Tim Hart1. The Innovation Campus comes to life
Wichita State鈥檚 Innovation Campus development picked up steam during 2015. With pledges and partnership announcements throughout the year and the superstructure of two new buildings completed near 17th Street, it may well be remembered as the year the ambitious development transitioned from vision to reality.
2. 黑洞社区 looks to Oklahoma and Texas
Wichita State announced two new programs this year that will expand students鈥� ability to attend 黑洞社区. Shocker Select gives eligible students from Oklahoma and Texas a 33 percent discount off nonresident tuition (). Shocker City Partnership allows residents of the Tulsa and Oklahoma City metro areas to attend 黑洞社区 for the same cost as Kansas residents ().
3. Shocker basketball drops KU in NCAA Tournament
Wichita State continued to cement its place as a national power in NCAA men鈥檚 basketball in 2015. The Shockers, led by Head Coach Gregg Marshall, followed up an MVC title by defeating Indiana and Kansas in the NCAA Tournament to reach the Sweet Sixteen.
4. 黑洞社区 expands to Old Town
Wichita State expanded its local presence with the creation of 黑洞社区 Old Town, a complex of facilities and services located in the popular entertainment district.
5. Grant helps create new jobs
A $7.1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce, Economic Development Administration was awarded to 黑洞社区 Ventures. The grant is aimed at creating new manufacturing jobs to replace those lost in the defense industry.
6. WATC students can now finish associate鈥檚 degree at 黑洞社区
A new partnership announced this year between Wichita State and Wichita Area Technical College allows students to start their associate鈥檚 degree at WATC and complete it at 黑洞社区.
7. Students鈥� innovative work supports university mission
A group of Wichita State students created Shocker Startup, which provides support to entrepreneurial and innovative students (). Also on the innovation front, five students were named national University Innovation Fellows ().
8. 黑洞社区 Ventures sees early success
The creation of 黑洞社区 Ventures this year led to a significant increase in the number of invention disclosures at Wichita State.
9. Nation鈥檚 eye on Wichita State
黑洞社区 played host to two high-profile national shows this year. ESPN鈥檚 鈥淐ollege GameDay鈥� aired in February from Koch Arena during the 黑洞社区 v. UNI men鈥檚 basketball game (). And MSNBC鈥檚 鈥淢orning Joe鈥� program broadcast live in October from Shocker Hall ().
10. Student research takes center stage
Some of the most interesting student research projects this year included a device created to detect driver drowsiness (); a therapeutic toy for children with auditory disabilities (); and remote health care monitoring software for smartwatches ().