Wichita State Poised For Massive Growth

[Veritas]

A lot of information about downtown development including a new performance arts center as well as the plans for the new biomedical campus.
Muma and others want to ensure the new building(s) adds excitement to downtown and Wichita. Not a humble design by any means.

https://m.soundcloud.com/biztalkwithbillroy/329-ict-summit

[SubGod22]

WBJ - U.S. Air Force awards Wichita State's NIAR $17 million

The U.S. Air Force has awarded Wichita State University's National Institute for Aviation Research a cost-reimbursement contract, with the possibility of three options, totaling $17 million for research and development.

Several NIAR labs, including the Advanced Technologies Lab for Aerospace Systems, are involved in the appropriation.

The contractprovides for demonstrating the properties of the use of advanced materials and processes for demonstrating agile manufacturing, or faster manufacturing, of composite structures through model-based engineering solutions and sensor-based data analytics.

[SubGod22]

A lot of information about downtown development including a new performance arts center as well as the plans for the new biomedical campus.
Muma and others want to ensure the new building(s) adds excitement to downtown and Wichita. Not a humble design by any means.

https://m.soundcloud.com/biztalkwithbillroy/329-ict-summit

Does anyone still question Muma and his leadership?

It was a good listen. Luis (former Keycentrix leader) is quite a character and I can see why he's had some success. Jeff has been doing a good job for a while in trying to promote Wichita and working to change how it's viewed both internally and externally. The lady from Cargill whose name escapes me also had some good insight into what Cargill was thinking about wants.

It's hard not to be excited about the future of downtown after listening to this group.

[SubGod22]

WSU - Wichita State, WSU Tech celebrate highest historical enrollments

Wichita State University's efforts to transform the educational experience for students and redefine the role of a university to foster statewide economic growth have yielded remarkable results: the highest enrollment in its 128-year history.

Combined enrollment by headcount across all Wichita State University locations for fall 2023 is 23,203, according to the annual data released today by the Kansas Board of Regents.

For the Wichita State campus, the numbers represent an increase of 3.7% in fall student headcount from 16,921 in 2022 to 17,548 in 2023. That’s the largest number of students ever choosing to enroll at Wichita State.

At WSU Tech, student headcount increased 12.6% from 5,021 last year to 5,655 this year — also the highest headcount ever for WSU Tech.

"As we celebrate our highest enrollments ever at Wichita State and WSU Tech, we are experiencing firsthand the limitless potential of Shocker Nation,” said Wichita State President Rick Muma. “This success can be wholly attributed to our steadfast commitment to the people and businesses of Kansas, as we create an affordable and accessible educational experience for our students, fuel the talent pipeline for employers, and support the economic growth of our state. Together, we are forging a brighter future for all Kansans.”

Much of Wichita State’s enrollment success has been largely driven by the Kansas Legislature’s recent investment of more than $6 million to Wichita State, allowing the university to provide scholarships for students to pursue their dreams, grow their education, and ultimately achieve their career goals.

A lot of good info available in the link.

[WINGdingBALLfling]

It's been amazing to see the change the University has undergone in the past decade. My freshman year was a decade ago and enrollment was 14,500. A 3,000-student increase during that time is significant for our community. The new medical campus has some serious potential to further transform the city into a more desirable place for young professionals to stay post-graduation. It's a great time to be a Shocker!

[Veritas]

The 5 year and 10 year increase is staggering!

https://www.kansasregents.org/resources/PDF/Press/2023_Fall_Prelimary_Enrollment.pdf

[WuShock16]

The 5 year and 10 year increase is staggering!

https://www.kansasregents.org/resources/PDF/Press/2023_Fall_Prelimary_Enrollment.pdf

In the not too distant future, WSU main campus will have higher enrollment than KSU main campus.

[Kung Wu]

We are now the state's second largest school?

6,152 students behind KU.
3,934 students ahead of K-State.

[The Mad Hatter]

We are now the state's second largest school?

6,152 students behind KU.
3,934 students ahead of K-State.

That depends on two questions:

1. Do you count WSU Tech? We only pass KSU if so
2. Do you use headcount or full time equivalent headcount? Even with WSU Tech, WSU is about 1,500 behind KSU (plus KSU veterinary) in full time equivalent headcount.

That said, if we aren't considered second biggest right now, the trend lines of both WSU's rise and KSU's decline holding would mean that we will be soon.

[Kung Wu]

That depends on two questions:

1. Do you count WSU Tech? We only pass KSU if so
2. Do you use headcount or full time equivalent headcount? Even with WSU Tech, WSU is about 1,500 behind KSU (plus KSU veterinary) in full time equivalent headcount.

That said, if we aren't considered second biggest right now, the trend lines of both WSU's rise and KSU's decline holding would mean that we will be soon.

1. How would K-State count them if it was KSU Tech?
2. Whatever helps our marketing department. :)

[1972Shocker]

Kudos to President Muma for continuing to honor Dr. John Bardo's legacy and thank God Golden didn't last long. Dr. Muma doing a good job of putting that regrettable hire behind us.

When are they going to name the Innovation Campus after Dr. Bardo.

[ShockBand]

Kudos to President Muma for continuing to honor Dr. John Bardo's legacy and thank God Golden didn't last long. Dr. Muma doing a good job of putting that regrettable hire behind us.

When are they going to name the Innovation Campus after Dr. Bardo.

At the very least rename the main drive through the IC from Innovation Boulevard to John Bardo Way. The building on 17th Street that houses GoCreate and a ton of engineering labs and classrooms is named the John Bardo Center.

[SubGod22]

WSU - Wichita State announces cyber security collaboration with Knowmadics

Wichita State University and Knowmadics are entering into a new collaboration aimed at enhancing the security, and resiliency of satellite constellations and satellite-based communications. The endeavor is intended to strengthen the security of data collection and transfer among space-based Internet of Things (IoT) devices.

The work will be performed through Wichita State’s National Institute for Research and Digital Transformation (NIRDT), led by Pierre Harter, the associate vice president of research operations for WSU Industry and Defense Programs. Dr. Ross Gruetzemacher, WSU assistant professor of business analytics, will serve as the technical lead. His areas of expertise include data science and artificial intelligence (AI).

“We are excited to draw upon both the software and hardware-based R&D expertise at Wichita State,” said Paul Maguire, CEO of Knowmadics.

Knowmadics is a Virginia-based software development that established a presence in Wichita at Groover Labs last November.

“Cyber security is one of the fastest growing fields, and one in which Wichita is particularly equipped to excel,” said Andrew Nave, executive vice president for economic development at the Greater Wichita Partnership. “We are thrilled to see Knowmadics continue to expand its presence and collaboration with key partners in the area.”

“This is an excellent example of the type of collaborations that we envisioned when we created NIRDT at WSU – one where industry experts like Knowmadics can couple with multi-disciplinary experts from WSU faculty and research staff to provide innovative R&D solutions, while providing meaningful applied learning opportunities for students,” said Harter. “Knowmadics is a critical partner for us as we continue our journey in digital transformation.”

The program will identify cyber security vulnerability factors in satellite communications using machine learning. Through this collaboration, Wichita State will identify and install IoT devices that will be leveraged for the effort – including cameras, routers and satellite communication devices – in and around the new Digital Research and Transformation Hub building on the northeast side of campus.

Wichita State students will participate in activities such as capturing and labeling footage, monitoring router traffic, and formatting and validating data.

[SubGod22]

I like this idea and get the logic behind doing it. I also get the concerns expressed on how it could impact other schools in the area.

Sunflower - Two new degrees could come to Wichita State

Two new degrees may be offered to Wichita State students soon: an Associate of Science degree and a Bachelor of Business Administration in Hospitality.

Both of these degree plans got their first read in front of the Faculty Senate at the group's Oct. 9 meeting.

Associate of Science Degree

Brien Bolin, associate dean of the Fairmount College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (LAS), and Patricia Phillips, director of the LAS Advising Center, presented the plan for the Associate of Science (AS).

"It's not just a degree for our college, but it's a degree that will help with other colleges as well," Bolin said.

Pittsburg State University began auto awarding associate degrees to students last year.

The university currently has an Associate of Arts (AA) that graduates an average of 25 students per semester. In another proposal that has already gone through the Faculty Senate, auto awarding will begin for both AA and AS degrees.

Auto awarding means that students who meet the requirements for an associate's degree will be awarded the degree without need for application.

Bolin said that this is a student retention measure, with the logic behind the decision being that students who can't complete a four-year degree for any reason can still walk away from Wichita State with a degree that makes them more employable.

"Those students can get a job working in the industry and actually come back to the university and pay for their education if that was one of the reasons that they left," Bolin said.

Angie Storrer, a senator from nursing, said she wondered how this degree may impact enrollment at WSU Tech and local community colleges. Storrer expressed concern about students potentially picking WSU's more expensive associate's program because WSU offers a degree with less credit hours.

"I don't know if that's the right service to the student populations," Storrer said.

Phillips said that community colleges and WSU Tech do not offer AA or AS degrees. The idea is that a student trying to get an AS degree would only have to complete their last 15 hours at Wichita State if they wanted to get their degree from this university.

I'd like to know the ratio of non-degree jobs open in this field. Still seems like it could be a beneficial option for many, especially as the Wichita area continues to grow.

BBA in Hospitality

Gery Markova, chair of the Management Department, and Gerald Graham, interim director of the Center for Management Development, presented a new degree in hospitality that would be housed in the Department of Management in the Barton School of Business.

There are three hospitality programs in the region: Oklahoma State University, Kansas State University and Fort Hays State University.

Markova said that their degree plan was built from looking at other hospitality programs around the country and talking to business partners in the area. She further explained that they already have plans for certificates and minors.

During the presentation, Graham said that there were close to 1300 job openings in the hospitality industry in Wichita on Indeed. Chase Billingham, at-large senator, pointed out that most of these jobs do not require a college degree, like barback, server and line cook.

[ShockBand]

I like this idea and get the logic behind doing it. I also get the concerns expressed on how it could impact other schools in the area.

Sunflower - Two new degrees could come to Wichita State



I'd like to know the ratio of non-degree jobs open in this field. Still seems like it could be a beneficial option for many, especially as the Wichita area continues to grow.

The article would seem to imply that WSU Tech does not confer Associates degrees at all, but they do. They are AAS - Associate of Applied Science. Obviously there are some semantics to deal with, and I would need to read more to be sure, but on the surface this seems like a good thing to do to me.