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Wichita State University offers more than 60 undergraduate degree programs in more than 200 areas of study in six undergraduate colleges: W. Frank Barton School of Business, College of Education, College of Engineering, College of Fine Arts, College of Health Professions, and Fairmount College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. The Graduate School offers an extensive program including 44 master's degrees in more than 100 areas and a specialist in education degree. It offers doctoral degrees in applied mathematics; chemistry; communicative disorders and sciences; psychology (programs in human factors, community, and clinical psychology); educational administration; and aerospace, electrical, industrial, and mechanical engineering. With an enrollment of more than 15,000, the University's students come from almost every state in the USA and 110 foreign countries; 87 percent are from Kansas, representing nearly all counties in the state. Wichita State has 479 full-time faculty and 41 part-time faculty. Of the total, 73 percent have earned the highest degree in their field. The 330 acre (1.3 km²) campus is modern and accessible and at the same time retains the flavor of the University's 110-year heritage. The campus also has one of the largest outdoor sculpture collections of any U.S. university. About 1000 students live in campus dormatories. HISTORY Wichita University was instituted as Fairmount College, a private Congregational school, in 1886 by the Rev. Joseph Homer Parker. The college continued the preparatory program of Fairmount Institute which began in 1892. Collegiate classes began in 1895. In 1926, by a vote of the citizens of Wichita the college became a public non-denominational institution named the Municipal University of Wichita; it was the first municipal university west of the Mississippi. After 38 years as a municipal university, WSU again changed its status on July 1, 1964, when it officially entered the state system of higher education. Now, Wichita State University is one of six state universities governed by the Kansas Board Of Regents . Shockers Wichita State University's mascot name is Shockers. The name reflects the University's heritage: Early students earned money by shocking, or harvesting, wheat in nearby fields. Early football games were played on a stubbled wheat field. Pep club members were known as Wheaties. Tradition has it that in 1904, football manager and student R.J. Kirk came up with the nickname Wheatshockers. {Link without Title} Although the Wheatshockers name was never officially adopted by the university, it caught on and survived until it was later shortened to Shockers. Until 1948, the university used a nameless shock of wheat as its symbol. WuShock came to life in 1948, when junior Wilbur Elsea won the Kappa Pi honorary society's competition to design a mascot typifying the spirit of the school. Elsea, who had been a Marine during World War II, decided that "the school needed a mascot who gave a tough impression, with a serious, no-nonsense scowl." Once Elsea's mascot was adopted by the university, which by that time was known as the Municipal University of Wichita, all that was needed was a name. The Oct. 7, 1948, issue of The Sunflower, the student newspaper, ran an advertisement urging students to submit names for the school's new mascot. It was freshman Jack Kersting who suggested the winning name, "WuShock." In 1998, WuShock, also referred to as "WU," marked his 50th birthday by undergoing a redesign and getting a pumped-up physique and revved-up attitude. The mascot's costume has changed over the years, as well. With the redesign, a new costume was introduced in fall 1998. In fall 1999, the head of the new costume underwent another redesign after a number of supporters suggested the mascot needed a more intimidating look. Alma Mater Our alma mater Wichita, Stands Proudly on the hill; Our sons and daughters bow to thee, Our hearts with praise we fill. Then, hail! Alma Mater! Hail, thee, Grand and True, Long wave the Yellow and Black, O Wichita, Here's to you! Around our lives are memories That tenderly entwine; And Thru the midst of the rolling years, Of thee we build a shrine. Then, hail! Alma Mater! Hail, thee Grand and True, Long wave the Yellow and the Black, O Wichita, Here's to you! Thy call to all that life hold dear Is a clear and constant guide; With Love and Truth and Loyalty, And may they e'er abide. Then, hail! Alma Mater! Hail, thee Grand and True, Long wave the Yellow and the Black, O Wichita, Here's to you! ATHLETICS WSU is a NCAA Division I institution, and fields teams in tennis, cross-country, basketball, track, golf, crew, bowling, men's baseball, and women's volleyball and softball. The men's Baseball team is one of College Baseball 's most successful programs since the late 1970's, with numerous conference championships and NCAA tournament appearances. The baseball team won the national championship in 1989, and was runner-up in 1982, 1991, and 1993. The men’s and women’s bowling teams have won numerous NCAA Bowling Championship s, including the men’s 2003 title and the women's 2005 title. The men's basketball team reached the Sweet 16 in the '05-'06 season. October 2, 1970 was one of the blackest days in Shocker history. One of two planes carrying players, staff and fans to a football game in Utah State, the "gold" plane crashed near Silver Plume, Colorado. Many were injured, and 31 people lost their lives. 1986 was the last season of football at WSU. Cessna Stadium hosts many other events including the Kansas High School Track and Field Championship which is the largest high school track meet in the nation. FAMOUS ALUMNI
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