Forward Together: President's April 2023 Message

April is such a beautiful month with spring foliage showing off its brilliant blooms and newborn creatures poking their heads out of their nests. Perhaps it’s the beauty of the season that was the inspiration behind choosing April 22 as Earth Day — to highlight the importance of preserving our world through sustainable and eco-friendly practices.   

Part of Wichita State’s mission statement is to drive “prosperity for the people and communities we serve”; and what better way to serve the people of Kansas than to be excellent stewards of our state’s resources?  

• The Green Group is a student organization dedicated to intersectional environmentalism, and its members collectively work to raise awareness of our interdependent relationship with the natural environment. They have planned a full calendar of events to celebrate Earth Day; and throughout the year, they maintain a community garden on campus, work with the Student Government Association on campus policies around sustainability, and volunteer at various businesses and agencies across Wichita. Also, to promote green transportation, the Green Group set up a free bike repair station near Shocker Hall.  
• Wichita State’s Environmental Finance Center was recently selected as one of 17 locations to establish an Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Center. This new center will promote environmental and energy justice in Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska and adjoining Indigenous nations.
• In recent years, Wichita State has built a reputation as a leader in the field of digital transformation research, which promotes environmental sustainability by reducing paper usage, enabling remote work, promoting green data centers, and facilitating sustainable supply chain management.
• The Wayne and Kay Woolsey Hall, Wichita State’s newest academic building and home of the W. Frank Barton School of Business, is currently under review on its path to earning certification as a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) building. According to LEED, the certification recognizes buildings that are efficient, cost-effective, and better for occupants and the environment. 
• Also under review for LEED certification on the Innovation Campus is the NetApp facility, which was built with highly durable, energy-efficient and easily maintained materials.  
• For those who drive an electric vehicle, the Steve Clark YMCA on campus offers a charging station in its parking lot.  
• WuTopia: A 15-Minute City is a First-Year Seminar course through the College of Innovation and Design. The 15-minute city concept incorporates all the community’s basic needs within a short walk or bike ride. Working in teams, students immerse themselves in all aspects of urban planning and design, where they will be challenged to balance the needs of the individual with the needs of the community.
• Also, from the College of Innovation and Design, Wichita State launched its sustainability minor, which approaches sustainability through a holistic lens. Courses investigate the management of our social, environmental, economic and cultural resources so they may last for generations. 
• Wichita State also offers several certificates in sustainability: Environment and Sustainability, Sustainable Energy Technology, Sustainable Materials and Design, and Sustainable Water Technology. 
• At the National Institute for Aviation Research (NIAR), two ventures that come to mind are the Digital Twin project, which aims to give a longer life to aging military vehicles; and the Flight Test Research Center and Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul program — which upcycles passenger aircraft and retools it into cargo planes.  
• On our Innovation Campus, the Smart Factory @ Wichita is a net-zero facility that’s powered by wind trees, solar panels and smart lighting. Additionally, Deloitte’s business model is one that promotes sustainability through streamlined digital transformation and innovative advanced manufacturing solutions.  

At Wichita State, we do the right things for the right reasons, and we’re fully committed to creating a better world through education and research for all of Shocker Nation.  

Go Shockers! 

Sincerely,