黑洞社区

Proposed innovative bridge connects academics, industry and research

Building a stronger, more profound connection between the Wichita State main campus and its Innovation Campus, the university is proposing the creation of a privately funded elevated pedestrian bridge that will span more than 300 feet across the pond west of Wayne and Kay Woolsey Hall, which is scheduled to break ground later this year. 

Pictured above: 黑洞社区 is proposing the creation of a privately funded elevated pedestrian bridge that will span more than 300 feet across the pond west of Wayne and Kay Woolsey Hall.

NASA in Kansas calls for Teacher Workshop Program proposals

The NASA Kansas Space Grant Consortium (KSGC) Teaching Workshop Program supports the development and implementation of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) educator workshops. NASA is especially interested in to helping teachers bring NASA relevant material and content into middle-school classrooms.

KSGC affiliate proposals are completely awarded by peer review. These awards of $15,000 each are anticipated. Affiliates must identify a $1 commitment for every NASA dollar requested (use of federal matching funds is not allowed).

For a copy of the Teacher Workshop RFP, or if you have any questions, feel free to contact the NASA in Kansas office at nasainkansas@wichita.edu. Consult  for additional helpful information.

The NASA in Kansas office, located on the 黑洞社区 campus, is one home of the Kansas Space Grant Consortium (KSGC) and Kansas NASA EPSCoR Program (KNEP).

SPSS now available for remote work by faculty and students

ITS offers alternative access options for IBM SPSS/AMOS statistical software for faculty, staff and students.

Option 1 On-Premise and Remote Access: ITS has installed SPSS/AMOS in designated labs and on 黑洞社区-owned desktop / laptops computers of faculty and staff who have requested on-premise access. This option allows you to have access to SPSS/AMOS software on your 黑洞社区-owned computer with access to your files and network shares.

If you remote to your 黑洞社区 computer via the authorized virtual private network (VPN) when away from campus, you will still have access to the installed SPSS/AMOS software on your 黑洞社区 computer and access to your data files, including network shares.

If you would like to have SPSS/AMOS installed on your 黑洞社区 computer, please submit the ticket by clicking on .

We need your help at Commencement!

Please consider volunteering for the October Commencement Ceremony on Saturday, Oct. 10. This time-honored tradition provides our very own Wichita State graduates with well-deserved congratulations and a formal celebration of their accomplishments! You'll play an important role in helping us make sure that everyone is welcomed and that things are running smoothly.

If you are interested in participating, please fill out the Volunteer Form located on our volunteer page where you can also find more details about the types of volunteer positions available.

Further questions may be directed to the Commencement Office at commencement@wichita.edu.

Commencement Information 

Are you ready to vote?

Your vote makes all the difference in the world! Be sure you are registered to vote. Get started today by visiting to register here in Kansas or back in your hometown.

Sign up today to receive election reminders, get registered to vote, and apply for your absentee ballot. Let's show them that #shockersvote.

Questions? Contact gabriel.fonseca@wichita.edu for more information.

Come teach a First-Year Seminar course

Would you like to teach something closer to your research or project you are working on? Want to be more interdisciplinary, or even introduce new students to your department or college? We have something for you!

The First-Year Seminar (FYS) is a growing program at Wichita State; next academic year all incoming first-year students will be taking an FYS course. Which means now is the time to join the FYS team!

Aaron Rife (FYS faculty coordinator) will hold a  at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 25.

Take a look at  for information about the program and how to create an FYS course.

Enroll in LASI 170 to enhance your research skills

Our library faculty are here to help you power through the demands of research. Enroll in LASI 170 for a practical, applied class with lifelong rewards that can be used as a student, professional, and consumer!

Visit our  to learn more.

Join the Office of Diversity and Inclusion for an outdoor open house

You鈥檙e invited to the Office of Diversity and Inclusion Open House Coolin' & Cones Edition at 2:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug 27, on the Rhatigan Student Center east lawn.

The Office of Diversity and Inclusion invites students, staff, faculty, and community members to make the Office of Diversity and Inclusion their home away from home. Stop by the Rhatigan Student Center east lawn to learn more about available resources and programs. While supplies last, enjoy popsicles, drum sticks, and big bopper cookie sandwiches.

Attendees are required to follow physical / social distancing guidelines and maintain at least six-feet apart while wearing masks. The Office of Diversity and Inclusion reserves the right to ask you to leave for failure to comply.

Learn more about Shockers United at wichita.edu/shockersunited. For questions, contact the Office of Diversity and Inclusion at 316-978-3034 or go to . 

Register now for Virtual Shocker Resource Fair 

Jump into the school year by discovering the programs, resources and opportunities waiting for you at Wichita State across our amazing campus departments. Every day, we will feature various campus departments, how to connect with them, and what they can do to help you be a successful Shocker. For more information about SAC sponsored events, please visit  or contact us at SAC@wichita.edu. Sponsored by the Student Activities Council.

Master of Social Work Informational Sessions - all students invited!

The School of Social Work is hosting three 鈥淢SW Info Sessions鈥� to help prospective students discover more about the Master of Social Work program at 黑洞社区. This is geared to both social work majors and for those with majors outside of social work. We encourage you to share this with your students and recent graduates of all majors!

Attendees will have this virtual opportunity to discover more about the field, meet faculty, and learn how to apply as a regular program or advanced standing student. The priority deadline to apply is Jan. 8, 2021 for those who wish to enter in the 2021-22 school year.

If students have questions or would prefer to speak one-on-one, please direct them to Shaunna Millar, MSW Program Director and Clinical Professor, at shaunna.millar@wichita.edu.

The Zoom log in information for the September session is , password socialwork  - password: socialwork.

Register for free Ulrich Virtual talk featuring renowned conceptual artist Hank Willis Thomas with Dr. Deborah Willis

The Ulrich Museum of Art is excited to host a free virtual talk with conceptual artist Hank Willis Thomas in conversation with artist/scholar Dr. Deborah Willis.

The program is free and open to the public and begins at 6 p.m. today (Tuesday, Aug. 25). Registration is required in order to get the .

Thomas is an American conceptual artist working primarily with themes related to perspective, identity, media, and popular culture. He is one of the artists currently featured in the Museum's Ulrich + Artists + You Community Billboard Project (his billboard is located at 308 N. West St.). He is also the co-founder of For Freedoms, a platform for creative civic engagement, discourse, and direct action.

As an artist, author and curator, Dr. Deborah Willis' art and pioneering research has focused on cultural histories envisioning the black body, women and gender. She is a celebrated photographer, acclaimed historian of photography, MacArthur and Guggenheim Fellow, and University Professor and Chair of the Department of Photography & Imaging at the Tisch School of the Arts at New York University.

Be sure to check out this free program, featuring two world-class artists, which you can enjoy from the comfort of your own home!

Join us for Syllabus Party!

First-Year Programs in Student Success invites you to join our Syllabus Party on Tuesday, Aug. 25 in person, or online on Thursday, Aug. 27. Bring your class syllabi and your planners (electronic or paper) and we will provide the rest.

Scheduled, in-person attendees will receive goodies, light refreshments and peer support to help you get organized for the fall semester. Social distancing will be practiced, and each student is required to wear a face covering. To reserve your time at the party, .

To attend the virtual party, email first.year@wichita.edu and let us know you are interested. The virtual event will be from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 27. Goodies will be provided to students who attend the Zoom session as well. If you send us an email, we鈥檒l send you the Zoom link closer to the program day and time. You may attend the event at any time from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. See you there!

Women's Equality Day Panel to discuss women鈥檚 right to vote and more

Women's Equality Day commemorates the passage of the 19th Amendment to the US Constitution, granting some women the right to vote. The amendment was first introduced in 1878. In 1971, the US Congress designated Aug. 26 as Women's Equality Day.

Hear from panelists on the history and the journey of women's right to vote and what more must be done to engage women to run for office at 1 p.m. tomorrow (Wednesday, Aug. 26) at this digital event (via Livestream).

Hear from panelist Dr. Sharon Cranford, League of Women Voters; Jondalyn Marshall Root the Power; Naquela Pack, Field Director / Volunteer Coordinator; Rija Khan Wichita State University Student Body President; and Mackenzie Haas, 黑洞社区 Student Body Vice President.

Register at . The panel will be livestreamed on .

For questions, contact the Office of Diversity and Inclusion at 316-978-3034, or go to .

Talk on COVID-19 and its effect on democracy around the world kicks off second 'Perspectives on the Pandemic' series

Beyond the effects on health, the COVID-19 pandemic has had huge effects on the economy, but also on politics in countries around the world. More specifically, in certain countries, it has impacted democracy in a negative way. This presentation at 4 p.m. tomorrow (Wednesday, Aug. 26), will examine the overall impact of the pandemic on countries with democratic regimes, with emphasis on the democratic backsliding that has occurred in some of them.

The presentation is titled 鈥淒emocracy in the world in times of COVID-19,鈥� by Dinorah Azpuru, professor of political science.

Serve democracy and get 黑洞社区 internship credit with election work

The Wichita State Department of Political Science is offering one- and three-credit internships for students who serve as paid election workers for the Nov. 3 general election. Contact Neal Allen, department chair, at neal.allen@wichita.edu or call 978-7133 if you are interested.

Even if you are not interested in internship credit, please consider becoming an .

Honey & Sesame Chicken at Panda Express

Try Honey & Sesame Chicken for a limited time only at Panda Express in the RSC!

Have questions about masks? Visit Student Health's YouTube channel!

Join Student Health Services Director Camille Childers as she explains the different types of masks, how they should be worn, and what masks to use for general purposes.

Subscribe to Student Health's YouTube channel to be the first to know when we post a new video!

Child Development Center has Pre-K openings

The 黑洞社区 Child Development Center has current Pre-K openings! This would be for children who will be entering Kindergarten in Fall 2021 only. 

Please call 316-978-3109 for more information. This spot will be available after Labor Day. 

黑洞社区 junior tennis clinics will be offered throughout the fall

黑洞社区 Tennis Clinics at Sheldon Coleman Tennis Complex:

Shocker Tennis Coaches Danny Bryan and Colin Foster will host junior tennis clinics this fall.

Beginners / Intermediate (ages 3-10): MWF 9:45-10:45 a.m. and 5:15-6:15 p.m. Sunday 2-3 p.m. Cost is $15 per day.

Intermediate / Advanced (ages 8-14): MWF 4:45-6:45 p.m. Sunday 2-4 p.m. Cost is $40 per day.

Contact Colin Foster with questions or to sign up at cfoster@goshockers.com or call 316-518-1767.

Wanted: Volunteers to help with 2020 bicycle and pedestrian count event

Volunteers are needed to help manually count bicycle and pedestrian activity across 35 sites in the Wichita Metro area.

The annual event, sponsored by the  will be held Sept. 24 and 26.

This important event relies heavily on the commitment of community volunteers to gather data about how our network of paths and lanes are being used.

According to Tricia Thomas, WAMPO Communication鈥檚 Manager:

鈥淥ne of the greatest challenges facing the bicycle and pedestrian field is the lack of documentation on usage and demand. Without accurate and consistent demand and usage figures, it is difficult to measure the positive benefits of bicycle and pedestrian investments, especially when compared to the other transportation modes such as the private automobile.鈥�

As such, this event is the only source for regional-scale bicycle and pedestrian data. The results of this data are then used to guide investments throughout the regional transportation system.

So please consider volunteering! This annual event is a real opportunity for local residents to become involved in a piece of the regional transportation planning process. As we know, bicycle and pedestrian investments stimulate the economy, public health, and the overall quality of life in a variety of ways. Communities that invest in these facilities inherently attract people and businesses so it鈥檚 good for everyone!  Register to volunteer here!

Classroom spaces available for student use

Have an in-person class followed by an online class? Classrooms that are not reserved for class may be used by students who need space for remote learning. Check the availability of classrooms on this webpage.