Meet a Shocker: Spring 2020 graduates
The COVID-19 pandemic changed the course of our history and the Wichita State University campus during the spring 2020 semester. While we cannot have a traditional commencement ceremony in May, the WSU community celebrates our more than 2,400 Shocker graduates with a spirit of unity and pride. Here's what some of them have to say about their time at WSU and their futures.
Read about your fellow Shockers
Virtual Celebration set for Saturday, May 16
We look forward to honoring the spring and summer 2020 graduates with Wichita State University’s first ever Virtual Celebration beginning at 9 a.m. tomorrow (Saturday, May 16)! We invite you to visit the commencement website at that time, or thereafter, to watch prerecorded congratulatory remarks from the University President, Provost, Deans, and Alumni Association.
Participating graduates will have a custom slide posted within the event link, showcasing the photo and message they’ve provided. You’ll also be able to hear their name read aloud. A “Virtual Celebration Recognition List” will be posted with the names of the eligible spring / summer 2020 graduates, their degrees, and honors.
We hope you’ll join us in celebrating these graduates from the comfort of your home.
If you’d like to post a congratulatory remark to a student on social media, please use #2020WichitaStateGrad!
Go to Spring 2020 Commencement and click on “Virtual Celebration!”
Returning students: Sign up for Rave text alerts to get updated WSU information
Returning students who have not done so yet are encouraged to sign up for the Rave alert system. This allows the university – on rare occasions – to inform you of key information regarding the return to campus this fall. We will also continue to communicate with you via social media and, when the fall semester begins, through email.
Rave directions: Use your myWSU ID and password to log in to the Rave system at wichita.edu/alert. If you forgot your password, go to myWSU and click on the Manage your password link. If you have any problems or questions while setting up your Rave account, please contact the WSU Helpdesk during regular business hours at 316-978-HELP or helpdesk@wichita.edu.
SGA Town Hall recap
Wichita State University president Jay Golden joined Student Body President Rija Khan and others for a Student Government Association Virtual Town Hall on Thursday.
Provost Rick Muma, vice president for student affairs Teri Hall, director of financial aid Sheelu Surender and Carolyn Speer, manager of the Instructional Design and Access department, also answered questions submitted during the town hall.
Golden addressed the graduating class and plans for the phased reopening of campus for the summer and fall.
“Congratulations,” Golden said. “This obviously, for us all us, is going to be an academic year and a semester that we will never forget, probably the most impactful we will ever have. I really look forward to seeing all of you on campus, those of you who aren’t graduating, next fall as we prepare the campus to welcome you back in a safe environment.”
- Virtual commencement will be held at 9 a.m. Saturday, May 16.
- Plans for Shockers United, the reopening of campus, can be found at https://www.wichita.edu/about/COVID-19/shockers_united/index.php
“We’ve been working hard getting ready for you,” Hall said. “It’s lonely without you on campus. We’re also looking forward to the opening of school in the fall.”
Wichita State is currently in the Preopening Phase. The Reopening Phase begins May 26 with a gradual opening of campus.
Part of those preparations will help faculty plan courses to limit disruption and ensure quality of learning outcomes, Muma said.
“Your instructors are very excited and creative with what they’re doing and we are working to make sure they can have the vision for their classes,” Speer said.
- Khan said SGA is working with the Division of Student Affairs to purchase face masks for students. She also said that student activity fees will remain flat for the next fiscal year.
- Muma provided details on Shockers United, which includes encouraging daily wellness checks, social distancing and limiting crowd sizes. As staff and faculty return to campus, staggered work schedules and common office hours will be expected.
Students, faculty, staff, and visitors are expected to wear face coverings or masks and appropriate PPE at all times, unless walking alone outdoors or working alone in a personal office space.
We’re doing this with everybody’s health and safety at the forefront,” he said.
- Around $4 million from the CARES Act has been distributed and around $300,000 remains. Friday (May 15) is the deadline to apply for funds at Emergency Aid.
Students are using the CARES Act money for food, housing, technology, child care and other immediate needs. The first round of funds went to around 2,800 students in deposits of $1,000.
“Our goal was to get that out as quickly as possible to the students,” Surender said.
She encouraged students facing hardships to contact the financial aid office to consider adjusting their FAFSA information to reflect their situation.
Students who do not qualify for CARES Act funds can apply for the SHOCKERS UP COVID-19 Emergency Fund from the WSU Foundation.
- Hall said Student Affairs is waiting on state and local guidelines for events this fall, depending on crowd limitations and social distancing.
“We’re working through all of our plans,” she said. “Rest assured, we are all very anxious to get back to having events and to be together.”
Loaner mifi (wireless internet) device return
As the semester comes to an end, please return the mifi devices that were rented out by ITS Telecommunications. These can be returned to the Media Resources Center. Please contact them at 316-978-3588 or cms@wichita.edu when you come to drop off your device so they can let you in the building and get your check-out sheet ready for you to sign the device in.
If you are needing to mail the device back, please mail it to:
Wichita State University
ITS Telecommunications
1845 Fairmount, Box 61
Wichita, KS 67260
ITS Telecommunications will deactivate devices on Monday, June 1, unless notified that you are taking / teaching summer courses, or are a staff member who will continue working remotely and needs the device active.
If you have any questions or concerns about this process, please email us at telecomservices@wichita.edu or respond directly to the TDX ticket you have open for the device rental.
If you still need a device for summer coursework, please submit a ticket here.
Wichita State’s engineering graduate programs are now the highest ranked in Kansas
In the latest U.S. News and World Report rankings of universities offering a Ph.D. in engineering, the College of Engineering at Wichita State University is again ranked in the top 100 engineering graduate programs, the only institution from the state of Kansas to make it in the top 100.
The 2021 rankings by U.S. News and World Report are based on a number of factors including reputation among peer institutions and industry recruiters, student selectivity, faculty resources and research expenditures – an area where Wichita State far outperforms peers. A recently released National Science Foundation report of FY2018 total engineering research expenditures ranked Wichita State 54th in the nation, well ahead of any other institution in Kansas.
Impressively, Wichita State’s rank – 94th – is tied with a number of state “flagship” universities, including the University of Missouri, the University of Kentucky and the University of Nebraska – Lincoln. This is particularly noteworthy given Wichita State’s urban-serving role. In fact, less than a third of the top 100 engineering programs – Wichita State included – are located in one of the country’s 200 largest cities.
May 19 Tuesday Talks with Lisa and SHS: Good sleep is not the impossible dream
For the May 19 Tuesday Talk, sit down with Lisa Wiebe, APRN, and Nurse Heather for a discussion about what goes into a good night's sleep. Tune in to Facebook Live at 2 p.m. to learn more.
Koch Innovation Challenge winners advance to national competition
One team of Wichita State University students has emerged as a Grand Champion team in the 2020 Koch Innovation Challenge.
In the final pitch competition, teams recorded their three-minute elevator pitch and prototype demonstration and submitted the videos to a panel of judges. Team Wire Pullers was selected by the judges over four other teams with their invention: a magnetic device to make pulling wires through walls easier. Team members included Braden Botkin, a sophomore in engineering technology; Adam Brown, a freshman in engineering; and Nicholas Ridpath, a freshman in applied computing.
Join the Public Health Career Fair today
The Career Development Center invites you to join CareerEco in the Public Health Career Fair today from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. today (Friday, May 15). Hosted by PublicHealthJobs.org, connect with employers in real-time, and learn about public health jobs and internships across the country.
Here is a partial list of employers:
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
- Eliot Community Human Services
- Kaiser Permanente
- PHI-CDC Global Health Fellowship Program
Register today to attend the career fair.
Join us for a Real Talk program
Real Talk - Intersection Dialogues will be held from 1-2 p.m. Wednesday, May 20. A Zoom link will be provided after you RSVP for the event, which is brought to you by WSU Counseling and Prevention Services, and the Office of Diversity Inclusion. RSVP at wichita.edu/odievents.
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. The upcoming topic will be "Processing Ahmaud Arbery."
For more information, contact the Office of Diversity and Inclusion at 316-978-3034.
Review the Office of Diversity and Inclusion's Annual Celebration Programs
Each year, the Office of Diversity and Inclusion acknowledges the value and uniqueness of our underrepresented student experiences by honoring them through various celebrations. These ceremonies serve to commemorate and highlight the accomplishments of Wichita State University's diverse students.
Due to COVID-19, the office is saddened that we are not able to celebrate these programs in person; however, we strive to produce quality virtual programs to ensure that our students are well-represented at the university. Below are three video links to our Multicultural Graduation Celebration, Lavender Graduation and Academic Excellence Celebration.
The Multicultural Graduation Celebration is a longstanding tradition at Wichita State University that honors our graduates and their rite of passage. View the 25th annual Multicultural Graduation Celebration video here.
Lavender Graduation is a special ceremony that honors the achievements of graduating lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning (LGBTQ+) students at Wichita State University. View the 6th annual Lavender Graduation video here.
The Academic Excellence Celebration recognizes Wichita State University's diverse students in honoring their academic excellence. View this semester’s Academic Excellence Celebration video here.
Learn more about the Office of Diversity and Inclusion at http://wichita.edu/odi.
Sociology MA Program offers flexibility and marketable skills
What are your plans after graduation? Have you considered graduate school?
The Sociology MA Program is still accepting applications for the fall 2020 semester! Full-time and part-time options are available, and we offer both thesis and applied tracks, allowing you to tailor the program to your own career goals.
Our graduates leave the Sociology MA program with the ability to address complex social problems using evidence-based practices. Our students develop concrete marketable skills in research design, cultural diversity and group dynamics, data analysis and the use of statistical software, and the ability to communicate effectively to varied audiences. Our alumni work in a number of different fields, including research, social services, and nonprofits, and many of our alums have gone on to teach at other Kansas colleges or to continue their education at competitive Ph.D. programs.
If you want to know more, contact our graduate coordinator at jennifer.pearson@wichita.edu. Applications will be accepted through July 1.
Shocker Support Locker continues to provide resources during pandemic
Opened in February 2016, the Shocker Support Locker at Wichita State University provides free nutritional and functional resources to students, faculty and staff who need them. The locker aims to alleviate food insecurity on campus and contribute to the health and wellbeing of the WSU community.
What started out as a small food pantry, has blossomed into a resource that has helped more than 5,600 visitors since the end of 2018 alone. Today, the locker provides a range of nonperishable food items, personal hygiene products and — newly added — baby care supplies, including food, formula, diapers and wipes.
Starting May 26, a limited supply of cloth masks purchased by WSU and made by GoCreate, a Koch collaborative, will be available at the locker, as well as the RSC info desk and the Shocker Hall front desk.
Pictured above: Collin Munson, the Shocker Support Locker graduate assistant, organizes cans inside the food locker.
Participants sought for undergraduate research, please share with your students
I am recruiting study participants for my Experiences with Language and Schooling Research Project. This is undergraduate research. Upon completion of the interview, they will also be able to enter a drawing for a $50 gift card. Please help by sharing the following information to your classes:
Experiences with Spanish and Schooling Research Project
Would you like the chance to win a $50 gift card?
Participate in our study. Interviews will last about 60 minutes and will be conducted to examine the school experiences of students from Spanish speaking backgrounds in terms of language and identity. To participate you must be 18 years or older and have attended a U.S. public school at some point in your academic career. We are looking for Hispanic participants from Spanish-speaking backgrounds, whether you speak Spanish yourself or were just raised in a Spanish-speaking environment. All responses will be confidential.
If you are interested, contact cizacarias@shockers.wichita.edu or jennifer.pearson@wichita.edu for more information.
You can help prevent suicide
Learn how you can help your community with #WSUWeSupportU Preventing Suicide, now available through Zoom! This 90-minute training will teach you how to use the Share, Ask, Support method to help so you have the tools to help those in need. Learn more at wichita.edu/SuicidePrevention.
WSU students help Girl Scouts affected by social distancing
Wichita State students in Samantha Corcoran’s Service Learning in Engineering class are coming up with unique and innovative ways to help kids impacted by COVID-19.
The class is working with Girl Scouts of Kansas Heartland, which serves more than 11,700 girls and adults throughout Kansas, to create STEM activity kits that include projects in fields like engineering, robotics and coding. These kits are typically comprised of physical materials and instructions that are used by troop leaders to teach merit badge skills during meetings.
However, with the scouts social distancing in their homes, they needed a new way to earn badges. So students in Corcoran’s class switched direction and began creating innovative activities that the girls could complete at home with common household supplies and less direct instruction.
Pictured above: Students enrolled in Service Learning in Engineering are helping solve problems so Girl Scouts can continue to earn STEM badges at home.
Enjoy free online self-paced courses!
Wichita State University Office of Workforce, Professional and Community Education in partnership with Ed2Go is excited to announce free professional development opportunities to the community. Ten free self-paced tutorial courses are now offered to you at no cost!
Free self-paced courses include:
- Creating Web Pages
- Creating WordPress Websites
- Fundamentals of Supervision and Management
- Twelve Steps to a Successful Job Search
- Keys to Effective Communication
- Managing Customer Service
- Marketing Your Business on the Internet
- Personal Finance
- Small Business Marketing on a Shoestring
- Individual Excellence
How to Register
To register and view the courses, click here. To take advantage of this special opportunity, you must select the courses titled, FREE Self-Paced Tutorial.
Courses are available through June 30, 2020.
For more information or questions, contact jennifer.harry@wichita.edu
Invitation Extended by Councilman Brandon Johnson, Wichita City Council, District 1
Attention Shockers!
Do you want to add your voice to conversations about community development happening both near and around our campus?!
Do you know what Community Benefits Agreements (CBAs) are and how they can help support the needs of WSU’s students, faculty, staff and neighbors?
Do you believe that it is important for those who live, work, or play in the community to have a voice in what happens there?
During the next six weeks, a committed group of community residents will host Virtual CBA Focus Groups to discuss all these questions and more.
Sign up today to participate and have your voice be heard!
WSU places intern at Sedgwick County Elections Office
Alison Rice, a junior political science major, will work this summer and fall in the Sedgwick County Elections Office as a paid intern.
"Election offices and their workers are the unsung heroes of democracy," said Neal Allen, chair of Political Science. "The Department of Political Science is happy to contribute to running elections in this time of crisis and uncertainty."
This internship results from a partnership between WSU Political Science and the Sedgwick County Election Office. Tabitha Lehman, Sedgwick County Election Commissioner, was a guest speaker for Dr. Allen's Law and Political Power course last semester, which included Alison Rice.
“Having Commissioner Lehman speak to our class was great, because she clearly demonstrated just how much work and time go into helping our electoral system function properly,” said Rice. “As someone interested in election administration, as well as a passionate advocate for voting rights, I am excited to be lending my support to the Election Office. I appreciate both Tabitha and Dr. Allen for giving me the opportunity to not only gain more insight on the election process, but also to support my community through such a trying time.”
Rice starts her position in June and will work through the statewide primary August and the general election in November.