Student Resources
Whether you are a current or prospective student, we understand it is important to find an inclusive and empowering environment where you can thrive. Here are some resources and services that can be beneficial to you.
Best Colleges provides a guide for LGBTQ+ prospective college students to help determine what to look for in an LGBTQ+-friendly campus.
The Campus Pride Index is a tool to assess universities' and colleges' LGBTQ-friendly policies, programs, and practices across the United States.
The Office of Diversity and Inclusion wants to ensure that Wichita State University is a safe space for students who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning (LGBTQ+) and allies. The office works hard to further the University's mission and values by advocating for education, resources and awareness of LGBTQ+ issues on campus. There is a list of on-campus resources for LGBTQ+ faculty, staff, students and allies.
There are many kinds of resources and support systems in the Wichita community. There is a list of community resources for LGBTQ+ faculty, staff, students and allies. This list comprises of local, state and national resources.
Want to learn more on being welcoming and supportive to other students? The Office of Diversity and Inclusion serves as a hub for support services, resources and educational content related to LGBTQ+ identities. The department works to ensure that educational content is available at your fingertips, such as understanding pronouns with the Pronouns Primer, while teaching students, faculty, and staff to update their pronouns (and gender identity) on their myWSU portal using Banner Self-Service!
No matter the what the United States Administration says, federal and state laws and the U.S. Constitution prohibit discrimination, bullying, and harassment against students because they are transgender. This includes Title IX, the federal law that bans sex discrimination in schools. Here are some information provided by the National Center for Transgender Equality about what rights transgender students have at school and how you can advocate for yourself or transgender students in your life.
LGBTQ+ Ambassadors lead the way in representing queer Shockers across campus. They participate in panels, lead discussions, plan events and help coordinate our annual LGBTQ+ events. These students also work with community organizations to be mentors for local high school Gay Straight Alliance (GSA) students and invite them to be part of Shocker Nation.
Wichita State University is home to hundreds of recognized student organizations spanning a variety of interests and hobbies. Here are some of the groups for our LGBTQ+ community and their allies, such as Spectrum: LGBTQ & Allies and oSTEM at Wichita State University!
There are numerous scholarship opportunities available for underrepresented students throughout the United States. The information and links contained within this directory by no means represent a comprehensive list of every available underrepresented scholarship opportunity. The Office of Diversity and Inclusion has compiled a database of scholarship opportunities to which we have knowledge. Most of these websites have access to databases with thousands of scholarships giving away billions of dollars.
View the myWSU Chosen Name Guide for guidelines and instructions on how to change your name at Wichita State University.
OutReach offers support groups that aims to provide LGBTQ+ students with a space to connect with others, gain support and learn practical, effective emotional coping skills.
Whether you are seeking to get involved in student organizations or discover what events are happening around campus, ShockerSync is your path to connecting with student life. ShockerSync is accessible to anyone to see what is happening in Shocker Nation!
Spectrum is a social/discussion group for the Wichita State University LGBTQ+ community and its allies. It is a great way to meet new people and make friends!
Conferences
The National LGBTQ Task Force sponsors and organizes the Creating Change Conference, the foremost political, leadership and skills-building conference for the LGBTQ social justice movement.
The Midwest Bisexual Lesbian Gay Transgender Asexual College Conference (MBLGTACC) is an annual conference held to connect, educate, and empower queer and trans+ college students, faculty and staff around the Midwest and beyond. It has attracted advocates and thought leaders including Angela Davis, Nyle DiMarco, Robyn Ochs, Janet Mock, Laverne Cox, Kate Bornstein, Faisal Alam, and LZ Granderson; and entertainers and artists including Jujubee, Margaret Cho, J Mase III, Chely Wright and Loren Cameron.
The UNC Asheville Queer Studies Conference (established in 1998) attracts an international audience of activists, academics, community members and artists who showcase a range of creative and scholarly pursuits related to the study of genders and sexualities. The conference invites a diverse representation of approaches and participants, including academics (faculty, staff, graduate and undergraduate students) and community members (leaders, organizers, activists). The conference takes place in Asheville, North Carolina every other year.
The TRANSforming Gender Conference (TGC) raises awareness about issues and identities in the trans community. Each year, the Center for Inclusion and Social Change at University of Colorado Boulder brings our community together and offer talks, trainings and forums on a wide variety of topics, including: parent and family Q&A, Intersex 101, queering biology, transgender youth advocacy, medical transition, and education for mental health providers. The conference is free to attend for all students, faculty, staff, and community members.