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 | Monica Lounsbery |
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Academic staff
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520 |
| Students | 23,806 (All campuses, fall 2024) 17,700 (Main campus, fall 2024) |
| Undergraduates | 14,280 (Main campus, fall 2024,) |
| Postgraduates | 3,420 (Main campus, fall 2024) |
| 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 (Conference USA for women's bowling) |
| Mascot | WuShock |
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Wichita State University (WSU) is a public research university in Wichita, Kansas, USA. It is managed by the Kansas Board of Regents. The university offers many different study programs. Students can choose from over 60 bachelor's degrees and more than 50 master's degrees. There are also 13 doctoral degrees available. WSU is known for its high level of research activity.
Contents
History of WSU
Wichita State University has had a few different names over the years:
- From 1895 to 1926, it was called Fairmount College.
- From 1926 to 1964, it was known as the Municipal University of Wichita.
- Since 1964, it has been Wichita State University.
The idea for Wichita State University started in 1886. A private school for women was planned, supported by a local church. This school was first called "Fairmount College." It was meant to be a top college for women in the western United States.
In 1892, the property was bought, and the school became "Fairmount Institute." This prep school opened to both boys and girls. In 1895, Fairmount College officially started offering college classes. It welcomed both men and women.
Over the years, the school grew. New buildings like Fiske Hall and a library were added. The school's mascot, the "wheatshockers," got its name in 1906. Many football players also worked harvesting wheat, which was called "shocking wheat."
In the 1920s, the college faced money problems. The city of Wichita bought it in 1926. It then became the Municipal University of Wichita. This was the first city-owned university west of the Mississippi River.
In the 1950s, leaders wanted the university to join the state system. After a lot of effort, it officially became Wichita State University on July 1, 1964. It joined other major state universities in Kansas.
An interesting fact is that the very first Pizza Hut building is on campus. It was moved to WSU in the 1980s to save it from road expansion. In 2017, it moved again to its current spot on the Innovation Campus.
Campuses and Locations
The main campus of Wichita State University is in northeast Wichita. It is located between 17th Street N, 21st Street N, Hillside Street, and Oliver Avenue. Other buildings nearby are also part of the main campus.
WSU also has seven other campuses. One of these is the Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology, known as "WSU Tech." It joined WSU on July 1, 2018.
What Students Can Study
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Wichita State University has several colleges and schools. These are where students learn about different subjects:
- 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 university libraries have over 2 million books and many online resources. They include the main Ablah Library and special libraries for chemistry and music. The libraries also have rare books and historical documents about Kansas. They are open to the community and offer workshops.
Innovation Campus
In 2014, WSU started a big project called the "Innovation Campus." The idea is for companies to build offices on campus. They work with students and teachers on research and new product ideas. This helps students get real-world experience.
The Innovation Campus started with updates to the student union and a new dorm called Shocker Hall. Many companies have partnered with WSU on campus. These include NetApp, Airbus, Deloitte, and Textron Aviation. The campus has added more than 15 new buildings. These include new academic buildings, dorms, and offices.
Wichita Biomedical Campus
In October 2022, WSU announced plans for a new biomedical campus. This project is a partnership with WSU Tech and the University of Kansas. It is being built in downtown Wichita.
The Wichita Biomedical Campus will be a large center for healthcare, education, and research. It will be close to existing hospitals. The Kansas Legislature provided money for the project in April 2023. Construction on this campus began in 2024.
Student Life
Students at WSU can join many groups. There are 26 fraternities and sororities. These are social organizations where students can live and make friends. Some have houses on or near campus.
Fraternity houses include:
- Beta Theta Pi
- Delta Upsilon
- Phi Delta Theta
- Sigma Alpha Epsilon
- Sigma Phi Epsilon
Sorority houses include:
- Alpha Phi
- Delta Delta Delta
- Delta Gamma
- Gamma Phi Beta
- Kappa Kappa Gamma
Athletics
The sports teams at Wichita State are called the Shockers. WSU competes in NCAA Division I sports. They are part of the American Athletic Conference. The women's bowling team competes in Conference USA.
WSU has 16 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 Nickname
The name "Shockers" comes from the university's history. Early students often earned money by "shocking" wheat. This meant harvesting wheat in nearby fields. The first football games were even played on a wheat field.
In 1904, a student came up with the nickname "Wheatshockers." It was later shortened to "Shockers." For many years, the symbol was just a shock of wheat. In 1948, a student designed a mascot. Students voted to name him "WuShock."
WuShock has changed his look over the years. In 1998, he got a more muscular look. His costume has also been updated to match the school's logo. WuShock is now able to run and jump easily.
Basketball
The men's basketball team has been very successful. They have played in the NCAA tournament many times. They reached the Final Four in 1965 and 2013. In 2011, they won the National Invitation Tournament Championship. Many WSU basketball players have gone on to play in the NBA.
Baseball
is home to the Wichita State Shockers baseball team. (2005)]]
The men's baseball team is one of the best in college baseball. They have won many conference championships. In 1989, they won the national championship. They also finished as runner-up three other times. 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 combined USBC Intercollegiate Team Championships. The women's team became an NCAA sport for the 2024-25 season.
Football
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Fairmount College played its first football game in 1897. In 1905, WSU hosted the first night football game west of the Mississippi River. This game used gas-powered lights.
The school stopped its football program after the 1986 season. This was due to financial reasons and other challenges. A sad event in the team's history was a plane crash in 1970. A plane carrying players and staff crashed, and many lives were lost. This greatly affected the team.
Famous NFL coach Bill Parcells played football at WSU. Wichita State was also the first Division I-A school to hire a black head coach in college football, Willie Jeffries, in 1979.
Notable People from WSU
- Notable Wichita State alumni include:
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Pizza Hut co-founder Dan Carney (BS, 1953)
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Pizza Hut co-founder Frank Carney (BA, 2000)
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Garmin co-founder Gary Burrell (BS, 1959)
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1st Chief Science Advisor of Canada, Mona Nemer (BS, 1977)
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14th Vice Governor of Jakarta, Sandiaga Uno (BBA, 1990)
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First black officer to receive the Medal of Honor, Riley L. Pitts (BA, 1960)
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20th US Ambassador to India, Robert D. Blackwill (BA, 1962)
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Hall of Fame NFL football coach Bill Parcells (BPE, 1964)
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All-Star NBA basketball player Fred VanVleet (BA, 2016)
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All-Star MLB baseball player Joe Carter (No degree)
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WWE wrestler Paul Wight, known as "Big Show" (No degree)
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Many famous people have studied at Wichita State University. These include the founders of Pizza Hut, Dan and Frank Carney. Also, Garmin founder Gary Burrell went to WSU.
In science, Mona Nemer became Canada's Chief Science Advisor. Engineers like Harold G. White from NASA and Dwane Wallace from Cessna also studied here.
For the arts, famous opera singers Joyce DiDonato and Samuel Ramey are alumni. Actress Shirley Knight and Broadway performer Karla Burns also attended WSU.
In sports, basketball players like Antoine Carr and Fred VanVleet are notable. Hall of Fame football coach Bill Parcells also studied at WSU.
In politics, U.S. Representative Garner E. Shriver and U.S. diplomat Robert D. Blackwill are alumni. Indonesian politician Sandiaga Uno also attended. U.S. Army captain Riley L. Pitts was the first African American to receive the Medal of Honor.
