Category: News

Wichita State is launching a campus-wide university climate survey starting March 3. The survey will be sent to official university email addresses. All students, faculty and staff are asked to participate in this confidential survey about the campus environment.

This survey will guide Wichita State University as it works to continue its mission of inclusive excellence — a commitment to being an inclusive campus that reflects and promotes — in all community members — the evolving diversity of society. Every member of the campus is encouraged to participate.

How the survey will work:
Starting March 3, a survey invitation will be emailed directly to all active students, faculty and staff official university email addresses from Hanover Research, an independent market research and analysis surveyor. The survey has been extended to March 31.

You will be asked direct questions, and you can also fill in open-ended answers about your campus experiences and your thoughts. The study is for quality improvement purposes only; all information you provide will be maintained on a confidential basis by Hanover Research and will only be reported to Wichita State University. The survey should only take 20-25 minutes of your time.

The email will come from Hanover Research (surveys@qemailserver.com) with subject line, “Please share your feedback with Wichita State University.” If you do not see an email, be sure to check both your “focused” and “other” emails. If you still do not see an email, check your junk folder.

Wichita State University’s dedication to being the essential educational, cultural and economic driver for Kansas and the greater public good can only be fully realized if it is intertwined with a commitment to inclusive excellence.

It is essential to the mission of the university as an educational institution to ensure that each member of the Wichita State community (faculty, staff and students) has full opportunity to thrive in its environment, for the university believes that diversity is key to individual flourishing, educational excellence and advancement of knowledge.

This survey will help us in our continuous efforts to ignite change and showcase our work. As we get more responses, we will get better results in representing our community. Please check your WSU email for your individual link and take the time to complete the survey.

Are you interested in planning events and building community on campus? If so, the Student Activities Council executive board can be a good opportunity for you. Being a part of the board is an opportunity to grow as a leader, network with industry professionals, build community among your peers and help plan events for students and faculty.

Apply now on ShockerSync. Applications are due by April 7. To learn more, go to wichita.edu/sac.

Organizers need participants to join Españolandia by providing a Spanish speaking experience to the Spanish Competition school students. From 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. April 4, Wichita State and Wichita Public Schools will hold the competition for middle and high school students on campus.

Españolandia is a simulated travel experience to a Spanish speaking country that allows students to improve their language skills and learn about other cultures.

You can support the competition by participating with your organization in Españolandia. If you are interested, contact Rocío Del Águila, Modern and Classical Languages and Literatures, at rocio.delaguila@wichita.edu or Andrea Brant at abrant@usd259.net for questions.

The 50th anniversary of the Bela Kiralyfalvi National Student Playwriting Competition celebrates with the 2024 winner “The Angel of Death.” The competition began as the Wichita State University National Playwriting Contest in 1974 by Bela Kiralyfalvi. Before his retirement in 2003, Bela was a theatre professor and a director of the School of Performing Arts. In 2022, the School of Performing Arts renamed the competition to the Bela Kiralyfalvi National Student Playwriting Competition in his honor.

In 2024, Bela passed away at the age of 87. He will be missed but his passion for theatre and enthusiasm for teaching will live on through past students, alumni, faculty, staff, friends, and family.

“Teaching has always been exciting and interesting,” Bela Kiralyfalvi said following his retirement. “I’ve enjoyed learning and understanding things better through the process. I joke with students when they are getting ready to graduate after four or five years. They’ll say, ‘Oh I am going to be so glad to get out of here.’ I tell them, ‘You know, I’ve spent 45 years in college, and I still haven’t left.’ And it’s true you never cease to be a student. If you cease to be a student, you will not be a good teacher.”

The Office of Online and Adult Learning is hosting its sixth annual Adult Learner of the Year (ALOTY) awards ceremony from 3 to 5 p.m. April 3 in 305/306 Rhatigan Student Center, Beggs Ballroom.

Every year, the ALOTY awards recognize an outstanding adult student at Wichita State, a WSU partner and a community partner who support these adult learners on their journey towards a degree. To qualify for the ALOTY award, a student must be 24 years or older, have a 2.5 GPA and demonstrate leadership, Shocker Pride and perseverance towards obtaining a degree.

The deadline to submit a nomination is Friday, March 7. To nominate someone, learn more about the ALOTYs and Online Learner of the Year (OLOTY) award, and see some of the past recipients, visit the ALOTY website. For any questions, call 316-978-8315 or email Pamela O’Neal at pamela.oneal@wichita.edu

Student Health Services is excited to announce its new myShockerhealth Newsletter. The monthly newsletter will highlight a variety of topics in health education and promotion of wellness.

Articles such as the difference between stomach flu and influenza and seasonal affective disorder are examples of what to expect. Opportunities to learn more about healthy services and events on-campus and in the community will provide something for everyone.

The College of Engineering is hosting its 25th annual Shocker MINDSTORMS Challenge, a robotics competition for area students in third through eighth grade or ages eight through 14 years old. The event will be from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, March 1. The competition portion will be in the Heskett Center, while the awards ceremonies will be in 208 Hubbard Hall.

“This exciting competition provides young students with a unique opportunity to apply mathematical, scientific, programming and engineering skills in a real-world setting,” said Dr. Perleker Tamtam, event coordinator. “The competition also promotes essential values such as teamwork, dedication and sportsmanship.”

Faculty members on the pediatric team in Wichita State’s Department of Physical Therapy have been awarded a prestigious grant from the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation’s 2024 Priority Impact Quality of Life grants program. The $35,000 grant will provide access to assistive technology to help students in public schools with physical disabilities.  

The grant will provide the following: 

• Assistive technology equipment  
• Training and resources for physical therapists and school clinicians  
• Funding for the development of training modules on how to use the equipment  
• Resources to develop a website to guide therapists on how to obtain and efficiently utilize assistive technologies 

The Advanced Education in General Dentistry program at Wichita State will undergo national accreditation renewal by the Commission on Dental Accreditation May 20.

Part of the accreditation renewal requires the program to solicit third-party comments to communities of interest and the public including faculty, students, program administrators, dental-related organizations, patients and consumers. There is a deadline of 60 days prior to the site visit for receipt of third-party comments to the commission’s office.

Both signed and unsigned comments will be accepted, and names and signatures will be removed from comments before forwarding to the program. Comments must pertain only to the standards for the particular program or policies and procedures used in the commission’s accreditation process. A copy of the appropriate accreditation standard and the commission’s policy on third-party comments may be obtained by contacting the Commission by calling 312-440-4653 or by email. Individuals who are interested in submitting third party comments may contact the Commission office for submission guidance.

The deadline for receipt of comments is Friday, March 21.

The Barton School of Business is excited to announce the launch of its new Mentor Pilot Program, which pairs students with distinguished alumni from the Barton School Dean’s Alumni Advisory Board. This initiative aims to foster valuable connections, stimulate personal and professional growth, build a strong sense of community and provide essential guidance to help shape the next generation of leaders.

“As a serial entrepreneur, I’ve come to realize how vital relationship-building is and how having someone in your corner can truly impact your mindset,” said Erin Cummings, president of the Barton School Dean’s Alumni Advisory Board and a member of the Dean’s Advisory Board, serial entrepreneur, author and angel investor. “This program not only allows us to give back, but also gives us the opportunity to help shape the Barton School’s future by sharing our experiences and insights.”

The program will run through the spring 2025 semester, with mentors and mentees meeting monthly. Mentors will provide support in navigating academic and career challenges, offer feedback and accountability for the student’s goals and share valuable advice for both personal and professional development.