Dear parents and families,
We’re living in uncertain times, and COVID-19 continues to permeate many facets of our lives. As a result, preparing for the fall 2020 semester has been unlike getting ready for any semester we’ve ever known.
We’ve done our best to prepare for everything that needs to be addressed to keep our students and all members of our campus community safe, but we know questions will continue to pop up. We simply can’t predict everything, so help us by letting us know when we need to do something differently or better.
The best way to ensure a successful semester for your students and the entire campus is for everyone to pull together. It will take a group effort to make the fall semester the best it can be — and that means everyone must abide by the health and safety guidelines we have instituted. Wearing face coverings, obeying social distancing measures, avoiding large gatherings and maintaining good hygiene practices are crucial to flattening the curve!
COVID-19 has provided many challenges, but also new opportunities to engage with families via our monthly virtual table talks with parents. Hearing from parents throughout the last couple of months created a sense of excitement for the 2020-2021 academic year! This truly is my most favorite time of the year, and I can't wait to see the pictures of everyone coming back. Speaking of pictures, I would be remiss if I didn't tell a story:
For some of you this will be the first time you drop your kids off at college. For others, it will be the second, third, or fourth time now. And for many of you, it just doesn't get any easier. Whether you’re moving your student for the first time or the last, there is a certain amount of sentiment you will face with move in. You'll have moments where you smile over a memory, or wish that they are sitting at the dinner table with you, or see a parent with their high school child in the grocery store and remember back when your student was with you all of those years. I will go on record and say, it's ok to reach out to them and let them now you are missing them — because it’s likely they are feeling the same way too!
I often talk a lot to new parents about the difference between being a Helicopter Parent and being a supportive one, and how reaching out to your student from time to time is showing you are there for them. Talk to them about their day as you would if they were there with you. Ask them how things are going and be prepared for the one word "fine" or the rant about a class or roommate. Trust that you know when to step in and help, and when they just need you to listen. Remember, you and your student are not alone in this journey. Wichita State University has a team of dedicated and caring staff on standby that are here to help every step of the way. Move in should be special; it is the beginning of a new year and a time to bask in the energy and the sense of opportunity that lies ahead!
I look forward to connecting with many of you via the Shocker Family Network and our virtual connections. Cheers to a great year, and as always, GO SHOCKS!
With Shocker Pride,
Alicia A. Martinez Newell
Assistant Vice President of Student Affairs
Email: Alicia.Newell@wichita.edu
Phone: (316) 978-6105
Important Dates
Please be aware that dates are set with the understanding events and deadlines may have to be moved or cancelled in the event it becomes unsafe to proceed as planned.
Wednesday, Aug. 12 – Excess financial aid deposited to students’ bank accounts if you have entered your account information into your Student Account Suite
Thursday, Aug. 13 – Checks for excess financial aid mailed
Monday, Aug. 17 – Fall classes begin
Friday, Aug. 21 – Last day of late registration for fall courses
Friday, Aug. 21 – Last day to add full-semester fall courses or change sections of the same course
Friday, Aug. 21 – Clash of the Colleges
Aug. 15 - Sept. 4 – Welcomefest. Click here for Welcomefest website
Friday, Aug. 28 – Last day to drop a fall course and NOT have it appear on record
Friday, Aug. 28 – Last day for registered students to make payment arrangements
Friday, Aug. 28 – Last day for 100% refund for 16-week fall courses
Monday, Sept. 7 – Labor Day: No classes, offices closed
Wednesday, Oct. 7 – Mid-semester point
Saturday, Oct. 10 – Commencement Ceremony for 2020 spring and summer graduates. Click here for the Commencement website
Reminder – Fall Break has been canceled
Monday, Nov. 9 – Tentative date for Spring 2021 early registration to begin
Friday, Nov. 20 – Last day of in-person instruction
Nov. 23-29 – Thanksgiving Break: No classes, offices closed Nov. 26 – 27
Monday, Nov. 30 – Classes resume remotely
Thursday, Dec. 3 – Last day of fall classes
Friday, Dec. 4 – Study Day
Dec. 5-10 – Final examinations. Click here for exam schedule
Sunday, Dec. 13 – Fall Commencement. Click here for the Commencement website
Monday, Feb. 15 – Fall diplomas available
» Click here for the full fall 2020 semester academic calendar.
» Click here for the full university event calendar.
Getting Started
It’s normal for both families and students to feel a combination of excitement and apprehension about starting college. Whether students grew up just a few blocks from the university or are traveling many miles, transitioning to a new environment and new routines is the name of the game this month. Everyone may feel a bit disoriented for a while; just remember to give yourself some time to adjust. Actively seeking out support and getting involved in new activities will help both families and students.
Things Families Need to Know
COVID-19 Guide
Students will be expected to take precautions and engage in safe behavior in order to come or return to campus. See the Health and Safety section below for more information, or read more in the COVID-19 Student Guide.
» Click here to visit the university hub for COVID-19 information and updates.
Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)
In compliance with the “Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974” (FERPA), as amended, the following constitutes the institution’s policy on providing appropriate access to educational records, while protecting their confidentiality:
Wichita State University accords all rights under the law to students. Those rights are:
- The right to inspect and review the student’s education records;
- The right to request the amendment of the student’s education records to ensure that they are not inaccurate, misleading, or otherwise in violation of the student’s privacy or other rights;
- The right to consent to disclosures of personally identifiable information contained in the student’s education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent;
- The right to file with the U.S. Department of Education a complaint concerning alleged failures by Wichita State University to comply with the requirements of FERPA.
» Click here to read the full notification of FERPA Rights.
Questions? Contact the Office of the Registrar at 316-978-3055.
Proxy Users
Under FERPA, parents do not have access to their student's collegiate educational record unless the student provides consent. In an effort to meet the needs of WSU students and parents, and to encourage students to safeguard their myWSU username and password, the Office of the Registrar is pleased to announce that students no longer need to fill out a paper form in order to provide such consent. Authorization by the student is now available entirely online.
» Click here to read more and access instructions.
Authorized Users
Students can give others (parents, employers, etc.) the ability to access their account information. In compliance with FERPA, student financial records may not be shared with a third party without written consent. Adding an authorized user is written consent that an individual may view account information and make payments on the student's behalf. Please note that authorized users do not have access to their student's stored payment methods, academic records, or other personal information.
» Click here for instructions on setting up an authorized user.
» Already an authorized user? Click here to view a bill or make a payment.
Shocker Alert
Get the emergency information you need instantly and effortlessly! With the Shocker Alert System, we will contact you by email the moment there is an emergency or weather alert that affects the campus.
To sign up for text alerts through our emergency notification system, Rave, click here.
Rave Guardian Mobile App
As part of Wichita State’s ongoing commitment to campus safety, the university offers the Rave Guardian, a free mobile app for Android and Apple smartphones that turns any smartphone into a personal safety device. Click here to view more details.
» Click here to see the app in the Google Play store.
» Click here to see the app in the Apple Store.
How Can Families Help?
- Reassure your student that they have a place in the family and in your home regardless of the changes. Having a stable home base helps students adjust to college.
- Encourage your student to get involved. Students who get connected with campus life tend to do better academically, learn to manage their time and have an easier adjustment. Go to wichita.edu/involvement for more information on student involvement opportunities.
- If your student is living in the residence halls, suggest they get to know their Resident Assistant (RA) and neighbors. If your student is living at home, let them know you’re happy to hear they stayed on campus to study or spend time with friends.
- It can feel strange for families to hear about new people and routines in students’ lives. Remind yourself that developing new support networks helps students to be successful.
Conversation Starters
- How were your first few days of classes?
- What kinds of activities have you found to get involved in?
- Have you met anyone who seems fun or interesting?
Healthy and Safety
What students can expect as the fall semester gets under way
Soon the fall 2020 semester will begin. For some of you, this will be your student’s first time attending Wichita State University – the beginning of their life as a full-fledged Shocker. For others, your student be returning to a school year that looks quite different than this time last year.
For all of you, we want you to know that every day for the past six months, we’ve been working tirelessly to create an environment that will allow your student to receive a high-quality education and college experience while keeping their safety at heart as we all co-exist with the COVID-19 virus.
We know there are countless questions and concerns that you and your student have right now. Please know that we are all in this together, and we are confident that this will be an amazing year for your student as a Shocker!
As the semester goes on, we will continue – as we have since last March – to communicate frequently with new information as it arises. The best way to see these messages is to consistently check your student email, as this is a fluid situation that changes often.
» Click here to read the rest of the COVID-19 Student Guide.
» Click here to visit the university hub for COVID-19 information and updates.
On-Campus Housing
Move-In
Fall Move-In will take place over an entire week, starting Saturday, Aug. 8 through Saturday, Aug. 15. Residents were emailed a link in Mid-June to sign up for an arrival timeslot. There will be a limit on how many residents can check in each hour at each building. Students are asked to limit the amount of guests they bring to Move-In, and are encouraged to bring a face covering to wear during Check-In.
Students will report directly to their assigned building for Check-In. In order to limit contact and maintain social distancing, students will be responsible for moving their own belongings into their room. There will not be Move-In volunteers helping carry students' belongings this year. Large rolling boxes will be available to check out when a student checks in at their building.
Questions on what to bring? Check the Housing & Residence Life packing list to make sure your student has what they need when they arrive.
» Click here to visit the Housing & Residence Life Move-In Day information page.
Important Information regarding COVID-19 & Housing
In the face of the worldwide COVID-19 outbreak, Wichita State University's first priority is the health, safety and well-being of our entire Shocker community. Below you'll find the latest information and answers about the university's wide-ranging response to the pandemic.
- Housing and Residence Life will plan for an extended Move-In process over seven days (Aug. 8 – 15) in order to maintain social distancing guidelines. Students received an email in mid-June asking them to select an arrival timeslot. Students will report directly to their buildings to check in and will be issued a rolling moving box. Move-In volunteers will not be assisting with moving students' belongings this year, in order to minimize contact between individuals.
- Housing and Residence has adjusted its contract dates to align with the university's plan to discontinue in-person instruction after November 20th and to not begin instruction until February 1. Students will only be billed for housing through the campus shutdown date of Nov. 20 for fall, and Feb. 1 – May 15 for Spring. Students will have the option to stay over the Extended Winter Intersession, and will be billed accordingly if they choose to stay. See the Housing Rates page for specifics.
- Wichita State is currently offering testing to students with a known exposure or presentation of COVID-19 symptoms. Testing has been mandated for:
- All students living in on-campus housing
- All employees working in Housing & Residence Life
- Student athletes
- Certain students and employees associated with clinical programs.
- If your student feels the need to be tested for COVID-19, they should visit Student Health or contact their doctor.
» Click here to visit Housing & Residence Life’s website.
Housing & Residence Life can be reached at housing.wsu@wichita.edu or 316-978-3693.
Shocker Family Photo Competition
Does your family exemplify the Shocker spirit? One Shocker Family is holding a Shocker Family photo competition! Send us a picture of your family and your Shocker Spirit for the chance to win a gift basket stuffed full of Shocker swag from the Shocker Store.
To enter, post your photo on social media and tag it #ShockerFamily. The prize will go to family with the best, most Shock-tastic photo!
Entries are due by midnight CDT on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2020. The winner will be announced in the October issue of the One Shocker Family Newsletter and on social media for Shocker Family and Student Affairs. The person or people submitting the photo must be represented in the photo.
Please be aware that by participating in this contest you are agreeing to allow One Shocker Family to use your photo on our website, social media and in promotional materials.
First Tuesday
A Monthly Message from Wichita State President Jay Golden
Welcome back, Shockers!
This month is so very special for me. August 2020 marks the first time I have the opportunity to welcome new and returning Shockers to our campus as president. I am by nature an optimist, and my optimism will be at its greatest as our campus community finally has the chance to reunite after an incredibly challenging spring. Seeing our students walking around campus, gaining some form of a new normalcy, will do wonders for our spirits and mental health.
However, there is no doubt that our new academic year will be different in many ways, as we must all work together to best protect and maintain the health of our campus community. I won’t elaborate on all the procedures, investments and precautions our university-wide health and safety committee has diligently put together, as more detailed information was communicated yesterday to students and employees, and will continue to be communicated on a regular basis.
My optimism pervades into my daily activities. I have been spending a considerable amount of time this summer meeting with community leaders, donors, alumni and civic organizations — reminding them of the critical importance Wichita State University plays for our region and our state. Now more than ever, the unique role of WSU as the state’s only urban research university, in the largest city in Kansas, is needed to address the economic, educational and health disparities that have impacted our state.
Why am I optimistic during such a devastating time in our history? In large part it is because of my firmly held belief that Wichita State is one of our nation’s most innovative universities, and our spirit of innovation is exactly what society needs to come out of this pandemic even stronger.
» Click here to read the rest of First Tuesday.
» Click here for the First Tuesday archive.
Financial Aid News
Fall Disbursement
When does my student receive my fall financial aid at Wichita State? There are a few simple guidelines to keep in mind about the payment process at Wichita State:
- Your student must pay their fees according to the Fall 2020 Schedule of Courses. If they do not have financial aid pending, they will need to make other payment arrangements to avoid any late charges.
- Your student’s financial aid (with the exception of Federal Work-Study) will be applied to their charges first and, if applicable, to their on-campus housing charges next.
- Funds will be applied to your student’s charges as they become available, but no earlier than the time listed in the Schedule of Courses, or no earlier than 10 days prior to your first scheduled course for Fall 2020.
- If your student’s financial aid is more than their total fee bill, they will receive the excess aid through direct deposit or a paper check. If they have completed direct deposit enrollment with the Accounts Receivable Office, direct deposits begin on Wednesday, Aug. 12. Paper checks will be mailed starting Thursday, Aug. 13.
For more questions about financial aid terms and conditions, review our Financial Aid Policies.
The office of Financial Aid can be contacted via phone at (316) 978-3430 or via email at finaid@wichita.edu.
Campus News
Wichita State turns 125
This year, Wichita State turns 125! We invite all #Shockers to join us in recognizing the university’s 125-year history, as well as the people and events that helped to create so many memories.
» Click here to hear how to pronounce “Quasquicentennial.”
WSU undergrad builds organization around social-impact engineering
Wichita State student Carlos Gatti is a biomedical engineering major who sees value in engineering work with social impact.
Gatti worked as intern for PoParaguay and draws his inspiration from that organization.
He hopes to model the program after GoBabyGo, a WSU program that modifies toy cars for children with disabilities.
Campus Resources
Student Involvement – Turning Students into Shockers
There are many exciting ways to get involved at Wichita State. Whether students want to be in a student organization, develop leadership skills, participate in community service, plan campus events or join a Greek organization, there is something for everyone.
Student Involvement is committed to providing opportunities for students to engage in co-curricular and extracurricular experiences to enhance their collegiate experience while at Wichita State.
Student Involvement coordinates the Cadman Art Gallery, Civic Engagement, Fraternity and Sorority Life, Leadership, Service-Learning, the Student Activities Council, Student Government Association and Student Organizations.
» Click here to visit Student Involvement’s site and learn more.
Office of Diversity & Inclusion (ODI) – Your Home Away From Home
The Office of Diversity and Inclusion aims to cultivate and sustain an inclusive campus. ODI strives for academic excellence by creating an environment that educates, empowers and mobilizes our students, campus and community. In the ODI community, members view themselves as ambassadors for fundamental freedoms and respecting the differences in others.
The office provides dynamic programs, which range from speakers and film showings to award ceremonies, cultural festivities and LGBTQA programming — each representing a small piece of the diversity displayed on the WSU campus.
Click here to visit ODI’s site and learn more.
Campus Recreation
Campus Recreation, housed in the Heskett Center, exists to Provide the Wichita State University community with diverse recreational and wellness activities that will promote a healthy and active lifestyle. Programs and services include sport programs, Shocker Fit classes, and facilities where students can have fun and work up a sweat.
» Click here to visit Campus Recreation’s site and learn more.
Student Interest Groups
Student Interest Groups are for students who are new on campus and want to make friends, get connected and learn tips and tricks for navigating their first year at WSU. These groups aim to help students succeed through growing resilience and building a network of support.
- First Gen Success: Here at WSU, we celebrate First Generation students and the importance of this piece of their identity! This group is focused on developing strategies to succeed, creating opportunities to network, and providing spaces for students to share their story.
- First Steps is a program for First Generation students. This program exists to connect First Gen students with campus resources and help them start out their college career on sure footing. Campus experts will go over students’ schedules with them and give them tours to show them where each of their classrooms are, as well as answer any questions those students may have. This event will take place Sunday, Aug. 16 from 1 to 3 p.m. Click here to learn more.
- Students Who Are Parents (SWAP): Students don’t have to choose between their family and their education; here at WSU, we celebrate both! Students can create lasting partnerships and engage in meaningful conversation about shared experiences with like-minded Students Who Are Parents, or SWAP!
- Shocker Strong: This group is for anyone who wants to maximize their time at Wichita State, use their strengths to the fullest and master the art of resilience! Events will include Self-Care Sundays, a monthly opportunity for students to take a moment to decompress and remember to take care of themselves.
Connect With Us
Stay up to date on campus news by following us on social media, or contact us at 316-978-3149 or at shocker.family@wichita.edu! If you haven’t already, subscribe to receive this newsletter in your inbox at wichita.edu/familynewsletter.
Shocker Family Network Group
Want to connect with other Shocker Families? Head on over to @ShockerFamilyNetwork for a member-led discussion group to get connected and get your questions answered by other Shocker Family members like you!
Find Us On Social
Facebook Page | @parentfamilyshockers
Facebook Group | Shocker Family Network
Student Affairs Facebook | @wichitastatesa
Student AffairsTwitter | @wichitastatesa
Student Affairs Instagram | @wichitastatesa
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