Withdrawal deadline extended to Dec. 3
Hello, Shockers.
Given the challenges of 2020, including a shift to online and hybrid learning, and the uncertainty of this pandemic, it’s understandable that some students are experiencing academic difficulties. Therefore, Wichita State University would like to remind students of three options to students who might be struggling during the fall 2020 semester:
- Contact your instructors: Your instructors want you to be successful, so reaching out to faculty should be your first course of action. Some faculty members might offer extensions or assistance under certain circumstances.
- Late withdrawals: Any class that had a withdrawal deadline of Oct. 27 or later, the withdrawal deadline is being extended to Dec. 3. For more information on how to withdraw from a class, click here.
- Scholarships: Students who drop below the minimum requirements to maintain a scholarship — either due to withdrawal from a class or GPA requirements — can appeal for a probationary period while they work on their GPA. Students do not need to wait until the scholarship is withdrawn to file an appeal. Students with circumstances related to COVID-19 or the uncertainty of the pandemic are strongly encouraged to apply for an appeal.
All of us in our Shocker community are ready to support our students in any way we can. Do not hesitate to reach out to our faculty and staff to learn more about your options for academic success.
With Shocker Pride,
Shirley Lefever
Interim Executive Vice President and Provost
Wichita State prioritizes physical, emotional health of students, faculty and staff
When you walk on to Wichita State’s campus — whether physically or virtually – we want you to feel supported, safe and empowered to report concerns. Throughout the history of Wichita State, we have built infrastructure at Wichita State to support not only our students’ minds, but also their physical, emotional, and mental health.
If at any time you are feeling threatened, harassed, intimidated or unfairly treated, it is important that you report the situation to the appropriate party.
- If you are in immediate danger, call 911 or the Wichita State University police department at 316-978-3450.
- Title IX or discrimination: Wichita State is committed to providing an educational and working environment free from discrimination on the basis of sex and all forms of protected characteristic discrimination.
- Bias Incident: Wichita State strives to create a community where all individuals can participate in the offerings of the university in a space free from bias.
- Counseling and Prevention Services: Counselors are available to support Shockers’ mental and emotional health.
- Student Health Services is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday to provide health care services to students.
- The Care Team accepts referrals and incident reports from any person who is concerned about the health or safety of a student, employee, visitor or the campus community at-large.
- To report any issue not mentioned above, visit our Report It portal to be directed to the appropriate person or department who will address your concern.
WSU Foundation 2020 Requisition Holiday Schedule
Thanksgiving:
WSU Foundation will be closed Wednesday, Nov. 23, for the Thanksgiving holiday. Please have all requisitions submitted by noon Monday, Nov. 23. Checks will be processed by Tuesday, Nov. 24.
Christmas:
WSU Foundation will be closed Thursday, Dec. 24 and Friday, Dec. 25. Please have all requisitions submitted by noon Monday, Dec. 21. Requisitions will be processed on Wednesday, Dec. 23.
New Year’s:
WSU Foundation will be closed Friday, Jan. 1, 2021. Please have all requisitions submitted by noon Tuesday, Dec. 29. Requisitions will be processed on Thursday, Dec. 31.
University Libraries schedule through the holiday season
University Libraries will have the following hours through holiday break:
Thanksgiving Break hours at Ablah Library (Nov. 21-29)
Saturday - Sunday, Nov. 21-22 CLOSED
Monday - Tuesday, November 23-24, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
Wednesday - Sunday, Nov. 25-- 29 CLOSED
End of term hours at Ablah Library (Nov. 30 – Dec. 13)
Monday – Friday 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Saturday 1 p.m. - 5 p.m.
Sunday CLOSED
Winter Intersession hours at Ablah Library (Dec. 14-20)
Monday – Friday 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Saturday - Sunday CLOSED
Please note that hours are subject to change. Stay up to date with library hours and policies at libraries.wichita.edu/covid19.
Celebrate National Career Development Week with us
We are celebrating National Career Development Week by highlighting some of our memorable events and changes in the year 2020.
This year we hosted our first-ever Wichita State University VIRTUAL career fair with 32 employers and 211 students, which resulted in 700 interactions at our Virtual Part-Time Student Employment Fair. View more career data at wichita.edu/careerdata.
We have rebranded and created a new name for our office as the SHOCKER CAREER ACCELERATOR. Learn more about how we can serve you here at Wichita State: wichita.edu/career.
This year we were honored to employ Wichita State University students at a Molecular Diagnostics Lab to help slow the spread of COVID-19.
- Read more about the lab here.
- Learn more about our MDL student employees here.
We had an awesome opportunity to virtually connect NASA Spacewalk Flight Director Alex Kanelakos, with Wichita State students. What a memorable experience. Read more about his story.
With the year of 2020 being one-of-a-kind, our virtual world expanded in many ways. As a Shocker Career Accelerator, we hosted a total of 171 events in 2020 with 92 being virtual. A huge thank you and shout-out to all Wichita State students, staff, and faculty for being flexible with these changes.
Go share our posts on our social media platforms.
Scholarships help students serving their community reach their goals
Seven members of the Wichita State VISTA (Volunteers In Service To America) Fellows and AmeriCorps Fellows programs were fortunate to receive $2,000 scholarships from offices at Wichita State. The Wichita State AmeriCorps programs partnered with the Office of Financial Aid and the Graduate School to award scholarships to students who are serving or have served as AmeriCorps members.
“Being awarded the AmeriCorps scholarship has helped me immensely,” said Shea Witherspoon. “It has allowed me to further my education in the social work field, so one day I can give back to the community that gave so much to me.”
Members who successfully finish their year of service qualify for a Segal Education Award worth up to $6,000 or a cash stipend.
AmeriCorps and VISTA members provide service to nonprofits across Kansas who are working to move people out of poverty and strengthen their local communities. Many of the members simultaneously attend classes during their service year.
Undergraduate scholarship winners are Abigail Faflick, Medalia Juarez, ShaiLyn Malsky, Teresa Olsen, and Shea Witherspoon. Graduate scholarship winners are Anita Martinez and Felicia Smith.
Current openings are available at my.AmeriCorps.gov, search ‘WSU’ under Program Name.
For more information, contact Angela Gaughan at angela.gaughan@wichita.edu, 316-570-1309.
Undergraduate STEM majors are encouraged to apply for the Goldwater Scholarship
Sophomores and juniors with a strong commitment to a research career in the sciences, mathematics and/or engineering are encouraged to apply to the competitive and prestigious Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship. Visit the Goldwater Scholarship website for more information about the application and who is eligible to apply.
Students interested in applying must notify Dean Coleen Pugh by Monday, Nov. 23. Questions? Email coleen.pugh@wichita.edu.
Student Involvement Ambassador nominations
Student Involvement Ambassadors is looking for students who are passionate about getting involved. We are a team dedicated to recruiting new Shockers, connecting current students to opportunities, celebrating campus leaders and sharing our story.
Do you know someone who would excel at communicating the value of involvement to others? Consider nominating an outstanding student to serve as a Student Involvement Ambassador!
Student Involvement Ambassadors
CGRS abstract submission closes today
Do you have a student working on research that benefits the State of Kansas? Encourage them to submit an abstract to represent Wichita State University at the 18th Annual Capital Graduate Research Summit (CGRS).
Abstract submission for WSU consideration closes today (Friday, Nov. 20).
The Capital Graduate Research Summit is a research competition and showcase for Kansas Board of Regents universities to raise awareness of graduate students conducting research impacting Kansas and provide an opportunity to share their work with graduate students and faculty from other Kansas universities, the Kansas Legislature, and the general public.
This year’s summit will take place online with video presentations going live on Feb. 18.
Join us for our last Nutrition Discussion of the semester today!
Join us for our last Nutrition Discussion of the fall semester on Facebook Live on our Campus Recreation page from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Friday, Nov. 20. Gain insight into nutrition, its role in fueling the body, how diets work, national recommendations, and general Q&A with our Nutrition Specialist, Andy Sykes, MEd, CSCS, FNS, USAW.
Wednesdays in Wiedemann Annual Christmas Organ Concert
Please join us for the Wednesdays in Wiedemann Annual Christmas Organ Concert at 5:15 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 24, on the great Marcussen organ in Wiedemann Hall.
Two guest student organists and a lovely soprano, also a student at WSU, will perform. We will have carol-singing by the audience, and as usual, one favorite, and lively, joyful works performed on the organ by Lynne Davis, Robert L. Town Distinguished Professor of Organ.
Free admission. You may attend in person (social distancing and masks required) or watch the live stream on the WSU School of Music Facebook page.
Today’s ISME Colloquium features Jeff Hoetmer, principal engineer at Bell Textron
Jeff Hoetmer
Presentation Title: Cost Estimating, Managing Cost and Affordability in New Program Development
11 a.m.-noon Friday, Nov. 20
Abstract
A high-level overview of Affordability as viewed by the DoD acquisition community and some insights to how suppliers can mirror that focus within their development programs. Competition in aerospace markets is fierce. Customers in these markets are more sophisticated than ever. And on defense programs, gone are the days of performance at any cost. Today’s defense department is developing a cost-conscious culture focused on Affordability. Affordability has become a watch word and is on par with schedule and performance.
Jeff Hoetmer is a Principal Engineer at Bell Helicopter working in the Affordability Department. While working on an undergrad degree in Industrial Engineering at Wichita State, Jeff’s first professional job was as a time study analyst at Pizza Hut Corporate Headquarters. Wanting to work in aerospace, Jeff sought and landed a job in the Industrial Engineering department at Beechcraft, working in the Manufacturing Hours Control Group as Project Analyst.
After graduation, Jeff accepted a position at Cessna Aircraft Company as an Associate Industrial Engineer supporting shop floor manufacturing operations. For the next 10 years he continued to support manufacturing operations holding assignments in small parts, major sub-assemblies, primary and final assembly, flight operations, paint, interiors, and pre-delivery. Jeff’s last position in direct production support was as Group Lead for Industrial Engineering in the Aircraft Completion Center.
In 2001, Jeff’s career took a turn and he began supporting special projects and developing a Decision Support and Simulation team. From there, he was promoted to Manager of the Center of Excellence in Industrial Engineering. Following a few years management, he spent two years in the Textron Black Belt program, becoming certified in 2007.
After certification Jeff repatriated back into Industrial/Process Engineering supporting New Programs Development, Automation Technology and Strategy (2012-2015), AD Process Engineering Specialist – Denali Program (2015-2018), and finally, AD Process Engineer for New Programs and New Technology R&D (2018-2020).
In June 2020, Bell Helicopter opened an office in Wichita and Jeff took a position at Bell in the Affordability Department, Focused on Affordability of the V-280 Valor, Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft, production and assembly. Jeff supports IPTs including Optimization for Manufacturing initiatives, the Assembly Build team cost out initiatives, and the Manufacturing Innovation team efforts to manage and control product cost. Jeff uses parametric, analogy, and engineering build-up cost methods to develop should cost for manufactured product and processes.
Generation Lead Podcast Series featuring Kennedy Rogers!
Current graduate student Alexus Scott and Student Involvement has partnered together to conduct and produce a podcast series focusing on the development of our next generation's leaders. The podcast series is called Generation Lead and features voices from current WSU students, staff, faculty, and community partners.
Due to the recent virtual change in in-person programming, the podcast series provides high impact dialogue that empowers, challenges, and motivates a generation to lead and take space in their personal capacities with great measure. You can check out previous and upcoming episodes via streaming platforms like Anchor, Spotify, Breaker, and Google Podcasts.
Kennedy Rogers is no rookie when it comes to leading others effectively, and she’s truly learned to embody the definition of leadership. Often, when we possess strong leadership capabilities it must come with a balance. Through the development of this episode, we’re hoping to give you an inside scoop into the development of this series. Kennedy’s going to give us some background in her leadership journey and some tips that has made her journey worthwhile while managing new projects.
Take a listen!
Click here to listen now via Spotify
Congratulations Carla Eckels
Carla Eckels
Today we salute Carla Eckels, who was honored recently as part of The Kansas African American Museum’s 2020 class of Trailblazers. For more than a decade, the museum has recognized those who are leaders, pacesetters and pioneers in their respective fields. Eckels serves as director of cultural diversity for KMUW 89.1, Wichita’s National Public Radio station owned by Wichita State.
Shock the Halls Sale
The Shocker Store’s big holiday sale will look a little different this year, but we are so excited for it!
The usual 12 Days of Christmas Sale will not occur due to COVID precautions and the need to allow for social distancing. Instead, we’ve combined all those days of sales and promotions into a one-day-only awesome sale -- the Shock the Halls Sale!
Join us from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5, in the Rhatigan Student Center Shirley Beggs Ballroom to find great deals on Shocker apparel and gifts! Stay updated on our Facebook event page for more information and sneak peeks to come.
Black Friday at the Shocker Store in Braeburn Square
Come shop for Shocker gear on Black Friday Nov. 27! That day, enjoy buy one, get one half-off Shocker gear at the Shocker Store Braeburn Square location. Store hours are 11 a.m.-7 p.m. for Black Friday. Sale is not valid with other discounts or promotions and some exclusions apply. Happy shopping, Shockers!
TRIO DSS supports students with disabilities - applications open!
WSU's TRIO Disability Support Services (DSS) Program is excited to enroll students with disabilities for this academic school year. They offer numerous free services such as academic advising, career development, study skills assistance, financial literacy assistance, tutoring, and more. Many DSS graduates cite DSS as a critical program on campus that provided the support, university connections, and resources necessary for their success.
Quotes from DSS graduates and more information
I will apply what I have learned through TRIO DSS to the next chapter of my life - completing a Master's Degree! I am really thankful for the relationships that I have formed through TRIO DSS and look forward to what new challenges there are to conquer in my near future.
-Tiffany H.
My advisor believed in me when everyone wrote me off. That kind of belief and caring is so strong, it turned a college dropout into a student with a WSU GPA of 3.8 who is going to graduate in a month. I was able to get my first all “A” semester last fall because of their encouragement. Without my advisor’s support, I do not think I would be graduating at all.
-Ben L.
For more information, or to apply, go to www.wichita.edu/dss or call 978-5949. TRIO DSS is located in 158 Grace Wilkie Annex.
All call for The Wheat Shock Leadership Society judges
The Wheat Shock Leadership Society is formerly known as WSU Student of the Year. Student Involvement has rebranded this scholarship competition to become a society in order to increase the prestige and will continue to be a competitive and prestigious opportunity for students who have proven exemplary leadership, involvement, and service both to the WSU and Wichita communities.
Applications and nominations for both graduate and undergraduate students are open for students who wish to participate. We are calling for judges to serve throughout the selection process. The dates and details for each round are below. We are looking for three different sets of judges, so upon indicating interest, please include which round you would be most interested in serving, as well as your second choice.
Round 1: Application Review – Completed by Jan. 11, 2021
- This process would be going through the qualified applicants and meeting to decide on which students move to the next round. We have seen an increase, so we could be sifting through 80-90 applications depending on how many students apply.
Round 2: Interviews – Feb. 4-5, 2021
- Our judges' panel will sit through a series of interviews of those selected to move on through the application round. Deliberation and decision on the final court of 10 undergraduate students and five graduate students and will follow the interviews.
Round 3: Presentations – Feb. 18-19, 2021
- This panel will serve as an audience to our 15 finalists as they present and showcase why they should be a part of The Wheat Shock Leadership Society and receive a scholarship, in addition to induction into the Society. There will be two overall winners this year, one in graduate and one at the undergraduate level.
Please send which round you would like to serve on or any questions to Maggi Hole at lead.grad@wichita.edu or 316-978-3022.
Student Organization advisors needed
We are in search of full-time faculty and staff who are interested in serving as an advisor for student organizations here on campus.
A little about our community of Recognized Student Organizations (RSOs) here on campus -- there are 300 student organizations ranging anywhere from academic to political to special interest to cultural / international. With more than 5,000 students participating, if you are interested in this role or want more information, please reach out to Maggi Hole at student.orgs@wichita.edu.
Please help less fortunate children this Christmas
Our Toys for Tots toy drive is happening now until Dec. 16! We had fantastic support last year ending with a box brimming over with toys. We helped so many underprivileged children in Wichita. Let's shoot to double it this year!
You can stop by the Campus Credit Union lobby between 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday, and 9 a.m.-noon Saturday, to donate.
Earn credit for solving national security issues!
Hacking for Defense™ (H4D), is a new course designed for ALL undergraduate and graduate students from all disciplines and programs. It takes an entrepreneurial and interdisciplinary approach to America’s hardest national security challenges. You will be part of an interdisciplinary team to research, design, and propose a solution for a real national security challenge.