Gary Brooking

The Wichita State University Campus Master Plan serves as a strategic roadmap for the university's physical development over the next decade. It is founded on the principles of defining, bridging, and leading, aiming to create a cohesive campus by integrating the historic core with the Innovation Campus. Key focus areas include enhancing campus layout, fostering a holistic and unified campus culture, and extending campus life beyond classrooms to create an 18-hour vibrant environment. The plan proposes facility modernization through demolition of outdated buildings and construction of new academic, recreational, and partnership spaces, alongside significant improvements to pedestrian and bike networks and the expansion of green and recreational areas like Fairmont Park and the Woy Pond area. The ultimate vision is to boost research and innovation partnerships, solidify WSU's leadership in bridging academia and industry, and achieve broad impact at local, city, and global levels.

The Board of Regents held a meeting to formally announce and appoint the 15th president of Wichita State University. The proceedings included recognizing the efforts of the presidential search committee and the leadership of the interim president during the transition period. The appointed president addressed the board and community, sharing personal connections to the university and outlining a vision for its future as an urban public research institution, with an emphasis on educational access, economic prosperity, and community service.

The Campus Master Plan Update for Wichita State University serves as a roadmap for the institution's future direction over the next decade. It aims to define, bridge, and lead by fostering innovation, cultivating a holistic campus culture, and building an 18-hour campus experience. Key strategies include modernizing teaching spaces, expanding laboratory and research facilities, co-locating colleges for a unified experience, and creating more 'third spaces' for student and community engagement. The plan focuses on enhancing connectivity across campus districts, improving circulation, and strengthening partnerships with industry and the wider community, while addressing deferred maintenance through selective demolition and new construction.

The virtual town hall discussed the restructuring of the reporting lines for Student Affairs, which will now report directly to Academic Affairs. Key topics included the goals of better coordinating student services, leveraging resources between the two divisions, and the impact on daily operations. Participants addressed concerns about potential restructuring, budget implications, and the importance of fostering partnerships between faculty and student services to improve student retention and success. The town hall also highlighted existing initiatives like leadership certificates and the first-year seminar as opportunities for collaboration.

The town hall meeting focused on preparing for the campus return transition, covering health and wellness protocols such as social distancing, the use of face coverings, daily health screenings, and hygiene practices. Key discussion topics included new classroom arrangements and hybrid learning formats for fall classes, student housing policies with modified occupancy and quarantine plans, and the approach for managing university events in light of safety guidelines. The administration also addressed the protocol for handling potential COVID-19 cases on campus and the ongoing adjustments to academic scheduling and freshman orientation.