Student Activities Council to host Roaring '20s Party tonight
Applesauce! SAC is throwing a Hop! Join SAC for a swanky Roaring ‘20’s Party to celebrate the new decade from 8-10 p.m. today (Friday, Jan. 31) in the RSC's Shirley Beggs Ballroom. Go full Gatsby and wear your finest ‘20s attire. Free to WSU students with Shocker ID; $3 faculty/staff; $5 general admission and $1 for kids 12 and under. No advance ticket sales. Cash or check only accepted at the door.
WSU Police Department asks for design ideas for new uniform patch
Current Police Patch
In an effort to represent the community we serve, the WSU Police Department is soliciting ideas for a redesign of the patch worn on police uniforms.
We would like something that represents WSU or Wichita, and get away from the State Seal currently used, to give a more local or university representation.
Examples could include the iconic clock tower on Morison Hall or the Keeper of the Plains Statue, a Buffalo Soldier representing the linkage of diverse service in Kansas, or whatever you might suggest.
We welcome faculty, staff and student input on what the patch should look like and become.
Please send ideas to Police@wichita.edu by Saturday, Feb. 29.
Attend The Mission's welcome party and enjoy a free dinner this evening
Join us at 6:30 p.m. tonight (Friday, Jan. 31), in 233 Rhatigan Student Center, for our Spring 2020 Welcome Party. Dinner will be served. This event is free, and all are welcome!
New travel advisory for China
The US State Department has elevated its travel advisory for the entire country of China to a Level 4 (Do Not Travel). Previously, only Wuhan was at a Level 4. The travel advisory has not yet been elevated for Hong Kong or Macau, but those special administrative regions are expected to be elevated to a Level 4 within 24-48 hours.
The US Embassy in Beijing and the consulates in Chengdu, Guangzhou, Shanghai, Shenyang, and Wuhan were also closed. There has been no word yet on when they will reopen. Most US airlines have reduced service to China through March or April due to the outbreak. To read the most current State Department travel advisory for China, click here.
Because of the travel advisory, WSU won’t authorize any WSU students to do Study Abroad in China until the travel advisory has been lowered. Fortunately, we don't have any WSU students currently studying at our partner school, Sun Yat-Sen University, in Guangzhou.
Any travel to China, Hong Kong, and Macau by students, faculty and staff is discouraged at the present time.
Wichita State launches new features for wichita.edu
The Wichita State University website has launched several new features in response to input from Dr. Golden and WSU students, faculty and staff.
Among the changes are:
- A new secondary navigation including key student-facing links.
- A new Faculty/Staff directory that is integrated with WSU Profiles links.
- A new front page research feature.
- A Shocker Store link in the footer
Shared Governance and the Shocker Circle
As an exercise in shared governance, a series of Shocker Circles were held in September 2019. First, “What is a Circle?” A Shocker Circle is a gathering of Shockers who, while sitting in circle, has the opportunity to speak about a single topic or run of questions of interest without interruption. A Circle facilitator supports the process and allows everyone an opportunity for full participation. A scribe records the responses.
There were three common questions that were asked during each of the 2019 Shocker Circles:
- What is something you value about the current decision-making process at the university?
- What can the university do to demonstrate respect, trust, and transparency in the decision-making process?
- How can the university best solicit input from staff, faculty, students, and administrators?
A summary report is now available.
In a continued effort to shape a culture of community and engaged listening, the trained Shocker Circle Keepers are available to host future circles. Please share your ideas or requests for future Shocker Circle topics or to learn more about how to become a Shocker Circle Keeper. Questions may be submitted to shocker.circle@wichita.edu.
Take part in WSU Takeover Night with the Wichita Thunder
Join the WSU Alumni Association tonight (Jan. 31) for Shocker Takeover Night at the Thunder game. This special evening will be focused directly on WSU and its students, alumni and faculty. WuShock and the spirit squad will be in attendance for the event as well as many Shocker alumni, students, faculty and student organizations. The game will consist of pregame activities, intermission contests and a post-game picture on the ice.
Use the link below to purchase your tickets for this great night!
Tickets for WSU Takeover Night are:
$5 for Goal Zone
$10 for Premium
$15 for VIP
Learn how to become a Shocker Rower
Are you interested in becoming a Shocker Rower? Learn all about being a student athlete by attending our interest meeting at noon today (Jan. 31), in 207 Heskett Center. No experience required. The program is split into three teams: recreational (non-competitive), developmental (locally competitive) and championship (nationally competitive traveling team).
If you can't make it to the interest meeting, schedule an appointment by contacting coach Rachel Tuck at 978-3465 or rachel.tuck@wichita.edu.
Hit the books and then the beach!
Ever wonder what it would be like to hit the books in the morning and hit the beach in the afternoon? Thanks to National Student Exchange (NSE), you can. NSE allows undergraduate, domestic students the opportunity to study at one of nearly 200 universities across the United States and Canada – while paying regular WSU tuition and earning credit toward your degree. The application materials for exchange during fall 2020 and spring 2021 are available at wichita.edu/nse and are due TOMORROW (Saturday, Feb. 1). If you have questions, please contact Trish Gandu at trish.gandu@wichita.edu.
Nine music faculty members present Stravinsky's ‘The Soldier’s Tale’ on Feb. 2
The School of Music invites you to experience one of Stravinsky's early theatrical works, L'Histoire du soldat, and “The Devil's Tale,” a sequel to the piece written by James M. Stephenson at 3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 2, in Miller Concert Hall, Duerksen Fine Arts Center. Performed in English and featuring nine School of Music faculty members, the afternoon concert promises to be an electrifying start to your Super Bowl Sunday.
Admission is free for a student with a WSU ID.
Click here for tickets.
Wichita State University Opera Theater presents annual ‘Scenes and Songs’ concert
Wichita State University Opera Theater presents its popular annual performances of "Scenes and Songs" at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 7, and 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 9, in Wiedemann Recital Hall.
Selections will be heard from "La Traviata", "The Magic Flute", "Madama Butterfly," "Don Giovanni," "Peter Grimes," "Hansel and Gretel," "Manon," "Fidelio," "The Tales of Hoffmann," and "L'incornazione di Poppea."
The concert serves as a great introduction to opera for all as well as a joy for seasoned opera lovers. WSU Opera Theater is under the direction of Alan Held with Bridget Hille assisting.
Tickets are available by calling the WSU College of Fine Arts Box Office at 978-3233 or going to Fine Arts Box Office.
Admission is free for a student with a WSU ID.
Elliott School of Communication - Where Story Meets Strategy
The Elliott School of Communication produced a new promotional video to showcase their students, faculty, staff and alumni. The ESC prepares students for successful careers and a lifetime of learning in a communication environment that is increasingly social, mobile, visual and global. The curriculum focuses on skills that are the basis of success in digital media, visual storytelling, marketing, advertising, public relations, strategic communication, journalism and related communication fields.
Don’t be a crime victim; lock your cars
WSUPD welcomes all students, faculty and staff back to campus for the spring semester 2020.
Remember to put valuables in the trunk. If you have to leave valuables in the car, place the items out of sight or under the seat.
Please pay attention to your surroundings. Call 978-3450 if you see what you believe to be suspicious activity anywhere on campus. Help be the eyes and ears of Shocker Nation!
University update from Weekly Briefing
The following university update was provided at Thursday’s Weekly Briefing.
STUDENT HEALTH SERVICES MONITORING CORONAVIRUS SITUATION
You might have heard about the outbreak of coronavirus that originated in China.
A small number of cases have been reported in the U.S. Wichita State’s Student Health Services is monitoring the situation with information provided by federal, state, and local authorities.
To learn how to protect yourself and to get the latest news about the coronavirus outbreak, visit Student Health's Travel and Health Advisory webpage at wichita.edu/services/studenthealth.
GORE SCHOLARS ANNOUNCED
The three recipients of the Harry Gore Memorial $64,000 scholarship will be announced at 11:30 a.m. Friday in the Marcus Welcome Center.
They were chosen from a group of 14 finalists, who competed in November’s Distinguished Scholarship Invitational. The finalists come from six states and as far away as Alaska.
Six hundred and fifty-six students – the largest group in the event’s history - took part in the DSI. They earned an invitation with a 27 or higher ACT score, or a 3.5 or higher GPA, or rank in the top 10 percent of their class. The 14 finalists this year have an average ACT score of 28 and average GPA of 3.93.
PRESIDENT GOLDEN MEETS WITH STUDENTS, STAFF
President Jay Golden is learning the campus and community and exchanging ideas through scheduled events, meals, speeches and meetings, as well as numerous informal discussions.
In January, Golden asked faculty, staff, administrators and student leaders to nominate individuals across our campus to serve on multiple task forces as part of a commitment to shared governance, transparency and refining the focus of the university.
To stay up to date or ask questions, visit Wichita.edu/taskforces. Email addresses for task force co-chairs are included.
Golden is also holding town halls with students and staff from all university colleges as a way to get feedback on the campus experience and ways to move forward. They will be completed by Feb. 10.
In an effort to learn about student experience, Golden is scheduling meetings with student groups on campus throughout the semester.
On the first Tuesday of each month, Golden will send out two email newsletters, one for students, faculty and staff and one for alumni, donors, industry leaders and community members.
The newsletters begin on Feb. 4 and will be posted on the president’s website at Wichita.edu/president.
GOLDEN ASKS FOR CONVERGENT SCIENCE IDEAS
Multiple lines of inquiry can converge on a single problem, and that’s the kind of problem that is both interesting to solve, and pressing. Golden is encouraging the formation of research groups equipped to address this kind of problem through the President’s Convergent Sciences Initiative. Two general areas that have been identified are:
- Health disparities and delivery
- Digital Transformations
Success in addressing the challenges in these areas will provide new opportunities for the economic prosperity of the state, and career pathways for our students.
A third area will be identified by the faculty, who should send their ideas to their deans by Feb. 14. The area should be broad enough to subsume an array of complex challenges and opportunities to change Kansas and the world.
A call for proposals will go out shortly after the naming of the third area, and while the call is active there will be opportunities for potential collaborators to come together and ideas to collide through a series of town halls. Diversity of expertise is strongly encouraged such that experienced researchers team up with emerging researchers, and researchers from disciplines traditionally focused on external funding with those less so. Interdepartmental and intercollegiate collaboration will be inevitable.
ARMY WORKS WITH WICHITA STATE ON STEM
Juanita Christensen, executive director of the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command (CCDC) Aviation & Missile Center, and colleagues visited Wichita State’s National Institute for Aviation Research on Tuesday.
The CCDC works closely with WSU’s FirePoint Innovations Center recently signed an Education Partner Agreement with Wichita State, aimed at encouraging student interest in science, mathematics, technology, and engineering including recruitment of the next generation of scientists, mathematicians, and engineers.
The agreement is intended to strengthen student and educator science, mathematics, and engineering education capabilities and maintain a strong base to enhance the caliber and pool of talented graduates. CCDC Aviation & Missile Center conducts research, exploratory and advanced development, and technology demonstrations to advance the capabilities of Army Aviation Platforms and Missile Systems along with providing life-cycle engineering services for all Army aviation and missile systems.
WSU TECH OFFERS HELP
Two weeks ago, we talked about the Air Capital Commitment, which is providing immediate support and resources to those impacted by the layoffs at Spirit AeroSystems and its supplier companies.
One facet of this comes from WSU Tech, which is giving its graduate workers from Spirit and other aerospace companies the chance to go back to school during layoffs in hopes of keeping talent in Wichita.
Some of those graduates are among the thousands of workers who were laid off after the 737 Max suspension.
Anyone who has been affected by the layoffs from the supply chain or Spirit AeroSystems is eligible for Wichita Promise scholarship funding to upskill their training, reskill or complete their associate of applied science degree. Classes range from four to six weeks so workers can complete them while laid off and be ready to return once the companies call back employees. More information regarding the initiative can be found at www.wsutech.edu/communityresources.
The Engagement and Economic Prosperity Taskforce needs your help!
Is your unit engaged with the local or regional community in an effort to solve pressing problems? Are you working with industry or community partners on projects that advance the public good or drive education, economic or health outcomes? Are you working to create or sustain jobs for south central Kansas?
If your answer to any of those questions is, “YES,” please enter your activity / event / service or administrative action into the Strategic Planning Initiative Database on the Strategic Planning website in order to be included in the campuswide landscape analysis.
Questions can be forwarded to Kaye Monk-Morgan, taskforce co-chair, kaye.monk@wichita.edu.
Join a fraternity or sorority this semester
The fraternity and sorority community at Wichita State is full of tradition, brotherhood/ sisterhood and pride. Our members represent at WSU athletic events, hold leadership positions in numerous student organizations and carry out some of the top fundraising events at WSU.
If you are interested in joining our community, please fill out the FSL Member Interest Form ASAP. Contact greeklife@wichita.edu for questions!
SGA Scholarship applications close Monday
SGA Scholarship application are open for the 2020-21 school year. Applications close on Monday, Feb. 3, so apply today. Applications can be turned in to the SGA Office in 219 RSC. Apply at wichita.edu/sga.
Craft Corner coming Tuesday, Feb. 4
Artista or nah? No worries, we’ll show you how it’s done! Stop by between classes and be creative with SAC from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 4, on the first floor, RSC.
The first Tuesday of every month, we will have hands on DIY crafts projects for you to make and take to decorate your space, distress and just have fun all for free! Come be crafty and hang out with Student Activities Council.
For more information about SAC-sponsored events, go to wichita.edu/sac or contact us at sac@wichita.edu.
Graduate School Professional Development 'Failure is Necessary' is Feb. 6
Everyone wants innovation, but being an innovator means you must have a high tolerance for failure. Join the Graduate School and Instructional Design & Access for “Failure is Necessary,” a panel discussion lead by Carolyn Speer from 5-6:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 6, in 266 RSC, to hear about the upside of failure, and begin working on your own ability to accept the concept of "failing fast, failing forward."
Professional Development Series
You can help prevent suicide
Learn how you can support your community with the #WSUWeSupportU Preventing Suicide Training. Each training lasts an hour-and-a-half, and gives you the tools you need to assist someone in need through the Share, Ask, Support method.
To sign up, visit the myTrainings tab on your myWSU, or go to wichita.edu/SuicidePrevention.
Free academic resources are available through TRIO Student Support Services
Student Support Services (SSS) is funded by the U.S. Department of Education to provide free academic services to students from First-Generation (FG) and Limited- Income (LI) backgrounds, as well as students with disabilities.
The free services include individualized tutoring, academic advising, textbook loans, assistance completing financial aid applications, and scholarships exclusively for student participants.
We are located on the third floor of Grace Wilkie Hall, in suite 309. For more information, visit our website or contact our offices at 978-3715.
Pee for Pizza coming Feb. 19
Pee for Pizza is a free sexually transmitted disease-testing event for chlamydia and gonorrhea. Walk in and submit a urine specimen, then walk-out with free pizza and peace of mind from 1-4 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 19, in the Student Wellness Center.
Happiness is singing in the choir - Join Women's Glee!
Do you like to sing? Looking for an encouraging community? Women's Glee is the place for you!
Treble singers, freshman to graduate level are encouraged to register for the spring session of Women's Glee. Women's Glee is a non-auditioned treble chorus made up of both music and non-music majors.
The ensemble performs an eclectic mix of classical, folk, and popular music, reflecting the diverse musical interests of its members.
Women's Glee performs annual fall and spring concerts.
Course details: Choir Meets (rehearses) 2-3:15 p.m., Mondays and Wednesdays in C-107 Duerksen Fine Arts Center. Course numbers: MUSP 212L, 412L, 712L
Join Sandy and Student Health for Tuesday Talks
Tuesday Talks with Sandy and Student Health Services will be at first floor RSC tabling on Tuesdays to answer health questions and assist in making appointments. FREE stuff will be available!