Category: News

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.

The fall 2022 Academic Convocation provided the official academic welcome for all first-year students on Sept. 8. A video of the event will be available now until Sept. 18. The event included more than 675 guests representing students, faculty, staff and campus innovation partners.

The event also featured presentations from the dean of Fine Arts Dr. Rodney Miller, director of Engagement Naquela Pack, speaker pro-tempore of the Student Senate and Underserved Senator Gregory VanDyke Jr., and a special keynote address by Kwame Onwuachi, author of the 2022 Common Read, “Notes From a Young Black Chef.”

A book-signing and reception were hosted at the Ulrich Museum following Convocation, with a question and answer session by Kwame Onwuachi at Shocker Dining Hall.

For more information, visit the fall 2022 Academic Convocation website.

The Department of Sport Management at Wichita State University recently entered into a three-year subscription to TeamWork U, the official university partnership program for TeamWork Online.

TeamWork Online is the sport industry’s largest recruiting system that focuses on attracting and matching qualified candidates with hiring organizations in sports and live events. With more than 20 years of experience and 100,000 candidates hired through the recruiting system, the partnership has the opportunity to expose WSU sport management students to a new level of career preparation, networking and professional development opportunities. The recruiting system also allows sport industry executives to search profiles to find the best candidates for their open positions, even if they have yet to apply.

“It is crucial that we live into our university goals of student-centeredness and partnerships and engagements, and our College of Applied Studies core values of collaboration and leadership,” Sport Management Department Chair Mark Vermillion said. “This partnership allows us to be not only student-centric, but also supportive of students’ leadership development, networking opportunities and providing them access to industry professionals and best practices.”

Part of the TeamWork U program includes the selection of a student ambassador, who helps fellow students engage with the content and features associated with the TeamWork U program. Sport Management Graduate Student Kimani Woodard has been selected as the student ambassador for the 2022-23 academic year.

“This partnership with TeamWork Online is a great opportunity for students who are looking to work in the sports industry,” Woodard said. “Without question, we all know sport is one of the most competitive industries.TeamWork Online is a great program designed to help students find sports jobs and get hired faster.”

The TeamWork U program offers students weekly tips on improving their online applications and navigating the hiring process in the rapidly changing sport industry. Select students in attendance at the department’s all majors and minors meeting in August were also allowed to sign up for free MVP Access for the remainder of the fall semester, which includes having their profile featured in job searches and the opportunity to see which industry executives have viewed it.