黑洞社区

Are you connected?

Have you made strong connections on campus with other students, faculty or staff yet? One of the best ways to keep making progress toward your degree is to get connected to people, resources and services on campus. Arrive early and stay after class to get to know other students and your professors.

If you aren鈥檛 sure what to say, on the Student Success website. You should also plan to attend Welcomefest events  to meet other students and get connected to campus resources.

Driving and safety caution alert!

 University Police has issued a safety and caution alert. This alert especially applies to those who are familiar with campus and haven鈥檛 noticed the new stop signs on the west side of campus coming off of Hillside at the football memorial, Memorial Drive and Perimeter. 

There鈥檚 a saying that familiarity breeds contempt. Insurance companies will tell you that most accidents occur within a mile of our homes and workplaces, because we don鈥檛 pay the same attention to those areas as we do with unfamiliar roadways.

This has become a genuine safety concern, as school is in session. Since announcing the change on July 10, University Police are averaging 10 stops a day warning drivers of where to stop.

A 黑洞社区 staff member submitted the following reminder:

After watching a student drive past me this morning (Thursday, Aug. 15) in a golf cart with his cell phone in his hand in front of him, I would like to remind those driving vehicles around campus to do so without using their mobile devices. Please put them down.

Check out Welcomefest scheduled events

Welcomefest takes place during the first two weeks of classes each semester and features dozens of activities. Welcomefest booklets will be available at Welcome Tables throughout the first days of the semester. We look forward to seeing you out and about on campus!

To download the Fall 2019 Welcomefest Booklet, go to . If you have questions or would like to request a print version of the booklet, contact Student Involvement at 978-3022 or getinvolved@wichita.edu.

Clash of the Colleges 2018. (Video credit: Office of Admissions)

Get ready for the Clash of the Colleges

It's on! The fifth annual Clash of the Colleges will be held Friday, Aug. 23, at Cessna Stadium.

This year鈥檚 event will include inflatables, relay races, contests, and competitions between academic colleges to determine who rules the school. Come by yourself or with a group of other new students for a night of fun! Bring your signed waiver, ID card and dress in your college colors.

Time and location for pep-rally and gathering locations are below. Check with your academic college for more details.

LAS/Honors 鈥� Fairmount Commons Lindquist Lawn (wear yellow) @ 2:30 p.m.

Education 鈥� Corbin Hall Patio (wear blue) @ 3 p.m.

Engineering 鈥� Wallace Hall Courtyard (wear green) @ 2:30 p.m.

Health Professions 鈥� Ahlberg Hall North Lawn (wear orange) @ 3 p.m.

Fine Arts 鈥� Duerksen Hall (wear purple) @ 3 p.m.

Business 鈥� Clinton Hall Lobby (wear red) @ 2 p.m.

See the rest of the event schedul at . 

Following the activities there will be a food truck rally in the parking lot east of Cessna Stadium hosted by the Alumni Office. 

Questions? Contact shareika.fisher@wichita.edu.

Important participation guidelines for Clash of the Colleges

Decorations of all types shall be either non-combustible or adequately treated to render them fire resistant. 

Streamers, garlands, lights and other decorations shall not run along or across halls, obstruct or restrict aisles, passageways, or corridors; be hung from smoke detectors or sprinkler heads or obstruct exits signs, fire extinguishers or other fire equipment. Light strands shall be designated as approved with a nationally recognized testing laboratory mark and not be excessive.

Come to Recfest tomorrow (Tuesday, Aug. 20)

Join Campus Recreation and Wellness Services at the Heskett Center for a welcome to campus at Recfest from 6-8 p.m. tomorrow (Tuesday, Aug. 20) in the Heskett Center gymnasium. Recfest is open to students, faculty, and staff. This event showcases all the programs and services Campus Recreation offers, plus free T-shirts.

School of Music is holding auditions for the following ensembles

• Shocker Sound Basketball Pep Band and Shocker Sound Machine Marching Band (Tuesday, Aug. 20)
• Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Band (Monday, Aug. 19)
• Three of our four choirs: Concert Chorale, A Cappella Choir, and Madrigal Singers (Monday, Aug. 19)
• Our fourth choir, Women鈥檚 Glee Club, does not require an audition
• Our Symphony Orchestra (Strings on Monday, Aug. 19)
• Opera Theatre (Tuesday, Aug, 20 and Wednesday, Aug. 21)

For more information about audition requirements and to sign up for a time, go to wichita.edu/audition.

鈥楾echnology Takes the Wheel鈥� Autonomous Vehicle Seminar Series

鈥淭ransportation Transformation: An Overview of Autonomous Vehicles,鈥� will be presented from 9-11:30 a.m. Friday, Aug. 30, at the National Center for Aviation Training Student Center, lecture hall, 4004 N. Webb Road. Free admission, but registration is required at .

We are headed down the road toward the future of transportation with connected and autonomous vehicles (AV) 鈥� one that will greatly impact society, including our cities, rural communities, commerce, and even agriculture. Learn about the AV applications happening now, and the vision and planning taking place to create safe, inclusive and interconnected autonomous transportation systems of the future.

Upcoming seminars are planned for Oct. 11, Jan. 31, and April 17.

Enjoy lunch at the Food Truck Plaza

Start the new school year off right with lunch from the Food Truck Plaza! Follow the plaza on Facebook (@wichitastatefoodtrucks) and Twitter (@wsufoodtrucks) for any last minute schedule changes. You鈥檒l also find a few trucks at Cessna Stadium on Friday night after Clash of the Colleges!

Food Truck Rally coming Friday, Aug. 23

Enjoy music, yard games, prizes, and some of ICT's best food trucks with delicious menu items available for purchase! The Food Truck Rally from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 23, in the parking lot east of Cessna Stadium, is the perfect place to wind down after the Clash of the Colleges, and a fun spot if you and some friends are looking for a unique dinner option.

Featured Food Trucks:
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Prizes to be announced! Stay up-to-date on the Food Truck Rally .

This event is organized by the 黑洞社区 Alumni Association in collaboration with .

Take your first days of school photos

The Office of Student Success First-Year Programs will host a photo booth on the first floor of the Rhatigan Student Center for the first two days of class. Come take a photo to be featured on the First-Year Programs social media pages. Show your Shocker pride, and stop by between 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Monday, Aug. 19, and Tuesday, Aug. 20.

Visit the SAC photo booth and smile!

Come take pictures in front of our new SAC backdrop from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Monday and Tuesday, Aug. 19-20, on the RSC north patio, post them on social media, and be entered to win a free 黑洞社区 shirt!

Join the Leadership Book Club

There will be in-person discussions from 10-11 a.m. Thursdays. Register by Sunday, Sept. 8, at Leadership Book Club.  

For more information on Student Involvement programs, visit our website or contact lead@wichita.edu, call 978-3022, or visit Student Involvement.

8-foot WuShock sculpture planned for 黑洞社区 campus YMCA

The 黑洞社区 campus will soon be home to a larger-than-life sculpture of its beloved WuShock mascot, thanks to Steve Clark 鈥� a longtime Greater Wichita YMCA board member, volunteer and donor 鈥� for whom the area鈥檚 tenth YMCA branch location will be named.

Read the full story

Startup Grind U presents Gene Zaid, founder of Genezada Pharmaceuticals

This Startup Grind U event will be held from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 29, in the Experiential Engineering Building.  

Gene Zaid is the founder of JACAM Chemical Company and Genezada Pharmaceuticals, and is currently working to cure cancer.

Come and hear Zaid鈥檚 story, and how he got to where he is now. Tickets are free for anyone with a my黑洞社区 ID. .

University Libraries to have Escape Room during Welcomefest

Are you up for a challenge? Bring your friends to the Learning Center in 125 Ablah Library at either 4 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 22, or 3 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 28, and try our Escape Room!

Learn if you have what it takes to crack the codes in the 20-minute time limit. All are welcome, but no phones!

Who鈥檚 got game?

Enjoy video games, basketball, board games, pizza and raffle prizes from 8-11 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 22, in the Heskett Center.

This event is sponsored by The Fuse, College of Applied Studies, E-Sports, Office of Diversity and Inclusion, and the Department of Sport Management.

Solutions to your struggles as a supervisor

Improving Supervisory Skills will be offered from 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 21, for $299. A 40 percent discount is available for 黑洞社区 students, faculty, and staff. Some restrictions apply.

Supervising a team can be frustrating, overwhelming and thankless. Gerald Graham will coach you in analyzing the differences that can make you an effective or ineffective supervisor. You鈥檒l gain practical insights into common supervision mist6kes and solutions to put you on the road of successful leadership.

* Establishing objectives
* What motivates employees
* Employee discipline

For more information, go to or register at 316-978-3118.

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Direct work effectively and lead with conviction

How to Criticize; How to Praise will be offered from 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 21, for $299. A 40 percent discount is available for 黑洞社区 students, faculty and staff. Some restrictions apply.

This class, taught by John Belt, will guide you on the fundamentals of giving feedback, communicating and coaching for improvement. People don鈥檛 realize the impact of giving praise 鈥� the right way! Done wrong, the damage is often not repairable. The tips and guidelines in this class will help you succeed.

* How to praise effectively
* Destructive vs. constructive criticism
* Practice 鈥� how to do it

For more information, go to or register at 316-978-3118.

Sign up for the annual Pumpkin Run

Welcome home Shockers! It鈥檚 the fall semester, which means the Pumpkin Run is happening soon. This annual fun 5K winds through the beautiful Wichita State Campus. The Little Pumpkin Run is perfect your little pumpkins 1-12 years of age.

Be sure to visit Runners Village for pumpkin decorating, massage and more family activities. All participants receive a commemorative T-shirt. Cross the finish line and receive a medal.

Get a head start and take advantage of the early bird pricing today! For more information and to sign up go to .

鈥楢 Lifetime Afloat鈥� by Anh Nguyen

Anh Nguyen is a senior Business Administration major in the Barton School of Business. Her exhibit will be on display now through Friday, Aug. 30, in the Cadman Art Gallery, RSC first floor. To see the complete list of exhibits visit and follow us on Instagram.

From the artist: 鈥淭his exhibit consists of photographs taken at the Floating market in Song Trang Vietnam. This particular market is a famous attraction in Vietnam and draws in thousands of tourists yearly. There have been countless photographs taken here, with the purpose of promoting tourism or cultural bragging. However, this exhibit focuses on the real people making a living at the market, in the time of the year where there isn't a single tourist in sight. This exhibit aims to 'unromanticize' the idea of the 'exotic' destination, by putting the spotlight on those who struggle to stay afloat.鈥�