Forward Together: President's September 2022 Message

When I speak to Wichita State students, I’m always sure to emphasize the student support services we have in place to help them succeed — from tutoring and academic advising to money management and career counseling. 

But in truth, every single program, initiative, priority and goal we have is created to support our students; and every member of our faculty and staff is dedicated to the success of our Shockers. 

As Wichita State’s enrollment numbers continue to climb, we’re welcoming new populations and generations to Shocker Nation. But enrolling students is just the beginning of our responsibility to our students. 

It is our duty as an urban public research institution to ensure that we have systems in place to drive their success and engage them in learning so that — by the time they graduate — they are confident and capable employees, entrepreneurs and leaders of tomorrow.  

To that end, next month we’re starting the transformation of Clinton Hall — recently vacated by the W. Frank Barton School of Business, which moved into the new Wayne and Kay Woolsey Hall — into the Shocker Success Center. The building will be completely renovated, inside and out, to accommodate 17 student services that are currently spread out among 10 buildings across campus. 

The Shocker Success Center will house the Office of 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.

This enormous undertaking is estimated to cost about $18.5 million. Two-thirds of the cost will be financed by the university, with the remaining funds coming from donor generosity. We've raised $5 million in private support, but you still have an opportunity to be a part of this remarkable project. 

We will also break ground this fall on an addition to the Marcus Welcome Center. The Milly Marcus Annex will make additional space for the Career Development and Shocker Career Accelerator offices — altogether with undergraduate admissions. 

Long before I was president, this has been a focus of mine. The arrangement of these offices together will not only provide better space for our career development services, but it will also demonstrate the full lifecycle of a student experience at WSU for prospective students and their families as they visit campus for the first time. 

This unique combination of offices, not seen at any other institution, will further showcase our point of difference: the applied learning focus that we have for our students. 

Serving our students is the greatest joy of working in academia. Watching the transformation of an uncertain freshman into a confident graduate is humbling and inspiring, and we will continue to work hard to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to achieve their academic potential. 

Go Shockers!