Author: Caelin Bragg

For the 15th consecutive year, more community college students chose Wichita State University to complete their academic goals than any other university in Kansas.

According to the Kansas Board of Regents, 1,475 students transferred to Wichita State from Kansas community colleges, technical colleges and other four-year institutions in 2025, continuing a streak that began in 2011.

“Being Kansas’ top transfer destination for 15 consecutive years is an honor we don’t take for granted. Transfer students come to our campus with a clear sense of purpose and a strong commitment to completing their degree and advancing their careers,” said Bobby Gandu, associate vice provost for strategic enrollment initiatives and director of undergraduate admissions.

Stop by the Food Truck Plaza on campus to enjoy cuisines from local food truck vendors.

Tuesday:

• Desi Fusion: 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

Wednesday:

• Desi Fusion: 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
• Carne Asada Jalisco: 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

Thursday:

• Desi Fusion: 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

Schedule is subject to change. Visit the Food Truck Plaza website for the most up-to-date information.

Those looking to deepen their understanding of globalization and its effects on the business world can take one or many Badges in the Global Business series here at Wichita State. Badges in the series cover the implications of globalization, differing cultures, exporting and entering foreign markets.

Badges are bite-sized, one credit hour or fewer courses that you can take at your own pace during the semester. These badges are developed in concert with employers, government licensing agencies, trade associations and faculty, meaning employees and employers alike can be confident that meaningful learning occurred.

To learn more about Badges, including how to enroll for the fall 2026 semester, visit wichita.edu/badges.

Wichita State has been a national leader in creating a standard for microcredentials.

Looking for ways to support students on campus? Check out the ShockerSync calendar for events hosted by the nearly 300 student organizations at WSU. Many events are also open to faculty and staff.

Wichita State University is committed to the safety of its campus community and provides fire safety resources to help Shockers stay safe on and off campus.

Learn more and find resources on how to stay safe on the Fire & Safety Office webpage, including information on:

• Working with open flames, heat or sparks
• Proper use of extension cords
• Restrictions for potentially dangerous decorations
• Proper use of fireworks and other pyrotechnics
• WSU’s commitment to a tobacco free campus
• How to use fire extinguishers in the case of an emergency
• Filling out a permit to host a grilling activity
• The prohibition on the use of portable space heaters
• The potential fire hazards of battery powered mobility devices
• General advice on fire safety off campus
• Keeping corridors free of storage and equipment for emergency evacuations

For more information or questions, contact the Office of Environmental Health and Safety.

The University Police Department wants to remind students, faculty and staff about the appropriate channels for reaching emergency services while they’re on campus.

If you are on campus with a phone:

Calling UPD directly at 316-978-3450 is ideal for getting immediate assistance. Calling 911 will connect you with Sedgwick County and could result in longer wait times for responders.

If you are on campus without access to a phone:

Use one of the many emergency telephones across campus, which are identifiable by the blue light located atop them. These phones connect straight to UPD, and even if you are unable to talk to the dispatcher, an officer will be sent to the location. You can view the locations of all emergency phones on campus through the campus map (wichita.edu/map) under “Campus Safety.”

Other resources:

• Dial 988 or text 741-741 to be connected to the suicide and crisis lifeline.
• Submit a CARE Team report for potentially concerning, but non-emergency, behaviors.
• Counseling and Psychological Services provides mental health treatment to students. Learn more about Counseling Services.

The Student Early Alert System (SEAS) is now active and available for instructors to use throughout the semester for all students.

Instructors should prioritize submitting early feedback in the first few weeks. Midterm is often too late for students to adjust and improve. WSU data show that early faculty intervention through SEAS makes a difference.

To access SEAS in myWSU:

• Login, go to the Home or Teach/Advise tab
• Click the SEAS link

To access SEAS in the new myWSU:

• Login, go to the Employee tab
• Click the SEAS card

Note: if your SEAS link/card is empty, try clearing your cache or cookies and logging back in.

SEAS allows instructors to flag concerns about attendance, participation, assignments and quizzes/exams. Students receive alerts the next morning, giving you time to revise entries if needed.

Remember: academic struggles often reflect broader challenges. Consider referring students to campus resources like:

• Academic Advising
• CARE Team
• Financial Aid
• Success coaches

A full list of referral options is available on the University Resources website.

For more information about SEAS, visit the SEAS website.

Dear Shocker family:

We hope you had a chance this summer to recharge and spend time with family and friends. As we begin a new academic year, we want to thank you for the dedication, expertise and care you bring to our university every day.

The start of a new semester always brings excitement and opportunity. Soon, our campus will be filled with students pursuing their goals and discovering what it means to be a Shocker. Their success is made possible by you. Whether you teach, conduct research, support student services, maintain our facilities or serve the university in other ways, your contributions have a lasting impact on our students and our institution.

This fall, we are pleased to welcome two new members of our leadership team.

Dr. Ali Gordon joined Wichita State in July as dean of the College of Engineering. Dr. Gordon comes to us from the University of Central Florida; and his experience as an educator, researcher and academic leader will advance the college’s tradition of innovation and industry partnership.

We also welcome Dr. Jamarco Clark as vice president for Student Affairs. Dr. Clark previously served as vice chancellor for Student Affairs at the University of Illinois Springfield. His passion for student engagement, wellbeing and success will strengthen our efforts to create an exceptional student experience.

As we begin the semester, we encourage you to welcome Drs. Gordon and Clark to Shocker Nation. We have every reason to be optimistic about the year ahead, as we all work together to advance Wichita State’s vision and mission.

Thank you for all you do for Wichita State.

Go Shockers!

Dr. Rick Muma, president
Dr. Monica Lounsbery, senior executive vice president and provost

The Wichita Biomedical Campus℠ sign has been fully installed, marking another significant milestone on the way to facility’s grand opening in 2027. The Wichita Biomedical Campus will strengthen healthcare education and research while bolstering Wichita’s downtown healthcare corridor.

You can continue to follow along with the construction of the historic investment in Wichita and Kansas by watching the continuous livestream of the construction site online.

Phase 1 of the location is a $222 million, 350,000-square-foot joint health sciences center, in downtown Wichita. Once complete, the Wichita Biomedical Campus will combine WSU’s College of Health Professions programs, WSU Tech’s healthcare programs and the Wichita campuses of KU School of Medicine and KU School of Pharmacy.

The Heskett Center pool will be temporarily closed for approximately four weeks to allow for general maintenance and a comprehensive assessment of potential repair needs.