LIBERAL ARTS AND SCIENCES
Kudos for Bolton
Marilyn Bolton '88/99, who is a lecturer in WSU's foreign languages department, has been named a finalist for the 2005 Kansas Teacher of the Year Award. Bolton teaches Spanish at Buhler High School in Buhler, Kan. As a finalist, Bolton received a $2000 cash award from the Security Benefit Group of Companies, an underwriter of the award program.
Saving Mikrokosmos
What a way to celebrate a 50th anniversary. Due to a lack of funding, the WSU literary magazine Mikrokosmos, first put together by University of Wichita student Corban LePell '57/59 in 1958 and now in its sixth decade of publication, is in danger of vanishing into the mists of time. The journal, which has published works by students as well as established authors such as William S. Burroughs, issued its 50th edition in April. Without an influx of cash, it may be the last.
Enter the Kopeceks, Barbara '99 (a graduate of Wichita State's creative writing program) and David. The couple, who own and operate Wichita's LineSight Inc., an Internet services company whose offices come complete with gallery space, are determined to help keep the journal afloat.
On Fri., Nov. 5, LineSight Gallery will hold a silent auction of art and books, the proceeds of which will go to Mikrokosmos. In addition to autographed novels, poetry collections, paintings, sculpture and photographs produced by students, faculty and alumni of WSU, many items donated by artists in the community at large will be up for bid. The auction is slated for 7-9 p.m. at LineSight Gallery, 143 N. Rock Island in Old Town, upstairs above Torre's Pizzeria.
REGENTS NEWS
Fall Enrollment Figures
State university enrollment figures released by the Kansas Board of Regents show a system-wide increase of 670 students for an 0.8 percent increase for the 2004 fall semester over the 2003 fall semester.
The state's six public universities — Emporia State, Fort Hays State, Kansas State, Pittsburg State, the University of Kansas and Wichita State — reported a combined enrollment of 88,270 students as of the 20th day of classes.
The total number of Kansas residents enrolled at the state universities decreased by 745 students, bringing the number of resident students to 67,519. The number of non-resident students increased by 1,415 students, with 20,751 non-resident students enrolled at the state universities. Students enrolled in on-campus courses decreased by 281 to a total of 78,851 for the fall semester, while off-campus enrollments of 9,419 represent an increase of 951 students over the 2003 fall semester.
Wichita State posted an enrollment headcount of 14,298, which is 598 fewer students when compared to fall 2003 — a 4 percent decline.
The nine-member Kansas Board of Regents is the governing board of the state's six public universities.
UNIVERSITY NEWS
Community Engaged
For a modern university to thrive, it must engage itself with its community. Started in 2001, the WSU-LINK program was set up to "facilitate mutually beneficial partnerships between Wichita State University and the community we serve," according to WSU President Donald Beggs.
WSU-LINK is more than a single program; it encompasses a wide range of projects tailored to meet the specific needs of various groups of citizens in the Wichita area, as well as many research efforts toward enhancing the quality of life.
In the areas of community health and safety, many projects and services find themselves under the WSU-LINK umbrella, including the Self-Help Network, which acts as a clearinghouse for local self-help groups; a variety of clinics; the Juvenile Justice Research Center, aimed at preventing juvenile crime and stemming recidivism; and research into conserving the Kansas environment for future generations.
WSU also contributes to the region's economic health with its lauded Center for Entrepreneurship, recognized nationwide as a unique resource for small business owners. Here, upstart entrepreneurs can receive advice from retired professionals, access volumes of valuable data and turn their dreams of self-employment into reality.
Wsu also plays host to numerous other organizations dedicated to improving the area's — and the nation's — economic climate. The Center for Urban Studies, Kansas Public Finance Center, Center for Economic Development and Business Research, Center for Management Development, Center for Real Estate, Small Business Development Center, National Institute for Aviation Research and Interdisciplinary Communication Research Institute all foster a better understanding of the increasingly complex world of business.
WSU-LINK recognizes and addresses the fact that today's elementary and secondary students are tomorrow's college students. To help make learning fun, and to encourage continuing education beyond high school, the university reaches out to everyone from pre-kindergarteners to pensioners seeking to learn more. At every step of the way, WSU-LINK links the university to the community at large.
— Michael Carmody
