March 2025

Wichita State offers opportunities for every stage of your journey

Education is one of the most powerful ways to invest in yourself. It opens doors and equips you for the next challenge. At Wichita State, we’re proud to offer flexible, accessible options to help you keep growing — no matter where you are on your journey.

This isn’t just by happenstance, it’s a part of our enrollment management plans and what it means to be an Age-Friendly University Global Network member, which demonstrates our commitment to meeting the personal, educational and career needs of adults of all ages and to creating age-inclusive environments on our campus.

In fact, the educational journey looks different for everyone. Some want to sharpen their skills, change careers or simply keep learning. No matter the path, Wichita State offers opportunities that fit different needs and lifestyles.

That could mean earning a degree, picking up a professional certificate or completing a short, skill-based program. It could mean returning to finish what was started or exploring a new interest just for the love of learning.

Episode 31: Pierre Harter, research and industry on campus

Pierre Harter, associate vice president of research (interim) and industry engagement, joins President Rick Muma to discuss his role in promoting faculty research and his work with NIAR, including its innovative work in digital transformation.

Episode 32: Justin Rorabaugh, Shocker Studios, digital arts

The School of Digital Arts (SODA) in the College of Fine Arts is one of the fastest-growing schools at WSU. Justin Rorabaugh, director for SODA, joins President Rick Muma to talk about Shocker Studios and some of SODA’s unique offerings.

Click above to watch the videos of the podcast. The podcast is also available on Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, Amazon Podcasts or Apple Podcasts (iTunes).

Game-changing Shocker Fly Lab project kicks off with $1 million lead gift

Lynn and Sherry Nichols have given a lead gift of $1 million to Wichita State University to kick off the fundraising campaign for the new, state-of-the-art Shocker Fly Lab, an enclosed flight space to research, design and test unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) that will position the university at the forefront of unmanned aerial system (UAS) education and development.

This $12.75 million project will be completed in two phases, the first of which will consist of a net-enclosed open-air facility measuring approximately 100 feet by 200 feet with a steel structure 30-35 feet high. This $4.3 million phase will incorporate a small, covered entry canopy for shelter from the elements, as well as outdoor landscaping for spectators to observe testing and competition.

Shocker bowling wins conference championship in its first season in NCAA

The Shocker women's bowling team dropped its first match of the Conference USA Championship before storming back through the contender's bracket with seven straight wins to capture the program's first conference title March 23 at Colonial Lanes.

With the win, Wichita State clinches the conference's automatic berth to the NCAA tournament. The team is the #1 seed in the Lansing Regional.

The Shockers (84-36) capped off the incredible run with consecutive victories over #1-seed and defending NCAA champion Jacksonville State, besting the Gamecocks 4-3 in the best-of-seven tiebreaker to force an if-necessary championship match then repeating the feat in another best-of-seven showdown.

David Miller named senior vice president for Administration, Finance and Operations

David Miller has been named as senior vice president for Administration, Finance and Operations at Wichita State.

Miller has been in the interim role since November. In the role, which is part of the President’s Executive Team, Miller will provide leadership and support to the university community with oversight of the Budget Office, Facilities Planning, Facilities Services, Police, Financial Services, Human Resources, Information Technology Services and Information Security.

“The university and student body are so important to the vitality of our community. As a graduate of WSU, I’ve experienced firsthand how higher education impacts the lives of students,” Miller said. “I’m excited and grateful for the opportunity to continue to contribute, with all my Shocker colleagues, to help students achieve their goals.”

Wichita Biomedical Campus starts heading upward as construction continues

Construction on Phase 1 of the Wichita Biomedical Campus is well underway and making its presence in downtown Wichita known.

Phase 1 of the biomedical campus — a joint venture of Wichita State, the University of Kansas and the WSU Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology (WSU Tech) — is a $222 million, 350,000-square-foot joint health sciences center, located at the southeast corner of Broadway and William.

Ramps connecting the two levels of the first floor have been poured, providing a glimpse of the final look of the inside of the building. Workers recently built a third storm shelter, and steel columns have been set up to the third floor. Steel installation will be the focus for the next several months, which will show the skeleton of the final building.

Once complete, the Wichita Biomedical Campus will combine WSU’s College of Health Professions programs, including the Evelyn Hendren Cassat Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic, WSU Tech’s health care program and the Wichita campuses of KU School of Medicine and KU School of Pharmacy.

Construction on Phase 1 is anticipated to be complete by the end of 2026 with the first classes being held in the building in summer/fall 2027.

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Women's tennis rises in rankings after winning streak; men's basketball plays in postseason for first time since 2021

Men's basketball's season has come to an end after making its first appearance in the postseason since 2021, and the women's tennis team is putting up results and rising in national rankings. Read more about the latest from the Shockers:

• Wichita State hosted a successful first and second round of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament at Intrust Bank Arena on March 20 and 22. Eight teams and their fans visited Wichita for six games, attended by well over 14,000 fans for the peak games. Wichita State faculty, staff and more than 50 students helped organize and coordinate aspects of the tournament that included setting up locker rooms, managing court time and handing out credentials.
• Men’s basketball returned to postseason play for the first time since 2021 in coach Paul Mills’ second season. The Shockers earned a bid to the NIT, their first appearance in that tournament since 2019. The Shockers finished the season 19-15 after a first-round loss at Oklahoma State. Senior guard Xavier Bell, from Wichita, earned All-American Athletic Conference honors. He is the first Shocker on the AAC first team since Tyson Etienne in 2021. Junior forward Corey Washington was a second-team selection.
• Softball is at home for a series against USF March 28-30.
• Baseball continues AAC play against UAB March 28-30 at Eck Stadium. Kansas State visits Eck Stadium on April 2.
• Women’s tennis has won four straight matches, including over No. 66 Princeton and No. 61 Tulane to rise to No. 47 in the national rankings. The Shockers play UTSA at 10 a.m. March 30 at Coleman Tennis Complex. On April 4, WSU plays host to North Texas at 10 a.m. and Creighton at 4 p.m.
• Men’s tennis is No. 75 in the ITA computer rankings, its first appearance in the rankings since 2022. The Shockers are at home against Creighton at 1 p.m. April 4.

For updates on more athletics at Wichita State and to buy tickets, visit goshockers.com.

Wichita State pediatric physical therapy team receives grant to expand services in rural schools

Faculty members on the pediatric team in Wichita State’s Department of Physical Therapy have been awarded a prestigious grant from the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation’s 2024 Priority Impact Quality of Life grants program. The $35,000 grant will provide access to assistive technology to help students in public schools with physical disabilities.

The grant will provide the following:

• Assistive technology equipment
• Training and resources for physical therapists and school clinicians
• Funding for the development of training modules on how to use the equipment
• Resources to develop a website to guide therapists on how to obtain and efficiently utilize assistive technologies

WSU’s 2024 annual report highlights key areas of interest and growth for the university

Wichita State is more than a campus where students learn and study. It’s a place to solve problems, to do research, to forge a pathway to a better tomorrow. It is a community where the dreamers, doers and Shockers of the future are encouraged to push boundaries, think critically and pursue their passions.

WSU and Shocker Neighborhood host Open Streets ICT again in April

Open Streets ICT returns to Wichita State University’s campus and neighborhood on April 13 with the goal of connecting with young people.

This year, there is an emphasis on engagement with Pre-K through 12th grade, said Naquela Pack, director of K-12 connections and special projects for Wichita State Connect.

Open Streets ICT is a community-building event on a closed street, intended to promote healthy active living and social engagement. Around 8,000 people participated in Open Streets ICT – WSU & Shocker Neighborhood in 2024, double the amount from the previous year.

From noon to 4 p.m. April 13, Open Streets ICT will take place on 17th Street from Oliver to Volutsia. The almost 2-mile stretch is open for biking, walking and running. The event is free and open to the public.

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