September 2024

New Shocker Success Center serves as a hub for student support and opportunity 

As we move deeper into the fall semester, I want to share a milestone that speaks to the heart of Wichita State’s mission: the opening of the Shocker Success Center.

What was once Clinton Hall — a space many of us remember as outdated and cold — has been transformed into a vibrant and welcoming hub that now serves as the cornerstone of student support at Wichita State. Officially opened in August, the Shocker Success Center brings together 18 essential student services, creating a central place where our Shockers can find the help they need to stay on course and thrive.

This center reflects our commitment to making education accessible and affordable. It supports students from every walk of life, whether they’re first-generation college students navigating unfamiliar territory, adult learners balancing multiple responsibilities, or students who simply need a helping hand on their academic journey. We know the challenges our students face, and we’ve worked hard to eliminate as many barriers as possible by centralizing these services. From academic guidance and tutoring to career support and basic needs assistance, everything they need is now in one place, in the very heart of our campus.

September podcast: Badges and microcredentialing at Wichita State with Kim Moore

Join President Muma as he talks to Kim Moore, a founding member of the 1EdTech TrustEd Microcredential Coalition and executive director of workforce, professional, and community education for Wichita State, about the value, meaning and credibility of badges and microcredentialing at WSU.

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

Wichita Biomedical Campus construction continues as more of the old foundation is removed

Construction continues on Phase 1 of the Wichita Biomedical Campus, a $300 million, 471,000-square-foot joint health sciences center, located at the southeast corner of Broadway and William.

The previous foundation from the site has been removed, and utility work continues. Pile driving of the location began last week, and starting in December, a tower crane will be built to begin placing steel for construction, with the first steel being placed in February 2025. Watch the live view of the construction online.

The Wichita Biomedical Campus is a joint project between Wichita State and the University of Kansas. Once complete, the 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.

Shockers participate in the Paris Olympics and Paralympics

Wichita State University saw some of its very own represent their countries in the 2024 Olympics and Paralympics in Paris; Paula Garcia and Casey Ratzlaff.

Garcia ran for WSU’s track and field team as a sprinter from 2017-22. She represented Spain at the 2024 Olympics as part of the country’s six-person 400-meter relay team and was the 12th track and field Olympian or Paralympian from WSU.

Ratzlaff represented the United States at the 2024 Paralympics in wheelchair tennis. Ratzlaff — who is the number one ranked wheelchair tennis player in America — was the first American to compete at Wimbledon in the men’s wheelchair division.

Volleyball sees victories to start its season, women’s bowling readies up for first NCAA season

AAC competition for the fall semester kicks off later this month. See the latest from our athletics teams and what’s in store in the coming weeks:

• Volleyball started its home AAC schedule Sept. 27 vs. Temple with a 3-1 victory. The Shockers recently went 2-1 in the Shocker Volleyball Classic. Four of WSU’s losses are against nationally ranked teams.
• Shocker Madness will be at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 5 at Charles Koch Arena. The men’s and women’s basketball teams will scrimmage and compete in a three-point shooting contest. The teams will also sign autographs from 5 to 6 p.m. at the Fan Fest.
• Women’s bowling will kick off its first season of NCAA competition in the Penguin Classic in Youngstown, Ohio, Oct. 11-13.
• Cross country will compete in the Bradley Pink Classic, hosted by Bradley University, Oct. 18. WSU’s men started the season by winning the JK Gold Classic Sept. 7.
• Baseball won its scrimmage with Cowley College Sept. 28 and will host another with Dallas Baptist at 1 p.m. Oct. 19 at Eck Stadium.
• Softball plays Butler Community College at 6 p.m. Oct. 3 and Southern Nazarene at 1 p.m. Oct. 5 at Wilkins Stadium.

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

Inclusion in VOLARÉ Institute offers Wichita State opportunity to enhance its research capabilities

Wichita State University is participating in the VOLARÉ Institute as part of a project to build research capabilities and expand STEM initiatives for Hispanic-Serving Institutions.

VOLARÉ Institute participants, chosen from an application process, will engage in a series of activities designed to enhance skills and boost the ability to compete for funding while elevating the research enterprise.

“We are grateful to have been chosen by the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities to participate in the first cohort of the VOLARÉ Institute,” said Coleen Pugh, dean of the Graduate School. “We consider this an important step to attaining our HSI goals, while also contributing WSU’s expertise to the program.”

Additionally, Wichita State has been selected by the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities to participate in the HSI Grant Writing Symposium during its 38th annual conference Nov. 4

Wichita State named Academic Institution of the Year by SHPE

Wichita State University has been named the 2024-25 Academic Institution of the Year by the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers, the nation’s largest association dedicated to fostering Hispanic leadership in the STEM field.

The award is part of SHPE's Technical Achievement Recognition program, which recognizes impactful research, professional contributions and community engagement in the STEM community. It will be presented during the STAR Award Gala on Nov. 1 at the Anaheim Convention Center in California.

Wichita State has had a SHPE student chapter since 2008, when it started with five members. The chapter was named the Region Three Chapter of the Year in 2022-23 and 2023-24. During the 2023-24 academic year, there were more than 60 members, and membership for the 2024-25 academic year is expected to be similar or higher. Most of the past SHPE members have been students from the College of Engineering within the university.

Shocker Studios has new views with the Synthetic Scenes digital wall

Wichita State University students now have access to cutting-edge virtual production technology at Shocker Studios with the addition of Synthetic Scenes — a 35- by 11-foot digital wall that will give digital arts students and professionals more tools to create innovative productions.

The digital wall allows actors and other performers to be filmed against any backdrop, and unlike a green screen, the digital wall is live and can be interacted with in real time, meaning performers can react organically, and post-production time is greatly reduced.

The incorporation of the digital wall into Shocker Studios amplifies the professional-grade, hands-on learning students within the School of Digital Arts are already receiving.

WSU Foundation and Alumni Engagement to host annual Heritage Gala

Join the WSU community on Oct. 29 to celebrate the individuals who have inspired past, present and future generations of Shockers at the annual Heritage Gala alumni awards. The dinner and reception will begin at 6:45 p.m. in the Shirley Beggs Ballroom of the Rhatigan Student Center.

This year’s award recipients are:

• Ron Baker, 2015 (Young Alumni)
• Diana Ho, 2016 (Social Impact)
• Junetta Evertt, 1979 (Alumni Achievement)
• Jill Docking (Board of Trustees)

Come together to honor these remarkable individuals and their lasting contributions to the WSU community.

Wichita State invites the community to various events on campus

Shocker Nation invites everyone in the community to join a number of events on Wichita State’s campus throughout October, including:

• Shocktoberfest: Students, families, faculty, staff, alumni and the greater Shocker community are all invited to take part in Shocktoberfest Sept. 30-Oct. 5. Bookending the week are the Braeburn Square bonfire Sept. 30 and the Shocktoberfest Parade and Shocker Madness Oct. 5.
• Memorial ’70: The annual remembrance of Memorial ’70 will be held at 9 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 2 at the memorial sculpture at the university entrance at Memorial Drive and Hillside. The ceremony will honor the 31 people — WSU football players, administrators, supporters and flight crew — who died in the crash in Colorado.
• Pumpkin Run: Campus Recreation invites the community to participate in the annual Pumpkin Run 5K starting at 9 a.m. Oct. 19 on Wichita State’s campus. Additionally, children aged 10 and younger can participate in the Little Pumpkin Fun Run 1K the same day.
• Trunk or Treat: Meet Shockers and campus partners at the annual Trunk or Treat Oct. 19 on campus, a fun and Shocker-alternative to traditional trick or treating. Bring your families to the parking lot east of the John Bardo Center from 1 to 4 p.m.

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