09/22/21

HAYS, Kan. – Fort Hays State University will hold a ribbon-cutting for the Fischli-Wills Center for Student Success at 9 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 1. The celebration is open to the public and all FHSU faculty, staff, and students.

Doors to this stunning new facility opened to Fort Hays State students at the start of the fall 2021 semester. Visitors are encouraged to tour the first and second floors of the building before and after the ribbon-cutting. Because of student confidentiality, the third floor, which houses health and wellness services, will be closed to tours.

The ribbon-cutting will be held inside the new building, which is adjacent to the north side of FHSU's Memorial Union. Attendees should make their way to the lobby area of the second floor for a short program by Dr. Tisa Mason, FHSU president; Dr. Joey Linn, vice president for Student Affairs; and Mark Faber, student body president.

A guided walking tour will be available following the ribbon-cutting at 10 a.m. for anyone wanting to see both old and new highlights of campus. Tour participants should meet in the Sunset Atrium on the first floor of the Memorial Union before departing for the tour.

Fort Hays State has long been known as an innovator in student success – helping students to be healthy, successful, and to graduate on time. Increasing retention and graduation rates is a top priority for colleges across the country, and FHSU is no exception. The Fischli-Wills Center for Student Success takes the university's wrap-around services to the next level for students and was strategically designed as a one-stop-shop.

The first floor welcomes new students to campus and concentrates on academic and career development. The three-story facility is attached to the Memorial Union via the second floor – offering a convenient breezeway for students. The second floor was intentionally designed to provide experiential opportunities that will develop engaged global citizen-leaders. The third floor was designed to keep students healthy through preventative education and physical and mental health care services.

The late Richard Fischli and Dolores Wills-Fischli, the building's namesakes, began their journey with Fort Hays State as two rural Kansas kids pursuing a college education. Both earned bachelor's and master's degrees from FHSU in the 1950s, then moved to southern California. Upon retiring from their careers in education with the Los Angeles Unified School District, the Fischlis moved back home to Logan, Kansas.

As lifelong K-12 educators, Richard and Dolores made an impact on thousands of students throughout their careers. Beyond the classroom, the Fischlis were known for giving what they could and truly understood the impact that every dollar had on student success. In 1981, they started giving back to Fort Hays State with an initial gift of $5. Today, this impressive new facility has become a reality thanks to a $5 million gift from the late Richard and Dolores Fischli. Although the generous couple is no longer with us, their legacy of impacting students will continue to live on at Fort Hays State University.