WSU enrollment exceeds 16,000; highest student credit hours in university history
For the first time in nearly 30 years, more than 16,000 students have enrolled for fall classes at Wichita State University. The total headcount at WSU for fall 2019 is 16,058 students, an increase of 274 students, or 1.7%, over fall 2018.
Total student course credit hours are 165,903 for fall 2019, an increase of 1% compared to fall 2018 and the highest in WSU history.
As reported today by the Kansas Board of Regents (KBOR), KBOR's defined full time equivalent (FTE) students for WSU is 11,397, an increase of 1% over last fall's 11,285. For KBOR reporting purposes, full time is considered to be 15 hours for undergraduates and 12 hours for graduate students per semester.
Read complete fall enrollment story
2020 employment forecasts released for Kansas, Wichita, Topeka and Kansas City
Wichita State University’s Center for Economic Development and Business Research (CEDBR) has released its 2020 industry-level employment forecast for Kansas, Wichita, Topeka and Kansas City.
WSU’s Center for Real Estate releases 2020 Kansas Housing Market Forecast
The WSU Center for Real Estate has released the 2020 Kansas Housing Markets Forecast Series. This series reviews current housing market conditions in the major markets across the state – including Kansas City, Lawrence, Manhattan, Topeka and Wichita – and forecasts housing market activity through the end of 2020. The series also includes Housing Outlooks for 22 smaller markets across the state.
Copies of all the forecast and outlook publications in the series can be found at www.wichita.edu/realestate.
Shocker Ticket Office introduces Pick-3 package
A flexible, new ticket package offers Shocker fans first-choice on the best seats
to some of the best games on Wichita State's 2019-20 men's basketball schedule before
they go on sale to the general public.
Pick-3 Dynamic Ticket Packages – available now through the Shocker Ticket Office –
include one premium home game (VCU, Ole Miss, Houston or Cincinnati) and any two standard
games (see list below) for just $120.
Read more about the Pick-3 package
Engage ICT and 1A Across America present Women in Politics & The GOP
KMUW's Engage ICT and 1A Across America present Women in Politics & The GOP. Joshua Johnson, host of the national radio program 1A, will guest host this conversation at Crown Uptown Theatre at 6 p.m. today (Tuesday, Oct. 8).
Things have changed a lot for women over the last hundred years, from winning the right to vote to holding more seats in Congress than ever before. Democratic women swept the 2018 midterms, and now a record number of Republican women are planning to run for office in 2020.
We’ll hear from two women on why they ran, how they serve, and why they chose the party they did. We’re taking your questions, too. What do you want to know about how 2020 is shaping up for women in politics? This event is free to attend and open to all. Visit KMUW.org to learn more.
An adaptation of Camus's The Fall, with dance sequences, comes to campus on Oct. 8
French theater company Caravague presents an adaptation of “La Chute” (The Fall) by Nobel Prize-winning author Albert Camus at 7:30 p.m. today (Tuesday, Oct. 8) in the CAC Theater. The performance will be in French with above-stage titles. This event, sponsored by Modern and Classical Languages and the WSU Foundation, is free and open to the public.
WSU Concert Chorale, A Cappella Choir and special guest Andover Central H.S. choirs in concert!
The WSU Concert Chorale, A Cappella Choir and Andover Central High School choirs will present a concert at 7:30 p.m. today (Tuesday, Oct. 8) in Wiedemann Hall.
Directed by Ryan Beeken, the Wichita State Concert Chorale is the premiere choral ensemble at WSU. The choir performs a wide variety of significant choral literature from Renaissance to present.
The A Cappella Choir under the direction of Tom Wine, is a mixed choir that performs the Renaissance contemporary style.
Joining the WSU choir ensembles will be the Andover Central Chorale.
Admission is free for students with a current WSU ID. Click here for ticket information.
The Global Learning Center of Wichita to host presentation -- "International War
Crimes"
The Global Learning Center of Wichita will host its 74th United Nations Anniversary Banquet on Saturday, Oct. 12, at Olive Tree Banquet Hall, 29th and Rock Road. The presentation is titled “International War Crimes,” by Abeer Hasan, legal officer / appeals counsel at the United Nations with the Office of the Prosecutor at the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals.
Free admission for students who RSVP by Wednesday, Oct. 9, to glc.wichita@gmail.com or call Refika Sarionder 531-0026. The cost is $10 at the door.
WSU Cyber League team leads region in national rankings
WSU leads the central region in rankings of 419 teams competing in the National Cyber League (NCL), the league has announced.
NCL is a nonprofit cybersecurity competition for high school and college students that measures their ability to perform real-world cybersecurity tasks, like identifying hackers from forensic data, breaking into vulnerable websites, recovering from ransomware, and more. It has seen participation from all 50 states and Puerto Rico. WSU also ranked 14th overall nationally. Rankings are based on performance in the spring 2019 competition.
WSU’s team is comprised of members of the Wichita State Linux Users Group, known as WuLug. This was WuLug’s first competition. The group plans to compete again in the fall and welcomes new members to join.
“You don't need to be experienced with cybersecurity to join our team, as we are open to people of all backgrounds. You can join us officially by contacting us at wulug@wichita.edu,” said Dexter Gerig, a WSU computer science major who serves as WuLUG secretary.
National Cyber League Rankings
Sign up to judge the Wallace Invitational for Scholarships in Engineering (WISE)
We need your help! On Friday, Nov. 22, the College of Engineering will host its annual Wallace Invitational for Scholarships in Engineering (WISE), a scholarship competition for high school seniors interested in studying engineering or computer science. The top 10 students from the competition each receive a $28,500 Wallace Scholarship. This is the college’s largest recruitment event of the year – about 67% of participants end up attending Wichita State and pursuing a degree in the College of Engineering. Last year, we had 233 participants from 14 states.
We are seeking judges for the Group Design Challenge portion of the day. Two-person judging teams will be responsible for observing and scoring a small group of four-to-five students who will participate in a design-build challenge. Group members are judged on leadership, teamwork, communication, and problem-solving skills, so judges do not need to have a background in engineering or computer science.
The judging time commitment is from 9:30-11 a.m. Friday, Nov. 22, in the Rhatigan Student Center. If you are interested in being a judge, please sign up by Friday, Nov. 1 at www.wichita.edu/wisevolunteer.
Son of Gordon Parks returns to Kansas for 50th anniversary of The Learning Tree
David Parks, an American photographer, film director and author, will be a guest on the WSU campus Oct. 9 and 10. He is the son of the late photographer, filmmaker, director, composer and author Gordon Parks.
Parks will discuss the 50th anniversary of "The Learning Tree" in two of Dr. Marche' Fleming-Randle's classes in Lindquist Hall. He will then do a meet and greet with student veterans at the Capt. Riley Leroy Pitts Military and Veterans Student Center in Grace Wilkie.
“The Learning Tree” is a 1969 American drama film written and directed by Gordon Parks, a native of Fort Scott, Kansas, who became prominent in U.S. documentary photojournalism in the 1940s through the 1970s. He was the first African American to produce and director major motion pictures in the U.S. The film is based on Gordon Parks’ semi-autobiographical novel of the same name.
David Parks returns to Kansas annually to participate in activities honoring his late father. He will participate in the Gordon Parks Celebration Days Oct. 3-5 at Fort Scott Community College and at schools named after Gordon Parks in Wichita and Kansas City.
Born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, David Parks now lives in Austin, Texas. In 1965, he began a two-year tour in the U.S. Army, including eight months in combat in the Vietnam War, where he received two Purple Hearts. His book, “GI Diary,” is a collection of writings and photographs documenting his experience as an African American soldier in the war. Published in 1968 by Harper & Row, it became one of the top-10 best-selling books of that year.
Admissions welcomes your input for two Black and Yellow Days in October
On Friday, Oct. 11, the Office of Admissions will host the first of two Black and Yellow Days this fall. Each semester, we invite high school juniors, seniors and college transfer students to this all-day event on campus where they have the chance to participate in sessions hosted by each academic college, tour campus and explore the hands-on learning opportunities available at WSU.
The event is $15 per student and $5 per guest and includes lunch in Shocker Hall Dining. This fall, students can choose to attend Friday, Oct. 11, or Friday, Oct. 25.
If you know any students who should attend this event, they can register at wichita.edu/visit and click on "Admissions Events." For questions, contact Sarah Brill at 978-3638 or Sarah.Brill@wichita.edu.
Here’s this week’s university update
If you missed last Thursday’s Weekly Briefing, the university update included information on WSU / WSU Tech enrollment, and U.S. Attorney General William Barr’s visit.
WSU/WSU Tech enrollment numbers
For the first time in nearly 30 years, more than 16,000 students have enrolled for
fall classes at Wichita State. The total headcount at WSU for fall 2019 is 16,058
students, an increase of 274 students, or 1.7%.
Total student course credit hours are 165,903, an increase of 1%, which is the highest
in WSU’s history.
The university’s continued focus on its strategic enrollment management plan has also
led to increases in the following categories:
• undergraduate full-time enrollment
• underrepresented minorities
• undergraduate Hispanic students
• out-of-state students
• undergraduates from the I-35 corridor
• online majors
• and students choosing to live on campus
WSU Tech has achieved the highest enrollment in its history with a headcount of 4,920, a gain of 324 students or an increase of 7%. WSU Tech also reported 43,525 credit hours, which is 1,834 more credit hours than last year for an increase of 4.4%.
Moving forward, WSU and WSU Tech will continue looking for, and implementing, strategies that recruit, retain and graduate more students to better meet industry workforce needs, the needs of our community—and to boost our region’s economy.
For more information on our enrollment numbers, visit wsu.news/enrollment2019.
U.S. Attorney General William Barr visit
On Wednesday, the university was pleased to welcome U.S. Attorney General William Barr and Senator Jerry Moran to Shocker Nation. Attorney General Barr was here to tour the Law Enforcement Training Center and, specifically, the Gun Crime Intelligence Center, which is a collaboration between the U.S. government, WSU and local law enforcement.
There were also roundtable discussions involving representatives from the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms, Wichita Police Department, Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office, the Kansas Association of Chiefs of Police and others.
This visit, and the underlying investment of federal and local resources into our campus to address crime prevention, highlight the value of the growing number of partnerships LETC continues to generate.
Volunteers needed for Fall Commencement
The 2019 Fall Commencement ceremony will be held Sunday, Dec. 15. The Commencement Office is looking for individuals who are available to work from approximately noon to 5:30 p.m. that day. If you are interested in assisting, please visit the commencement website and sign up. If you have questions about assisting with commencement please contact the commencement office at commencement@wichita.edu.
Tour WSU's world-class sculpture collection at the Ulrich Museum of Art's Sculpture Glow event
The Ulrich Museum of Art invites you to join us at 7:30 p.m. tomorrow (Wednesday, Oct. 9) on an after-hours exploration of the world-class Martin H. Bush Outdoor Sculpture Collection as the glow of the evening light shifts from sunset to darkness. Flashlights and glow sticks fill the path of selected artwork by some of the world's most celebrated artists for an adventurous evening engaging with the most beloved sculptures on campus. Hot apple cider and donuts cap off the evening! Free and open to the public.
Women of WSU Membership Drive
The Women of Wichita State University Membership Drive is only $12 for a year.
This organization includes all female staff and administrators, female faculty, and faculty wives. We are a social group, and we raise funds for scholarships.
You can find our membership form on our website along with the events scheduled for this year. Payment of dues is online at wichita.edu/wwsu.
Women of Wichita State University
WSU Madrigal Singers & Women's Glee Club w/Goddard High School
Enjoy a concert by the WSU Madrigal Singers and Women’s Glee Club with Goddard High School at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 10, in Wiedemann Hall. Directed by Tom Wine, Wichita State’s Madrigal Singers is comprised of 16-20 mixed voices. This ensemble specializes in choral works for the smaller ensemble. Under the direction of Ryan Beeken; the Women's Glee Club consists of current WSU students, regardless of major. Joining the WSU choir ensembles will be the Goddard High School Concert Choir.
Admission is free for students with a current WSU ID. Click here for ticket information.
Get your idea off the ground with E-Launch!
If you have a product, business idea, or are starting a new product line, you won’t want to miss out on E-Launch. The next launch takes place from 6-9 p.m. Mondays, Oct. 21-Dec. 9, in the Innovation Hub in Devlin. This six-week training session will help you take the necessary steps to ensure you avoid failures in execution by learning before you launch, not after. For more information and to register, visit wichita.edu/elaunch.
E-Launch Information & Registration
Go cosmic bowling during Fall Break for only $1
Make it a cosmic Fall Break at the Shocker Sports Grill & Lanes! From 5-9 p.m. Monday, Oct.14 and Tuesday, Oct. 15, cosmic bowling is just $1 per game, with FREE rental shoes. Offer is not valid for group reservations. Shocker Sports Grill & Lanes is open to the public, so join us for some dollar cosmic bowling on campus! For more information, call 316-978-3479.
Volunteers needed for the Pumpkin Run
The 24th annual Pumpkin Run 5K and 1K is less than four weeks away! Each year Campus Recreation hosts WSU's largest 5K bringing about 1,000 students, staff, and community members to campus promoting fun, fitness, and fundraising.
This year's proceeds will help support ICT SOS, a Wichita-based organization that fights against human sex trafficking.
Events of this size simply can't succeed without the help and support of volunteers, so if you have a free schedule please use the link below to sign up. Duties range from fruit cutting to pumpkin painting, result tables to cheer groups. All volunteers will be supplied with free breakfast on the morning of the race.
This year's race will start at 9 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 19. Volunteers are asked to be available from 8-11 a.m. Sign up at bit.ly/volunteerpumpkinrun.
Host a trunk at Trunk or Treat!
Trunk or Treat is a family-orientated event welcoming Shockers of all ages to campus for a safe alternative to traditional trick-or-treating. Student Activities Council wants your department or student organization to host a trunk!
Register your department to host a festively decorated trunk at the event and provide candy and/or interactive activities for the families of WSU students, faculty, and staff, as well as kids from the local USD 259 school system. Register your trunk here! Registration closes Friday, Oct. 18.
Contact Randi Beggs at randi.beggs@wichita.edu with any questions about the event.
Get ready for this year's Trunk or Treat!
Looking for a spooktacular and safe alternative to trick or treating? Have an unboolievably good time with trick or treating, crafts, concessions, a costume contest, and more exciting interactive activities! This fangtastic Halloween-themed event is open to everyone.
Finding hope and healing: How one WSU student is beating the odds
Jennifer Raymo, a Wichita State student earning her graduate degree in social work, recently became the Wichita Chapter director of The Healing Chair. The nonprofit is a Kansas City based organization aimed at helping breast cancer and mastectomy survivors find comfort, hope and healing.
Register today for Big Pink Volleyball
Get your team together for a national fundraiser for Breast Cancer Research and win points for Shocktoberfest! This event is a blast and it funds a great cause.
This fun one-day event tournament begins at 10 a.m. Friday, Oct. 25, in the Heskett Center gymnasium, so grab your friends, create some costumes (not required), and play volleyball with our four-foot pink volleyballs. All the money raised goes to breast cancer research.
Register today at bit.ly/bigpinkwsu.
Shocker Cheer Clinic set for Nov. 3
Here's the opportunity for your cheerleader to work on their skills. On Sunday, Nov.
3, at the Heskett Center, cheerleaders can spend two hours with the nationally ranked
Shocker Cheer Team to work on cheers, a dance, stunts, tumbling, and jumps.
Participants will be divided by age range and work in rotations to maximize their
time with the current team members. With each $35 registration, participants will
receive a custom Shocker Cheer water bottle, a poster of the team and instruction
on how to perfect their skills as a cheerleader.
Registration is now open. Click here to register.