President Bardo addresses WSU's evolving approach to academic credentials
President John Bardo is in Washington, D.C. to address the House Committee on Education and the Workforce about some of the initiatives at Wichita State that are gaining national attention.
Here's a link to a new essay he wrote about WSU's evolving approach to academic credentials in a time of rapid technological change.
WSU Weekly Briefing to feature a significant gift
Tracee Friess, director of communications for research and technology transfer, will announce a significant gift at the WSU Weekly Briefing at 10 a.m. tomorrow (Thursday, July 26) in the Marcus Welcome Center.
In addition to other campus updates, some Master of Innovation Design students will talk about their participation in a national competition to improve the design of a Johnson & Johnson product.
There will be time for questions at the end of the briefing.
The briefing will be available live and later that day at https://wsu.news/Youtube.
WSU Tech launches new scholarship program
At the National Center for Aviation Training, WSU Tech will pay tuition and fees, relocation and cost of living expenses and provide a guaranteed job interview with a new “Wichita Promise Move” scholarship program. The goal of the Wichita Promise Move is to relocate people who live at least 75 miles outside of the Wichita area to receive training and an employment opportunity at no cost to the student. WSU Tech hopes to attract 25 to 30 people who live outside Kansas and another 25 to 30 people who live in the state but outside a 75-mile radius of Wichita.
Among the companies offering guaranteed job interviews to Wichita Promise Move students is Textron Aviation Inc. Textron Aviation Inc. is the leading general aviation authority and home to the Beechcraft, Cessna and Hawker brands. Spirit AeroSystems, a longtime partner of WSU Tech, will also guarantee interviews to these students. Spirit AeroSystems is one of the largest suppliers for the Boeing Company.
WSU Tech has a strong track record of delivering opportunities that help students receive short-term training that lead them to a career in a high-demand technical field. In April 2016, WSU Tech launched the Wichita Promise scholarship program aimed at assisting residents in the Wichita area.
New public information site increases transparency, access to information
Wichita State University is in the midst of a historic period of rapid growth. Given the often complex changes and fast pace of development, WSU has launched a website that allows for greater transparency and easier access to information open to the public.
The site is located at wichita.edu/publicinfo and is part of a complete redesign of the Wichita State website. The features of the Public Information site include:
- An online open records request form
- A log of open records requests with status and links to documents
- A page of commonly requested records
- A Trending Topics feature that provides details fully explaining issues of interest to the WSU community and beyond
- Links to live and recorded videos of WSU's weekly media / community briefings
International aerospace collaborations for regional benefit
John Tomblin, WSU vice president for Research and Technology Transfer and NIAR executive director, and Andy Schlapp, chief of staff and NIAR director of business development, were invited by U.S. Senator Jerry Moran's office to attend the Farnborough International Airshow in order to highlight key resources available through WSU, NIAR and the Wichita community to an international audience.
At the show, WSU has a large visible presence within the Greater Wichita Partnership and Dassault Systemes chalets, specifically focusing on WSU's unique resource, the 3DEXPERIENCE Center, a partnership with Dassault Systemes.
Moran's team is hosting various meetings focused on modernizing Navy and Air Force readiness through sustainment, an effort that WSU can support through NIAR laboratories and faculty and staff expertise.
Chung Report features Kim Moore talking about badges
Kim Moore, director for workforce, professional and community education, talked about Wichita State's Badge Program in this recent Chung Report.
Win the Day fitness classes build community in Shocker neighborhoods
Hang out in Fairmount Park on a Tuesday or Thursday around 8 a.m. and you'll soon encounter an enthusiastic group of up to 50 walkers of all ages, backgrounds and fitness levels taking charge of their health with a simple “walk in the park.”
These walkers are participants of Win the Day, an eight-week health and fitness series for residents of Shocker Neighborhoods, the neighborhoods surrounding Wichita State University.
Led by local fitness instructor Denise Colborn, Win the Day is a partnership of Shocker Neighborhood Coalition, Wichita State University Public Policy and Management Center, City of Wichita Park and Recreation, and Denise Colborn Fitness. Funding for the fitness series is provided by a grant from the Kansas Health Foundation.
Campus improvements continue
Changes are underway that will affect motor vehicle and pedestrian traffic on campus. Improvements include an emphasis on increased visibility at all crosswalks, which will be repainted with reflecting paint and adding an additional three new crosswalks in areas of high pedestrian traffic.
Some street names are changing, and there will be new street signs. Roadway signage should be installed by the end of next week. The street names and new signage will benefit visitors to campus and personnel who come to campus to assist with medical situations or other emergencies.
The Shuttle Bus loop in and around campus will continue with the same stops.
The diagonal crosswalks from the parking lots leading to Ahlberg Hall will be removed and replaced with perpendicular crosswalks and curb cuts.
A crosswalk with curb cuts will be installed between Devlin and Hubbard halls to increase safety there.
Save 30 percent at the Christmas in July sale
Save big at the Shocker Store's Christmas in July sale! This week, take 30 percent off coats, sweatshirts, sweatpants and cold weather accessories (gloves, scarves, hats, etc). Valid on regular priced items. Sale is in-store only.
No football? No problem! Wichita State to start marching band this fall
It's the start of a new tradition: Starting this fall, Wichita State will have a marching band.
This is not your traditional marching band synonymous will football. Shocker Sound Machine (SSM) will be fast-moving, high-energy and more akin to performances by Drum Corps International.
The new band will include brass, saxophone and a drum line.
“This ensemble will be about entertainment,” says Tim Shade, director of bands in the School of Music. “Imagine exciting, energetic, high-octane performances. That is what we are looking to create.”
The band will perform predominantly during WSU basketball games, as well as other athletics and big student events. The goal is to grow to 200 band members, says Aleks Sternfeld-Dunn, director of the School of Music.
Changes coming to Mega-Bytes
Some exciting changes are coming to Mega-Bytes, the convenience store located in the Experiential Engineering Building. The store will be transforming into a self-service micro-market, with new products. So, they will always be accessible as long as the building is open. You will be able to swipe in with WSU ID. The store will be closing Saturday, July 28 for the changeover and opening again in mid-August.