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Wichita State 125 Years: Shocker Pride Points, the people, stories and accomplishments that define our Shocker family

Shocker pride points, part five

Sept. 2, 2020
By WSU Strategic Communications

125 years of Wichita State University

In September 1895, Fairmount College, the forerunner of Wichita State University, held its first classes at the corner of 21st Street and Hillside. Now, 125 years later, we celebrate the ever-expanding role of our institution as a pillar of cultural and academic excellence, a vital engine of economic growth and a positive force in the lives of millions.

Interfest

International Food Festival is a cultural event that embraces a diverse range of dishes across the globe. The show case of food is a gate way that  brings the shocker community together. Every semsters, International Student Union, in collaboration with several other student groups and organizations at WSU host this event.

 

What are we proud of at Wichita State University?

26. WSU's birthday

An aerial view of Grace Memorial Chapel and the Rhatigan Student Center

September is Wichita State University's birthday month, and we invite Shocker Nation to celebrate at events ranging from Academic Convocation to Interfest. Wichita State survived a turbulent genesis in 1985 as tiny Fairmount College on a rural hill overlooking a young city.

 

27. Fairmount College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

The Fairmount College of Liberal Arts and Sciences is the original WSU college, the oldest and largest of our seven undergraduate colleges. Sharing its name with WSU's original incarnation, it has provided well-rounded, foundational education to tens of thousands of students for 125 years.

Why do we pursue liberal arts and sciences degrees? It's about changing lives:

  • Producing a lifelong love of learning
  • Promoting honesty, integrity and ethical approaches to engaging in the world
  • Experiencing diverse cultures, worldviews and methods
  • Discovering a multitude of passions
  • Developing the effective management of time, resources and our own energy on analysis, problem-solving, critical thinking, collaboration, listening and communication

The Fairmount College of Liberal Arts and Sciences will always evolve and thrive to produce full human beings capable of making progress in an ever-changing world.

It's not simply meant to prepare you for a job. It prepares you to think for your family, your community and a fairer, more tolerant and more positive society at large.

(This section was paraphrased from an article written by Fairmount Dean Andrew Hippisley on Dec. 26, 2018. Thank you, Dean Hippisley, for your service to the Fairmount College.)

Read Dean Hippisley's 2018 article

 

28. College of Health Professions applied learning

Wichita State health professions students conduct exercises in a laboratory setting.

 

College of Health Professions students have access to clinical affiliation agreements in 45 out of 50 states. From large hospitals to local clinics, students have many opportunities to work in active health environments while studying at WSU.

 

29. Dorothy and Bill Cohen Honors College

Wichita State Honors banner outside of Shocker Hall.

  

Honors program? No. Honors College.

It's a community of scholars dedicated to inspired action, distinguished service and enriched lives through scholarly pursuits and "the life of the mind."

 

Wichita State's Dorothy and Bill Cohen Honors College has its own wonderful dean and a full staff dedicated to advancing scholarly pursuits across WSU.

The Honors College was formed in 2013 from the Emory Lindquist Honors Program. It occupies a brand-new space in Shocker Hall, including study spaces, a student lounge and a free printing suite for Honors students.

 

30. Barton School  of Business AACSB accreditation 

WSU's Barton School of Business is certified as an AACSB International (Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business) member school in accounting and business. Member schools award 85% of the business degrees in the U.S., but only 20% of business colleges have attained dual accreditation like WSU.

AACSB International is a not-for-profit corporation of educational institutions, corporations and other organizations devoted to the promotion and improvement of higher education in business administration and management.

 

31. Student Government Association

Student Government Association senators Ciaban Peterson, Kathlynn Short and Lucas Webb sit in the Senate chamber in RSC 233.
Student Government Association 61st session senators Ciaban Peterson, Kathlynn Short and Lucas Webb sit in the Senate chamber in RSC 233.

 

The Student Government Association (SGA) was formed in 1912 as the Fairmount Student Council. During the 1960s and 70s, the vice president for Student Affairs granted SGA the authority to determine the allocation of all university student fees, and the budget to manage significant projects.

SGA became a robust governing body capable of undertaking initiatives including the funding of the initial 20 outdoor sculpture installations in the 70s, and the formation of the Shocker Support Locker food pantry in 2015.

32. John D. Finlayson, fourth WSU president

By the end of Finlayson's first year in 1921, enrollment topped 500. The Fairmount College campus consisted of four buildings, including the Carnegie Library. Funding, however, continued to be a real problem, as it had for most of the College's history.

To save Fairmount, Finlayson and the College Board considered three options: closing the College, moving to the east coast or making the College a municipal institution. The only solution to emerge from consideration was to turn Fairmount over to the citizens of Wichita.

Although the initiative required two public referendums and a vigourous campaign for public support, Finlayson succeeded in transforming Fairmount College into Wichita University in early 1926. It was an exhaustive effort that expended most of his credibility. He resigned in 1927.

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