Author: Lainie Mazzullo

As Wichita anticipates potential storms this week, stay prepared and aware of weather forecasts.

• Sign up to receive ShockerAlerts straight to your phone, which will send you tornado warnings in the area through the National Weather Service, and check the current status of campus at wichita.edu/alert.
• If there are changes to normal campus operations, they will be communicated via WSU email, WSU social media, the Campus Alert Page and ShockerAlerts.
• Review the list of tornado shelters on campus in case of a weather emergency.
• Keep your devices charged and check your email regularly for updates. Consider installing a weather app of your choosing to keep an eye on local forecasts.

In Kansas, thunderstorms are common in the spring and fall months, while at the same time the actual severity of storm events, and their location, are difficult to predict by even the best meteorologist. Storms can occur within very short notice and often last for a short duration of time.

During these events, it is important for everyone to stay up to date with weather notifications and evaluate their own situation, prioritize personal safety and make responsible choices about whether it is safe to come to campus.

Wichita State University is proud to host the 2026 Kansas State High School Activities Association State Track Meet and the 5A and 6A state baseball and softball tournaments today (Friday, May 29) through this weekend.

If you encounter a campus visitor needing information on campus services, dining, maps or other things to do while on campus, please refer them to www.wichita.edu/state.

As Wichita anticipates potential storms this week, stay prepared and aware of weather forecasts.

• Sign up to receive ShockerAlerts straight to your phone, which will send you tornado warnings in the area through the National Weather Service, and check the current status of campus at wichita.edu/alert.
• If there are changes to normal campus operations, they will be communicated via WSU email, WSU social media, the Campus Alert Page and ShockerAlerts.
• Review the list of tornado shelters on campus in case of a weather emergency.
• Keep your devices charged and check your email regularly for updates. Consider installing a weather app of your choosing to keep an eye on local forecasts.

In Kansas, thunderstorms are common in the spring and fall months, while at the same time the actual severity of storm events, and their location, are difficult to predict by even the best meteorologist. Storms can occur within very short notice and often last for a short duration of time.

During these events, it is important for everyone to stay up to date with weather notifications and evaluate their own situation, prioritize personal safety and make responsible choices about whether it is safe to come to campus.

The Innovation Campus at Wichita State University continues to grow with the addition of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Wichita field office in Partnership Building 11.

The field office will open in Partnership Building 11, becoming the third building and operational space for the ATF on campus and further integrating the WSU School of Criminal Justice into the Innovation Campus ecosystem. This strategic co-location strengthens WSU’s nationally recognized applied learning model by embedding federal, state and local law-enforcement partners directly within the university’s interdisciplinary environment — creating expanded pathways for internships, case-based learning, collaborative research, laboratory engagement and hands-on investigative experience for students.

The addition of the field office further aligns with WSU initiatives to advance crime-gun-intelligence capabilities, enhance interagency collaboration and grow the criminal justice and forensic science talent pipeline for agencies regionally and across the nation.

Growing the relationship with the ATF means more opportunities for WSU students to learn from federal law enforcement professionals, contribute to meaningful work and discover career pathways. At the same time, the region gains talent, and our partners gain the workforce they need.

The ATF’s presence on campus strengthens our mission as a public research university and supports the safety and security of our community, our state and our nation.

The elevator in Duerksen Fine Arts Center is temporarily out of commission. Facilities Services is working to get a replacement part for the elevator, but there is no estimated repair date yet.

The university is working to make accommodations for affected classrooms. Students concerned about accommodations can reach out to the Office of Student Accommodations & Testing at 316-978-3309 or OSAT@wichita.edu.

The university will update campus with more details regarding the length of the elevator outage.

Last night, at approximately 9:30 pm, the Wichita Police Department was notified of a suspicious device in the 3600 block of East 17th Street North. The Wichita State University Police Department assisted with the call and issued a campus-wide timely warning to ensure the safety of the WSU campus community.

Authorities were quick to respond and confirmed that the reported device, which turned out to be a crashed homemade drone, did not present any danger to the campus community. No injuries or damages were reported.

Justin Rorabaugh, director of the School of Digital Arts (SODA) and Shocker Studios, joins President Rick Muma on his newest podcast. SODA in the College of Fine Arts is one of the fast-growing schools at Wichita State. Listen as Rorabaugh and Muma talk about Shocker Studios and some of SODA’s unique offerings in degree programs, applied learning, new technologies, partnerships and infrastructure.

Watch the episode on YouTube or listen on Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, Amazon Podcasts or Apple Podcasts (iTunes).

Subscribe to be notified when new episodes are available.

Wichita State is one of 32 teams selected for the 2025 National Invitation Tournament (NIT) and will open at Oklahoma State on Tuesday, March 18 at 8 p.m. CT on ESPN2.

Wichita State (19-14) will make its 14th appearance in the NIT and first since 2019. Shocker fans are encouraged to purchase tickets in sections 211 and 212.

Ablah Library will remain closed today, Monday, March 17 because of flooding, but is expected to reopen for normal hours Tuesday, March 18. The library’s 24-hour study area is now open and will remain open during this time. The Music Library will have normal hours on Monday. All electronic resources are up and running. 

The library’s Reference and Instruction Services Team will provide online chat service, as usual, to assist faculty and students with curricular and research support on Monday.

Despite the volume of water on the library’s lower level, the vaults of the Library’s Special Collections were not compromised significantly.

The W. Frank Barton School of Business at Wichita State University is launching SPERO, an organization aimed at unlocking the potential of Wichita and its citizens. SPERO, Latin for “hope,” has a dual focus: preparing individuals to transform their lives through meaningful employment and guiding the efforts of citizens and organizations acting to advance Wichita’s prosperity. For its inaugural year, SPERO will benefit from a $400,000 contribution from the Charles Koch Foundation.

SPERO’s launch will feature two major initiatives, including a Wichita Scorecard, Micro-Credential programs, and a Career Readiness Track.