Forward Together: President's August 2022 Message

There’s nothing like the synergy of the first week of fall semester at Wichita State University. Students return to campus with backpacks full of fresh supplies, minds open to new opportunities, and hearts filled with Shocker pride.  

It’s infectious, and I will never tire of the energy that students bring to our campus.  

This year, students, faculty and staff will be returning to a brand-new building: Wayne and Kay Woolsey Hall, which is the first new fully academic building on our campus since 1994, and it is the new home for the W. Frank Barton School of Business.  

While many might consider Woolsey Hall to be the business building, it’s truly a building for all Shockers across all majors.  

The structure is a three-level building on track to earn Silver LEED certification; and it’s the culmination of more than eight years of planning, fundraising and construction. I speak on behalf of all Shocker Nation when I express my gratitude for the collective efforts of everyone who helped bring Woolsey Hall to fruition.  

In particular: Thank you to Wayne and the late Kay Woolsey, whose generosity was the cornerstone of building this legacy for their family. Your dedication to Wichita State’s vision and mission is very much appreciated.  

And now that the business school has moved into its shiny new digs, it’s time to transform its former home of Clinton Hall into something great: The Shocker Success Center. 
 
This $18.5 million project will completely transform Clinton Hall into a holistic resource for student services with new entrances, light and airy interior spaces, and updated features throughout to create a warm, welcoming and highly functional Shocker Success Center.  

Most importantly, the Shocker Success Center will centralize 17 student services that are currently scattered across 10 buildings: the Offices for Adult Learning , CARE Team, Career Closet, Military and Veteran Services, Office of Disability Services, OneStop Student Services, Shocker Support Locker, Office of Student Success, Tech Help, Testing Services, TRIO Disability Services, TRIO Student Support Services, Writing Center, Math Lab, Supplemental Instruction, Physics Lab, and the Shocker Learning Center.  

Construction on the Shocker Success Center will begin in September, but fundraising is ongoing. If you’d like to contribute to this vital project, learn how you can be recognized for your investment in our students.   

Big things are happening at Wichita State, and we can’t wait to tell you about additional upcoming projects. I’m so proud to be a part of it. I hope you’ll stop by campus if you haven’t recently to see all the positive and exciting changes.   

Go Shockers!