Campus Connection (April 6, 2021)

 

Wichita State ranks No. 77 in the latest U.S. News and World Report rankings of universities offering a Ph.D. in engineering.

Wichita State’s engineering graduate programs are the highest ranked in Kansas

In the latest U.S. News and World Report rankings of universities offering a Ph.D. in engineering, the College of Engineering at Wichita State University is again ranked in the top 100 engineering graduate programs, the only institution from the state of Kansas to make it in the top 100.

The 2021 rankings by U.S. News and World Report are based on a number of factors including reputation among peer institutions and industry recruiters, student selectivity, faculty resources and research expenditures – an area where Wichita State far outperforms peers. A recently released National Science Foundation report of FY2019 total engineering research expenditures ranked Wichita State 27th in the nation, well ahead of any other institution in Kansas.

Learn more about Wichita's U.S. News & World Report ranking


The W. Frank Barton School of Business at Wichita State University has started Executive Education Programs aimed at bringing world-class resources, training and connections to Wichita’s top executives.

Barton School of Business launches immersive Executive Education Programs

The W. Frank Barton School of Business at Wichita State University has started Executive Education Programs (EEP) aimed at bringing world-class resources, training and connections to Wichita’s top executives.

“Traditionally, executives who wanted to grow their skills, knowledge or network would have to spend a large amount of time and resources to accomplish this,” said Dr. Larisa Genin, dean of the Barton School of Business. “With our Executive Education Programs, these exclusive opportunities are now available in their own backyard.”

Read more about EEP


Wichita State vs. Houston, Riverfront Stadium, April 10, 2pm

Wichita State Baseball opens Riverfront Stadium vs. Houston Cougars on April 10

Wichita State Shocker Baseball and the Wichita Wind Surge have teamed up to bring baseball to the brand new Riverfront Stadium at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 10.The Shockers play conference foe, Houston, in the inaugural game of the new stadium. Get a first look and be a part of history to #WatchUs take the field as the Shockers become the first team to play in Riverfront Stadium. Seating is limited due to COVID-19 restrictions, so purchase tickets early. 

Purchase tickets


Panel discussed universities' responsibilities with Freedom of Expression

Public universities play an essential role in freedom of expression and should act as a promoter and protector, especially during contentious times that produce challenging and complex discussions.

On Wednesday, Wichita State University presented “Speaking Freely on Freedom of Expression,” a virtual panel discussion that emphasized that point, among many others.

Watch the panel discussion here.

Read more about "Speaking Freely on Freedom of Expression"

Dr. Lee Pelton, a Wichita State alumnus who has been president of Emerson College in Boston the past 10 years, moderated the panel.

Tyson Langhofer, a 1996 graduate of Wichita State; Christine Hughes, former vice president and general counsel of Emerson College; and Neal Allen, chair of Wichita State’s department of political science, joined Pelton as panelists.

“At Wichita State, we encourage debate and civil discourse,” said Dr. Rick Muma, interim president of Wichita State. “We firmly believe that the free expression of diverse ideas helps our institution flourish and, most importantly, it helps our students develop into well-rounded and thoughtful global citizens.”

  • Langhofer, senior Counsel and director, Center for Academic Freedom with Alliance Defending Freedom, said speech deserves broad protections and is protected by the Supreme Court for vital reasons. The way to combat bad information, he said, is with good information. “We are prone to censor speech we disagree with,” he said. “You can look at hundreds of examples, over time, to show that truth does, in general, win out. Frankly, censorship is counterproductive.”
  • Allen encourages universities to promote a realistic understanding of what they can and cannot regulate when it comes to controversial topics. “I don't think we have any kind of special power to remove people from debate and to protect them from communication that might make them uncomfortable,” he said. “As somebody that teaches about law and civil liberties …. the only way I can actually teach is to talk about things that are, by their nature, objectionable to some. Politics is not about what we all agree on. It's about what we disagree on and how to deal with it.”
  • Hughes explained that while the First Amendment offers protections from the government limiting speech, it does not protect a speaker from disagreement. The immediacy of social media adds to the challenges of this discussion. “I think people understand that even if they have a First Amendment right to say something, they are accountable for the reactions that they generate,” she said. “I think that's one thing, that for the students to understand that at some point if they excite a social media firestorm that doesn't rise to the level of people being threatened with violence that they own the consequences of their speech.”

The panel discussion, "Speaking Freely on Freedom of Expression" was held on Wednesday, March 31. The program is available on demand on YouTube.

It will also air on the local PBS station on the KPTS schedule listed below.

  • Channel 8.1 at 9 p.m. Friday, April 9
  • Channel 8.2 at 5 p.m. Saturday, April 10
  • Channel 8.1 at 1 p.m. Sunday, April 11