Wichita State to observe Independence Day holiday
Wichita State University will be closed for the Independence Day holiday on Thursday, July 4. Offices will reopen and classes will resume on Friday, July 5.
Student Body President Kitrina Miller to appoint Vice President Michael Bearth as acting president
On June 29, Student Body President Kitrina Miller left the country as part of an applied learning experience in the Kampala, Uganda area. As a social work major, Miller is gaining practice within her field by taking advantage of this opportunity. This educational learning experience corresponds with Wichita State’s strategic plan goal No. 1: “Guarantee an applied learning or research experience for every student by each academic program.”
President Miller is taking this experiential learning opportunity to volunteer through the International Volunteer Headquarters. She will work with a Women’s Education and Empowerment Project by educating women and girls on Gender-Based Violence and Human Immunodeficiency Virus, while also assisting with economic strengthening projects and providing support for children.
Miller said: “I’m really looking forward to working with the women of the Kampala area and providing support in any way I can. While I hope I can make an impact in the lives of these women, I know I have so much to learn from them and their culture.”
An executive order will be released today (Wednesday, June 26) placing Vice President Michael Bearth as acting president. Michael Bearth will be appointed as acting president until Miller’s return on Aug. 7.
On leaving Bearth as acting president, Miller states: “I trust Michael to ensure that SGA continues the work we have set out to accomplish.”
WSU research studies affect of space gravity on the human brain
A NASA-funded Wichita State University research project will seek to understand how the human brain responds to gravity while in space.
The Kansas NASA EPSCoR Program recently awarded $127,600 to a multidisciplinary research group for the project.
Read complete story.
Traumatic brain injury brings student closer to his Shocker family
In September 2018, Sam Brickett, an aerospace engineering freshman at Wichita State University, was longboarding in the Rhatigan Student Center parking garage when he hit a crack in the concrete and fell. He hit his head and suffered a traumatic brain injury.
Alicia Newell, WSU assistant vice president for Student Affairs, found out about his injury within hours and remained by his side in the hospital while his parents journeyed to Wichita from a vacation in South Dakota. When Sam was taken back to a hospital near his home in Nebraska, Alicia sent a little bit of WSU with him.
WSU experiments could have implications for life on Mars
Research conducted by Wichita State University faculty and students suggests that Mars may be more habitable than once thought.
The work is a collaboration between WSU astrobiologist Mark Schneegurt, Benton Clark with the Space Science Institute and Fei Chen with the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
Most of the experimental work was conducted by students in WSU biological sciences, including Robin Cesur and Irfan Ansari.
The team is funded through the Planetary Protection Research program at NASA with a ROSES award and has been working together for nearly a decade in connection with the Wichita Space Initiative.
Read story in Science News
Parking lots to be resurfaced east of Grace Wilkie and MRC
Parking lots 15 and 13 east of Grace Wilkie Hall and the Media Resources Center will be resurfaced this summer. Construction will begin around July 1. The estimated completion date is Aug. 8.
During this time, both lots will be closed, with the exception to delivery trucks that may make periodic stops to unload / load equipment.
Seeking artist proposals for outdoor staircase at Clinton Hall
In an effort to bring visual interest to the outdoor staircase on the south side of Clinton Hall, WSU is seeking artist proposals to bring life, energy and something uniquely WSU to this prominent entry. Share your ideas and apply at wsu.news/clintonstairs.
Work on new shuttle stop has begun; traffic reduced to one lane
Bauer and Sons began saw-cutting in preparation for relocating the shuttle stop currently in lot 15 to the west side of Mid-Campus Drive just east of Wilkins Stadium. The west side, south-bound lane will be closed and traffic will be reduced to one lane with flaggers stationed to direct traffic. See above.
The lane closures will be sporadic throughout the course of the project, which is scheduled to be completed Aug. 8.
RSC and departments closed for Independence Day
The Rhatigan Student Center and its departments will be closed Thursday, July 4, in observance of the Independence Day holiday. For regular building and department hours of operation, go to RSC hours.
Exercise Science interns wanted
Campus Recreation is looking for three Exercise Science interns with emphasis in strength and conditioning. The three spots will fill the timeslots of Monday-Friday 6 a.m.-noon, noon-6 p.m., and 6-11 p.m.
Tasks will include equipment maintenance, cleaning, roster management, spotting, risk management, programming, research, customer service, and training. ACE certification is included for the selected candidates. Interviews will be conducted for those eligible.
Apply here.Make a difference by becoming a TRIO peer tutor
As a tutor, you will benefit from improved reasoning skills, increased self-esteem and empathy, a greater feeling of connectedness on campus and flexible work hours.
Tutors must be enrolled as a sophomore, junior, senior or graduate student and possess good communication skills. They must also maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 or better and have a letter grade of B or better in the courses they wish to tutor.
TRIO Student Support Services is funded by the U.S. Department of Education to provide services to students from first-generation and limited income families, as well as students with disabilities. To learn more, go to wichita.edu/sss or call 978-3715.
Extra discount on clearance merchandise
This week at the Shocker Store, take an extra 10% off already-marked-down clearance items! Score some great deals on Shocker gear! Sale is in Rhatigan Student Center location only.
PreventionTalKS launches new monthly podcast
PreventionTalKS was developed by a group of prevention-minded professionals seeking to provide an opportunity for community coalitions and other prevention-minded people across the state of Kansas to connect and learn from one another and from professionals with a common interest of Prevention.
The purpose of PreventionTalKS is to promote citizen education and to increase public awareness of behavioral health promotion and prevention. Over the past three years, PreventionTalKS has been offered through a monthly webinar series.
In January 2019, the format of PreventionTalKS was revamped to reach a broader audience and increase our effectiveness in a manner that participants and listeners have determined to be more user-friendly.
PreventionTalKS currently offers a monthly podcast highlighting timely prevention-related topics of interest to stakeholders across Kansas. If you have topics you would like to hear about email us at KPCTeam@wichita.edu. We offer our podcast on Soundcloud, iTunes, and Spotify. Listen to us on your favorite platform.
For more information, go to Kansas Prevention Collaborative.
TBT single-session tickets on sale
Single-session tickets for The Basketball Tournament (TBT) Wichita Regional – July 25-28 at Charles Koch Arena -- are on sale now, starting at just $15.
Fans may purchase seats online at GoShockers.com/Tickets or through the Shocker Ticket Office -- by phone (316-978-FANS) or in person (southwest corner of Charles Koch Arena) -- during normal business hours (M-F, 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.).
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Submit your fall events for the Welcomefest listing
Welcomefest takes place during the first two weeks of classes each semester and features dozens of activities. Popular programs awaiting new and returning Shockers include the Back to School Bash, Involvement Fair, Shocker Resource Fair, Syllabus Party, RSC Unplugged, Clash of the Colleges and more! You can submit your department or organization events to be included in the Welcomefest marketing, including a printed guidebook.. The deadline to submit events for inclusion in all Welcomefest marketing is 5 p.m. Friday, July 12.
Please note, Student Involvement reserves the right to deny or terminate any events that are not planned completely or are deemed inappropriate for Welcomefest and/or the people in attendance.
To register your event, go to Welcomefest. If you have questions, contact Student Involvement at 978-3022 or getinvolved@wichita.edu.
Stressed? Keep Calm and Breathe On
Join the Counseling and Prevention Services for Keep Calm and Breathe On. Drop in to build structured relaxation time into your life and learn techniques to do relaxation on your own. You will be led in meditation, mindfulness and relaxation practices. The meetings are from 12:15-12:45 p.m. every Wednesday in 257 RSC. Drop in or contact the Counseling and Prevention Services for more information at 978-3440.
Volunteers needed for a research study
Researchers in the School of Nursing are looking for volunteers for a nutritional research study that will examine changes in iron absorption with antioxidant supplementation.
Participants will be asked to consume a meal with phytic acid, complete a dietary recall, participate in taste testing and have blood and saliva sample collection during a meal challenge. Participation is expected to last about 2.5 hours total.
If you are interested in participating in this study, email nicole.delimont@wichita.edu or call 785-249-5533.