NetApp breaks ground for building on Wichita State University Innovation Campus
Work has begun on a permanent new home for NetApp's Wichita operations on the Wichita State University Innovation Campus, near 17th Street and Innovation Blvd. It is expected to open in early 2022.
The 168,000-square-foot LEED Silver building is designed as an open office plan, with 600+ workstations. The data center will be outfitted with 420 racks for NetApp’s product development purposes. Developing a permanent home on Innovation Campus will allow the company to work even more closely with WSU students, faculty and other researchers.
NetApp, a world leading solutions provider in digital transformation, is already one of the largest employers of Wichita State students and alumni. NetApp is a Fortune 500 global data storage and cloud management company, headquartered in Sunnyvale, California.
The entrance to the building will be through a two-story pedestrian mall that will serve as the entrance for NetApp, along with a kitchen and dining area for the public. NetApp’s plan includes a public outdoor recreation space with a multi-layered water ecosystem, seated terraces, and a multi-sport court for pickle ball and basketball.
The company held an online virtual groundbreaking Wednesday (May 27) for its employees. The groundbreaking showed earthmoving on the site by Crossland Construction, a full 3D walkthrough of the planned building and site by GLMV and included brief remarks from Wichita State President Jay Golden and NetApp’s Brad Anderson, Executive VP Hybrid Cloud Group, Kim Stevenson, SVP & GM FDSBU, and Robin Huber, site manager of Wichita operations.
While the new building is under construction, NetApp has leased Innovation Campus Partnership 3 Building, on 18th near Oliver, as a temporary home for many of its operations and employees. Most employees are currently working from their homes and will continue to do so while COVID-19 remains a major health concern.
Looking beyond that time, President Golden said: “I fully expect that NetApp's deepening collaboration with Wichita State will change the company, university and the broader community in many positive ways. The collaboration with NetApp is a cornerstone of the university's new National Institute for Digital Transformation.
"It is an ambitious effort." Golden said, "to harness the university's strengths in computer sciences, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, convergence sciences, fine arts and humanities to advance human knowledge, provide hands-on learning experiences for students and create economic growth for Wichita and Kansas."
Golden told NetApp employees: "I believe that bringing our students and faculty in close contact with NetApp’s people and expertise will spark new ideas that will be beneficial to university research, your customers and, ultimately, to companies and device users around the world. Your presence on this campus will be good for Wichita and the region’s economic recovery, as we collaborate to provide world-leading technologies from Wichita.”
Huber said: “NetApp has been deeply involved with GLMV Architecture in the design of the building and is looking forward to working with students and faculty as part of Wichita State’s research emphasis on digital transformation. From the company’s standpoint, we expect our presence on the Wichita State Innovation Campus to help us attract and retain excellent employees. This is the next logical step in NetApp’s 20+ year partnership with Wichita State.”
Real Talk: Debriefing the recent racial events
The Office of Diversity and Inclusion and WSU Counseling and Prevention Services are coming together to host an upcoming Real Talk - Intersection Dialogues from 1-2 p.m. Wednesday, June 3, via Zoom (Link will be provided after you RSVP).
As we continue to hear more news about the devastating racial events happening in society, our upcoming topic will be "Debriefing the Recent Racial Events." Engage in meaningful dialogues around various topics that impact identity, diversity, inclusion, equity, and society. We welcome you to lean into discomfort and join in on the discussion.
Register for this event at wichita.edu/odievents. You will receive the Zoom session link and password after you RSVP. For more information, contact the Office of Diversity and Inclusion at 316-978-3034.
Stay up-to-date with University Libraries
Keep up-to-date on when, where and how to use library resources on our website. For questions, send us an e-mail at librarystaff@wichita.edu or call us at 316-978-3481.
Tech updates keep Shocker Studios on cutting edge for applied learning
- Shocker Studios features studios for animation, film, recording, motion-capture and 3D design.
- Technology upgrades are crucial to giving students their applied learning opportunities.
- School of Digital Arts director Justin Rorabaugh leans on industry input to keep equipment current.
Pizza Hut Museum open by appointment only through June 30
The Pizza Hut Museum will remain closed to the general public through June 30. In the meantime, people interested in visiting the museum can request an appointment to visit between 8 a.m.-5p.m., Monday-Friday, at www.wichita.edu/PizzaHut.
Black & Yellow Day - June 12
We’re going virtual! Black & Yellow Day, originally scheduled in April, is now scheduled for Friday, June 12. Students who have just completed their freshman, sophomore, or junior year of high school, are invited to attend. During this virtual event, students will:
- Attend an academic session
- Learn more about student life & resources on campus
- Hear from current Wichita State students
- Receive a FREE Wichita State T-shirt in the mail if they register in advance
Interested students should go to wichita.edu/visit and click on Admissions Events to sign up. Questions can be directed to Sarah Brill, event coordinator, at sarah.brill@wichita.edu.
University Libraries provides online checkouts
To check out library materials, place a hold using the Libraries’ online catalog at https://libcat.wichita.edu/
Instructions:
You may place requests for materials at any time and they will be paged every two hours during our hours of operation. We will notify you via email when your holds are ready. Please note that holds placed for items at the McKinley Chemistry Library and Thurlow Lieurance Music Library will take longer to retrieve.
To pick up your holds, please stop at the Circulation Desk in Ablah Library. Your materials will be held in a locker adjacent to the desk. Upon showing your Shocker ID card, Libraries staff will provide you the information needed to retrieve your materials. The process in place is designed to provide contactless checkout of your materials.
Continued need to share reliable health information with students during COVID-19 pandemic
Research by Amy Chesser, Amy Drassen Ham and Nikki Keene Woods in the Department of Public Health Sciences was published in Health Education & Behavior titled “Assessment of COVID-19 Knowledge among University Students: Implications for Future Risk Communication Strategies.”
The researchers investigated WSU students’ knowledge and beliefs about COVID-19, current social media usage and gaps in understanding the health crises. More than 1,100 WSU students participated in the survey, and results highlight the need for an increased public health presence on social media and an urgent need to remain diligent in educating community members about COVID-19 myths.
Pictured above from l-r: Amy Chesser, Amy Drassen Ham and Nikki Keene Woods
Congratulations to KMUW's Stephan Bisaha, recipient of a Regional Murrow Award for excellence in journalism
Stephan Bisaha
KMUW news reporter Stephan Bisaha has received a 2020 Regional Edward R. Murrow Award for sports reporting. His winning feature, "Kansas Community College Football Now Has Its Own Stars, Netflix Series and Scandals," can be found at KMUW.org/awards.
Bisaha now advances to the prestigious National Murrow Award competition. The Radio Television Digital News Association has been honoring outstanding achievements in broadcast and digital journalism with the Edward R. Murrow Awards since 1971.
Summer 2020 E-Launch
E-Launch has been developed to foster entrepreneurial activity that will lead to the commercialization of ideas. This summer training will be held June through July. For more information and registration go to wichita.edu/elaunch.
Campus visits resuming soon
The Office of Admissions will resume hosting official campus visits beginning Monday, June 15. Interested students and their families can register at wichita.edu/visit.
For a two-week period, campus visits will consist of a university presentation, campus / housing tour, and individual meetings with admissions staff. Beginning late June, campus visitors will meet with academic college representatives if appointments are accommodated in-person during the campus visit.
Shocker Store curbside service moved
Now that the Rhatigan Student Center and the Shocker Store are open, curbside service has moved inside to the front of the RSC store, rather than off the parking lot. Both are open 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday-Friday. Within the store, guests are expected to wear masks and maintain six feet of social distancing.
Extra discount on clearance merchandise at the Shocker Store
This week in the Shocker Store, take an extra 10% off their already-marked-down clearance items! Sale is in RSC store only. Store hours are 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday-Friday.