Wichita State University facts for kids
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Former names
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Fairmount College (1895–1926) Municipal University of Wichita (1926–1964) |
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| Type | Public research university |
| Established | September 11, 1895 |
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Parent institution
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Kansas Board of Regents |
| Accreditation | HLC |
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Academic affiliation
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| Endowment | $320.1 million (2022) |
| Budget | $606.3 million (2023) |
| President | Richard Muma |
| Provost | Shirley Lefever |
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Academic staff
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520 |
| Students | 17,548 (Fall 2023) |
| Undergraduates | 13,610 (Fall 2023) |
| Postgraduates | 3,938 (Fall 2023) |
| Location |
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United States
37°43′09″N 97°17′35″W / 37.71917°N 97.29306°W |
| Campus | Large city, 330 acres (1.3 km2) |
| Other campuses | |
| Newspaper | The Sunflower |
| Colors | Black and yellow |
| Nickname | Shockers |
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Sporting affiliations
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NCAA Division I – The American |
| Mascot | WuShock |
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Wichita State University (WSU) is a public university in Wichita, Kansas, United States. It is a place where students can do lots of research. The university is managed by the Kansas Board of Regents. WSU offers many different study programs. Students can choose from over 60 bachelor's degree programs. There are also more than 50 master's degrees and 13 doctoral degrees. WSU is known for its high level of research activity.
Contents
History of WSU
| Naming History | |
| Years | Name |
|---|---|
| 1895–1926 | Fairmount College |
| 1926–1964 | Municipal University of Wichita (WU) |
| 1964–present | Wichita State University (WSU) |
The idea for Wichita State University started in 1886. A man named Rev. Joseph Homer Parker wanted to create a private school for women. It was first called "Fairmount College" in 1887. The school was meant to be a top college for women, like "Vassar of the West."
In 1892, the property was bought and the school became "Fairmount Institute." This school taught both boys and girls aged 12 and up. Then, in 1895, Fairmount College officially opened for college-level classes. It welcomed both men and women.
Over the years, the school grew. New buildings were added, like a men's dorm in 1906 and a library in 1909. The school's mascot, the "wheatshockers," came about in 1906. Many football players also worked harvesting wheat, which is called "shocking wheat."
In the 1920s, the college had money problems. In 1926, the city of Wichita bought the college. It then became the Municipal University of Wichita. People often called it "Wichita University" or "WU." It was the first city-owned university west of the Mississippi River.
Later, in the 1950s, leaders wanted the university to join the state system. This would put it with other big state schools like the University of Kansas. After a lot of effort, the change happened. On July 1, 1964, the school officially became Wichita State University (WSU).
Today, the original building of the first Pizza Hut is on campus. It was moved to WSU in the 1980s. In 2017, it moved again to its current spot on the Innovation Campus.
WSU Campuses
The Main Campus is in northeast Wichita. It is mostly found between 17th St N, 21st St N, Hillside St, and Oliver Ave. Some other buildings nearby are also part of the main campus.
WSU also has seven smaller locations:
- WSU West is in Maize, Kansas. Many university classes are held here each semester.
- WSU South is in Wichita. It started offering classes in 2008 and moved to its current spot in 2018.
- WSU Haysville is in Haysville, Kansas.
- WSU McConnell is at McConnell Air Force Base.
- WSU Old Town - A, B, and C are in downtown Wichita.
Since 2018, the Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology, also known as "WSU Tech," is also in Wichita.
Research at WSU
WSU is one of three main research universities in Kansas. The other two are Kansas State University and the University of Kansas.
Some of WSU's research places include:
- National Institute for Aviation Research: This has several facilities.
- Aircraft Structural Test and Evaluation Center (ASTEC)
- Advanced Technologies Lab for Aerospace Systems (ATLAS)
- Virtual Engineering & Flight Laboratory
- Crash Dynamics Laboratory
- Walter H. Beech Wind Tunnel
- Applied Psychology Research Institute
- Biology research labs
- Chemistry research labs
- Physics research labs
- WSU Field Station
- Innovation Campus
Academics and Learning
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The university has several colleges and schools where students can study:
- College of Applied Studies
- College of Engineering
- College of Fine Arts
- College of Health Professions
- Dorothy and Bill Cohen Honors College
- Fairmount College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
- Graduate School
- College of Innovation and Design
- W. Frank Barton School of Business
The Aerospace Engineering department started in 1928. It works closely with big aviation companies like Airbus and Boeing. Students can learn about things like composites and fluid dynamics. Many students can also get internships at nearby airplane companies.
The Wichita State University Libraries have over 2 million books. They also have many online databases and journal subscriptions. The main library is Ablah Library. These libraries are open to everyone in the community. They also hold special collections about Kansas history.
Innovation Campus
In 2014, President John Bardo shared plans for the "Innovation Campus." This project creates partnerships with companies. These companies build offices on the WSU campus. They work with students and teachers on research and new product ideas.
The campus started with updates to the student union. A new dorm, Shocker Hall, also opened. More buildings were built on the old golf course next to campus. Companies like NetApp, Airbus, and Deloitte have partnered with WSU. The Innovation Campus has added over 15 new buildings. These include a new business school building and more dorms.
Wichita Biomedical Campus
In 2022, President Richard Muma announced plans for a new biomedical campus. This project involves Wichita State University, WSU Tech, and the University of Kansas. It will be a large campus in downtown Wichita.
The goal is to create a central area for healthcare, education, and research. It will be close to existing hospitals. The project is expected to start building in 2024. The Kansas Legislature has set aside money to help fund it.
Student Life at WSU
| Race and ethnicity | Total | ||
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| White | 60% |
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| Hispanic | 14% |
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| Asian | 7% |
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| Other | 7% |
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| Black | 6% |
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| Foreign national | 5% |
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| Native American | 1% |
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| Economic diversity | |||
| Low-income | 36% |
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| Affluent | 64% |
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Student Housing
WSU offers several places for students to live on campus.
- Current Dorms
- Shocker Hall: This dorm opened in 2014. It has rooms for about 800 freshmen. It also has a dining hall and coffee shop.
- The Suites: This building opened in 2019. It has rooms for 225 freshmen.
- The Flats: These apartments opened in 2017. They are for older students and have 286 beds.
Fraternities and Sororities
Students at WSU can join social groups called fraternities (for men) and sororities (for women). These groups are part of different councils:
| Interfraternity Greek Council | Multicultural Greek Council | National Pan-Hellenic Council | Panhellenic Council |
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| Beta Theta Pi fraternity | Chi Sigma Tau fraternity | Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority | Alpha Phi sorority |
| Delta Upsilon fraternity | Kappa Delta Chi sorority | Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity | Delta Delta Delta sorority |
| FarmHouse fraternity | Lambda Pi Upsilon sorority | Delta Sigma Theta sorority | Delta Gamma sorority |
| Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity | Mu Delta Alpha sorority | Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity | Gamma Phi Beta sorority |
| Phi Delta Theta fraternity | Sigma Lambda Beta fraternity | Omega Psi Phi fraternity | Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority |
| Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity | Sigma Psi Zeta sorority | Phi Beta Sigma fraternity | |
| Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity | Sigma Gamma Rho sorority | ||
| Zeta Phi Beta sorority |
WSU Athletics: The Shockers
The sports teams at Wichita State are called the Shockers. WSU is part of NCAA Division I. They mainly compete in the American Athletic Conference (AAC).
WSU has 15 different sports teams. Men's sports include baseball, basketball, and golf. Women's sports include basketball, softball, and volleyball. There are also club sports like bowling and shooting.
The Shockers Mascot
The name "Shockers" comes from the university's past. Early students often earned money by harvesting wheat. This was called "shocking wheat." The football players even played on fields with wheat stubble.
In 1904, the nickname "Wheatshockers" was first used. It was later shortened to "Shockers." For many years, the symbol was just a shock of wheat.
In 1948, a student named Wilbur Elsea designed the mascot we know today. He wanted a tough, serious look. Another student, Jack Kersting, suggested the name "WuShock."
WuShock has changed over the years. In 1998, he got a more muscular look. His costume has also been updated to match the school's logo better. The new WuShock can run and jump easily.
Basketball
The men's basketball team has played in the NCAA tournament many times. They reached the Final Four in 1965 and 2013. They also won the National Invitation Tournament in 2011. Some WSU basketball players have even played in the NBA. These include Fred VanVleet and Landry Shamet.
Baseball
The men's baseball team is very successful. They have won many conference championships. The team won the national championship in 1989. They also finished second in 1982, 1991, and 1993. They play their games at Eck Stadium.
Bowling
The men's and women's bowling teams have won many national championships. They have won 23 USBC Intercollegiate Team Championships combined.
Track and Field
WSU's track and field program has a strong history. It has produced seven Olympians and two National Champions. Many athletes have also earned NCAA All-American honors.
Cross Country
The men's cross country team started in 1947. They have won eight Missouri Valley Conference titles. The women's team started in 1983. They have won 10 Missouri Valley Conference titles.
Football
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Fairmount College played its first football game in 1897. In 1905, they played the first night football game west of the Mississippi River. They also played an experimental game with new rules.
The school stopped its football program after the 1986 season. This was due to money issues and other problems. The program had struggled since a tragic plane crash in 1970.
1970 Plane Crash
On October 2, 1970, a plane carrying WSU football players and staff crashed. The plane was flying to a game in Utah. It flew into a mountain valley and hit a mountainside. Sadly, 31 people out of 40 on board passed away. This happened near Denver, Colorado.
President Richard Nixon sent a message of sympathy to the university. A special monument stands on the Wichita State Campus. It honors those who were lost in the crash.
Famous People from WSU
Wichita State University has many notable alumni and faculty. These are people who studied or worked there and became famous.
- Business Leaders: The founders of Pizza Hut, Dan and Frank Carney, went to WSU. So did Gary Burrell, who founded Garmin.
- Scientists and Engineers: Mona Nemer, who was Canada's Chief Science Advisor, is an alumna. Harold G. White, who worked at NASA, also studied here.
- Artists: Opera singers Joyce DiDonato and Samuel Ramey are WSU graduates. Actress Shirley Knight and Broadway performer Karla Burns also attended.
- Athletes: Basketball players Antoine Carr and Fred VanVleet are WSU alumni. Bill Parcells, a famous NFL coach, played football at WSU.
- Politicians: U.S. Representative Garner E. Shriver and U.S. diplomat Robert D. Blackwill are among the notable politicians.
- Military: U.S. Army captain Riley L. Pitts was the first African American to receive the Medal of Honor. He earned a journalism degree from WSU.
