Author: Caelin Bragg

Develop the courage and skills to address sensitive or high-stakes topics with empathy and effectiveness. Led by Percy Turner of the WSU Community Engagement Institute, this session focuses on creating psychological safety and building mutual understanding, even during difficult conversations.

Join the session from 1 to 4 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 2 (check-in is at 12:45 p.m.) at the Wichita Public Library Advanced Learning Library, 711 W. Second St. N.

Cost is $100 per person. Shockers can use code 2025ProDev to receive 10% off registration for any class.

Did you know that Shockers like you get an automatic membership to 12 Greater Wichita YMCAs, including the Steve Clark YMCA here on campus? You can get started by visiting the Steve Clark YMCA with your Shocker ID and activating your account.

In the event of emergency notifications, severe weather or changes to normal campus operations, WSU will update the campus community through the Shocker Alert system. To receive those alerts to your phone, sign up by texting “SHOCKERALERTS” to 67283.

Your family can also sign up the same way, or you can sign them up at wichita.edu/alert.

In the event of emergency notifications, severe weather or changes to normal campus operations, WSU will update the campus community through the Shocker Alert system. To receive those alerts to your phone, sign up by texting “SHOCKERALERTS” to 67283 or go to wichita.edu/alert.

Please share this information with your students, who are encouraged to sign up to receive text alerts.

Students, have you been to student hours yet? If your answer is no, take the opportunity this week to visit at least one of your professors in their office during their student hours. Only a handful of students each semester use this opportunity to get to know their professors outside of the classroom. You might even gain an advisor, mentor or get the answer to your questions from your text.

All students on campus have access to the all-you-can-eat Shocker Dining Hall, located on the first floor of Shocker Hall. Pay at the door, grab a plate (or two) and fill it with options from multiple kiosks.

Want to see what’s on the menu? Head over to dineoncampus.com/wsudining.

The table below is to assist instructors with certain dates regarding CES. These dates are for the fall 2026 semester.

• The first column includes the various start/end (part-of-term) dates for fall semester courses.
• The second column includes dates meant for instructors. This is the timeframe when instructors will receive emails about the CES process and procedures that they should complete. Instructors will receive additional emails during and after the student CES access dates.
• The last column includes the dates that CES will be available for the students to complete course evaluations.

The full CES administration schedule is always accessible online.

Course start/end dates	Instructor CES process dates	Student CES access dates
Aug. 3-8	July 27-Aug. 5	Aug. 6-7
Aug. 3-15, Aug. 10-15	Aug. 3-12	Aug. 13-14
Aug. 17-Sept. 19	Aug. 30-Sept. 8	Sept. 9-18
Aug. 17-Oct. 7	Sept. 17-26	Sept. 27-Oct. 6
Sept. 21-Oct. 27	Oct. 7-16	Oct. 17-26
Aug. 17-Oct. 28	Oct. 8-17	Oct. 18-27
Sept. 8-Nov. 18	Oct. 29-Nov. 7	Nov. 8-17
Sept. 14-Nov. 24	Nov. 4-13	Nov. 14-23
Oct. 8-Dec. 3, Oct. 28-Dec. 3	Nov. 13-22	Nov. 23-Dec. 2
Aug. 22-Dec. 5	Nov. 9-18	Nov. 19-28
Aug. 17-Dec. 10	Nov. 14-23	Nov. 24-Dec. 3

As WSU starts the fall 2026 semester, you will notice ongoing and new construction across Wichita State University’s 330 acres and beyond:

Crossland Stadium:

Construction is underway on Phase 2 of the stadium replacement project on the recently named Crossland Stadium. Demolition of the west grandstand is well underway and anticipated to be complete at the end of August.

Construction of the new west stadium will be phased to ensure that seating is available for the 2027 KSHSAA State Track and Field Championships. Construction is scheduled to be completed before the 2028 KSHSAA State Track and Field Championships.

Wichita Biomedical Campus:

Construction continues on the Wichita Biomedical Campus building in downtown Wichita. Signage on the south side of the building was recently installed. The 350,000-square-foot building opens for classes in the summer of 2027.

Wilkins Stadium (Wadsworth Team Operations Center):

Construction is underway on the Wadsworth Team Operations Center, an addition to the indoor practice facility for the softball team completed last year. The project is anticipated to be completed in early 2027. The facility will include a locker room, team room, offices and athletic training areas for the Shocker softball team.

CAC Theater:

Construction is complete in the first phase of the accessibility upgrades to the theater. Improvements include an exterior wheelchair lift, widened entry doors, the addition of an accessible restroom and ticket booth, and an accessible seating platform within the theater area.

Ablah Library/Geology Building renovation:

Construction is complete on the second floor of the library for a project to relocate the Holmes Anthropology Museum from its former location in Neff Hall. A grand opening will be held later this year.

The museum relocation is the first step to vacating the building in preparation for demolition of Neff Hall. The anthropology department will relocate to the Geology Building in early 2027 following the ongoing renovation in the Geology Building.

St. Paul Catholic Student Center:

Construction of a parking lot and improved plumbing and drainage was completed this summer. The access road on 17th St. is now available to access both the Gaddis Physical Plant and St. Paul. A new rectory for priests, seminarians and guests will be completed by spring 2027. 

Henrion Hall HVAC improvements Phase 3 and 4:

Construction continues in Henrion Hall for a project to provide air conditioning to the remainder of the building following recent projects in the sculpture and ceramics classroom areas as well as relocating and expanding the wood shop.

The project will be phased to allow the building to remain occupied but will affect building entrances and classroom/studio spaces throughout the year. Construction is anticipated to be completed by the end of 2026.

Internet exchange point:

Construction is underway on the IXP facility on the north side of 21st Street across from Eck Stadium. The building will be the first internet exchange port in the state of Kansas. Construction is anticipated to be complete in early fall.

Dr. Jeri Carroll, professor emerita in the College of Education, passed away earlier this summer.

Carroll joined Wichita State in 1982 and worked in early childhood and elementary education. She served as the Faculty Senate president during the 2001-02 term and was a recipient of the President’s Distinguished Service Award in 2002 under former WSU President Donald Beggs. Carrol was recognized as a Bender of Twigs in 2007 and was inducted into the College of Education 2023 Hall of Fame.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Jeri Carroll Memorial with the WSU Foundation and Alumni Engagement. A celebration of life will be held from 9 to 11 a.m. Sept. 19 at Aldersgate United Methodist Church, 7901 W. 21st St.

Vivian Zavataro, executive and creative director of Wichita State University’s Ulrich Museum of Art, has announced that she will be leaving the university effective Sept. 18 to become executive and artistic director at the Riverside Art and The Cheech Museum in California.

Since joining Wichita State, Zavataro has helped advance the Ulrich’s mission as a nationally recognized university art museum, strengthened community engagement and led numerous initiatives that have expanded the museum’s impact on campus and throughout the region.

“Vivian’s leadership, creativity and commitment to the arts have left a lasting mark on the Ulrich Museum and Wichita State University,” said Dr. Monica Lounsbery, senior executive vice president and provost. “We are grateful for her many contributions and wish her continued success in her new role.”

The university will announce plans for interim leadership and the search for the museum’s next executive and creative director in the coming weeks.