Celebrating first-generation Shockers |
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November is First-Gen Month, and it’s an opportunity for all of Shocker Nation to celebrate the vitality that this segment of our student population brings to our campus community.
Just to paint a picture of first-generation students at Wichita State:
- A first-generation student is someone whose parents or guardians did not complete a four-year degree.
- At Wichita State, 44% of our undergraduate student body identifies as first-generation college students.
- Wichita State saw an increase of 26.9% for first-generation graduate students for fall 2021.
- Recent enrollment data shows that 34.2% of Wichita State’s first-gen students are from low-income families and identify as an underrepresented minority.
For any student who’s coming to college for the first time, there can be concern about what books to buy, how to find the best route to get across campus, talking to faculty, and how to get academic help for difficult classes. But these anxieties are often heightened for students who are the first in their families to attend college — or first-generation students.
At Wichita State, we have several programs and offices that are dedicated solely to supporting the unique needs of first-gen students from the application process, all the way through graduation, and even as a Shocker alum.
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In the News at Wichita State |
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President Muma’s 'Forward Together' podcast launches |
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A new podcast about all things Shocker Nation has launched.
“Forward Together” will be hosted each month during the fall and spring semesters by President Rick Muma, and it celebrates the vision and mission of Wichita State University.
In each episode, President 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.
"Forward Together" is an opportunity to hear about university topics first-hand from President Muma and his guests. There is also a video version of the podcast available.
November’s episode
In this inaugural edition, we focus on digital transformation in the arts. We’re joined by Shocker alum Dean Hargrove — writer, director and producer, whose credits include “Columbo” and “Matlock” — and Wichita State’s dean of the College of Fine Arts, Dr. Rodney Miller.
How to listen
“Forward Together” is available at Spotify, Amazon Podcasts, Apple Podcasts (iTunes), and www.wichita.edu/ftpodcast, Coming soon, it will also be available wherever you get your podcasts. When you subscribe, you’ll be notified when new episodes drop. |
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Grant will help NIAR add jobs, purchase tools at WERX |
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A $2 million grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce will help Wichita State University’s National Institute for Aviation Research (NIAR) purchase tools and supplies to support Flight Test Research Center and Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul facility at NIAR WERX.
The grant from the department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) will include a $222,219 locally funded cost-match. It is expected to create 75 jobs and retain seven at NIAR WERX. The funding will help NIAR advance new technologies and boost efforts by the regional aviation cluster to adjust operations efficiently and effectively as the industry changes.
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Institute for the Study of Economic Growth names top execs to advisory board |
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Wichita State University’s Institute for the Study of Economic Growth (ISEG) has launched an advisory board consisting of seven prominent Kansas executives, who will provide the ISEG team with strategic direction, advice on programs and opportunities for advancement in the industry.
The board is co-chaired by ISEG Executive Director Dr. Ted Bolema and Dr. Larisa Genin, dean of the W. Frank Barton School of Business.
The Institute for the Study of Economic Growth at the Barton School has quickly become a premier agent for the exploration of market and enterprise systems aimed at economic development. Established in 2018, ISEG works to advance the teaching, research and application of innovative and entrepreneurial activities to enhance societal prosperity.
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Students create accessible Halloween costumes for children with special needs |
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Most children love trying on costumes this time of year, but for children with special needs, finding the right costume can be a challenge.
Walkin’ & Rollin’ is a non-profit organization out of Kansas City that provides wheelchair costumes at no cost. During the fall 2021 semester, members of Wichita State University’s GoBabyGo program worked with the non-profit to help local children have a more thrilling Halloween.
GoBabyGo, sponsored by the Wichita State’s College of Engineering, involves engineering students and physical therapy students who work together to modify off-the-shelf ride-on toy cars for kids with disabilities.
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Medical Laboratory Sciences program receives generous endowed scholarship |
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The Medical Laboratory Sciences department at Wichita State University has received a $280,000 endowed scholarship gift from Southcentral Pathology.
Dr. Joel Alderson, president of Southcentral Pathology in Wichita established this fund to provide two full-ride scholarships each year in WSU’s Medical Laboratory Sciences program. Recipients are chosen based on merit and financial need, and each student receives an equal amount of funds. This is the largest scholarship donation ever made to the program.
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Shocker Career Accelerator matches students with applied learning opportunities |
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Lauryn McIntyre is learning how to build a brand that helps HSI Wealth Strategies get the word out to people in the aviation industry that HSI understands their financial needs.
“Very pilot-centric, very pilot-focused,” she said. “I’ve learned a lot about the aviation industry in my time there.”
McIntyre, a Wichita State University senior, worked with a designer to create an HSI logo that invokes aviation. She also organizes the HSI’s marketing plan, networks with pilots and updates the website to highlight the firm’s expertise.
“It has helped me put marketing strategy in a real-world perspective,” she said. “I really had to, essentially, trust myself and learn through trial and error. Here, you’re going to get from point A to point B on your own.”
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Spirit AeroSystems, WSU announce National Defense Prototype Center |
Today, Spirit AeroSystems Inc. held a grand opening event and ribbon-cutting ceremony for its National Defense Prototype Center (NDPC), a joint project with Wichita State University’s National Institute for Aviation Research (NIAR). This new research center will significantly expand Spirit’s capabilities and production efficiencies in the defense and space market.
“NIAR has been a tremendous partner in the development of the National Defense Prototype Center and enabling Wichita as a center for defense growth,” said Duane Hawkins, Spirit AeroSystems executive vice president; president, Defense and Space. “The NDPC provides secure space for development, prototyping, industrialization and testing of emerging high-temperature materials and is directly aligned with Spirit’s growth strategies to achieve $1 billion of defense revenue by the mid-2020s.”
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Center for Real Estate releases 2022 Kansas Housing Markets Forecast Series |
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Kansas home prices will rise by 7.6% next year, according to the 2022 Kansas Housing Markets Forecast series published by the Wichita State University Center for Real Estate.
“The supply of homes available for sale remains near historic lows,” said Stan Longhofer, director of the WSU Center for Real Estate. “Although bidding wars may not be as intense as they were earlier this year, it will continue to be a sellers’ market across most market segments.”
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Wichita State announces 2022 employment forecasts |
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Wichita State University's Center for Economic Development and Business Research has released an updated Kansas, Wichita, Kansas City and Topeka Employment Forecast.
In 2022, Kansas's total nonfarm employment is forecast to increase by 13,401 jobs, with a projected growth rate of 1%.
The fastest growth is projected to be in the service sectors, which are forecast to expand 1.3% and add more than 2,200 new jobs. The production sectors are expected to grow 1%, adding more than 2,300 new jobs to the state economy. The trade, transportation and utilities sector is projected to add more than 2,200 jobs for 0.8% growth, while government sector employment is predicted to increase by 0.2%.
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