2022 has been a big year for Shocker Nation | |
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It’s been quite a year for Wichita State! As we bid adieu to 2022, it’s truly remarkable to think about all that we’ve accomplished this year.
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Perhaps the biggest news, and an indicator of our success, has been the enrollment announcement for fall 2022. Combined enrollment by headcount across all Wichita State University locations, including WSU Tech, for fall 2022 is 21,942. For the Wichita State main campus, the numbers represent an increase of 5.1% in fall student headcount from 16,097 in 2021 to 16,921 in 2022. That’s the largest number of students choosing to enroll at Wichita State since 1989.
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Our alumni and friends were generous this year, and I couldn’t be more grateful. The gifts we received led to the second-highest fundraising year in Wichita State's history and will help us achieve our goal of making higher education affordable and accessible. Just a few of these include a $5.5 million gift to fund scholarships from the estate of Richard Smith, $100,000 for health profession scholarships from the Patterson Family Foundation, and a $3 million pledge toward student resources from WSU alumnus Robert Young. Gifts such as these are furthering our goals to support need-based aid and the development of the Shocker Success Center. Additionally, led by $31.5 million in private support, Wayne and Kay Woolsey Hall opened, welcoming the Barton School of Business to its new, state-of-the-art home on the Innovation Campus. As we continue increasing enrollment and improving our student support, it’s exciting to see our campus group.
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The northeast edge of the Innovation Campus got a little more Shocker pride with bright bold signage that spells out “Wichita State.” In the months since the sign has been installed, it’s already become a popular spot for graduation photos and selfies.
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December 2022 podcast: R&D with Industry and Defense | |
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In this episode of Wichita State University’s “Forward Together” podcast, President Rick Muma speaks with John Tomblin, senior vice president for Industry and Defense and executive director of WSU’s National Institute for Aviation Research. They discuss the evolution and advancement of research at Wichita State, including how Tomblin has grown WSU’s aerospace engineering R&D portfolio from $20 million in 2004 to more than $190 million today.
The “Forward Together” podcast celebrates the vision and mission of Wichita State University. In each episode, President Rick Muma will talk with guests from throughout Shocker Nation to highlight the people and priorities that guide WSU on its road to becoming an essential educational, cultural and economic driver for Kansas and the greater good.
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In the News at Wichita State | |
More than 1,300 students are eligible for fall 2022 graduation. Learn more about some of our Shocker graduates, their time at Wichita State and their plans for the future. | |
Zhi Wei Won used her time at Wichita State to work on skills in and out of the classroom. She met new people and expanded her social circle through school activities. | |
After earning his bachelor's degree in psychology, Daniel Baird plans to attend graduate school, where he will integrate clinical work with the handpan, which he believes is a powerful therapeutic instrument. | |
Valerie Hubener worked in several labs across campus until she found a field of study that was perfect for her in user experience (UX) design. | |
Aida Amir is a Wichita State University legacy student who came to campus from her home country of Malaysia to study engineering. | |
WSU holding fall 2022 commencement | |
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Wichita State University will hold its 125th fall commencement ceremony at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 18 in Charles Koch Arena.
All graduates will walk across the stage and be individually recognized. Doctoral candidates will be hooded at this ceremony.
Dr. Mona Nemer will receive an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Philosophy. An honorary degree is an exceptional honor bestowed upon a person without fulfillment of the usual requirements. It is conferred only upon persons of notable intellectual, scholarly, professional, creative achievement or service to humanity consistent with the endeavors of WSU.
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WSU focuses on serving students as it reaches Emerging Hispanic-Serving Institution status | |
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Wichita State University earned status as an Emerging Hispanic Serving Institution when fall 2022 enrollment numbers show that 16% of students identify as Hispanic.
That is an important milestone on the way to the university’s goal of reaching the 25% necessary to earn the federal government’s designation as an HSI by the end of this decade.
The journey to that goal, however, is about much more than numbers. As Wichita State attracts and retains Hispanic students, its ability to help all students will improve.
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Shocker doctor worked her way through Wichita State and medical school | |
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People in Mulvane who knew Delane Vaughn as a youngster did not expect her to become a doctor. She understands their view of her future.
“I was pretty wild and undirected,” she said.
Vaughn loved science, and her biology teacher at Mulvane High School, Joe Johnson, started her on a path to Wichita State University as the first person in her family to attend college. She worked, raised a family and attended WSU and the University of Kansas School of Medicine.
In June, she started as clinic physician at Wichita State’s Student Health Services.
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Students present work on NASA neutrinos project at Paris conference | |
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Neutrinos are on the short list of the biggest mysteries in fundamental physics, and Wichita State University researchers are taking a lead role in investigating them.
“The unsolved question right now is ‘Why do they have mass? How do they have mass?’” said Jonathan Folkerts, Wichita State graduate student. “When neutrinos were first thought of, we figured they had to be massless, but they do some things that mean they have to have mass.”
In late September, Folkerts, Jarred Novak and Trent English presented papers on the design of their neutrino detector prototype at the International Astronautical Congress in Paris, representing the NASA-funded Solar Neutrino Orbiting Laboratory Detector Development Project.
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About Wichita State University
Wichita State University is Kansas' only urban public research university, enrolling almost 22,000 students between its main campus and WSU Tech, including students from every state in the U.S. and more than 100 countries. Wichita State and WSU Tech are recognized for being student centered and innovation driven.
Located in the largest city in the state with one of the highest concentrations in the United States of jobs involving science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), Wichita State University provides uniquely distinctive and innovative pathways of applied learning, applied research and career opportunities for all of our students.
The Innovation Campus, which is a physical extension of the Wichita State University main campus, is one of the nation’s largest and fastest-growing research/innovation parks, encompassing more than 120 acres, and is home to a number of global companies and organizations.
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