Category: Student Success and Persistence

As you prepare for spring classes and meetings, reach out early to schedule a Student Success presentation that helps students thrive. Faculty can check out options at the Faculty Collaboration Corner, and if you’re hosting a meeting, just use the presentation request link to make it happen. Shocker Success is excited to team up with you this spring to create stronger connections in the classroom and across campus.

Are you feeling the pressure from finals? Join Student Activities Council (SAC) and partner organizations across campus for events focused on relaxation and study skills to help you get through your exams. You can hang out with friends, get some free stuff and have a great rest of your fall semester.

Visit wichita.edu/destress for more information and the full event calendar. For questions, contact sac@wichita.edu for more information.

CashCourse is a financial literacy website for students. Let your students know they can sign up using the code 8047 at cashcourse.org and complete at least six modules to be entered in a drawing for a $250 book scholarship. Each additional module completed is an extra entry to the drawing. 10 winners will be selected. The deadline to complete the modules is Dec. 19.

The Office of Student Accommodations and Testing (OSAT) offers a valuable resource called Kurzweil 3000 (sharepoint.com) for all students WSU students.

Kurzweil 3000 is an assistive technology and learning literacy tool recommended for students who have difficulties reading (ESL, dyslexia, etc.). It is designed to help students learn course materials in school. With functions such as text-to-speech, highlighting and integrated notetaking and brainstorming, the assistive technology enables students with learning difficulties to fully engage in what they are learning and to focus on the tasks at hand.

General education with a creative twist: From Dance Appreciation to Scriptwriting, the School of Performing Arts has exciting courses for spring 2026:

• Wicked—Perspectives from Oz (FYPF 102B, 24324) – If you loved the movies, you’ll love this class. Explore themes of perspective, morality, power and identity through music, film and storytelling. 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. T/R.
• Dance Appreciation (DANC140, 22596) – Explore the art, history and cultural impact of dance from the comfort of your home. Online.
• Dance History: 20th–21st Centuries (DANC325, 22603) – Discover how dance shaped culture in the 20th and 21st centuries. Online.
• Theatre Appreciation (THEA143, 22614) – Learn what makes theatre timeless. Online.
• Improvisation for the Actor (THEA241, 22578) – Build confidence, creativity and quick thinking. 3-4:50 p.m. T/R.
• Acting I (THEA243, 22580) – Learn performance basics and stage presence. 11 a.m.-12:45 p.m. T/R.
• Scriptwriting II (THEA517, 22594) – Write stories that come alive. 9:30-10:45 a.m. T/R.

Student can register now.

With finals week coming up, the Office of Student Accommodations & Testing (OSAT) would like to remind instructors/professors to submit their Test Information Form for students who utilize OSAT for proctored exams. The form is necessary for students to make appointments in a timely manner.

You may also use the same link/form to upload make-up exams for student who do not have accommodations. Remind students that all exams require an appointment, OSAT does not accept walk-in testing. The students must schedule their exams through registerblast.com/wsu. If you have any questions about testing, email testingcenter@wichita.edu or call at 316-978-8378.

Even though the new 2026-27 FAFSA is now open, it’s not too late for your students to complete the current 2025-26 FAFSA. Completing the FAFSA form unlocks opportunities for scholarships, grants and federal loans. Encourage your students to schedule an appointment with a financial aid advisor at wichita.edu/finaidappt.

The Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships can help with:

• FAFSA assistance for 2025-26 and 2026-27
• Application support on ScholarshipUniverse
• One-on-one peer budgeting appointments through Shocker Financial Wellness at calendly.com/shockerfinancial

Encourage your students to attend the next Savvy Scholar workshop from 3 to 4 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 4 at the Ablah Library Digital Scholars Commons. With the new attendance tracking system, offering extra credit for student participation is now simpler than ever.

They’ll explore strategies for planning a new journal article, including conducting a preliminary literature search, identifying a target journal, drafting a working abstract, submitting an application with the IRB and more.

Are you looking for ways to help your students explore career options and make informed decisions about their future? Attend the upcoming PathwayU: Overview & Advisor Access training:

• 1:30-2:25 p.m. Monday, Nov. 10 virtually via Microsoft Teams. Register on myTraining via your myWSU.

PathwayU is the comprehensive career assessment tool, utilized by the Shocker Career Accelerator. It is designed to guide students to their purpose, supporting their success and persistence. In this training session, you will learn how to:

• Navigate the platform’s features, including assessments, career matches, WSU major alignment and military crosswalk
• Gain valuable insights into student interests and career aspirations
• Integrate PathwayU into your teaching or advising practices to empower students

Prior to the session, create an account at wichita.pathwayu.com and take the four career assessments.

As Student Success progresses through the rest of the semester, instructor feedback in SEAS continues to be a valuable tool for supporting students. Take a few minutes to update student progress. If a student you flagged earlier is now making progress, removing the alert helps Student Success better understand how this intervention is working.

Accessing SEAS is easy:

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

Student Success thanks everyone for their partnership to support student success. For more information about SEAS, visit the SEAS website.