First-Year Experience

First-Year Advising Benefits

Provide all-in-one advising experience including:

Collaborate with students on their initial schedule
Initial set up of Student Education Plans
Reviewing and accepting financial aid
Understanding their student bill
Setting up payment plans
Discussing student success programs and academic support

Who is advised in First-Year Advising?

Domestic high school seniors: Students coming directly to WSU from high school (regardless of transfer work from high school)
First-Year International Students: No prior college credit
Stop out / gap year students: Students who have graduated in the last two years and have no college credit

First-Year Advisors
Name	Student Population
Kelsey Abendroth	Applied Studies (Education)
Michelle Ternes	Business
Constantine Gartelos	Engineering - Last name A-L
Monica Bergkamp	Engineering - Last name M-Z
Ellen Sudarshan	Fine Arts
Raven Garrison	Health Professions
Elia Ortega	Liberal Arts and Sciences - Last name A-L
Kindra Brooks-Cobbins	Liberal Arts and Sciences - Last name M-Z

First-Year Advising Process

Fall enrollment process begins Feb. 2, 2026

RSVP for Orientation and complete Enrollment Questionnaire
Provide needed transcripts or test scores, etc. onestop@wichita.edu
Schedule built and enrolled based on preference, requirements and provided info
Email sent to student to view schedule
Log in and review within 10 days and approve or ask questions

Notes

If a decision is not made overnight after enrollment – an email and text will be sent to the student to prompt log-in and decision.
If a decision is not made within 10-day time period – courses will be dropped, and the process will need to start over.
If questions exist regarding your student's schedule – advisors will be available to answer questions or make changes as needed.
Schedule changes can be made after accepting the schedule as well.
Please help us by encouraging your students to check their WSU email often!

OneStop Student Services

Shocker Success Center, Suite 104
Monday-Friday: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
855-978-3909
onestop@wichita.edu

Aaron Hamilton
Director
316-978-7456
aaron.hamilton@wichita.edu

Shocker Pre-Season Programs

What is a Shocker Pre-Season Program?

Shocker Pre-Season Programs are a collection of programs that help students warm up and get in the right mindset the week (or two) prior to the beginning of the fall semester.

Make new friends
Get to know some instructors
Learn your way around campus

Example Shocker Pre-Season Programs

Athletic Bands Camp (College of Fine Arts)
Barton School of Business Summer Engagement (Barton School of Business)
Honors Colloquium (Cohen Honors College)
Math Launch (Department of Mathematics, Statistics, & Physics)
Shocker Bridge to Math Success (College of Engineering)
Shocker Engineering Academy (College of Engineering)
Shocker Promise Academy (Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships)
When Everyone Leads...in Sport (Department of Sport & Leadership Studies)
Adult Learner Community & Connections (Office of Online & Adult Learning)
Immersive Leadership Institute (Office of Student Engagement & Belonging)
International First Year Experience (Office of Academic Affairs & Office of International Education)
Major & Career Path Workshop (Fairmount College of Liberal Arts & Sciences)
Passage 2 Success (Office of Student Engagement & Belonging)
Pre-Nursing Success Academy (Office of Student Success & College of Health Professions)
Rowing Camp (Shocker Rowing)
School of Performing Arts PreSeason Orientation (College of Fine Arts)

First-Year Seminar

What is a First-Year Seminar?

Wichita State's First-Year Seminar (FYS) offers students unique, small classes taught by fantastic faculty and instructors from across the university.

A First-Year Seminar lets you take a class in a specialized topic, taught by an expert in the field, while also learning about campus resources to help you have a more successful experience at and transition to WSU.

Examle FYS Classes

Uncommon Sense
Global Business, Culture, & Etiquette
Superheroes Go to School
My Community and I
The Shocker Way
Introduction to Technology & Innovation
Music Really Does Make You Smarter
Medical Laboratory Scientists: Healthcare Detectives
Leadership & Self-Discovery
Connecting Generations: Sharing Life Stories with Shockers
Me & My Place in the World
Community & Cultural Connections
WUtopia – The 15 Minute City
Let's Publish a Book!
Criminalistic Methods: What Would Sherlock Holmes Do?
World Cultures in Pop Media
World Food & Foodways
This is Us, Who are You? Family in Modern America
The Sociology of Harry Potter
Innovations of World War II
Every Body is Good!
Finding Success as a Teacher Through Mentoring & Self-Care
Cross Cultural Communication
Exploring WSU in Your Photos & Words
Imagining Climate Change
Facing It: Confronting American History Through Story, Song, & Film

First-Year Peer Mentoring Programs

Why Peer Mentoring?

Peer Mentoring programs within the academic colleges provide new first year students with the skills, resources, and support to help them succeed in their first year at Wichita State University.

One-on-one guidance and support from a peer student
Networking and building connections
Advice and resources
Events

Academic College Peer Mentoring Programs

College of Engineering: ACE Mentoring Program
College of Fine Arts: You Belong Here: Peer-to-Peer Mentoring Program
Fairmount College of Liberal Arts & Sciences: Fairmount Engaged

Dr. Brett Petersen-Bruner
Associate Vice Provost for Student Success & Persistence
316-978-3989
brett.bruner@wichita.edu
wichita.edu/fys • wichita.edu/preseason

Student Success

Functional Areas

First-Year Programs (our focus today!)
Shocker Learning Center
Success Coaching

Shocker Transition Experience

Students will complete these steps after completing the Orientation RSVP and Enrollment Questionnaire.

Pre-Orientation Modules - required (May 1 – mid-August)
Freshman Orientation - required (June – August)
Pre-Season Programs (second week of August)
SHOCKFEST (August 14 – 16)

Orientation: What to expect

Program information is available at wichita.edu/orientation
Pre-Orientation Modules are required and expected to be completed prior to attendance at Orientation.
- Modules will open on May 1 and access will be given after the Orientation reservation has been placed.
One day Orientation programs are designed to be more experiential and will connect students to people and resources on campus.
- Parent sessions are optional and separate from your student. Lunch is together.
Student Orientation fee = $150, guest fee = $30 per guest