Wichita State Poised For Massive Growth

[SubGod22]

WBJ - 'Transformational' KU-WSU medical complex gets Regents approval

The Kansas Board of Regents voted unanimously to approve the project's program statement, which outlines the project's preliminary budget, timeline and objectives.

With the Regents' approval, the institutions can now select an architect and begin design plans.

"This for us is a game-changer, I think, for the medical center in Wichita," said University of Kansas chancellor Doug Girod. "... It really hits a hard reset for us and to do so in combination with our partners at Wichita State and (WSU) Tech really does create some opportunity for some shared space in professional education."
.....
In addressing the Regents on Thursday, Wichita State president Rick Muma called it a "transformational project," adding that it would bring 3,000 students to downtown and support 1,600 jobs. Muma said an analysis from WSU's Center for Economic Development and Business Research found that the project would have an annual economic impact of $279 million.

Muma said a few funding sources have been identified so far. The Kansas Legislature approved the use of $35 million for the project from the state's general fund, and the partners have also submitted an application to the state for $60 million in SPARK funds that will be reviewed Friday. The Kansas Health Foundation has provided additional seed money "to get to this particular point," Muma said.

"We have very, very strong support in the city, the county, and the Greater Wichita Partnership and other community leaders," Muma said Thursday. "They see this as a priority."

[Kung Wu]

Why isn't it the WSU-KU medical complex?

[Veritas]

Interesting podcast on the WSU -KU partnership on the $302m biomedical campus in downtown Wichita.
Discusses funding, timelines, organization, and collaboration between the two Schools.
Joining the podcast is Minns, Director of KU-Wichita and
Simari, Vice Chancellor of KU med School ( WSU’s Richard Muma set to join the next podcast to provide WSU’s perspective.)

History overview at the 6:00m mark discussing the 1970 discussion on expanding the KU med school branch in Wichita and how it nearly landed on the WSU campus.

https://www.bizjournals.com/wichita/news/2022/09/23/biz-talk-with-bill-roy-podcast-episode-277.html

[SHOCKvalue]

History overview at the 6:00m mark discussing the 1970 discussion on expanding the KU med school branch in Wichita and how it nearly landed on the WSU campus.

https://www.bizjournals.com/wichita/news/2022/09/23/biz-talk-with-bill-roy-podcast-episode-277.html

LOL!

That is an interesting perspective!

Kinda of like what the smart folks might call gaslighting.

[WstateU]

LOL!

That is an interesting perspective!

Kinda of like what the smart folks might call gaslighting.

[SubGod22]

PR Newswire - WSU Tech Launches Upskilling Initiative to Expand Career Pathways in the Tech Industry

WICHITA, Kan., Sept. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Wichita State University Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology (WSU Tech) today announced a partnership with the tech talent accelerator SkillStorm that will provide increased access to industry-recognized credentials in high-demand enterprise technologies, including AWS, Salesforce, CompTIA and Pega training. As part of its ongoing commitment to supporting its local community, WSU Tech is launching this initiative to create new pathways into the digital workforce and broaden career opportunities for those living in the rural midwest.

"Our work at WSU Tech is driven by a common goal: creating opportunities for our students, and strengthening the region's economy by ensuring that employers have access to a workforce with the training and skills to succeed," said WSU President, Dr. Sheree Utash. "By expanding access to technology certification courses, this partnership is enabling us to offer practical, careeraligned education that will boost economic mobility for WSU Tech students and alumni, while also helping to address local talent needs."

Widely recognized in the region for its leadership role in developing the next generation of tech and engineering talent, WSU Tech is part of a coalition that recently received funding from the federal Build Back Better challenge designed to support the region's aerospace industry. The partnership with SkillStorm, which began this month, has already enrolled 20 full-time students into SkillStorm's AWS Cloud Computing training program as part of a WSU Tech IT course, ensuring that participants will earn both an industry-recognized credential and credit that counts toward their degree.

[SubGod22]

WSU - Enrollment increases at Wichita State thanks to focus on student experience and economic growth

Combined enrollment by headcount across all Wichita State University locations for fall 2022 is 21,942, according to the annual data released today by the Kansas Board of Regents (KBOR).

For the Wichita State main campus, the numbers represent an increase of 5.1% in fall student headcount from 16,097 in 2021 to 16,921 in 2022. That’s the largest number of students choosing to enroll at Wichita State since 1989.

At WSU Tech, student headcount increased 3.9% from 4,834 last year to 5,021 this year — WSU Tech’s highest fall semester headcount ever.

“Since the affiliation in 2018, WSU and WSU Tech have worked as one to provide an affordable and accessible education and to create a growing talent pipeline for our community,” says WSU President Rick Muma. “Even with the challenges brought on by the pandemic and the economy, Wichita State University continues to make a difference in the lives of an increasing number of students and their families.”

So we're essentially sitting at 22K, with nearly 17K on the main campus and another 5K at WSU Tech.

Credit hours are the highest in history. A 41% increase in international students, representing over 100 countries.

Some other interesting stats in the link. I also didn't know we had a WSU Haysville campus.

[SubGod22]

KSN - Wichita State University sees 2022 fall semester enrollment increase

“Since the affiliation in 2018, WSU and WSU Tech have worked as one to provide an affordable and accessible education and to create a growing talent pipeline for our community,” says WSU President Rick Muma. “Even with the challenges brought on by the pandemic and the economy, Wichita State University continues to make a difference in the lives of an increasing number of students and their families.”

Overall, there was a slight decrease in enrollment in the state’s public higher education.

Across the six state universities, there was a decrease of 1,333 students (-1.5%). Community colleges experienced a decrease of 630 students (-1.0%), while technical colleges saw an increase of 569 students (6%).

[SubGod22]

WSU - WSU researchers hope to advance the role of telehealth in adult cardiovascular care

“I believe that the use of smart wearable devices will be an efficient way to increase the health care accessibility for older adults in rural areas and will alleviate health disparity issues between urban and rural areas, especially since there is a lack of physicians and health care providers in the rural areas of Kansas,” Kyoung Hag Lee said.

To aid with the success of the program, Yongkuk Lee will develop an inkjet-printed wireless, wearable for reliable ECG and human activity monitoring. The proposed device will be made of integrating soft and hard materials including inkjet-printed flexible circuits and stretchable electrodes and offer conformal contact on the skin without any adhesive. As a result, reliable and accurate ECG and activity monitoring will be possible during normal activities.

To gauge the literacy of the technology for potential wearers of the device, Kyoung Hag Lee and Jun will develop a survey questionnaire and interview questions. They will then work with older adults in local assisted living facilities to understand telehealth literacy and perceptions of the older adult population.

Yongkuk Lee said the team is also working with a team from NetApp, including Hahlbeck. NetApp is a cloud data services and data management company with its Wichita headquarters on WSU’s Innovation Campus. NetApp is helping the research demonstrate smart features of the system such as transmission/storage of ECG and human activity data in a cloud server to aide in the retrieval of participant’s data on a clinical site. Lastly, Chehab, a cardiologist, will help the team to design and validate the clinical feasibility of the proposed device.

The three-year project should be completed in July 2025. Yongkuk Lee says the team will eventually recruit one Ph.D. student, one MS student, and four to six undergraduate students to complete the project.

Sounds like they're trying to develop some sort of smart-wear that can benefit those who don't live near their doctors to help accurately gauge their heart function and such. Will be interesting to follow this development and see what they come up with in the end. The article says they've received some NIH funding, but doesn't say how much.

[SubGod22]

As a former business student, I'm glad to see Woolsey Hall get built to allow the school to grow and be what it can be. Clinton was rough, but is going to be repurposed and upgraded.

Sunflower - 'A new and blooming journey:' Woolsey Hall celebrates grand opening

Kay Woolsey passed away in 2019 and Wayne could not be at the opening celebration for health reasons. Instead, their son Marc Woolsey made an appearance, thanking donors for helping their vision come to life.

“Even though Wichita State was not their alma mater, the city of Wichita meant a great deal to both my parents,” Marc said.

Before Woolsey Hall, the business school was housed in the outdated Clinton Hall.

Now, Clinton Hall will be upgraded to the new Shocker Success Center, which will hold seventeen different university programs. The Kansas Board of Regents approved the renovation plan in February 2021, which also took five campus buildings offline.

The three-story 125,000 square feet Woolsey Hall has an open floor plan, its own cafe and the promise bridge, which connects Wichita State’s main campus to the innovation campus. Muma said buildings like Woolsey will continue to make the school grow.

“You’ll see additional students come to the university because of facilities like this,” Muma said.

Genin said that the building’s location on the innovation campus will help further applied learning for business students.

“Applied learning is not just a part of Wichita State’s mission, it’s something we actively do to help our students meet the expectations of the business community,” Genin said.

Muma also boasted of the building’s sustainability. According to Muma, the building uses 25% less electricity than other campus buildings and 11% less water.

These sorts of upgrades/improvements will go a long way in keeping WSU relevant and growing.

[SubGod22]

WBJ - WSU's NIAR celebrates expanded scope of new aerospace lab

University officials and local and federal leaders were on hand for a ceremonial opening of the Advanced Technologies Lab for Aerospace Systems (ATLAS) and unveiling of the lab’s new Solvay Manufacturing Innovation Center.

ATLAS was originally started in 2019 in smaller lab space on the WSU campus, but has since grown to more than 100 engineers and student technicians and moved to around 150,000 square feet of space within NIAR’s growing footprint on the Air Capital Flight Line in southeast Wichita.

With the addition of the manufacturing center in partnership with Solvay, engineers from the Brussels-based chemical company will work with NIAR employees to help further the use of composites in aerospace.

“Our partnership with NIAR through this joint Manufacturing Innovation Center is an important milestone in Solvay’s ambition to help key customers across the United States advance the future of aerospace and defense,” Carmelo Lo Faro, president of Solvay’s Materials Segment, says in a press release. “Here, we can explore the advantages of new composite material forms with the latest manufacturing technologies to create a lighter, safer and more sustainable aircraft of the future.”

[SubGod22]

WSU's release on the ATLAS facility should you like to read it

“We are delighted to be able to forge this strong partnership with NIAR, in regards to bringing these industry-proven automated, high-rate, out-of-autoclave solutions to the aerospace and space industry,” said Nolan Strall, North American president of KraussMaffei Corp. US. “We are looking forward to engaging with the team at NIAR for future development and industrialization of the technology needed to meet the in-situ process and qualification standards of the aviation industry.”

ATLAS also incorporates large-scale thermoplastic-capable AFP systems from Coriolis, Electroimpact and Mikrosam, allowing industry partners to select the technology suited to meet specific design requirements. Certain complex parts need for advanced and urban air mobility cannot be manufactured using AFP and, therefore, require a hand layup process. These parts can be manufactured using a fully automated fiber patch placement machine by Cevotec, which allows ultra-highrate production regardless of the part complexity.

“One of the reasons that air travel is so incredibly safe and economical is that the stakeholders that make commercial travel possible, take extraordinary measures to ensure the high levels of safety we have come to expect,” said John Melilli, president and CEO of Composite Automation. “NIAR and ATLAS will now continue this great tradition by providing a truly unique environment to perform the cutting edge research and development that creates new materials, processes and related technologies in a low-risk environment. Composite Automation, Mikrosam and Cevotec are honored and excited about the prospect of working with NIAR ATLAS and their clients in collaborative ways to create the next generation of sustainable air travel.”

“ATLAS is the future of aviation manufacturing, and we’re proud to provide a proving ground for some of the world’s most advanced aviation technologies and companies,” said John Tomblin, WSU senior vice president for Industry and Defense Programs and NIAR executive director. “Having Solvay’s material expertise on-site at this one-of-a-kind facility is a major asset for companies looking to explore what’s possible for future aircraft.”

[Veritas]

Rick Muma on WBJ podcast talking about the new medical center campus downtown and collaborative work with KU as well as Cessna Stadium and new business school building (19m mark)

https://www.bizjournals.com/wichita/news/2022/10/07/biz-talk-with-bill-roy-podcast-episode-279.html

[pogo]

Noticed activity in the parking lot of the soon to be ATF building at WSU. Just wondering if there will be signage on the building and if any additional security will be utilized.

[Veritas]

Interesting article on how WSU and Tech continue to grow while other Universities in Kansas are struggling.

https://www.bizjournals.com/wichita/news/2022/10/10/wichita-state-wsu-tech-enrollment-students.html