September 2026

The many ways we stay connected

Being a Shocker doesn't end at graduation. It doesn't end when a student earns a degree, lands a first job or moves away from Wichita. As a matter of fact, you can be a Shocker even if you haven’t graduated from WSU. Our connection to this university and to one another continues through the relationships, experiences and opportunities that define the Shocker community.

We saw that connection on full display during Founders Day.

This year's celebration was our most successful yet, with more than 1,400 donors contributing over $1.2 million to support Wichita State students and programs. Those gifts touched every corner of the university, supporting more than 240 funds, departments, scholarships, teams and initiatives.

What stands out to me is not just the total raised — although that is certainly worth celebrating. It's the breadth of support behind those numbers. Alumni, students, parents, faculty, staff and friends all came together to invest in opportunities that will help current and future Shockers succeed. In fact, nearly one in five Founders Day donors was a current student, demonstrating that philanthropy and school pride are already taking root in the next generation of alumni.

Episode 45: Landon Huslig, Wichita Life

In 2017, Shocker graduate Landon Huslig launched an Instagram account to spotlight some of the exciting things happening in Wichita. Today, Wichita Life is a media empire that includes a newsletter, podcast, merch, an event calendar and job listings — all with one mission: to tell the stories of Wichita and celebrate the people who make this city special.

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

Wichita State announces largest freshman class in its 131-year history

Driven by the largest freshman class in university history, combined enrollment by headcount across all Wichita State University locations for fall 2026 is 24,640, according to annual data released today by the Kansas Board of Regents.

Wichita State’s main campus enrolled 18,003 students this fall, marking the second-highest enrollment total in its 131-year history. WSU Tech also reported its second-highest fall headcount at 6,637 students, while reaching record credit hours and full-time equivalency (FTE).

Overall, Wichita State’s main campus enrollment dropped by 455 students, or 2.5%. While enrollment increased among several domestic student populations, those gains were offset by declines in graduate enrollment, driven in large part by a 23.9% decrease in international students. Graduate enrollment declined 16.2% overall. Additionally, overall student credit-hour production fell 1.5% from 170,521 to 167,899.

WSU Tech continued to see strong demand for its workforce-focused programs, setting new records in fall 2026. Student credit hours increased 2.4% to an all-time high of 61,665, resulting in a record FTE enrollment of 4,111. Adult enrollment also reached an all-time high of 3,302 students, reflecting continued demand for career training and credential programs that support Kansas employers and workforce needs.

Celebrate community and tradition at the 2026 Shocktoberfest

Wichita State University invites the community to show its black-and-yellow spirit during the 2026 Shocktoberfest, a weeklong tradition of Shocker pride, Sept. 28-Oct. 3.

Shocktoberfest has been a Wichita State tradition since 1991 and offers something for everyone, with events for students, alumni and the greater Wichita community.

Below is a sampling of this week’s events:

Annual bonfire featuring Shock Rock

Time: 7 p.m.

Date: Wednesday, Sept. 30

Place: Social Tap at Braeburn Square

Revel in the spirit of Shocktoberfest with WSU Cheer, Marching Band and a few of your favorite athletes. Featuring a special performance by Shock Rock with Dr. Monica Lounsbery, senior executive vice president and provost, on lead vocals; and on guitar, Andy Schlapp, vice president of strategy and government relations.

Shocker Pride. Nationwide. Celebrate the Arts

Time: 4-6:30 p.m.

Date: Thursday, Oct. 1

Place: Ulrich Museum of Art

The university is putting a spotlight on the creativity, talent and innovation that define the university’s vibrant arts community. This free, come-and-go event invites the public and campus communities to connect, explore and enjoy live performances and artistic discovery.

Shocktoberfest parade

Time: 4 p.m.

Date: Saturday, Oct. 3

Place: Across campus

Floats, cars and the Shocker Sound Machine marching band will showcase the very best of Shocker Nation. Get info on parking, the parade route and the best places to sit.

Shocker Madness

Time: 6:30 p.m.

Date: Saturday, Oct. 3

Place: Charles Koch Arena

Shocker basketball season is growing close, and the annual Shocker Madness is your first chance to see members of the men’s and women’s teams play up close during the teams' scrimmages.

Learn more and view a full list of events at wichita.edu/shocktoberfest. Check out the event directory and map to help find your way around campus, and stay up to date on the week of events by following WSU and the Foundation and Alumni Engagement on social media:

Wichita State University: Instagram, X, Facebook

Foundation and Alumni Engagement: Instagram, X, Facebook

From left to right: Jayden Island, Monica Lounsbery, Debbie Franklin, Amy Drassen Ham, Imran Musaji, Rick Muma. Photo below: Ashlie Jack, Suresh Keshavanarayana, Monica Lounsbery.

Regents name four WSU employees as Faculty and Staff of the Year

The Kansas Board of Regents voted to name three faculty and one staff member from Wichita State as Faculty and Staff of the Year for 2026. The program recognizes the outstanding contributions of faculty and staff at state universities to teaching, student success, research, institutional excellence and Kansas communities.

Faculty of the Year:

• Dr. Amy Drassen Ham, clinical professor in the Department of Public Health Sciences in the College of Health Professions
• Dr. Suresh Keshavanarayana, professor and chair of the Department of Aerospace Engineering in the College of Engineering
• Dr. Imran Musaji, assistant professor in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders in the College of Health Professions

Staff of the Year:

• Debbie Franklin, associate vice president of Strategic Initiatives and Industry Engagement

Wichita State shares class of summer 2026 graduates and honor roll students

Wichita State has released the list of the over 400 Shockers who graduated in summer 2026. Overall, 62 graduates were honored as cum laude, 60 as magna cum laude and 19 as summa cum laude.

Additionally, you can see the names of the over 80 students included in the summer 2026 semester honor roll list. To be included on the honor roll, students must be in full-time status and have at least a 3.5 grade point average on the 4.0 scale.

Wichita Biomedical Campus construction nears its 2027 completion

The Wichita Biomedical Campus℠ is nearing the final stages of construction. Recent progress includes installation of exterior terracotta panels, illuminated building signage and key interior finishes, while second-floor spaces are nearing completion. Exterior work also continues with ongoing facade improvements as the project moves closer to opening.

Follow along with the construction of the historic investment in Wichita and Kansas by watching the continuous livestream of the construction site online.

Phase 1 of the location is a $222 million, 350,000-square-foot joint health sciences center, in downtown Wichita.

Once complete, the Wichita Biomedical Campus will combine WSU’s College of Health Professions programs, WSU's Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology (WSU Tech) healthcare programs, and the Wichita campuses of KU School of Medicine and KU School of Pharmacy.

2026 remembrance ceremony for Memorial ’70 to be held Oct. 2

The 56th anniversary remembrance ceremony of Memorial ’70 will be held at 9 a.m. Friday, Oct. 2 at the memorial sculpture at the university entrance at Memorial Drive (18th Street) and Hillside.

A reception will be held immediately following the ceremony in the lobby of Duerksen Fine Arts Center across from the memorial.

The ceremony will honor the 31 people - WSU football players, administrators, supporters and flight crew — who died in the crash in Colorado.

Those interested in making a tax-deductible contribution in memory of the crash victims can give to the Football '70 Memorial Scholarship, the only endowed scholarship at WSU dedicated in collective memory to those who died in the tragedy.

Shocker Athletics builds for the future on and off the field

Major facility projects are progressing as Shocker Athletics teams prepare for the fall season of competition.

Crossland Stadium - Construction is underway on Phase 2 of the stadium replacement project – recently named Crossland Stadium. Demolition of the west grandstand is well underway and anticipated to be complete at the end of August. Construction of the new west stadium will be phased to ensure that seating is available for the 2027 KSHSAA State Track and Field Championships. Construction is scheduled to be completed before the 2028 KSHSAA State Track and Field Championships.

Wilkins Stadium (Wadsworth Team Operations Center) - Construction is underway on the Wadsworth Team Operations Center (the addition to the indoor practice facility for the softball team completed last year). The project is anticipated to be completed in early 2027. The facility will include a locker room, team room, offices and athletic training areas for the WSU softball team.



• The Shocker Basketball Tipoff Luncheon is at 11:45 a.m. Oct. 23 at Charles Koch Arena. Fans will have the chance to enjoy a meal and meet members of the men's and women's basketball teams, Tickets are on sale, with a special discount for a table of eight. Go to goshockers.com/tipoffluncheon, visit the Shocker Ticket Office or call 316-978-3267 to order tickets through Oct. 21.
• Men’s basketball will play Murray State at 6:30 p.m. Oct 7 in a charity scrimmage. Proceeds will be split between the Wichita Children's Home and Cheese Johnson's UJUMP.
• Women’s basketball will host Newman University in an exhibition Oct. 28.
• Shocker volleyball continues American Conference play with a home match versus Tulsa at 6 p.m. Oct. 2. The team is back at Charles Koch Arena for matches against UTSA (6 p.m. Oct. 16) and Rice (noon Oct. 18).
• The Shocker Baseball Golf Classic is Oct. 9 at Crestview Country Club. Visit the Shocker Athletics website to register or contact Faith Weekley at fweekley@goshockers.com.
• Baseball scrimmages Kansas City Kansas Community College at 1 p.m. Oct. 3. The Black & Yellow Fall World Series starts on Oct. 7.
• Softball plays its first scrimmage at 1 p.m. Oct. 3 versus McLennan Community College at Wilkins Stadium.

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

Shocker jersey patch recognizes NIAR’s contributions to athletics, university

Wichita State University's National Institute for Aviation Research (NIAR) and Shocker Athletics are two of the city's most recognizable institutions.

This season, their longtime partnership elevates in prominence with Shocker Athletics' recognition of NIAR's impact through a jersey patch for all Wichita State sports. It is the first jersey patch recognition for Shocker Athletics and symbolizes NIAR's contributions to the university and city.

"The NIAR jersey patch is much more than exposure," Kevin Saal, director of athletics, said. "It showcases our university's mission and a vital campus partner of Wichita State Athletics. It highlights NIAR's deep connections to research in the aviation industry, the United States military and defense agencies and the Kansas economy. The jersey patch honors NIAR's critical role on our campus and in our community, as well as its past, present and future support of Wichita State Athletics."

Wichita State hosts 2026 NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts Symposium

Some of the newest and boldest ideas in space exploration were featured Sept. 15-17 at the NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) Symposium on Wichita State University’s campus in the Eugene M. Hughes Metropolitan Complex.

Wichita’s role as host highlights the strong connection between NASA and Wichita State, which includes groundbreaking faculty research, university STEM programs and work with WSU’s National Institute for Aviation Research. For example, the solar detector prototype satellite project led by Wichita State’s Dr. Nick Solomey, professor of physics, has its roots in the NIAC Symposium.

President Rick Muma delivered the welcome address to attendees, and Solomey gave the keynote speech for the symposium on day one.

WSU’s leadership highlights national trends in student success, workforce development and research

Recent national higher education coverage underscores several areas in which Wichita State University is helping shape the future of higher education. From innovative workforce partnerships and industry-connected research to student parent support and enrollment strategies, the stories highlight issues where WSU’s applied learning model and student-centered approach align with emerging national priorities.

• "How to reimagine research partnerships at the speed of industry" in University Business - Calls for faster, more responsive university-industry collaborations align with Wichita State’s nationally recognized approach to research, applied learning and Innovation Campus partnerships that connect academic expertise with real-world needs.
• "Here’s why momentum for paid apprenticeships is surging" in University Business - As colleges nationwide expand paid apprenticeship programs to meet workforce needs, Wichita State continues to demonstrate how applied learning and employer partnerships can connect students with meaningful, paid career experiences while strengthening the talent pipeline.
• "How Texas Became an Enrollment Battleground" in The Chronicle of Higher Education - The enrollment challenges and recruitment competition unfolding in Texas mirror national demographic shifts, underscoring the importance of Wichita State’s focus on affordability and strong workforce outcomes.
• "WSU’s Crash Dynamics Lab" in The Chronicle of Higher Education - The Chronicle of Higher Education highlighted Wichita State’s Crash Dynamics Lab, showcasing how the university’s industry-engaged research enterprise contributes to advancements in transportation safety and innovation.
• "A Pre-Orientation Designed for Student Parents" in Inside Higher Ed - National attention on pre-orientation programs designed for student parents reflects a growing recognition that targeted support services help remove barriers and improve persistence for nontraditional students.
• "How 4 Colleges Are Supporting Student Parents" in Inside Higher Ed - As institutions across the country invest in services for student parents, Wichita State’s longstanding commitment to meeting students where they are reinforces the university’s focus on access and student success.

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