Diversity and Inclusion

The Office of Diversity and Inclusion aims to cultivate and sustain an inclusive campus that strives for academic excellence by creating an environment that educates, empowers and mobilizes all members of the Shocker community. The office provides dynamic programs, which range from speakers and film showings to award ceremonies, cultural festivities and LGBTQ programming — each representing a small piece of the diversity displayed on the WSU campus. The Office of Diversity and Inclusion collaborates with many campus departments and student organizations for various diversity and multicultural student success initiatives. In conjunction with campus partners, the office celebrates Hispanic Heritage, LGBTQ, Native American, Black History, Women’s History and Asian/Pacific American Heritage months.

The office also sponsors the Promoting Academic Student Success (PASS) which facilitates the retention, academic success, holistic development and timely graduation of all minority students at WSU, through academic support services, educational and cultural programming, interpersonal relationships and mentoring. PASS matches successful continuing WSU students with freshmen and transfer students to help ease the transition from high school or community college to WSU. The program helps new students quickly identify all the support services available and provides direct tutorial assistance to any program participants who have committed to achieving their personal best.

The Office of Diversity and Inclusion is located in the Rhatigan Student Center, suite 208. Much more detailed information describing the Ambassadors for Diversity and Inclusion, Men of Excellence and Phenomenal Women support groups and additional resources the office provides can be found at the office website¹.

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Student Government Association

Wichita State believes that one of its primary tasks is preparing students for the responsibilities of citizenship in a democratic society. With this in mind, the university places an increasing emphasis on the role the Student Government Association plays on campus.

The legislative, executive and judicial responsibilities of SGA are vested in the Student Senate, the executive officers and cabinet, and the SGA Supreme Court. The senate appoints students to many university and faculty senate committees, recognizes and funds more than 300 student organizations, and allocates approximately $10 million annually in student fees to campus agencies including the Heskett Center, Rhatigan Student Center and Student Health Services. SGA also provides opportunities to fund education through scholarships. The scholarships include the James J. Rhatigan Leadership Scholarship, SGA International Student Scholarship, SGA Endowed Scholarship and the SGA Endowed Summer Scholarship.

Students come first. Each student is automatically a member of SGA and is eligible to vote in the annual elections in April. Throughout the year, openings exist on the Student Senate, as well as in many of the university committees. All students are encouraged to participate in student government through the many opportunities SGA offers.

For more information, contact the Student Government Association, 219 Rhatigan Student Center, Wichita State University; 316-978-3480, sga@wichita.edu.

Student Organizations

Student organizations may be granted the privileges of university recognition if they are registered with Student Engagement, Advocacy and Leadership and approved by the Student Government Association (SGA). To be approved, each organization must create a profile on ShockerSync.wichita.edu, which can be accessed through myWSU. As part of the profile, each organization must list their officers with contact information, upload a copy of the organization's constitution and bylaws, and list an advisor’s name and contact information. Once an organization has provided all necessary information, it may be granted official recognition by SGA which means it may use Wichita State in its name, use university venues for meetings/events, use university marketing resources, request funds from SGA in accordance with established procedures and guidelines, and be listed as a WSU organization in university publications. Records of recognized organizations are maintained in Student Engagement, Advocacy and Leadership.

For more information on how to become a recognized student organization, please see the Student Engagement, Advocacy and Leadership website.¹

For a list of currently recognized student organizations, visit the WSU ShockerSync website.¹

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