Category: Student Success and Persistence

Encourage students to kick off the semester with confidence by joining Success Coaches and University Libraries from 10 a.m. to noon Wednesday, Jan. 28 at Ablah Library for support with time management, semester planning and turning their syllabi into a clear plan for success.

Students can now apply to join the first cohort of WSU’s new TRIO SSS STEM program. The program provides academic support, financial guidance, tutoring, conference travel opportunities and graduate school prep for eligible STEM majors, such as first-generation college students, income-eligible students and students with a documented disability.

You can encourage students to apply at wichita.edu/sss-stem. TRIO SSS STEM is a community that helps students stay on track academically, explore career paths and prepare for graduate school, all while connecting them with resources and opportunities that make their college experience richer.

Encourage students to start the semester off warm and cozy by enjoying hot cocoa with the colleges. From 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 21, the academic colleges at WSU will serve Shockers hot cocoa to ring in the new semester.

Each college will serve hot cocoa in their respective buildings:

• College of Applied Studies: Hubbard Hall
• Barton School of Business: Woolsey Hall
• College of Engineering: John Bardo Center
• Fairmount College/Cohen Honors College: Lindquist Hall
• College of Fine Arts: Duerksen Fine Arts Center in the Miller Concert Hall
• College of Health Professions: Ahlberg Hall
• Graduate School: Jardine Hall

For questions, contact the Division of Student Affairs at 316-978-3021.

Welcomefest takes place during the first four weeks of the spring semester and features dozens of activities designed to help students kick off the new year and get connected on campus. Popular programs for new and returning Shockers include Winter Welcome Jan. 22, the Involvement Fair Jan. 29 and a variety of social, cultural and involvement-focused events.

Consider sharing this series of events with your students to help welcome them to campus or to help them get reconnected after the break. All Welcomefest events can be found at wichita.edu/welcomefest.

Welcomefest events are hosted by Wichita State departments and student organizations across campus and coordinated by Student Engagement & Belonging. If you have questions, call 316-978-3022 or email seb@wichita.edu.

The Student Early Alert System (SEAS) is now active and available for instructors to use throughout the semester for all students.

Instructors should prioritize submitting early feedback in the first few weeks. Midterm is often too late for students to adjust and improve. WSU data show that early faculty intervention through SEAS makes a difference.

To access SEAS:

• Log in to myWSU
• Go to the Home or Teach/Advise tab
• Click the SEAS link

SEAS allows instructors to flag concerns around attendance, participation, assignments and quizzes/exams. Students receive alerts the next morning, giving you time to revise entries if needed.

Remember: academic struggles often reflect broader challenges. Consider referring students to campus resources like:

• Academic Advising
• CARE Team
• Financial Aid
• Success Coaches

A full list of referral options is available on the University Resources website.

For more information about SEAS, visit the SEAS website.

This spring, 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, including both STEM and humanities fields, to apply.

For more details, you and students are invited to attend a Q&A session from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday, Jan. 30 in 238 Rhatigan Student Center, 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 possessions, or to individuals lawfully admitted to the United States for permanent residency.

Many Wichita State students arrive with strong musical backgrounds but step away as academic demands increase. Faculty and staff can play an important role in reminding students that they do not have to leave music behind.

The School of Music offers ensemble opportunities open to students from all majors who want to continue singing or playing while pursuing their degrees. All ensembles include zero credit options, allowing students to participate without increasing their tuition or academic load.

Available ensembles include athletic bands, concert bands, choirs, jazz bands, opera theater and the Symphony Orchestra. Participation supports student well-being, fosters belonging and provides a creative outlet alongside coursework.

A simple reminder — “You can still do music here” — can help students reconnect with an important part of themselves.

More information is available at wichita.edu/ensembles.

The Kansas National Science Foundation’s Established Program for Stimulating Competitive Research is now accepting applications from undergraduate students. This opportunity offers a fully funded summer research experience, complete with hands-on involvement and a generous stipend. Share this information with your undergraduate students, especially those in related fields.

About the program: finding pathways to community disaster resilience

In this program, students will engage in cutting-edge research, develop valuable skills and contribute to important societal challenges like:

• Historical and current social inequities in infrastructure
• Disaster planning and preparation
• Rural and urban infrastructure challenges and solutions
• Resilience of water, energy, and transportation systems

Students will gain:

• A stipend of $7,000
• Valuable research experience
• Summer housing and meal plan
• Professional skills, science communication data analysis and much more

Eligibility:

• Must be undergraduates who have completed their first year of college
• Must be U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals or permanent residents. Students from all majors are encouraged to apply

Students can apply at nsfepscor.ku.edu/reu/. The due date is Jan. 20, 2026.

For questions, reach out to Alej Martinez, program coordinator for education and community engagement, Kansas NSF EPSCoR, at 785-864-9041 or alej@ku.edu.

TRIO Student Support Services is hiring part-time tutors now for spring 2026 in accounting, economics, biology, chemistry and physics. This a great opportunity for students who want to gain experience and work a flexible weekly tutor schedule.

If you know students who would be an excellent candidate or who might be interested in the position, let them know of the available opportunity at jobs.wichita.edu. This job and other listings for our department can be found by typing “SSS” in the search bar. Learn more about TRIO SSS by visiting wichita.edu/sss or call 316-978-3715.

Many statistics exist to demonstrate the impact of the Shocker Success Center in its first year. For sophomore Shamarie Hanna, the importance of the building is also about its welcoming spaces and helpful atmosphere. 

“So many resources and so many ways to get work done,” said Hanna, who is majoring in biological sciences with a biomedical emphasis with a minor in chemistry. “This space is amazing. There are so many ways of socializing or connecting with different people.”   

The Shocker Success Center, formerly Clinton Hall, opened in fall 2024. It brought 18 campus resources, previously housed in 12 buildings, into one building, located in the heart of campus and linked by sidewalk to the Rhatigan Student Center and Ablah Library.