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Free COVID testing at the Metroplex

Feb. 17, 2021 — Wichita State University will be offering free COVID-19 testing to the public beginning on Wednesday, Feb. 17 at the Eugene M. Hughes Metropolitan Complex.

Campus scene

Feb. 16, 2021 -- Wichita State University will resume normal operations on Wednesday, Feb. 17.

Students attend class wearing face coverings.

Feb. 4, 2020 — Amidst the chaos, confusion and grief of the coronavirus pandemic, Fairmount College of Liberal Arts and Sciences faculty are stretching their teaching skills and using the experience for teachable moments.

Dr. Rémi A. Chou

Feb. 3, 2021 — Dr. Rémi A. Chou, an assistant professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, has been awarded a National Science Foundation CAREER Award, the most prestigious award granted by the NSF to early career researchers. Chou's grant – worth $519,000 over five years – will support his work in bringing more robust security to wirelessly transmitted data.

The Vizling app will help visually impaired people read comic books.

Feb. 3, 2021 — Kapow! Zap! Pop! Zoinks! A Wichita State University researcher is working to develop an app to make those words come alive for visually impaired comic book readers, Dr. Darren DeFrain, associate professor of English and director of Wichita State’s writing program, has recently been granted $11,000 from the John A. See Innovation Award to develop Vizling.

Image of students and faculty attending Zoom meeting

Jan. 27, 2021 — For three decades, an interdisciplinary team at Wichita State has been exploring how machine learning – also known as artificial intelligence – can maximize the potential of quantum computing.

Wichita State's Molecular Diagnostics Lab

Jan. 14, 2021 — Wichita State University’s Molecular Diagnostics Lab (MDL) is partnering with the Kansas capitol in Topeka to keep the state functioning during the COVID-19 pandemic. As of early January, the MDL began processing thousands of tests per week for the people who work and visit the Kansas State Capitol in Topeka — including legislators, staff, the media, lobbyists, or conferees.

Dr. Greg Merrill

Jan. 11, 2021 — Wichita State University’s W. Frank Barton School of Business has announced Dr. Greg Merrill as the new director of the School of Accountancy. Merrill will succeed long-time Barton School faculty member Dr. Jeff Bryant, who has retired.

KBOR approves new programs.

Dec. 17, 2020 — With the intention of furthering Wichita State University’s commitment to digital transformation, the Kansas Board of Regents has approved four degree programs that will launch in spring 2021: Bachelor of Arts in Applied Linguistics, Master of Science in Data Science, Master of Science in Business Analytics, and Master of Science in Mathematical Foundations of Data Analysis. These degrees are in addition to existing undergraduate and graduate degrees and certificates in applied computing, computer science, cybersecurity, homeland security, and supply chain.

Diversity classes

Dec. 14, 2020 – In response to student interest, Wichita State is focusing on developing new courses focused on diversity. Currently, Wichita State offers more than 330 courses on diversity content. Additionally, two-thirds of the first-year seminars offered are flagged with diversity and about 35-40% of students complete a diversity course while pursuing their degree.

Children laughing

Dec. 17, 2020 – Wichita State University’s Community Engagement Institute’s coalition is working to better the lives of children by encouraging workplaces to establish family-friendly practices. WSU-CEI works closely with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment to establish multisector partnerships and resources for the execution of the Child Maltreatment Prevention Plan across Kansas. WSU-CEI also organizes a statewide coalition for this effort called Kansas Power of the Positive.

Joe Kleinsasser

December 15, 2020 - Joe Kleinsasser, co-director of news and media relations, retires from Wichita State this week and the university will miss his institutional knowledge, his experience and trust with the media, his patience and his kindness. He started at Wichita State just in time for a news conference called to announce the end of the football program. He remembers the visit of Russian president Boris Yeltsin to campus in 1992 as one of his most interesting assignments. He lists his work with Dean Headley, emeritus professor of marketing at Wichita State University, on the Airline Quality Rating as a highlight.

Woman and man at compute

Dec. 10, 2020 -- The Kansas Board of Regents has approved the creation of the newest department at Wichita State University’s College of Engineering – the School of Computing. Dean Dennis Livesay called the establishment of the new school a significant marker of the university’s commitment to producing digital-skilled workforce needed by industry.

Amy Schafer

Dec. 7, 2020 — Amy Schafer, director of advertising at Wichita State, will retire this month. She takes with her 32 years of institutional knowledge, her signature Wisconsin twang, and her dedication to Shocker Nation.

WuShock will be the readers tour guide through Wichita State's history.

November 23, 2020 - Jay Price, a history professor at Wichita State, is honoring Wichita State’s birthday by creating a graphic novel of Wichita State's history.