Wichita State University to hold 2018 fall commencement ceremony Dec. 16
Wichita State University will hold its fall ceremony of the 121st commencement in
Charles Koch Arena at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 16. Nearly 1,200 students are eligible
to graduate this fall.
All graduates will walk across the stage and be individually recognized. Doctoral
candidates will be hooded at this ceremony.
Wichita State's fall commencement ceremony in Koch Arena will be available via webcast.
To view the ceremony, go to www.wichita.edu/commencement and click on "Live Commencement Streaming." The site will go live at about 2:25 p.m.
Dec. 16.
Christine Downey-Schmidt will receive the President's Medal. The President's Medal is awarded annually to a person who is selected for humility, for interest in others and especially for extraordinary and exemplary leadership through integrity, service to humanity and expertise in his or her field.
Downey-Schmidt was elected to three terms in the Kansas Senate. She has served on the Kansas Board of Regents and was chair in 2007-08. She currently serves on the Governance Board for the Higher Learning Commission, northcentral region.
Wayne Woolsey will receive the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Philosophy. An honorary degree is an exceptional honor bestowed upon a person without fulfillment of the usual requirements. It is conferred only upon persons of notable intellectual, scholarly, professional, creative achievement or service to humanity consistent with the endeavors of WSU.
Woolsey is chairman of Wichita-based Woolsey Companies, an oil and natural gas exploration and production company he founded in 1978. Woolsey and his wife, Kay, have committed funding to build Woolsey Hall, the new home for WSU's Barton School of Business.
Security procedures will be implemented
To ensure the safety of everyone attending commencement, the following security procedures
are being implemented:
Everyone attending, assisting or participating in commencement will be required to
be screened and pass through metal detectors as they enter the arena. Koch Arena will
open at 1 p.m. We recommend you arrive early to allow sufficient time to get through
security.
Please note the following items are prohibited:
- Outside food and drink
- Weapons not allowed by law
- Noisemakers
- Pocket and box knives
- Alcohol and drugs
Wichita State staff reserves the right to prohibit any items deemed inappropriate.
December grads invited to ‘The Toast'
If you're graduating this December—congratulations. Be sure to RSVP for the Division of Student Affairs' event “The Toast,” which honors your hard work and huge accomplishment with hors d'oeuveres, a champagne toast and door prizes. This free event is from 4 -5 p.m. Dec. 14. For more information and to RSVP, visit The Toast.
Wudolph the Red-Nosed Rep
The Office of Admissions proudly presents its 6th annual holiday video!
Our story this year is about a new admissions rep, Wudolph, and how he overcomes the struggle of fitting in despite his large, red nose.
Locker clearout deadline is today (Monday, Dec. 10)
The locker clearout deadline has been moved to today (Monday, Dec. 10). Please clear out or renew your locker for spring 2019 at the Guest Services desk in the Heskett Center. For more information call 978-3082.
Parking update
All of lot 20 (west side of Wilner Auditorium) will be blocked off for an event at the President's residence today (Monday, Dec. 10).
On Tuesday, Dec. 11, all of lots 1, 2W, 2N, and 2E (lots along Hillside and around Koch Arena) will be blocked off for the women's basketball game – WBB Kids Game - where we will have multiple schools bring in kids to watch the game. Alumni Drive, between Hillside and Perimeter, will also be blocked off until about 4 p.m.
Heskett Center announces winter break hours from Dec. 10-20
The Heskett Center has announced its winter break hours.
Monday-Friday, Dec. 10-14: Regular hours
Saturday-Sunday, Dec. 15-16: 1-6 p.m.
Monday-Wednesday, Dec. 17-19: 7 a.m.-8 p.m.
Thursday, Dec. 20: 7 a.m.-5 p.m.
Wiedemann Natatorium
Monday-Friday, Dec. 10-14: Regular hours
Saturday-Thursday, Dec. 15-20: Closed
Shocker Fit Schedule
Monday-Thursday, Dec. 10-13: F45 classes from noon-12:45 p.m. and 5:15-6 p.m.
Friday, Dec. 14: F45 class from noon-12:45 p.m.
Monday-Wednesday, Dec. 17-19: F45 classes from noon-12:45 p.m. and 5:15-6 p.m.
Thursday, Dec. 20: F45 class from noon-12:45 p.m.
All Shocker Fit classes are held in F45 studio
‘Democracy on Tap: The Fate of Century II'
Join KMUW at the final Engage ICT: Democracy on Tap of 2018 for a discussion on the fate of Century II. “Democracy on Tap: The Fate of Century II” will be held at 5:30 p.m. tomorrow (Tuesday, Dec. 11) at Roxy's Downtown, 412 ½ E. Douglas.
Our expert panel consists of three members of the Century II Citizens Advisory Committee, plus Music Theatre Wichita's Mitch Southerland. We'll discuss the future of the iconic building, and what's at stake. Admission is free, and so are the appetizers. Learn more at EngageICT.org.
Engage ICT on Tuesday, Dec. 11
Wichita State considering degree emphasis in facilities management
A collaborative effort is underway to bring a proposed degree emphasis in facilities management to Wichita State University.
On Thursday, Nov. 29, representatives from Koch Business Solutions, Spirit AeroSystems, Mahaney Roofing, The Wichita Chapter of the International Facility Management Association (IFMA) and representatives from the WSU's W. Frank Barton School of Business and College of Engineering Technology partnered to present a proposal to the Interdisciplinary Competition Committee and campus community for an inter-disciplinary degree emphasis in facilities management.
The degree would be a Bachelor's of Science in Engineering Technology with an emphasis in facilities management.
Shocker Ad Lab pitches in to work with
League 42 on fund-raising campaign
League 42 is expanding its reach beyond baseball to education with the help of the Shocker Ad Lab.
“We're entering the realm of trying to help kids with some educational needs,” said Bob Lutz, League 42 founder and executive director. “By adding the educational component, we take ourselves to another level.”
Lutz knew how to start a youth baseball league and help it grow. When he needed branding and talking points to help raise money for a building project to house the new academic program, he wanted help.
Shocker Ad Lab, Wichita State's student-run, advertising agency housed in the Elliott School of Communication, took on League 42's project. The team created a logo for “Basepath to Success” academic program and the “From Double Plays to Diplomas” tag line. They wrote a mission statement, researched statistics linking athletics and academics and designed table tents for a fundraising dinner to kick off the capital campaign.
Pictured above is Shocker Ad Lab copy writer Adam Birzer talking with League 42 founder Bob Lutz.
Shocker Philosophy Conference call for papers
Submit your best philosophy paper to our local student philosophy conference! It's an excellent opportunity to practice your public speaking (or reading) skills in a friendly environment.
Submission Guidelines:
Any undergraduate or graduate student may submit a paper on any philosophical topic to susan.castro@wichita.edu.
- Papers should be approximately 3,000 words or 20 minutes reading time.
- Please include an abstract (150-200 words).
- Papers should be prepared for anonymous review (your name and contact information should be in your email, but not in the attached paper or abstract).
- Format: .doc or .docx file with standard 1” margins and standard font (e.g. times 12 or Calibri 11), double-spaced, page numbers at the bottom.
Suggested topics:
- ethics
- ideals in policy-making
- acquisition of local knowledge
- theory choice
- information dissemination mechanisms
- standpoint theory
- aesthetics
- metaphysics
Abstracts of accepted papers may be used to promote the conference, e.g. on the WSU
Philosophy Department website.
Submission Deadline: Monday, Jan. 28, 2019
Conference date: Friday, March 22, 2019
Wu Bucks at the Shocker Store
Shop the Shocker Store for the holidays and earn Wu Bucks towards more Shocker gear! For every $50 spent now to Monday, Dec. 24 in the RSC or Braeburn Square location, earn a $5 coupon to be used in January and February on any in store purchase. Some exclusions apply, see store for details. Wu Bucks are not redeemable on Game Day Sales.
Seeking participants for a paid study about computer monitor resolution
Participants are sought for a paid study investigating the effects of computer monitor resolution on user performance and experience.
Do you play computer video games or digitally create / edit illustrations, photos, textures or animation? We are seeking computer users 18 and older to participate in a research study about computer monitor resolution.
The study will take place in McKinley Hall and last about 90 minutes. Participants in the study will earn $25 or six SONA credits if enrolled in a WSU psychology course.
If you are interested in participating, take a few minutes to take the screening survey. If you qualify for the study, you will be contacted by the researcher to schedule a time to participate.
Questions can be directed to Christal Haskins at cahaskins@shockers.wichita.edu.
Coming soon: Aqua Shock Swim School spring swim lessons
Here are the Aqua Shock Swim School spring 2019 sessions:
Monday, Jan. 7- Saturday, Feb. 2
Monday, Feb. 4-Saturday, March 2
Monday, March 4-Saturday, April 6
Monday, April 8-Saturday, May 4.
Contact information: Tonya Blatter, Shocks Swim School director, Tblattner11@gmail.com or call 316-833-6544.
Send a letter from Santa
Once again the Campus Post Office will offer eight different letters that you can choose from and have sent to a child. “A Letter from Santa” will be forwarded to the Santa Claus Post Office in Indiana for a pictorial postmarking and then sent to the addressee on the envelope.
Each letter will cost $1.25. The last day to purchase a letter will be Friday, Dec. 14, to allow them to get the pictorial postmark.
The Santa Claus Post Office is the only post office in the world with the Santa Claus name, and during the Christmas season thousands of letters are mailed to Santa each year.
The first Santa Claus Post Office opened its doors in 1856. The town's name did not peak interest, however, until 1914 when Santa Claus' 14th postmaster, James Martin, took it upon himself to answer the children's letters.
Soon after, people flocked to the Santa Claus Post Office to get the special postmark; so much that in the early 1930s the U.S. Postal Department suggested changing the name of the town to avoid the Christmas season frenzy. Fortunately, for everyone, that did not happen!
James Martin continued answering letters and eventually enlisted Jim Yellig to aid in helping him write back to children across the world. Today, the nonprofit organization, Santa's Elves Inc, and the Santa Claus Museum, organize volunteers to answer all the children's letters that flood this tiny post office during the holidays. More than 22,000 letters were answered in 2018.
Student tour guide job opportunity
Do you love being a Shocker? Are you eager to tell others why? The Office of Admissions is hiring student tour guides, also known as Shocker Navigators, to aid in the recruitment process of prospective students.
Shocker Navigators acclimate campus visitors and their families to WSU by relaying important information about the university during their official campus visit tour. Tours typically take place between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. Monday through Friday and on some weekends, so availability during those timeframes is a desired trait.
The application is available on Handshake and will close on Monday, Dec. 31.
Shocker Blast wraps up fall schedule on Friday, Dec. 14
The last edition of Shocker Blast for fall will be Friday, Dec. 14. Information for the Dec. 14 edition needs to be received by noon Thursday, Dec. 13, at shockerblast@wichita.edu.
The tentative schedule will have Shocker Blast resuming on Friday, Jan. 18, immediately prior to spring semester classes. There's no Shocker Blast on Monday, Jan. 21, because of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
If you have news or information to share with students, please submit it before noon Thursday, Jan. 17, for the Jan. 18 edition.
Information needs to be submitted by noon Tuesday, Jan. 22, for the Wednesday, Jan. 23, edition of Shocker Blast.