Author: Caelin Bragg

Jonathan Cross and Stephen Cross Jr., investment adviser representatives with Voya Financial, will be available for in-person meetings at Wichita State Monday, Sept. 14 and Tuesday, Sept. 15. Faculty and staff can get one-on-one advising and review their Voya Financial accounts as part of their KBOR retirement plan, or new employees can receive assistance in enrolling in their KBOR plan.

If you are interested in meeting with Jonathan or Stephen, you can schedule a time to meet and choose “Wichita State University / One-On-One Financial Counseling” while selecting your location. Time slots are limited, so reserve a time soon. For questions, you can call 316-788-0788.

Note: If your Voya servicing agent is Leo Wetta, you can reach him at 316-686-2428 or visit retirementadvisors.timetap.com to schedule an appointment.

Wichita State University will begin a search for its next University Police Department chief following the announcement that Chief Guy Schroeder will retire at the end of the fall semester in December. 

Information about the search process and opportunities for campus input will be shared in the coming weeks through WSU Today. Eason Bryer, executive director of Facilities Services, will serve as search chair.

Schroeder has served Wichita State for over 10 years and as Wichita State police chief since 2022. Leading up to being named police chief, Schroeder served as interim chief in late 2021. Before that, he was a captain in the UPD. 

As police chief, he has served as a close collaborator with Student Health Services and the CARE Team to help students in crisis and has been a member of the HOPE Services Advisory Board. 

“We would like to extend our deepest gratitude to Chief Schroeder for keeping our campus community safe and helping our students feel supported,” said David Miller, senior vice president for administration, finance and operations. “He has been a stalwart supporter of WSU and exemplifies the values we all share. His contributions to our campus will be sorely missed, and we wish him well on his well-earned retirement.” 

Schroeder’s commitment to protecting the community has extended beyond WSU’s campus. Prior to his time at WSU, Schroeder worked in the Wichita Police Department as a lieutenant for over 30 years. 

In 2017, Shocker graduate Landon Huslig launched an Instagram account to spotlight some of the exciting things happening in Wichita. Today, Wichita Life is a media empire that includes a newsletter, podcast, merch, an event calendar and job listings — all with one mission: to tell the stories of Wichita and celebrate the people who make this city special.

One of the most defining aspects of Shocker Nation is our athletics programs, made up of your peers, and with your Shocker ID, you get admission to all home athletics events at no additional charge, thanks to the Student Government Association.

This September is a big one for WSU as Shocker volleyball takes on the University of Kansas next week at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 15 here at Charles Koch Arena. And later this month, the team kicks off conference play against Memphis at 6 p.m. Friday, Sept. 25 at home.

Submissions are open for the next edition of Academe. Any submissions after Monday, Sept. 14 will be saved for a future edition of the Academe newsletter.

If you are submitting on behalf of someone else, please indicate that in the comments section of your submission. Academe highlights faculty and staff accomplishments.

If you have questions regarding submissions to Academe, reach out to Caelin Bragg, publications editor, at caelin.bragg@wichita.edu or 316-978-3013.

Paint the Roundhouse yellow as Shocker volleyball takes on in-state foe Kansas at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 15 in Charles Koch Arena. The first 300 fans will receive a yellow Shocker volleyball T-shirt.

The next University Staff Senate (USS) meeting is scheduled from 3:30 to 5 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 15 in 142 Rhatigan Student Center, Harvest Room, or join online via Microsoft Teams. All USS meetings are open to the Wichita State campus community.

Learn more about University Staff Senate, access meeting links and review previous meeting minutes by visiting wichita.edu/staffsenate.

GoCreate is a makerspace on campus for individuals to develop and create their own ideas and projects, and students with a Shocker ID get an automatic membership.

From 3D printing and electronics to metal and woodworking, there’s something for everyone to flex their creative and maker muscles.

The University Police Department encourages all students, faculty, staff and visitors to remain safe while driving and walking across campus.

WSUPD offers the following safety tips to both drivers and pedestrians:

For drivers:

• Follow all traffic laws, including driving at or under speed limits and coming to a full stop at stop signs.
• Stop for all pedestrians and offer proper clearance for them to cross the road.
• Be vigilant when approaching intersections. Even if you have a green light, pedestrians may still be crossing.
• Be prepared for pedestrians to suddenly cross the road if you see them approaching a crosswalk. They may not give you adequate signals they will cross before doing so.
• Make sure to use your blinkers when making turns, and check that you don’t accidentally have your blinker on when you don’t intend to turn.
• When making turns, make sure to check for pedestrians in front of you as well as where you are turning into.
• If you see a yellow light, slow down and proceed with caution when it is safe to do so. Pedestrians may start crossing as you pass through.
• Be extra vigilant when visibility is low, such as at night or in heavy rain, snow or fog.
• Consider using the Wichita State Transit buses when traffic is high or visibility is low, or when you have to drive a considerable distance across campus.

For pedestrians:

• Follow all traffic laws and traffic signals that tell you when and when not to cross.
• Always use marked crosswalks. Many drivers are not expecting pedestrians crossing elsewhere.
• Check for cars coming from both directions before you begin to cross the road.
• Remain vigilant for cars when crossing the road. Pedestrians have the right of way on roads, but drivers may not see you crossing in time to slow down.
• Make sure drivers coming from both directions have clear sight of you before you cross the road.
• When using a crosswalk, make it clear that you are about to cross before doing so to give drivers enough time to see you, slow down and let you through.
• If a driver has their car blinker on, make sure they are slowing down and completing the turn before crossing the road. They may have a malfunction or left it on by mistake and may not be turning.
• Be extra vigilant when visibility is low, such as at night or in heavy rain, snow or fog.
• Consider using the Wichita State Transit buses when traffic is high or visibility is low, or when you have to walk a considerable distance across campus.

Professionals looking to boost their skillsets or retrain for new opportunities can enroll in the many Badge courses offered at Wichita State in the fall 2026 semester. With Badges, professionals can take bite-sized, one credit hour or fewer courses to learn or enhance their skills.

Wichita State has been a national leader in creating a standard for microcredentials, allowing employers to be confident that meaningful learning has occurred when you list the badge on your resume. Badges are developed with input from employers, government licensing agencies, trade associations and faculty.

One such series of Badges is the Human Resource Management series, which can enhance your capabilities of being an effective supervisor. Badges in this series cover designing jobs, recruiting, hiring and managing and mentoring employees.

To learn more about Badges, including how to enroll, visit wichita.edu/badges.