Shocker Family Newsletter – August 2021

A message from President Rick Muma

Hello, Shocker parents! It’s wonderful to see more people returning to campus, and it is with particular enthusiasm that I welcome your student back to Wichita State! I look forward to seeing all of their faces around campus and in our classrooms.

As your student heads back to the classroom and dives into academics, we encourage them to take advantage of available campus resources — including tutoring, study groups, the Office of Student Success, Student Health Services, and Counseling and Prevention Services. Every single member of our faculty and staff is dedicated to their success.

I also hope they’ll find time to make Wichita State their home away from home: They can stop by the RSC for a bite to eat, hang out at the Hammock Lounge, or spend some time taking in the beauty of the Ulrich Museum of Art’s indoor and outdoor exhibits. 

In this time of uncertainty around COVID-19, it’s particularly important that we take measures to promote and protect our own wellness, as well as the health of our loved ones and the community. 

One such precaution we can all take is getting vaccinated against COVID-19. As a licensed physician assistant myself, I have taken this step, and know these vaccines are an important part in ending the pandemic. We’ve made it easy for your student to receive a vaccine at Student Health located in the Wellness Center, inside the YMCA building on campus. We are also requiring masks in our classrooms and labs, and we’re strongly recommending masks be worn in all other indoor spaces on campus. 

Again, we are thrilled to welcome your student back and wish them the best of luck in all their endeavors.

Go Shockers!
President Rick Muma

» Check out the Student Guide here.

» Get the latest information on the University COVID-19 response here.

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.

Tuesday, Aug. 10 – Last day to officially withdraw from a presession classes with a "W".

Monday, Aug. 16 – Weekday and evening full-semester classes begin.

Friday, Aug. 20 – Last day to add full-semester classes or change sections of the same course.

NOTE: For classes that are less than the whole semester in length and that begin after the first week of the semester, online registration continues every day through the first day of class. 

Saturday, Aug. 21 – Saturday / Sunday full-semester classes begin.

Friday, Aug. 27:

• Last day to drop a full-semester class and NOT have it appear on your record.
• Last day to change your enrollment in a full-semester class from "credit" to "audit".
• Last day to drop and receive 100% tuition refund for full-semester classes. No additional partial refunds provided. Classes meeting for a period other than the full academic term will refund according to the schedule online.

See refund policies at www.wichita.edu/refund

See tuition information at www.wichita.edu/tuition

See important Accounts Receivable dates at www.wichita.edu/ar

Monday, Sept. 6 – Offices closed for Labor Day.

Wednesday, Sept. 15 – Last day for students who graduated in the spring to order a transcript of their academic record and have the fee waived.

Sept. 17 – Sept. 18 – Family Weekend. Click here to learn more and register.

Wednesday, Oct. 6:

• Mid-semester point.
• First 8-week classes end.

Oct. 9 – 12 – No classes for Fall Break. (Offices remain open.)

Monday, Oct. 11 – Spring schedule of courses available online. (Tentative.)

Friday, Nov. 8 – Spring early registration begins. (Tentative.)

Nov. 24 – 28 – No classes for Thanksgiving Break. (Offices remain open on Nov. 24.)

Thursday, Dec. 2 – Last day of classes.

Friday, Dec. 3 – Study Day.

Dec. 4 – 9 – Final examinations. Click here to see the schedule.

TBD – Fall Commencement. Click here to learn more.

Tuesday, Feb. 15 – Fall diplomas available.

Friday, April 15 – Last day for students graduated in the fall to order a transcript of their academic record and have the transcript fee waived.

» Click here for a PDF of academic calendar dates from fall 2019 through summer 2022.

» Click here for Accounts Receivable’s fall 2021 calendar of important dates.

» Click here for the full university calendar of events.

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. 

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?

Common Trends for Students

While every student is unique, there are certain trends and phases that many students experience in college. Here are a few of the patterns and potential issues that students tend to experience around August:

• Stress over moving
• Transition anxiety or excitement for incoming first-year students
• Homesickness — especially common for first-year student and first-time residents
• Roommate conflicts, which are often caused by personality differences and an unwillingness to compromise. It is also the first time many students have to share a room.
• Initial adjustment to academic environment — feelings of inadequacy sometimes related to the changes in high school expectations to college expectations. Also, academic success in high school does not ensure academic success in college.
• Class size and the feeling that professors don’t care about students can be discouraging for new students.
• Values exploration — students start to explore their own values without the guidance of their parents and home communities.
• New social life adjustments — including not having to check with parents about curfews and opportunities to experience new areas, making your own decisions on when to conduct social activities and establishing yourself in a peer group.
• Initial social rejections — creates feeling of inadequacy when not immediately accepted in a peer group, or into a social sorority or fraternity.
• “In-loco parentis” problems — students feel depressed because of real or perceived restrictive policies and regulations of the college.
• Campus familiarization — includes becoming familiar with campus, classrooms, buildings and meeting places.
• Long distance relationship(s).
• Financial adjustment — involves adjusting to a somewhat a tighter budget now that they are in school opposed to when they were living at home. Students who are supporting themselves have to adjust to budgeting their money also.
• International student adjustment — experience a sense of confusion, vulnerability and a lack of any advocate in higher positions while trying to make a successful cultural and academic transition.
• Family problems seem more intense because the student may either be caught in the middle or may feel helpless because they are far away.
• Adjusting to “Administrative Red Tape” — students soon realize that is usually a long and frustrating process when trying to find an answer to what seems to be a simple question.

If your student is struggling, whether academically, socially or emotionally, we encourage you or your student to reach out to CARE Team. CARE Team exists to connect students with the resources they need to be successful and well at Wichita State.

» Click here to learn more about CARE Team.

» Click here to submit a concern to CARE Team.

You can also keep up with CARE Team via social media @WSUcareteam on Facebook / Twitter / Instagram

Your student also has access to affordable, on-campus counseling through Counseling & Prevention Services, or CAPS. If your student is experiencing anxiety, distress, or other mental health struggles, encourage them to reach out and make an appointment.

» Click here to learn about Counseling & Prevention Services.

Things Parents Should Know

About FERPA, Proxies and Authorized Users

Under FERPA, or the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, your student is accorded the following rights:

1. The right to inspect and review the student’s education records.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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 for more information about FERPA.

A Proxy is someone the student has authorized to access their student record. Students wanting to release non-directory information to parents, employers, or other specified individuals, referred to as proxies, may do so online by logging into the secure myWSU portal at: mywsu.wichita.edu

Students can choose to authorize different levels of view access to one or multiple third-party individuals (proxies). Options include view access to their grades, schedule of classes, financial aid information, and more. The student can also authorize WSU to discuss these items with the proxy. The student is in control of who has access, what they can see, what they can discuss with WSU, and for how long they have this access.

Once the setup is complete, the proxy will receive email instructions on how to access a separate, secure online portal. This portal requires a log in to view the information pages to which the student has granted them access. Once the setup is complete, the parent or other defined proxy will be able to view, but not change, the information on the authorized pages.

» Click here for more information about Proxy access.

An Authorized User is someone a student has authorized to access financial records. 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 more information about setting up Authorized User access.

» Click here for Authorized User login.

» Click here to view the Shocker Family Table Talk video about FERPA, Proxies and Authorized Users.

Know what's happening on campus

You already read this newsletter, which is a great first step! But there are a few other ways to keep informed about campus available to you as well:

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 Rave emergency notification system, 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.

Shocker Store Life Hack

Looking to skip the lines while buying books? Students can still order books online through the Shocker Store website! Click here to visit the Shocker Store webpage.

Health and Safety

Is your student living on campus this fall? Here are some health reminders from Student Health

• If your student is new to WSU Residential Life, please remind them to submit their meningitis vaccinations either to Housing or Student Health. 
• Housing residents who received the COVID-19 vaccination off campus (not at Student Health) are encouraged to send documentation of their COVID-19 vaccinations to Student Health. 

This will help with identifying whether an individual needs to quarantine after an exposure. People who are fully vaccinated and asymptomatic will not need to quarantine if they are exposed to COVID-19.

• Housing students were sent an email from HRL staff about COVID-19 testing prior to arriving to campus this fall. A test kit with instructions will be mailed to residents living in the U.S. in the coming weeks. Please check your Shocker email for more information on the testing requirement.

Vaccination records

Has your student had their COVID-19 vaccination somewhere other than Student Health? Still need to send in meningitis or other vaccination records? Student Health now has a secure HIPAA compliant way for students to submit health information through the myShockerHealth portal!

Students can find the link for the myShockerHealth portal at wichita.edu/shs and log in with their myWSU ID and password. Click on “Messages” in the left menu and chose the “I want to submit documentation or records” option. Your student can add attachments to the message and hit send. The documents will become part of your student's confidential student health record. 

NEW feature now available in the myShockerHealth portal!

Students can now upload immunization records, health information, and copies of insurance cards through the myShockerHealth portal.

This is a private, secure way to share personal health information with Student Health.

• Log in from our website at www.wichita.edu/shs and click the myShockerHealth portal link.
• Sign into the myShockerHealth portal with your WSU ID and password.
• Once you are in the portal, you can upload your immunization records or COVID-19 vaccination card under “Immunizations” in the left menu.
• Copies of insurance card (front and back please!) can be uploaded under “Insurance Card” in the left menu.
• Student can also upload health information when sending a secure message.

» Click here to visit the myShockerHealth portal.

» Click here to learn more about Student Health Services.

COVID-19 vaccinations at WSU's Student Health Services

Student Health Services is offering COVID-19 vaccinations to all currently enrolled students and employees. As of May 1, 2021, immediate family members of currently enrolled students and employees may also schedule a COVID-19 vaccination appointment through Student Health. 

Please review Frequently Asked Questions for additional information. COVID-19 vaccinations in Sedgwick County are open to all individuals. For alternative vaccination locations, dates, and times, go to vaccinefinder.org.

» Click here to learn more about COVID-19 vaccines available through Student Health Services.

» Click here to find vaccines available near you.  

Free COVID-19 testing is available on campus for all current WSU students

Any currently enrolled students can choose to schedule COVID-19 testing appointments through Student Health Services.

To schedule a COVID-19 test, students can login into the myShockerHealth portal at StudentHealth.wichita.edu using your Shocker ID and select “Appointments” from the menu. Testing is free of charge and results will returned within 24 hours. 

For students who are having symptoms that may be related to COVID-19 and would like to be seen by a provider, please call Student Health at 316-978-4792 or make a provider appointment through the myShockerHealth portal. 

» Click here to visit the myShockerHealth portal.

Looking for information on COVID-19 health and safety tips or other health related topics?

Check out and subscribe to WSU Student Health Services YouTube Channel to view health education videos on COVID-19, Tuesday Talk sessions, health insurance and more!

» Click here to visit the Student Health Services YouTube Channel.

» Click here to learn more about Student Health Services.

Access the #WSUWeSupportU Preventing Suicide Training from Counseling & Prevention Services for free

Learn how to support your Shocker and your community with the #WSUWeSupportU Preventing Suicide Training from Wichita State University Counseling and Prevention Services. Created by licensed psychologists, this evidence-based training will teach you how to assist someone in need with tools like the Share, Ask, Support method. Each training lasts 90 minutes.

You can access this training for free by using the following authentication code when creating your account:

preventingsuicide

Learn more and sign up at Suspenders4Hope.com.

» Click here to learn more and begin the #WSUWeSupportU Preventing Suicide Training.

» Click here to learn more about Counseling & Prevention Services.

Housing & Residence Life Updates

Move-In Dates

Move-In is Aug. 11 – 14, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Golf carts driven by volunteer staff will be available to help you and your student transport your student's belongings from the parking lot to Shocker Hall.

Students can find the 2021-22 packing list on the Housing & Residence Life website.

» Click here for the 2021 – 2022 Packing List (PDF).

Dining Services

As a campus resident, your Shocker will not have to worry about breakfast, lunch or dinner — Dining Services has it covered. With many different dining locations, your student will have plenty of options to pick from. All Shocker Hall and Suites residents will have meal plans that include unlimited meals in Shocker Dining that can be used at any campus dining location. Flats residents have the option of purchasing Dining Dollar Only plans in addition to the other options that First-Year residents have. Click here for current meal plan rate information.

Shocker Dollars vs. Dining Dollars

Dining Dollars can be purchased as part of a meal plan for on-campus residents. They are a dollar for dollar declining balance plan, similar to a debit account and are loaded onto a student ID card and are accepted at any Chartwells location on campus. Each time a purchase is made, those dollars are subtracted from the balance.

Dining Dollars roll over from Fall semester to Spring semester, but expire at the end of the Spring semester.

Shocker Dollars are an allotment of “money” that is used just like a debit card in the dining hall and retail locations on campus. Shocker Dollars never expire, as long as you are still associated with the university. They are a dollar for dollar declining balance plan, similar to a debit account and are loaded onto a student ID card and are accepted at any Chartwells location on campus. Each time a purchase is made, those dollars are subtracted from the balance.

Boost mobile app

The Boost mobile app can be used to check a student's balance of meals or Shocker Dollars, as well as for ordering and paying for meals ahead of time in order to skip the line.

» Click here to learn more about Boost and download the app.

To contact Dining Services, call 316-978-3477. Click here to visit Dining Service's main webpage.

» Click here to learn more about meal plans.

» Click here for the Dining Services FAQ.

» Click here for the Meal Plan Accommodation Request Form.

» Click here to learn more about Dining Services.

» Click here to visit Dining Services’ website.

» Click here for dining hours.

Additional suggested items to pack

While Housing & Residence Life has a tried-and-true packing list to consult, there are some additional items to consider including:

• To help ensure the safety of our campus community, everyone is asked to perform daily wellness checks before coming to campus or leaving their dorm. A thermometer is a useful tool for performing wellness checks that is easy to overlook. Though it may seem silly, even college-aged adults can’t know something they’ve never had the opportunity to learn; it may be helpful to make sure your student knows how to use a thermometer before they leave home.
• In addition to any prescription medications your student may take, consider packing some OTC medications. Your student will appreciate not needing to figure out how to acquire pain relievers or antihistamines when they’re already not feeling their best!

» Click here for the Housing & Residence Life website.

Housing & Residence Life can be reached at housing.wsu@wichita.edu or 316-978-3693.

Financial Aid News

Important Upcoming Dates

• August 11: Direct deposits of refunds begin. Click here to learn how to sign up for direct deposit.
• August 12: Paper refund checks mailed
• August 16: Regular session classes begin
• August 27: Financial Aid Recalculation Date for financial aid budgets and grant aid
• August 30: Late Fees assessed

Missing requirements/verification

The Office of Financial Aid is unable to finalize financial aid for the 2021-2022 academic year for students with missing documentation. Delays in financial aid availability are likely if documents are not received. We encourage students to submit required items immediately or set up a payment plan by August 27 to avoid late fees for the fall semester. 

Next Steps

• Review their Financial Aid Requirements on their Financial Aid Dashboard, found under the myFinances tab in their myWSU student portal. 
• Submit all required documentation to the Office of Financial Aid no later than July 9 for aid availability in August. 
• Complete the tuition payment plan online:
  • Please note there is a $30.00 administrative fee.
  • Sign into their myWSU student portal.
  • Under the myFinances tab, select Student Account Suite.
  • Agree to the Statement of Financial Responsibility (if applicable).
  • Under Payment Plans, initiate a new plan for their current balance.
  • Students may be required to pay a nonrefundable minimum of $130.00. 

SAP Reminder – Fall

Next Steps

• If extenuating circumstances prevented students from meeting the requirements, they may appeal the suspension.  The SAP Appeal application can be accessed at wichita.edu/sapappeal.  The deadline is August 27, 2021.  If the appeals committee approves the appeal and subsequent academic plan, we will resume processing a student’s FAFSA for 2021-2022.

• Students can make alternative payment arrangements at wichita.edu/payment with the WSU Office of Financial Operations.

• If students have earned additional transfer credits since their academic progress was last evaluated, they contact our office to review their records.

Questions about Financial Aid?

Have questions? Click here to schedule an appointment with the Office of Financial Aid, or reach out via phone at (316) 978-3430 or via email at finaid@wichita.edu.

» Click here to visit the Office of Financial Aid website.

Student Resources

ShockerSync and Student Involvement

Getting involved is one of the best ways to ensure students get the most out of their college experiences, and there's no better resource for getting involved than the office of Student Involvement! Opportunities abound, whether your Shocker is interested in Greek Life, leadership opportunities, community service, student government, traveling for spring break, campus events, or any of the 300+ clubs and organizations available through ShockerSync.

Your account is already created and just waiting for you to activate it! To get started, visit shockersync.wichita.edu to log in using your myWSU ID and password. To verify your information in the system, you will be asked to fill out a new user form using your @shockers.wichita.edu email.

» Click here to learn more about Student Involvement.

» Click here to find ShockerSync.

Shocker Career Accelerator

The Shocker Career Accelerator is offering a number of career fairs this fall semester. Your student will have several great opportunities to network with potential employers, as well as connect with internships and jobs that set them up for fulfilling careers after college!

Career Connection Root Beer Kegger

August 25, 2021, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
RSC Courtyard

This signature career event kicks off the academic year and is a great way to network with potential employers looking to hire from all majors and college levels, all while enjoying a hot dog and root beer. Registration is limited.

» Click here to register for Root Beer Kegger.

Engineering and I.T. Career Fair

September 14, 2021, 2 – 5 p.m.
John Bardo Center Lobby and Outdoors  

Recruiters will be seeking Wichita State students who are interested in careers in engineering and IT for internships and full-time positions.

» Click here to register for the Engineering and IT Career Fair.

Virtual AAC Career Fair

October 28, 2021, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Virtual via Career Eco

The Shocker Career Accelerator is excited to partner with the colleges in the American Athletic Conference to host the AAC Career Fair. Students and alumni of all majors from 12 colleges across the nation will participate. At this new virtual event, candidates and employers will interact in chat rooms and conduct video interviews.

» Click here to register for the AAC Career Fair.

Education Exchange

November 2, 2021, 3 – 5 p.m.
Rhatigan Student Center Ballroom

Meet with December 2021 and May 2022 education graduates and alumni at this reverse career fair. Students will be the ones to set up tables, while district representatives walk around the event and visit with the students.

» Click here to register for Education Exchange.

» Click here to learn more about the Shocker Career Accelerator.

CARE Team

CARE Team offers wraparound services to help students overcome obstacles in all areas of life and ensure their success at Wichita State. CARE Coordinators can help students identify and connect with the resources they need, both on-campus and off!

» Click here to learn more about CARE Team.

These are only a few of the resources available to students at Wichita State. For more resources, check out the University Resources page.

» Click here for the University Resources page.

Campus News

WSU researcher advocates for a community approach to stop bullying

Multidimensional support systems are the key to preventing bullying and cyberbullying and can help lessen the psychosocial side effects of being a victim of bullying, according to a study done by one Wichita State researcher.

“To prevent school bullying and cyberbullying, teachers, parents, siblings, peers, neighbors, community, job status, religion and school policy must be involved in the prevention program,” said Dr. Jeoung Min Lee, assistant professor in Wichita State University’s School of Social Work. 

» Click here to read more about Dr. Jeoung Min Lee's work on bullying prevention.

Shocker alum uses her Olympic voice to advocate for athletes as mothers

Aliphine Tuliamuk is in Japan with her daughter. She is sharing her biggest athletic moment with Zoe, born on Jan. 16, while breastfeeding.

Tuliamuk had to fight for this moment, to run the Olympic Marathon in Sapporo while caring for Zoe.

“A breastfeeding child is an extension of a mom,” Tuliamuk said last month. “There is absolutely no way you can separate a child who is nursing from their mother. It’s just not OK.”

» Click here to read more about Olympian Aliphine Tuliamuk's advocacy work.

NSF awards WSU researcher $200K to study fairness in facial recognition

The National Science Foundation has awarded a $200,000 grant to Dr. Ajita Rattani, an assistant professor in the College of Engineering’s School of Computing, that seeks to improve facial recognition technology, addressing civil liberties concerns that some demographic groups are more likely to be misidentified.    

Facial recognition technology — known as biometrics — has become common tool used to authenticate a person’s identity and is used by smartphones and laptops to unlock devices and by law enforcement to identify suspected criminals or undocumented immigrants. 

» Click here to learn more about Dr. Ajita Rattani's work to solve problems with facial recognition.

Connect With Us

Stay Connected with One Shocker Family

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

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