Author: Naquela Pack

Wichita State Connect’s PK–12 Advisory Committee will kick off another year of quarterly meetings this September. The committee brings together campus and USD 259 partners to strengthen PK–12 engagement, identify gaps and opportunities, improve coordination and create clearer pathways for students to connect with Wichita State.

The committee currently includes representation from across the university, including:

• Academic colleges and schools
• Undergraduate Admissions and Concurrent/Dual Enrollment
• TRIO and GEAR UP
• University Libraries
• Ulrich Museum of Art
• WSU Tech
• WSU Foundation and Alumni Engagement
• Faculty and academic departments
• STEM, engineering and other youth programming
• USD 259

As Wichita State Connect begins the new year, it wants to ensure voices from across Wichita State — including WSU’s Innovation Campus partners — are represented in these conversations.

If your college, department, program or organization is not currently represented and you would like to participate, contact Naquela Pack, director of PK–12 Engagement with Wichita State Connect, at naquela.pack@wichita.edu to learn more and join the committee.

Faculty, staff and students are invited to join Wichita State Connect for a short service project from noon to 1 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 4 in Wichita State Connect in celebration of National TRIO and GEAR UP Day with the annual Books & Bears initiative, delivering a book and a bear to neighborhood elementary schools.

Help spread encouragement:

• Write short, uplifting notes for students
• Assemble candy bags to be shared at the Books & Bears event later this week

No experience needed, just bring your heart for service and community. Stop by for all or part of the hour and help show students they are supported, seen and rooted in resilience.

WSU faculty, staff, students and programs who serve elementary or middle and high school students are invited to help Wichita State Connect make the first Shocker Community Night: Move, Play, Connect a success on Feb. 20 at the Heskett Center.

Encourage the youth you serve, along with their families and guardians, to attend the free, fun evening of movement, recreation and connection for elementary or middle and high school students.

Campus unites are also encouraged to

• Table or share resources
• Host a fun activity (the Heskett Center team can help brainstorm ideas)
• Volunteer to support set-up, registration or on-site engagement

The event is intended to become an annual tradition, and your participation will help build a strong foundation for years to come.

Wichita State Connects thanks everyone for helping create a welcoming, energetic space for the youth and families connected to WSU.

If you have questions, reach out to Naquela Pack, director of K-12 connections and special projects, at naquela.pack@wichita.edu or John Lee, director of Campus Recreation, at john.lee@wichita.edu.

Join the African American Faculty Staff Association (AAFSA) from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Friday, May 9 at Chicken N. Pickle, 1240 N. Greenwich Rd, for its end-of-year celebration. Free food, fun and laughs await as AAFSA shares upcoming changes moving forward. The event will be in the west wing and have pickleball courts nine and 10 reserved.

Join the African American Faculty and Staff Association (AAFSA) for its general meeting from to 1 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 20 via Microsoft Teams.

Join the African American Faculty Staff Association (AAFSA) and the Black Student Union (BSU) for a celebration of Black excellence at 6 p.m. Friday, Feb. 7 in the Woolsey Hall atrium.

Dr. Kevin Harrison, assistant teaching professor and Honors Faculty Fellow, will be the honorary speaker. Join in the festivities, including music, line dancing, spades and other games, and free soul food while it lasts.

Join the African American Faculty and Staff Association (AAFSA) for its holiday gathering from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Dec. 7 in 233 Rhatigan Student Center, Santa Fe Trail Room, to network and celebrate this year’s impact.

The African American Faculty Staff Association is currently working on establishing connections with students of color and strengthening channels of support. Attend a general body meeting to share, support and advocate together.

All meetings are from noon to 1 p.m.:

• Thursday, Oct. 17 in 262 RSC, Herrman Room
• Thursday, Dec. 19 in 233 RSC, Santa Fe Trail Room
• Thursday, Feb. 20 in 233 RSC
• Thursday, Apr. 17 in 233 RSC

Wichita State’s Staff Senate is hosting a walking tour of the university’s Innovation Campus partner NetApp beginning at 11:15 a.m. Tuesday April 11. The group will be led by Katie Dawes with NetApp.

The tour will focus on NetApp’s new building features and the work within. After the tour, participants are encouraged to stop by the Food Truck Plaza on Perimeter road.

On the day of the tour, plan to arrive 15-20 minutes early for registration on NetApp’s system. This just requires the name, phone number and email address for everyone on the tour. Everyone will also sign an NDA during registration. Though the process itself is fairly quick and easy, with a large group it can take a time to get through.

The Office of Engagement is excited to bring the first Open Streets ICT to Wichita State and the Shocker Neighborhood on Sunday April 16 from 1 to 4 p.m. The event will be located in Shocker Neighborhood, south of campus, closing roughly two miles of 17th Street from the Redbud Trail Head at Oliver to Tabernacle Bible Church on Volutsia.

The event is designed to further strengthen the relationship and connections between the university and neighboring communities.

Shocker Nation has a unique opportunity to turn the university inside out and share the innovation and creativity coming from WSU with the community. The Office of Engagement invites the campus community to the events and asks they be part of the community building day.

Ways to be involved during the day:

• Become a vendor and share a message, gather information from the community, sell merchandise, spin wheels for prizes, raffles, and/or create a fun and engaging way to connect services and/or information from a department to the community by hosting activities like games, dunk tanks, Zumba, art projects and more.
• Serve the community alongside of the Office of Engagement and volunteer for the day.