Shocker Family Newsletter
March 2026
Ways to Support your Student During Midterms
As midterms are approaching, students may experience increased stress as they prepare for new challenges and upcoming projects. It is common for students to demonstrate signs of heightened worry, fatigue and anxiety during this time of transition. Here are a few tips for parents and supportive adults to help students in the upcoming weeks:
- Provide support: Letting your student know you are there for them can increase their sense of stability and comfort. Ask them how they would like to be supported or what they need during this time.
- Encourage self-care and stress relief activities: Help your student prioritize time to re-energize and care for their overall well-being as they balance studying and completing projects.
- Provide study tips: Remind students of study tips such as taking breaks, studying in a conducive environment, and utilizing on-campus resources including Supplemental Instruction, Student Success, tutoring and advisors.
- Check in on their mental health: Helping students name their emotions and stressors during this time will help manage mental health. If they feel overwhelmed, providing additional support to help them cope can be valuable.
- Words of encouragement: Calling your student or sending texts and letters with words of encouragement can be a great way to show support and provide additional motivation.
Spring Break at Wichita State University starts Monday, March 16th and ends Sunday, March 22nd!
Campus Housing News
Room Selection season is coming soon! Students will receive an email one week before their timeslot opens for Room Selection. At that time, or any time after, students can login to their Housing Portal through MyWSU and open their 2024-25 Academic Year Application.
Don't worry if your student is busy at the time they are assigned, the timeslot is simply the first time a student can login to complete Room Selection but will be open any time after as well.
The Room Selection tab of the application will be open at that point and will show all available rooms for the student – it looks a lot like online shopping! Students will select the room and assign themselves to a bedspace, select a meal plan, and proceed through a few more quick steps. Students who are a part of a Roommate Group will do the same process, but the student with the first timeslot will assign the whole group to a room and the other students will login at their assigned time to confirm their reservation and proceed through the steps as prompted.
Only students who have completed the application, paid the $75 application fee, and paid the $200 pre-payment will receive a Room Selection timeslot email. Once these three steps are completed, a student will go through Room Selection at the appropriate time. See timeline below.
Room Selection Timeline
- Third Week of March- Returning Students, LLC, and Gender Inclusive applicants begin their room selection based on their complete date
- Fourth Week of March- Returning Students, LLC, and Gender Inclusive applicants begin their room selection based on their complete date
- Second Week of April- New Student applicants begin their room selection based on their complete date
- Fourth Week of April- Open room selection begins for all students who have applied later or have not received a timeslot at this point
Shocker Parents,
We’re excited to share that navigating our knowledge base is now easier than ever. We’ve added a dedicated Parents Section, where you can quickly find helpful articles, resources, and information tailored just for you.
Whether you’re looking for enrollment details, campus support services, or ways to help your student succeed, you’ll find everything you need in one convenient location.
We’d also like to remind families of a couple important upcoming dates:
· March 2 – Summer and Fall schedule of courses available (tentative)
· April 3 – Last day for students to withdraw from courses with a “W”
· April 6 – Summer & Fall registration begins (tentative)
If you have questions or your student needs help with registration, understanding
financial aid, billing, or setting up proxy access, OneStop is here to assist you!
Student Health Sevices
Student Health Services continues to be available for medical illnesses or injury over Spring Break, Monday - Friday 8am - 5pm. Appointments can be made through the myShockerhealth portal: www.wichita.edu/shs. Spring Break is a great time to get caught up on your annual physicals, refill medication, catch up on your Covid vaccine or other vaccination schedules, or complete evaluations for mental health medications!
- Spring Break - Student Health will be open 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
- Summer - students who are enrolled this spring semester can also be seen at Student Health over the summer, even if they are not taking classes in the summer.
Buy Commencement Regalia Early and Save
Is your student graduating in May? Now through April 26, you can bundle regalia items and save! The Shocker Store offers regalia bundles for bachelors, masters, specialist and doctorate degrees. Visit the Rhatigan Student Center store or on our “graduation” tab at shockerstore.com for specific pricing and details. For more information, email shockerstore@wichita.edu or call 316-978-7021.
Shocker Caree Accelerator
March presents an excellent opportunity for your students to advance their career preparations! The Shocker Career Accelerator strongly encourages them to participate in the upcoming career fairs tailored to their interests and fields of study. These events are pivotal stepping stones for professional development and networking opportunities. Please discuss the following career fairs with your students and encourage them to attend:
2024 Health Professions Career Fair
- Date: Tuesday, March 19
- Time: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- Location: RSC 3rd Floor
2024 Criminal Justice Career Fair
- Date: Tuesday, March 26
- Time: 10 a.m. to noon
- Location: RSC 3rd Floor
2024 Virtual Engineering Job Fair
- Date: Thursday, March 28
- Time: 1 to 5 p.m.
- Location: Online via Handshake
These fairs represent invaluable opportunities for your students to explore various
career paths, meet potential employers, and secure internships or job positions in
their respective fields. We hope your students will take full advantage of these opportunities
to enrich their professional experiences and pave the way for a successful future.
Check out all of our career events at wichita.edu/CareerEvents.
Campus News
Forward Together - Update from President Muma.
Important Academic Dates
March 11 - First 8-week courses end Mid-semester point
March 16-22 - Spring Break - offices open March 16-22
April 1 - Summer and Fall early registration begins
April 3 - Last day to officially withdraw from a full-semester course with a “W”
April 6 - Summer and Fall early registration begins
May 7 - Last day of classes
May 8 - Study Day
May 9-14 - Final examinations
May 16 - Spring Commencement
May 22 - Spring grades available through Self Service
July 1- Spring Diplomas available
July 3 - Offices Closed - Independence Day Holiday