From one student to another: Let's look out for each other
It’s the start of another semester. Everyone is back on campus. Everyone has the university syllabus layout memorized. And everyone is complaining about the group project or 10-page essay they will have to do.
As we focus on classes and juggle extracurriculars, we can get caught up in our own little world. But it’s also important to pay attention to those around you. While we move through this semester, let’s look out for each other.
Aira Access provides free, on-campus visual aid to blind and low-vision Shockers
Blind and low-vision Shockers and campus visitors now have a high-tech option for free visual aid on campus offered through an Aira Access agreement with the Wichita State Office of Disability Services.
Aira is a mobile service that allows blind or low-vision people to use their smart phones or special glasses to get verbal, on-demand descriptions of anything around them from Aira agents. Its purpose is to enhance everyday efficiency, engagement and autonomy for the visually-impaired.
Read the full Aira Access article
Gearhart to give legislative update today
Zach Gearhart, director of Government Relations, will provide a legislative update at 9 a.m. today (Friday, Feb. 14) in the Morrison Hall boardroom. Interested faculty, staff and students are welcome to attend.
Live Lock Love this Valentine's Day
This Valentine's Day, take your heart off your sleeve and put it on a lock, during our Live, Lock Love event from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. tomorrow (Friday, Feb. 14) at the WSU Food Truck Plaza. Put your initials, a heart or other special phrase on one of our mini-locks. This event is free and open to the public.
You can place it on WSU's Lock Pod or keep it for yourself.
Let us know if you'll be there on our Facebook event and invite your friends.
*Limited availability: first 50 will receive a free lock
Valentine’s Day Sweets and Treats today
The Shocker Learning Center will host an open house from 1-3 p.m. today (Friday, Feb. 14) in 107 Lindquist Hall. Stop by and learn to love learning!
The Shocker Learning Center (SLC) is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday. It is the home of Student Success’ Academic Success Programs.
Supplemental Instruction (SI): Free, weekly group study sessions led by a certified SI Leader who has previously succeeded in the course. Meet with your SI Leader individually during their office hours.
Tutoring: Free one-on-one and small group educational support with a trained tutor.
Peer Coaches: Peers helping peers with time management, study skills, goal setting, organizing assignments, note taking and referrals to other resources on campus.
In addition to the services it offers, the SLC is also a study room equipped with computers and free beverages such as coffee, tea, hot chocolate, and filtered water.
Shockers After Dark - It's Shockertine's Day!
Student Affairs invites students, faculty and staff to a new event, Shockers After Dark. Come by the Rhatigan Student Center (RSC) for two hours of fabulous free fun from 8-10 p.m. today (Friday, Feb. 14) on the first floor, RSC.
Activities include wax hands, cookie decorating, gaming, caricature artist, blackjack tournament and karaoke. There will also be free food, giveaways and prizes.
For more information, contact Student Affairs at 978-3021 or go to wichita.edu/studentaffairs.
Vote now for the WSU Homecoming 2020 King and Queen
Don't forget to stop by the RSC from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. today (Friday, Feb. 14) to vote for your Homecoming King and Queen. To vote, you must have a Shocker ID and only one vote allowed per day. Student who come and vote will get a freebie as a thank you.
Additionally, students can vote online once per day through myWSU. To vote online, log in to www.mywsu.wichita.edu, on the Home page scroll down to the Student Tools box. At the bottom of the list, find and click on the “Homecoming King and Queen” link for the online ballot.
Learn more about Homecoming events and activities
Savvy Scholar series set to host Library Open House
A brand-new week is here for the Savvy Scholar series hosted by WSU Libraries. Our upcoming "Love Your Library Open House" is set for noon-1 p.m. today (Friday, Feb. 14) in Ablah Library C-Space on the main floor.
Shocker I-Corps application deadline extended
Do you have an idea?
The Shocker I-Corps application deadline is extended to Monday, Feb. 17.
The program nurtures and supports Wichita State entrepreneurial teams interested in accelerating their STEM ideas, research and product commercialization. Ideas / projects can originate from student or faculty work, research and institutional / industrial projects.
Why Apply?
- Seed funding up to $2,100
- Customer validation training and experience
- Mentoring from local experts
- Access to entrepreneurial resources
Apply at www.shockericorps.org.
A talk on the Cuban revolution
A talk on the Cuban revolution—as a historical process and an idea—from Gabriel Vignoli (new School for Social Research), who did long term ethnographic research in Cuba and runs an annual field school in La Havana will be presented from 10-11 a.m. today (Friday, Feb. 14) in 262 RSC.
The talk focuses on crucial historic moments, the narrative of the state, and the enactment of the revolution, along with political instability, economic change, and violence that demonstrates the emergence of new political categories.
ISME Colloquium on industrial automation by Brian Brown
Brian Brown
Brian Brown, director of NIAR Robotics and Automation Lab, will present “Analyzing and evaluating automation for use in a production environment” at the ISME Colloquium from 11 a.m.-noon today (Friday, Feb. 14) in 211 Engineering Building.
It is every automation engineer’s intent to design the perfect system that will go into production and save the company millions. That is the whole intention of an automation system; increase productivity, increase quality, run continuously 24x7. However, all too frequently automation systems fail to provide the reliability and quality needed. This discussion will discuss the need for engineers to understand the environment that their systems will operate in and take those conditions into account with their designs.
Bio: Mr. Brown is the director of NIAR’s Robotics and Automation Lab at Wichita State University. Brown has worked for Wichita State since 1997, and has started, grown, and led many different laboratories from CAD/CAM technologies, Additive Manufacturing, Reverse Engineering, and Information Technology.
TRIO Disability Support Services received CRLA Level 1 Certification
Congratulations to the TRIO Disability Support Services (DSS) Program for achieving Level 1 certification through the College Reading Learning Association’s International Tutor Training Program Certification (CRLA ITTPC). TRIO Disability Support Services Program is a federally funded program serving 115 undergraduate first-generation and/or limited income students with physical, psychological and learning disabilities. Students in the program may receive a minimum two hours per week of peer tutoring. The DSS Program is committed to providing high quality tutoring services to their students.
Acquiring certification through CRLA takes considerable time and effort because programs must first run a successful tutoring cycle during a complete semester while meeting all certification requirements. Topics covered in Level 1 training by TRIO DSS include: basic tutoring guidelines, techniques for beginning and ending sessions, learning theory, handling difficult situations, ethics of tutoring, study skills, communication skills, and goal setting. TRIO DSS began this process during the spring 2019 semester and achieved their certification on Dec. 13. They are now one of only two certified programs (DSS and Student Support Services) on Wichita State’s campus. For more information on the DSS Program and its tutoring services, contact us at 978-5949.
TRIO Disability Support Services
Interdisciplinary Program Award presentations today
Join us to hear presentations from the interdisciplinary program award competition semifinalists from 3-4:30 p.m. today (Friday, Feb 14) in 256 RSC.
The semi-finalists are:
Roy Myose, Jeff Pulaski, Jeff Jarman - Minor in Science, Technology and Society
Mythili Menon, Rachel Showstack, Doug Parham, Jeff Hershfield - BA in Applied Linguistics
Raina Rutti, Gary Brooking, Gery Markova, Kara McCluskey - Minor in Sustainability Management
Bill Hendry and Kiley Hicks - BS in Pre-Genetic Counseling
Interdisciplinary Program Competition
Save on sweatshirts at the Shocker Store
For every home men’s basketball game, the Shocker Store will have a sale for Shocker fans. For the game against Tulane on Sunday, Feb. 16, take 20% off sweatshirts (hoodies, crew, full zip, etc.) Sale is valid at Braeburn Square location and at shockerstore.com, on game day only.
Some exclusions apply. Not valid with other discounts or promotions.
Buy Black ICT Expo coming Feb. 15
Wichita State's Black Student Union is hosting its first Buy Black ICT Expo and one of our many events for Black History Month. This event is open to the community. Don’t miss the Buy Black ICT Expo from noon-4 p.m. tomorrow (Saturday, Feb. 15) on the first floor, RSC.
Our goal is to highlight Black-owned businesses within the Wichita area. The purpose is to showcase black entrepreneurs in the Wichita community. Many students do not know where to Buy Black, and this expo gives them a chance to find these businesses. Anyone is welcome to come.
There will also be free pizza and a drawing.
Best President of WSU Debate
Come nominate your choice for the WSU President (who served at least 30 years ago) who made the biggest positive impacts on students, Wichita, and the world, or just listen to the debate. Anyone can attend, and there will a vote at the end.
The debate will be held from 11 a.m.-12:15 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 19, in 200 Ahlberg Hall, and is sponsored by the Department of Political Science.
Contact Neal Allen, chair of Political Science, with any questions at neal.allen@wichita.edu or 978-7133.
Emcees wanted for Hippodrome 2020
Hippodrome is the longest-standing tradition at WSU. This year we celebrate the 92nd year of the skit and variety act competition. Students can apply and try out to be this year’s emcees for the performances.
Go online to ShockerSync to fill out the emcee application.
Applications are due by 5 p.m. Wednesday, March 18.
For more information, go to wichita.edu/hippodrome or email traditions@wichita.edu.
University Update at Weekly Briefing
Read what was shared during the University Update at yesterday’s Weekly Briefing.
WSU TECH OFFERS FREE TUITION
WSU Tech will offer scholarships to workers laid off because of the grounding of the Boeing 737 Max.
The "Wichita Promise Scholarship" will pay tuition and fees for eligible classes and programs for training or to help employees finish their associate degrees. Career coaching by WSU Tech’s Career Services department is also available.
Classes at WSU Tech are six to eight weeks long, and a new session starts in March. Some of the subjects being taught include machining basics, aerospace paint, composite fabrication, electrical assembly and welding.
The program is funded by WSU Tech and community donations.
BACK WITH THE BAND
For a second straight year, WSU Tech will receive Metallica Scholars Grant Money from the All Within My Hands Foundation. WSU Tech is one of 15 schools receiving $100,000 toward programs designed to support students training to enter the workforce.
CALL FOR STARTUPS IN WICHITA
NXTUS, a partner in Wichita State’s innovation ecosystem, is looking for startups to help with its NXTSTAGE Pilot Competition.
The Pilot Competition is open for applications at www.f6s.com/nxtstage.
NXTSTAGE is aimed at propelling startups that have gotten off the ground, with deployable products in market, to their next stage of growth, by connecting them to mature businesses and regional partners looking to become customers for their innovations. The program will curate engagement between corporate partners and startups and end with an innovation showcase in the spring.
NXTUS, formerly e2e Accelerator, is led by president and CEO Josh Oeding, who earned his degree in entrepreneurship from Wichita State.
NXTSTAGE is aimed at propelling startups that have gotten off the ground, with deployable products in market, to their next stage of growth, by connecting them to mature businesses and regional partners looking to become customers for their innovations. The program will curate engagement between corporate partners and startups and end with an innovation showcase in the spring.
Applications for the competition are accepted online at www.f6s.com/nxtstage.
NXTUS, formerly e2e Accelerator, is led by president and CEO Josh Oeding, who earned his degree in entrepreneurship from Wichita State.
INNOVATION COMPETITION AT BARDO CENTER
Registration is open until Friday for the Institute for Innovation’s Invent for the Planet innovation competition, sponsored by Airbus. The competition takes place beginning Friday at the John Bardo Center lobby
Invent for the Planet (IFTP) challenges students to solve real-world problems. Teams of 3-5 students will work to design and prototype a solution for a wide range of global concerns. Students from across the globe will also work on the problems, allowing for collaboration.
Mentors will be available and the teams will present their solutions to judges for a chance to win more than $500 worth in prizes.
E-LAUNCH TAKES OFF NEXT WEEK
Spring E-Launch at the Center for Entrepreneurship begins on Feb. 20.
The Center for Entrepreneurship wants to nurture and support ideas/concepts/products that you would like to pursue moving into the marketplace.
E-Launch fosters entrepreneurial activity, leading to the commercialization of ideas. Through an interactive process, participants will learn to clearly conceptualize how the product or service can provide real value to customers. Participants will be shown how to validate their value proposition with customers and other stakeholders.
E-Launch meets for six Thursdays this spring in Devlin Hall.
Tilford Symposium welcomes Delia Garcia as one of its keynote speakers
Delia Garcia
The 2020 Tilford Symposium is excited to announce Honorable Delia Garcia as one of its keynote speakers from 2-2:45 p.m. Friday, Feb. 28, in the Shirley Beggs Ballroom, third floor, RSC.
Delía García serves as the Secretary for the Kansas Department of Labor, confirmed by the Senate on May 3, 2019. She returned to Kansas after serving eight years in executive, senior leadership in the national organizations ReflectUS, National Migrant Seasonal Head Start Association, and the National Education Association in Washington, D.C. In 2004, she was elected to the Kansas House of Representatives, where she served six years and served on the Commerce and Labor Committee at her request. Delía made Kansas history by becoming the first Latina and the youngest female to serve in the Kansas Legislature in 2004. She is using her business, policy, national management, and advocacy expertise to serve hard-working Kansans and their families.
Delía received her Master’s Degree in Political Science, with an emphasis in Public Administration from St. Mary’s University in San Antonio, Texas, and her Bachelor of Arts degree from Wichita State University. She is also a graduate of the Harvard University Executive Leadership Program, the Aspen Executive Leadership Institute and the Kansas Leadership Center. Delía received numerous recognitions for her leadership and community service, including a permanent exhibition in the State of Kansas Historical Society Museum as the first Latina elected in Kansas.
The Tilford Symposium is open to all faculty, staff, students and community members. Registration is now open, and space is limited.
Volunteers needed for a research study
Research Topic / Purpose of the study: Biometric-based Person Identification using Face and Eye identifiers. The purpose of this research is to reduce the error rates of the existing biometric systems based on scanning face and eye regions.
Procedures: Participants will be asked to provide their face and eye region data for research study in the field of biometrics for person identification.
Time: Participation is expected to last about 1 hour. The data will be collected in two visits 2-4 weeks apart.
Inclusion / Exclusion Criteria:
- Participants must be age 18 - 65
Location: Wichita State University 325 lab in Wallace Hall
Contact: If you are interested in participating in this study, contact PI Dr. Ajita Rattani at ajita.rattani@wichita.edu.
Higher Education / Student Affairs assistantships at WSU
Interested in graduate assistantships in higher education? Grad Weekend at Wichita State University on March 13-14, is a weekend-long chance to find your perfect assistantship match. Those who attend will have the opportunity to explore WSU’s beautiful campus, meet and interview with Student Affairs staff (and potential employers), ask current graduate assistants about their experiences, and learn more about the graduate assistantships that will be available for the 2020-21 academic year.
Registration is due by 11:59 p.m. Sunday, March 8.
For more information, go to wichita.edu/studentaffairs.
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.
WSU Esports vs. Andover Esports – WSUTech Esports exhibition
In October 2019, we helped the WSU and WSUTech Esports teams in rounds against local high schools, including Andover High School, at the opening of the WSUTech Esports program at WSU South Campus. Check out the video above.
Earn extra cash by helping with the US Census 2020
Help get dividends for a decade for your community by working for the US Census. Apply online at 2020census.gov/jobs or text “kansasjobs” to 313131.
Fellowship, snacks and the Bible on Friday's with CRU
CRU invites you to an international student-focused Bible study from 4-5 p.m. today (Friday, Feb. 14) at the Twin Oaks apartments, Building 8, room 802 (down the stairs once you enter building 8.)
We are excited to share in each other's diverse cultures through fellowship and snacks.
You do not have to be an international student to come, all students are welcome. We hope to see you there.
Ulrich's 'Solving for X' provides unique platform for WSU political scientist's anti-gerrymandering work
Prof. Brian Amos will deliver two talks at the Ulrich in the coming weeks:
10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 19, Senior Wednesday
5:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 3, League of Women Voters event
Both events are free and open to the public.
Brian Amos laughs when asked if he ever imagined his work would be on display in an art museum.
“No, that’s not something I ever thought would happen,” said Amos, an Assistant Professor of Political Science at Wichita State University.
Yet, that’s precisely where his research is currently showcased, thanks to the Solving for X exhibition series at WSU’s Ulrich Museum of Art. The series is organized by the Ulrich in collaboration with university scholars in all disciplines across campus. The objective is to work with them to create visualizations of their research, and to explore the ways the Museum can help make that fascinating and important research more accessible to the public.
In Amos’s case, that meant visualizing his research on preventing “gerrymandering”—the practice of redrawing political districts for the benefit of the people drawing the maps. Amos’s work seeks to improve the computer algorithms used to redraw the maps by identifying bias in existing approaches that might skew measurements, and by incorporating Voting Rights Act protections into those algorithms to ensure racial and ethnic minority groups are represented properly.
For the exhibition, titled Solving for X=Representation: Slaying the Gerrymander, district maps were blown up to wall-sized proportions, so you can clearly see the shapes and patterns within them, almost like a Rorschach Test. Video clips of news coverage and political satire on the topic, and a video interview with Amos himself were also added to create a multimedia experience.
The result is an exhibition that encourages viewers think about gerrymandering beyond just lines on a map. As part of the programming for his exhibition, Amos will deliver two talks at the Ulrich in the coming weeks. He will present at the Senior Wednesday program at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 19, and he will also speak at a League of Women Voters event at the Museum at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 3. Both events are free and open to the public.
Ulrich Director Leslie Brothers said the timeliness and importance of Amos’s research made him a perfect fit for the exhibition series.
“Solving for X seeks to showcase WSU’s most innovative research,” Brothers said. “Brian’s work is right up there. As this election cycle heats up, it will be even more important for people to understand the challenges we face preventing gerrymandering. This is exhibition gives Brian a platform to make that vital information accessible to the public.”
Amos, meanwhile, said he was grateful for the opportunity to reach new audiences through the Museum.
“A lot of us love to talk about what we research—and we get to do that at academic conferences with our peers,” he said. “But this is an entirely different audience; you have to take a step back and think of how to explain what it is you do.”
Once the 2020 Census data is collected and analyzed, political districts across the nation will once again be redrawn to reflect the shifts in populations, and Amos’s work will likely be in high demand to ensure those lines are redrawn fairly. In the meantime, the Solving for Xexhibition gives him a chance to introduce his work to the WSU and Wichita communities—and it has encouraged him to think of the many different ways he can reach the public.
“I would definitely recommend that other WSU researchers try to participate in the Solving for X series,” he said. “It made me really think about the fundamentals of what I do.”
Solving for X=Representation: Slaying the Gerrymander will be on display at the Ulrich until June 28. WSU researchers interested in having their work considered for future exhibitions should email Ulrich Director Leslie Brothers at Leslie.brothers@wichita.edu.
Register for E-Launch Spring 2020 now
E-Launch fosters entrepreneurial activity, leading to the commercialization of ideas. Through an interactive process, participants will learn to clearly conceptualize how the product or service can provide real value to customers. Participants will be shown how to validate their value proposition with customers and other stakeholders
2nd Annual Cops for Shocks Food Drive Feb. 14 thru March 31
The WSUPD challenges departments all across campus as we did last year to help stock the Shocker Support Locker.
Donations are accepted at the Police Department lobby from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday. We will be glad to pick up and deliver for you, or give your donation to any WSUPD officer until March 31.
Donate shelf stable pantry items, baby food and diapers, hygiene products and bottled water.
Avoid canned green beans, corn, high sugar foods and food past the expiration date.
Campus Credit Union's 68th Annual Meeting
Campus Credit Union members are invited to its 68th Annual Meeting to be hosted in at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 19, at Shocker Sports Grill and Lanes in Rhatigan Student Center. Members are encouraged to stop in and buy their tickets now for $5, as prices will be $8 at the door. The night will include dinner (American food), bowling, and raffled door prizes. We look forward to hosting our membership; please join us!
Summer study abroad scholarships available
Are you planning to study abroad this summer? Don't forget to apply for study abroad scholarships. The deadline to apply is Sunday, March 1. Please see website for application form and requirements.
Apply to speak at the next Wichitalks event on March 21
KMUW is hosting Wichitalks on March 21 at the Crown Uptown, and we’re taking applications for speakers. Speakers will give a five-minute presentation (20 slides, auto-advancing every 15 seconds) about something they’re passionate about. The deadline to apply is Friday, Feb. 21. More information about Wichitalks (and tickets to the event) can be found on our website.
Student Health Services is offering low cost flu shots
Student Health Services is offering flu shots for students for $20. Bring your health insurance card and SHS will file your insurance for the cost of the flu vaccine!
The Student Wellness Center is open Monday through Friday 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
Volunteers needed for Foodbank Friday's at the Lord's Diner
Join the Community Service Board for Foodbank Fridays. The event takes place from 1:30-3:30 today (Friday, Feb. 14) at the Lord’s Diner. Transportation is available for this event.
Alternative Spring Break is in Seattle, Washington
Alternative Spring Break will take place from March 21-26 in Seattle, Washington. This year the focus revolves around hunger and sustainability. The cost is $650 per person and includes airfaire, ground transportation in Seattle and all lodging and food costs.
Applications are available at Wichita.edu/altbreak or in 216 RSC. All participants must attend a six week seminar that will meet once a week for an hour before the trip.
For more questions, call 978-3022 or stop by 216 RSC.
Spend a night at The Arcade with SAC
Join SAC for a retro filled night from 6-9 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 27, at The Arcade, 139 N. Mead St. Bring your friends and battle it out on the PAC-Man Battle Royale, play unlimited pin ball games, and enjoy some food. This is a night that you won’t want to miss. For more info go to Wichita.edu/sac.
Students w/ WSU ID | Free
Faculty/Staff w/ WSU ID | $3
General Admission | $5
Craft Corner: DIY face masks
Artista or nah? No worries, we’ll show you how it’s done! Stop by between classes and be creative with SAC between 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Tuesday, March 3, 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, de-stress 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.