Category: News

Next week, around April 15, summer classes will populate in Blackboard. The summer Blackboard course shells will all be in Ultra Course Format. Blackboard Classic Format will no longer be available at Wichita State as of the end of the spring 2024 term. If you are going to teach this summer, you can improve your Ultra Course Format experience by adapting your original courses in the following ways:

• Review your “tests” area and delete any old test banks that you don’t use.
• Check your “grade center” area and make sure you don’t have any hidden columns. If you do have hidden columns, unhide them.
• Do not “convert” your original course to an Ultra course. Instead, wait for the Ultra course shell, go to that shell area and copy your content from original into the Ultra course.

For other advice about how to prepare and then copy an original course to an Ultra course shell, check out the information in the “Ultra Training for Instructors” Blackboard course. If you don’t have access to that course, contact the Office of Instructional Resources at OIR@wichita.edu.

Graduating Shockers can order their spring 2024 commencement T-shirt now.

Your name will be listed on the back with all the other spring 2024 graduating students. They are only available by ordering online.

Shirts will be available for pickup at commencement.

Study Abroad is excited to announce that WSU has a new exchange partner university in Chile available for study abroad programs.

Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez (UAI) has two campuses located in Viña del Mar and Santiago. WSU students can study abroad at UAI for a semester, yearlong or summer programs.

Exchange partnerships allow students to pay their regular WSU tuition fees while on exchange. They offer some courses taught in English as well as many programs in Spanish and Spanish-language courses.

The new partnership officially begins for spring 2025. The deadline to apply for spring study abroad programs will be Sept. 15.

For questions, contact Study Abroad at studyabroad@wichita.edu.

Parking Services has completed its move into the former Campus Credit Union building and is now operational in the new location.

Lobby and drive thru hours will be 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Temporary parking for visitors to the department is located on the south side of the building.

Visit the Shocker Store at Riverfront Stadium on the main concourse when Shocker baseball faces Oklahoma State at 6 p.m. Tuesday, April 9.

Departments and organizations can register their events for the spring 2024 De-Stress Fest.

De-Stress Fest is organized by the Student Activities Council and takes place each semester the week before finals. The sponsored programs and promotions are designed to help students learn healthy habits, take a step back from studying and get rewarded for making it through the semester.

The Shocker Career Accelerator has shared its annual report for the 2022-23 academic year.

Here are a few things the report highlights:

• Launched the new Career Ready Journey
• Curated 131 learning experiences
• Equipped 865 students for career success with professional attire
• Facilitated 1,770 career ready appointments
• Connected 3,340 students at career fairs and events
• Reviewed 7,692 documents
• Empowered 8,219 students in applied learning
• Supported the submission of 55,185 applications through Handshake

Shockers viewing the April 8 solar eclipse can do so at a variety of hotspots on campus. Check out the selfie spots tag on the digital campus map for great locations on campus to watch the eclipse from, including:

• The south side of Jabara Hall, where starting at 1 p.m., Dr. Jason Ferguson — professor and director of physics at WSU — will have a special solar telescope set up for Shockers to get an up close look of the eclipse.
• The third floor balcony of the Rhatigan Student Center
• The Promise Bridge south of Woolsey Hall
• The Wichita State sign at 21st and Oliver
• The west lawn of Morrison Hall
• The Shocker Hall courtyard
• The Braeburn Square eating areas (and grab a lunch)
• The seating area north of the RSC
• The west entrance of Ablah Library

The eclipse begins at about 12:30 p.m., and the best viewing, when the eclipse is at its maximum, is around 1:45 p.m.

And don’t forget to follow guidelines on how to have a safe viewing experience.

The Office of Academic Affairs has announced new emeriti members. Help congratulate the following retired emeriti:

• Elizabeth H. King, president emerita of the WSU Foundation and Alumni Engagement
• Craig L. Torbenson, associate professor emeritus of history

Emeritus status is an honorary designation conferred upon retirees in recognition of their contributions and accomplishments over their years of service to the university.

Visit the Emeriti Faculty page for a complete listing of emeritus and emerita faculty.

Science-minded teenagers will take over campus this weekend, testing their knowledge and skills for various STEM related events.

The Kansas Science Olympiad state tournament participants will begin arriving Friday, April 5 and will compete in several different STEM events throughout Saturday, April 6.

Faculty, staff and students can help visitors who may not be familiar with the Wichita State campus by showing landmarks and offering directions.

The Fairmount College of Liberal Arts and Sciences sponsors the Kansas Science Olympiad program. Wichita State hosts the state competition in April each year. Area middle and high school students begin preparation as soon as their classes begin in the fall and try out for a place on their school’s team. Teams may participate in more than 20 events, which include building wheeled vehicles, bridges and rubberband-powered aircraft, solving crime scenarios, or working steadily with teammates on written exams.