Category: Student Success and Persistence

This semester, undergraduate students can earn a $500 stipend through participation in a water science communications fellowship designed to enhance their understanding of careers in environmental science and communication. This program not only enriches their resumes but also fosters networking with local professionals in the field.

Students will engage in approximately five to seven project meetings, three field trips and collaborate on a group project. Students from all disciplines are encouraged to apply.

For more details, a Q&A session will be held from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 5 in RSC Meeker Room. This will be a flexible event where you can drop by to learn more and address any questions you may have. Share this opportunity with students who may be interested.

This fellowship is organized by the Environmental Finance Center at WSU and is funded by the Environmental Protection Agency. It is open to citizens of the United States, its territories or to individuals lawfully admitted to the United States for permanent residency.

The Retention Fellows are excited to launch The Teaching Matters Podcast — bringing monthly Teaching Matters sessions to you in short, on-demand episodes. Each episode will highlight strategies, tools or campus resources designed to support teaching, learning and student success.

New episodes will be posted on the Teaching Matters webpage throughout the semester, with announcements shared in WSU Today.

The first episode features a conversation with Chelsea Dey, lead success coach in the Office of Student Success, about the newly designed Faculty Collaboration Corner. This resource helps faculty easily integrate student success programming into their classrooms through tools, strategies and classroom-ready ideas that build community and improve retention.

Check it out today and see how Teaching Matters can support your work inside and outside the classroom.

Do you know a STEM student who loves conducting research? They may be eligible to receive an award of up to $7,500 for an entire academic year. Interested students can join an informative workshop on the Barry Goldwater Scholarship application process from noon to 1 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 27 in 265 Rhatigan Student Center, Lucas Room for an opportunity to learn how to craft a compelling application and get their questions answered. Students can RSVP by emailing: undergraduateresearch@wichita.edu.

This event is sponsored by the Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity Hub, the Graduate School, Cohen Honors College and the McNair Scholars Program.

If you have students who need help with their financial aid, through Friday, Aug. 29 advising at the Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships will be walk-in only, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday in 203 Jardine Hall. No appointments necessary — students can just stop by. Students can also visit for financial aid questions at OneStop in the Shocker Success Center for quick support and answers.

• Don’t forget to let students know they can check their Financial Aid Dashboard in their myWSU to stay on top of their aid status and requirements
• There’s still time for them to complete their 2025-26 FAFSA
• Do your students need help after hours? They can call the Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships at 316-978-3430

Join the Faculty Collaboration Corner where you can co-create innovative classroom strategies, build stronger support networks and foster a deeper sense of belonging. Check out the updated and refreshed Faculty Toolbox and options for Shocker Sparks, Learning Labs, Classroom Remixes and more.

It is important for students to make connections with their peers, faculty, staff and resources on campus. Encourage students to arrive early to their classes, in-person or remotely, to get to know other students and their instructors. For tips on what to say to professors, students can check out the Student Success website. Students should also attend Welcomefest events to meet their peers and get connected to campus resources.

Awareness of early deadlines is important for this and future semesters:

A new semester which brings excitement but also urgency in relation to early deadlines that can contribute to student success. Encourage students to visit the academic calendar to find deadlines related to schedule changes, payment arrangements and refunds. If students are planning on applying for scholarships to cover costs next year, they should visit the scholarship website to access opportunities. Some scholarship deadlines may have already passed, so let students know now is the time to submit the required information.

RSVP to hear from the authors of “Rethinking Student Transitions: How Community, Participation and Becoming Can Help Higher Education Deliver on its Promise” to reimagine how we think about students in transition Sept. 11-12.

The experience is designed to help faculty and staff develop creative ways to build stronger connections and a deeper sense of belonging in the classroom and through engagement on campus. During the event, the authors will host sessions for both faculty and staff, lunch is included (if you RSVP), and you’ll hear from current students about their transition experience into Shocker Nation.

Find the agenda and place your reservation on the event website. Space is limited, so RSVP soon.

While students are wrapping up their spring semesters, they may begin to feel the pressures of finals. The following are a few resources students who may be struggling can use:

Time management and scheduling

• Encourage students to check Blackboard and their syllabi for their final exam schedules. Visit wichita.edu/finals for a complete schedule if they need additional assistance
• Suggest strategies they can use to create a practical study plan so they can balance academic and personal time
• Student Success also has a number of tips and techniques available to help them tackle studying

Academic and mental health support

• Shocker Learning Center: Located on the second floor of the Shocker Success Center, the SLC offers help with various subjects
• Counseling and Psychological Services provides mental health resources. Encourage students to seek help if their feeling overwhelmed
• Peer support: Remind students to lean on their peers. You can also submit a CARE Team report if you are concerned about a student or encourage students to submit reports for their peers
• Additional, specialized help is available in the Shocker Success Center, including the Office of International Education, Adult Learning, Military and Veterans Services, and Hispanic-Serving Initiatives

Study spaces

If your students are looking for places to study on campus, here are a few standout spots you can recommend:

• Ablah Library: Offers quiet study spots, room rentals and a 24/7 study area
• Woolsey Hall: Features modern study rooms and the Cargill Café
• Shocker Success Center: Located in the center of campus and houses many resources

For outdoor areas, consider suggesting the following:

• NetApp recreational area: Has ample seating with great views and has easy access to the NetApp Café
• Promise Bridge: Scenic spot outside of Woolsey Hall and near the Food Truck Plaza for a quick bite to eat
• Braeburn Square: Vibrant area with multiple dining options and ambiance throughout the day and evening

Applications are currently open for the 2025-26 Retention Faculty Fellows. Retention Faculty Fellows support the university’s Strategic Enrollment Management Goal 3 to Increase persistence rates of degree seeking student populations. The university identifies faculty who are interested in becoming more engaged in retaining students and promoting student success and persistence through excellent and creative pedagogy. These faculty will share best practices and create opportunities for other faculty members to be in dialogue about quality instructional design and student engagement.

More information and the application can be found by visiting the Retention Faculty Fellows website. Applications are due by Monday, May 5. For more information or questions, contact Cindi Mason, 2024-25 Retention Faculty Fellows coordinator, at cindi.mason@wichita.edu; or Brett Bruner, assistant vice president for Student Success & Persistence, at brett.bruner@wichita.edu.

RSVP for this month’s Teaching Matters session, “Resource Refresher: A Review of Reasons for Leaving and Resources to Support Students” and free pizza from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday, March 28 in 323 Woolsey Hall, Bank of America Room. RSVP by Wednesday, March 26.

Join for pizza and an informative session focused on increasing student retention. Brett Bruner, assistant vice president for Student Success and Persistence, will go over data on why WSU students are leaving, and then there will be a refresher of student support resources.

For questions or more information, contact Cindi Mason, associate teaching professor and undergraduate coordinator of industrial, systems and manufacturing engineering, at cindi.mason@wichita.edu.

“Teaching Matters” is a monthly session open to faculty, staff and students involved in teaching. The sessions are hosted by the Retention Faculty Fellows to promote student success and retention through a community of knowledge sharing.