July 2024

We’re getting excited about the start of the school year! Here is some great information for you and your student as they start to prepare for the upcoming school year.

It is time for you to sign up for your Move-In Timeslot for the upcoming academic year!

Residents may begin moving in as early as August 10th. Our full-service move in days include Saturday, August 10 and Sunday, August 11 where staff will be readily available to help you check-in, direct you to your room, and provide extra hands for moving. To sign up, you will need to log into the Shocker Housing Portal and navigate to the 'Appointments' tab. You will then select a date and time that you wish to move in at. If your plans have changed and you are no longer planning to reside on campus, please submit a cancellation request form, also located in the Shocker Housing Portal.

Safes and mini-fridges are available to rent from Housing. They will be placed in the resident's room before Move-In. To request one of these optional rentals, log in to your Shocker Housing Portal, select the 'Forms & Resources' tab, then select 'Optional Room Rentals'. The cost is $30/semester for a safe and $40/semester for a mini-fridge.



Move-In begins Saturday, August 10.

The Shocker Store is here to help with all your student’s needs for the fall semester!

• Not sure what textbooks are needed for a class? Visit https://shockerstore.com/store1/SelectTermDept to search and compare prices.
• Need more information about what the WSU Digital Course Program, Access Now, is all about? Visit https://shockerstore.com/store1/accessnow for more information, including links to tutorials on how to access those materials.
• Want to get a head start on purchasing school supplies? We’ve got you covered at https://shockerstore.com/store1/MerchList?ID=14495 with everything from highlighters to notebooks, backpacks and more!

Let us know how we can help!

• Visit us in store at the Rhatigan Student Center
• Give us a call at 316-978-3490

Send us an email at shockerstore@wichita.edu

We want your student to start college feeling confident and connected. Shocker Pre-Season programs are a collections of programs that help students warm up and get in the right mindset the week (or two) prior to the beginning of the regularly scheduled fall semester. These programs will give your student the opportunity to make new friends, get to know some instructors, and learn their way around campus while at the same time working on skills like college-level writing, presentations and research. Activities will prepare your student for the core classes that they will take their freshman year and give tips and tricks to be a great college student.

Financial Aid

Student Access: Important Tips for Families

UNDERSTAND FERPA

The federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), along with Kansas state law and administrative rules, gives students certain rights with respect to their educational records. When a student reaches 18 years of age or attends an institution of postsecondary education at any age, they become an "eligible student," and all rights under FERPA transfer from the parent to student. FERPA protects "education records," and requires the student to give consent to share information related to their educational record.

WILL MY STUDENT’S GRADES BE MAILED?

Wichita State University does not mail grade reports. Grades are available to students online via myWSU.

CAN I HAVE A COPY OF MY STUDENT’S GRADES OR ACADEMIC RECORDS?

According to both federal and state law, parents may have a copy of their student’s record only with the student’s written consent. Students have access to their grades online via myWSU a few days after the end of the term. While Wichita State staff may not be able to talk specifically about your student, we can share general information about academic policies and processes.

E-BILL AUTHORIZED USER

Your student can register you as an Authorized User on their E-Bill account to give you access to view records and pay bills. To add you as a user, your student should log into their WSU Access Account, click the MyFinances tab, select the eBill Icon, and select Authorized Users. Please note this is a separate process from the Family Portal financial information request. The Family Portal will allow you to see when a bill is due, but will direct you to the E-Bill to pay.

PROXY

Under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), parents do not have access to their student’s collegiate educational record unless the student provides consent. Students wanting to release non-directory information to parents, employers, or other specified individuals, referred to as proxies, may do

so online by logging into the secure myWSU portal.

The Office of Student Accommodations and Testing provides students with learning, mental or physical disabilities an equal opportunity to attain their academic and personal goals to the fullest of their abilities. If your student will need accommodations this academic year, encourage them to complete the New Student Application or Continued Student Services application online at Wichita.edu/ODS

WSU requires all on-campus housing residents to submit proof of vaccination against meningitis or a meningitis waiver. To meet the vaccination requirement, you must have at least one dose of meningitis ACYW vaccine on or after your 16th birthday or a signed waiver.

- Upload your documentation to the myShockerhealth portal . Instructions on how to Upload Health Documents.

There is a Meningitis waiver option for those with medical, religious or other exemptions pertaining to immunizations.  

Join Us for Shocker Family Table Talks

Is your student new to WSU? Engage with and learn more about various university services and programs via our Parent Family Table Talk series. You will be able to partake in a live, online session, to learn about academics, life on campus, and belonging at WSU. 

You can view all the past table talk sessions on our YouTube Channel!

Parents, have your student mark their calendars for the On-Campus Job Fair on August 14, 2024, from 1-3 p.m. It will take place on the 3rd floor of the RSC. As your student will be spending a significant amount of time on campus this fall, we encourage them to consider working on campus too! It's an enjoyable and convenient experience that allows them to meet fellow Shockers. The dress code for the fair is business casual.

Please remind your student to bring their WSU ID (or the number), 20-30 copies of their resume, and their fall 2024 class schedule. They should come prepared to engage in conversations with on-campus employers. To help them get ready for the fair, we recommend attending a virtual workshop on either August 1 or 7. Visit wichita.edu/OCJ for more details.

If your student is unable to attend the fair, don't worry! We have a solution for them. They can apply for positions online through wichita.edu/ShockerCentral. We encourage them to regularly check wichita.edu/OCJ for newly added positions.

Thank you for your support in encouraging your student's active engagement on campus!