• Wichita GEAR UP Heights and Southeast
• Wichita GEAR UP West and South

Wichita State’s comprehensive network of TRIO and GEAR UP programs includes Disability Support Services, Student Support Services, McNair Scholars Program, Talent Search, Talent Search South, Upward Bound Wichita Prep, Upward Bound Math and Science, Communication Upward Bound, Veterans Upward Bound, Educational Opportunity Centers, Kansas Kids @ GEAR UP, Haysville GEAR UP and GEAR UP@ Haysville.

Collectively, these programs will bring in over $12 million this school year to serve WSU students and youth throughout Kansas.

Open Streets ICT: WSU and Shocker Neighborhood is coming back to 17th Street (from Oliver to Volutsia) April 19, 2026. Join a virtual informational session at 11 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 13 and hear how you can get involved, engaged and join in on the fun. Last April, more than 10,000 attendees filled 17th Street to celebrate Shocker Pride.

If you have ideas, questions, would like to contribute to the fun or sponsor, reach out to Naquela Pack at naquela.pack@wichita.edu

Wichita State University’s Corbin Education Center, designed by the world-renowned architect Frank Lloyd Wright, has been added to the National Register of Historic Places, a distinction reserved for America’s most significant architectural and cultural landmarks. 

Dedicated in 1964 and named for former University of Wichita President Harry F. Corbin, the building embodies Wright’s creative genius and his philosophy of blending architecture with nature. 

Today, Corbin is the home of Wichita State’s College of Applied Studies, classroom space and advising offices.  

Six student leaders from the Barton School of Business’s Cummings Student Managed Investment Fund (CSMIF) recently traveled to Chicago for the 2025 Student Managed Investment Fund Consortium (SMIFC) Conference, where they engaged with industry leaders, expanded their professional networks and explored new strategies to strengthen the fund.

“These types of experiences go far beyond the classroom — they’re transformational,” said Dr. Larisa Genin, dean of the Barton School. “They provide our students with unique access to the financial world and allow them to represent the Barton School on a national stage with confidence and professionalism.”

Food for Fines is back for November. Donate non-perishable food or hygiene items to the Kiah Duggins Shocker Support Locker between Nov. 3 and Nov. 7 to get your parking citations waived. You may drop off your donations to Student Engagement & Belonging in 216 Rhatigan Student Center or to the Parking Services building.

Wondering what to bring or how many items you need? Visit the website for a comprehensive list of recommended items and guide for donations to bring per citation amount.

Submissions are still open for the December edition of Academe. Any submissions after Friday, Nov. 7 will be saved for a future edition of the Academe newsletter.

If you are submitting on behalf of someone else, please indicate that in the comments section of your submission. Academe publishes four times a year and highlights faculty and staff accomplishments.

If you have questions regarding submissions to Academe, reach out to Caelin Bragg, newsletter editor, at caelin.bragg@wichita.edu or 316-978-3013.

Applications are now being accepted for undergraduate research support during the spring semester from the Kansas IDeA Network of Biomedical Research Excellence (K-INBRE) program. Students in this program are supported with an hourly wage for a ten-week period and mentors are allocated funds for lab supplies.

To be eligible, students must identify a mentor and a research lab in which to work. For full announcement and eligibility requirements, email Meris Carte, research laboratory manager for biological sciences, at meris.carte@wichita.edu. Applications are due at end of day Nov. 20.

Tuesday, Oct. 28 is National Vote Early Day. In celebration of this national holiday, the Shockers Vote Coalition will provide rides to an early voting location to vote. Free bus rides will be available throughout the day to give you rides to the polls beginning at 10 a.m. through 5 p.m. Meet on the first floor of the RSC to learn more about voting early and to catch your ride to vote early.

For more information email civicengagement@wichita.edu or call 316-978-7016.

Wichita State will host the 10th annual Ad Astra Conference for First-Generation College Students Jan. 30 in Woolsey Hall and Wichita State Connect. The annual conference brings together first-generation college students from higher education institutions across the state for a transformational day-long experience with educational workshops supporting the academic and social capital for first-generation college students.

Organizers are currently curating educational session workshop presenters for that day. Workshop sessions will take place 9:30-10:15 a.m., 10:30-11:15 a.m., 12:30-1:15 p.m., 1:30-2:15 p.m. and 2:30-3:15 p.m. If you have interest in presenting a breakout session workshop for the first-generation college student attendees on this day, contact Brett Petersen-Bruner, associate vice provost for Student Success & Persistence, at brett.bruner@wichita.edu.

Kansas English, edited by Dr. Katie Cramer, professor of English Education in the School of Education, and published in WSU’s Open Journal Systems by the Kansas Association of Teachers of English, has been named a recipient of the 2025 NCTE Affiliate Journal of Excellence Award, given by the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE). This is the sixth year in a row that Kansas English has earned this distinction.

Established in 1995, this award honors outstanding affiliate journals and their editors who demonstrate excellence in these publications. The winning affiliate journal must be a magazine-type publication — print or online — and provide members with scholarly articles on issues and topics related to English language arts teaching. The journals are judged on content, organization and scholarly exploration, appeal to many different groups within the affiliate, coverage of important issues in English language arts education, and inclusion of other types of writing (e.g., poetry, affiliate news, book reviews).

The Affiliate Journal of Excellence Award winners will be announced at the 2025 NCTE Annual Convention in Denver, Colorado, during the Affiliate Session Nov. 23.