Have a safe and happy Thanksgiving
Wichita State University will be closed for the Thanksgiving holiday from Thursday, Nov. 22 through Sunday, Nov. 25.
There are no classes Wednesday, Nov. 21, but university offices will be open. Classes will resume on Monday, Nov. 26.
Today (Monday, Nov. 19) is the last edition of the student email newsletter Shocker Blast before Thanksgiving. The submission deadline is noon tomorrow (Tuesday, Nov. 20) for the Monday, Nov. 26 edition of Shocker Blast.
Please submit information to shockerblast@wichita.edu.
Student health insurance update
Since the summer, many students have expressed questions and concerns about changes to health insurance requirements. At a meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 14, university and Student Government Association representatives made a determination to answer those concerns.
Until further notice, WSU will maintain the policy mandated by the Kansas Insurance Department. The policy mandates that a student's “insurer is authorized to do business in Kansas and is providing coverage under a policy that has been filed and approved by the Kansas Insurance Department.”
All students are strongly encouraged to contact university officials to ensure that their health insurance plans comply with state regulations.
If you have any concerns about the compliance of your student health insurance policy, please contact Sheryl McKelvey at sheryl.mckelvey@wichita.edu, or the Student Health Services office at 978-3620.
ECI Services may also be contacted for insurance policy review at waiver@eciservices.com. You can also email question to insurance.waivers@wichita.edu.
SGA and WSU officials have been in regular contact to discuss how the state mandate affects students, and what insurance policies are available to students. We will continue to advocate for students' best interests in insurance conversations, and we will inform students in the case of further changes to insurance regulations.
Shocker Pet Pathway is just around the corner
WSU is developing a walking path designated for you and your four legged friend(s) on #WichitaState's campus! #wsunow
Dog treat dispensers
Selfie spots 📸
Scenic routes on campus
Sponsored pet dedication signs
Find out more about Shocker Pet Pathway.
Black Friday at the Shocker Store
Searching for the perfect gift for your favorite Shocker fan? Save big on Shocker gear at the Shocker Store's Black Friday Sale! On Friday, Nov, 23 and Saturday, Nov. 24, at their Braeburn Square location only, take 25 percent off storewide! Store hours are 10 a.m.-8 p.m. both days. See you there, Shocker Nation!
Happy FAFSA-giving
The priority deadline of Saturday, Dec. 1 for submitting your 2019-20 FAFSA is quickly approaching. Use your Thanksgiving break to finish your application at fafsa.gov.
Click here to see how the Office of Financial Aid staff have been out and about spreading the importance of FAFSA completion.
We're here to help:
finaid@wichita.edu
316-978-3430 / 1-855-WSU-1STP (24-hour support)
203 Jardine Hall
8 a.m.-6 p.m. (M-T), 8 a.m.-5 p.m. (W-F)
Music educator and historian to present lecture ‘Changing the Tune'
Carolyn Glenn Brewer
She has published numerous articles and books, most recently Changing the Tune: The Kansas City's Women's Jazz Festival, 1978-1985. This important festival was organized by women, and it featured some of the greatest jazz women of all time, as well as providing a venue for Kansas women emerging as jazz artists.
Brewer's archival and interview research takes readers backstage to explore the issues that shaped this historic festival.
Her presentation is a result of an invitation from the departments of Women's Studies, Music, and History at Wichita State.
For more information on Brewer's work, go to Carolyn Glenn Brewer.
Funding available for Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity
Students who are sophomores, juniors or seniors with a GPA of at least 2.5 and at least two semesters remaining at WSU (including the semester in which you apply), are full time and have a faculty research mentor are eligible. Preference is given to projects not otherwise funded and previous awardees are not eligible.
Go to Undergraduate Research -- or email undergraduateresearch@wichita.edu for more information. The deadline to apply is March 15, 2019.
A new doctorate at WSU
Counseling, Educational Leadership, Educational and School Psychology will offer a new doctorate at Wichita State – an EL ED. D. – Educational Psychology track.
The new doctorate is grounded in educational psychology and learning sciences, gives students the depth of knowledge for original hands-on applications and research contributions in those fields.
Our program straddles across disciplines and offers an EdD degree to students interested in understanding and shaping learning, thinking, problem-solving and the like, in diverse settings – schools, workplaces, higher education, industry and other institutions or organizations.
Program highlights
- Curstomizable emphasis: Students can tailor their educational experience to meet their own personal needs through multidisciplinary electives.
- Flexible course delivery: All courses offered as hybrid or online.
- Advanced research methods and analytics: Students gain proficiency in research methodology and analytical / critical thinking of cognition, metacognition, and psycho-social interactions in diverse contexts.
Applied studies / learning opportunities – Supervised and collaboration-based opportunities for research and practitioner-scholar's applications in real-world settings, with the supportive faculty guidance and expertise.
Bachelor of Applied Science available spring 2019
The spring 2019 semester also marks the launch of a new undergraduate degree option.
The Bachelor of Applied Science in Workforce Leadership and Applied Learning will prepare students for leadership roles in a range of organizations, including private and public education, human services, middle management for profit and nonprofit agencies and many others.
The degree is designed to optimize opportunities for students graduating from 2-year programs, such as those offered by WSU Tech and community colleges, to pursue a bachelor's degree.
We're proud to be one of only a handful of institutions in the country to offer a program like this. Further, this program aligns with our Strategic Plan and represents our commitment to developing innovative degrees that meet the changing needs of students and employers.
Mortar Board looking to add new individuals to honor society
The Fairmount Chapter of Mortar Board is looking to add new individuals to the organization for 2019-20. Mortar Board is Wichita State's exclusive honor society here on campus with ideals in scholarship, leadership and service.
Mortar Board provides high achieving students, in said ideals, a chance to improve on their networking skills, community service experience and a chance to interact with other high achieving students here on campus. If you believe you excel in the said ideals and are interested in the above experiences, please submit an application.
Salvation Army Angel Tree and Star of Hope
Provide a Christmas gift for a local family through The Salvation Army's Angel Tree and Star of Hope programs! The Shocker Store and Student Involvement will host a tree in the RSC to help Wichita families have a happy holiday season!
Starting Monday, Nov. 19, if you are interested in sponsoring a family, stop by the tree in the Shocker Store (RSC location only) and choose your angel or star off the tree. Bring it to the front desk of the Shocker Store to sign up to sponsor that family. Gifts are then returned back to the Shocker Store (RSC location) once they are purchased.
Gifts need to be returned by Tuesday, Dec. 4, and should be unwrapped, new and clearly labeled with your angel or star's tag / number.
For more information, contact Chelsea Redger-Marquardt of Student Involvement at 978-3022 or chelsea.redger@wichita.edu. Thanks for helping make the holidays a little brighter for others!
Blood drive at WSU today (Monday, Nov. 19) and Tuesday, Nov. 20
The Red Cross is currently facing a severe blood shortage because of the hurricanes and California wildfires. Your donation can give a patient in need something to be extra thankful for this holiday season!
A blood drive will be held from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. today (Monday, Nov. 19) and Tuesday, Nov. 20, in the Heskett Center lobby. A free T-shirt will be given to donors, while supplies last.
To schedule an appointment, go to WSU Blood Drive and enter the sponsor code Wichita State or on the Red Cross app. Walk-ins are welcome.
A photo ID or Red Cross donor card are required.
Gender Diversity Training tomorrow (Tuesday, Nov. 20)
Gender Diversity Training will be offered from 2:30-5 p.m. tomorrow (Tuesday, Nov. 20) in 264 RSC. The goal of Gender Diversity Training is to educate and increase understanding of issues related to gender minority / transgender people. This training is a dynamic and interactive session that covers topics including inclusive language, understanding gender identity and expression, gender transitioning, and common misconceptions. To get more information and register for this training session, visit Gender Diversity Training.
Transgender Day of Remembrance to be observed on Nov. 20
Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR) is an annual observance on Nov. 20 that honors
the memory of those whose lives were lost in acts of anti-transgender violence. We
will read the names of those who lost their lives of transgender violence this year
and hear stories of strength and survival for the road ahead from 6-8 pm. Tuesday,
Nov. 20, in 266 RSC. Refreshments will be provided.
SAC presents Amal Kassir on Nov. 29
Amal Kassir is a Muslim woman, born and raised in Denver to a German-Iowan mother and a Syrian father. She is an international spoken word poet, having performed in 10 countries and more than 45 cities.
Join Student Activities Council at 6 p.m. Thursday Nov. 29, in the CAC Theater. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. Admission is free. For more information, go to Student Activities Council.
‘Copyright Concepts for Entrepreneurs' on Nov. 27
University Libraries is holding the workshop “Copyright Concepts for Entrepreneurs” from 5:30-7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 27, in 217 Ablah Library. Learn about what kinds of works can be protected by copyright, how to register a copyrighted work, and best practices for using others' copyrighted work.
This workshop is the first in the Entrepreneurship Research Series to be held this semester. The workshops in this series are open to the public.
For more information about this workshop and others in the series, visit library workshops. To RSVP, go to Nov. 27 workshop. Seats are limited, so sign up today!
Parking garage will be closed for a time over Thanksgiving break
The parking garage will be restriped over the Thanksgiving shutdown. The garage will close on Thursday evening, Nov. 22, and reopen Saturday morning, Nov. 24, weather permitting.
Thanksgiving break hours of operation in the RSC
The Rhatigan Student Center and its departments will have adjusted hours of operation during Thanksgiving Break. To view the hours, go to wichita.edu/RSChours.
Lunch in the Locker
Every Tuesday and Thursday in November through December from 11 a.m.-1 p.m., free hot soup and crackers will be served in the Shocker Support Locker in 103 Grace Wilkie.
Soup will count as one of the maximum 10 items a person can take per week, but the soup is unlimited. As always, all you need is a WSU ID number to take advantage of the soup and other free food and hygiene products that the Shocker Support Locker has to offer.
The locker will be closed beginning Wednesday, Nov. 21, and reopen at 8 a.m. Monday, Nov. 26. If you have any questions, contact sga.support@wichita.edu. We look forward to seeing you refreshed after the break!
12 Days of Christmas Sale
Looking to find your favorite Shocker a holiday gift? Stop by the Shocker Store's Rhatigan Student Center location for its annual 12 Days of Christmas Sale from Monday, Nov. 26, to Saturday, Dec. 8. Or shop the sale online at shockerstore.com. New sale items are added daily!
Enjoy pizza and help raise funds for the Wichita Children's Home
Six Wichita State business students have teamed up with Piatto Neapolitan Pizzeria for their class project to support the Wichita Children's Home. On Tuesday, Nov. 27, you can support their mission to benefit the children's home by going out and enjoying some pizza with friends and family. Piatto will donate 10 percent of the proceeds to the children's home, and there is no need to mention the fundraiser. Please plan to attend!
Enjoy fresh food and support the Wichita Children's Home
Six Wichita State business students have teamed up with Freddy's for their class project to support the Wichita Children's Home. On Wednesday, Nov. 28, you can support their mission to benefit the children's home by going out to any of Freddy's five Wichita locations from 5-9 p.m., and mention the fundraiser. Freddy's will donate 15 percent of the proceeds to the Wichita Children's Home. Please plan to attend and bring a friend!
Coming soon: 56th Annual Candlelight Concert
WSU Choirs will present the 56th Annual Candlelight Concert: “The Marvel of This Night” at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 30; 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 2; and 7:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 3, in Wiedemann Concert Hall. Admission is free for students with a WSU ID.
Get in the spirit of the season with an incredible variety of music, featuring perennial favorites “Beautiful Savior” and “Personent Hodie.” Other highlights include “Before the Marvel of This Night” by Carl Schalk, and “Night of Silence” by Daniel Kantor. The concert celebrates the 200th anniversary of the beloved Christmas carol, “Silent Night.”
The concert features WSU's Concert Chorale and Women's Glee Club, conducted by Michael Hanawalt, and A Cappella Choir and Madrigal Singers, conducted by Tom Wine.
Each choir will also perform separately and as part of a mass choir. Also featured are organist and professor Lynne Davis and pianist and professor Justine Sasanfar.
Started by Harrison Boughton and modeled after the famous St. Olaf College Christmas Festival, the Candlelight Concert is the longest-running musical tradition at Wichita State.
Invitation to SBIR/STTR Innovation Summit on Dec. 12
Learn how to access non-dilutive funding and meet one-on-one with SBIR experts from 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 12, in 264 Experiential Engineering Building.
This workshop begins with an overview of the SBIR program, and how it differs from the STTR program. After covering recent and pending changes in SBIR/STTR, the discussion turns to a recommended process for developing a competitive Phase I proposal to any agency.
If you think you already know the Greenwoods' four-step process, come hear their new process which now entails seven steps. Each attendee also will be eligible for a free review of their Phase I proposal.
The cost of the event, including lunch, is $25 for general admission and $5 for WSU students. This event is open to the public.