A letter from WSU President Dr. Jay Golden
Dear Students, Families, Faculty and Staff,
I want to start this message with two important reminders.
First, as I often tell people around the country, Shocker Nation and Wichitans are an incredible group of individuals, unsurpassed in America. I have not been part of a campus or community where the people are so caring and supportive of one another. Leading Wichita State University is truly an honor.
Second, it is because of the strength of our community that I have no doubt that we are all going to get through these difficult times just fine.
As a nation, events are rapidly evolving. It was my hope that I would be able to provide you better news but — given newly issued federal guidelines — I am letting you know today that Wichita State University has made the difficult decision to continue online and/or remote instruction through the end of the semester. We will not be resuming in-person classes.
Given the very recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance for limited gatherings for at least 8 weeks, this decision was made not only to protect our campus community but also to provide some sense of certainty during these unprecedented times.
In an effort to support public health efforts by Sedgwick County and the State of Kansas, Wichita State University will begin limiting on-campus housing operations at 5 p.m. on Sunday, March 22. Students who have already left campus will not be allowed to return without explicit authorization from Housing & Residence Life staff. However, students who have traveled to the following areas over the break will not be allowed to pick up items until they have completed 14 days of self-quarantine as detailed by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment:
- California
- New York state
- Washington state
- Eagle, Summit, Pitkin and Gunnison counties in Colorado
Wichita State University Housing & Residence Life recognizes that leaving the residence halls is not an option for all of our students, so we will allow students meeting the criteria outlined below to register to remain on campus:
- International students and students with a permanent address in an area heavily affected by COVID-19.
- Students with health conditions or disabilities that prevent travel home.
- Students who reside with a family member/guardian with health issues that put them at increased risk of COVID-19.
- Students without the ability to return to their permanent residence due to other documented circumstances.
The university is in the process of determining how to address housing and dining refund requests. Once a decision is made, we will update the university’s website https://www.wichita.edu/covid19news
To our students, faculty, and staff: Our Provost, Rick Muma, is working with our faculty to plan for online and/or remote format for the remainder of the academic year. He and his colleagues in Academic Affairs will also be keeping students and faculty and staff apprised of any needed changes involving academic programs.
Dr. Teri Hall, Vice President of Student Affairs, and her colleagues will be providing updates to students, including continuing services for mental and physical well-being and housing.
Vice President for Finance and Administration Werner Golling and our Human Resources office will continue to keep you informed of our policies on pay and benefits, sick leave, telecommuting and more. Some of these communications may be sent through your divisional vice president.
To the parents of our students: I understand and appreciate what you are having to deal with right now to support your child and their needs while also trying to balance home and work. My younger daughter just returned from her college semester abroad, which was cut short. Not only did we have to scramble to get her back to the United States, she is now in a 14-day voluntary self-quarantine in North Carolina. My wife is providing the necessary parental support, such as groceries etc. All of this can be disruptive to family lives. Every decision we make will impact you and your family; we know this. I want to make sure we are doing all we can to minimize these disruptions as best as possible.
To our seniors and those graduate students completing studies this semester: I am saddened that your final semester has been disrupted in this way. Because we can’t predict the near-term future of COVID-19 spread, we are going to have to indefinitely postpone in-person spring commencement. I do want to promise to you and your families that I will make sure your incredible accomplishments will be recognized and that your university and your president will honor all that you have done.
Please know that these difficult decisions are not being made in isolation. I have been meeting with our university leadership team every morning and they are meeting with their divisions throughout each day as well. We have and continue to be in constant discussions with county and state health professionals and are following their guidance.
I and my team members have been consulting and coordinating with our counterparts at the University of Kansas and Kansas State University and, especially, with our Kansas Board of Regents who are working very hard to support all of our university students and institutions. We all want to do what is best for our students, faculty, staff and university community.
Remember, we will get through this together. Take a moment and check on each other and remind each other that you care. Follow CDC and local health guidelines-as we are doing at Wichita State. Please make sure to continue to check our Wichita State University COVID-19 website and FAQ pages at https://www.wichita.edu/covid19news
I will keep you informed. Until my next note, stay safe, stay strong and as always … Go Shocks!
Dr. Jay Golden
President, Wichita State University
Study Abroad updates: COVID-19
All university-sponsored international travel is discontinued at this time for all students, staff and faculty, which includes Study Abroad programs per the university announcement last week. The university has decided to make these changes in an abundance of caution. Although university offices will be open during this time, we are making some changes that will impact the services we normally provide in the Garvey International Center for the area of Study Abroad.
COVID-19 update at Wichita State; Weekly Briefings will sunset tomorrow (Thursday, March 19)
The Weekly Briefings held at 10 a.m. Thursdays will sunset tomorrow (Thursday, March 19), in 233 RSC. The Weekly Briefings began in fall 2018 in an effort to keep the campus and public better informed about the progress occurring at Wichita State.
The final Weekly Briefing will feature Camille Childers, director of Student Health Services, and Provost Rick Muma talking about COVID-19.
The briefing will be livestreamed and available later that day at WSU Weekly Briefing.
Following the briefing, the university will continue to keep the campus and public informed through other forms of communication.
NEWSLETTERS
The “First Tuesday” newsletter will be distributed to WSU faculty, staff and students. In addition, the “President’s Connection” will be directed at alumni and community. If you are not an alumnus and want to subscribe, email president@wichita.edu.
The “Wichita State Research” newsletter will publish every other month. To subscribe to the research newsletter, email research@wichita.edu.
SOCIAL MEDIA
President Golden is active on social media. Follow Dr. Golden on Twitter and Facebook. Follow Wichita State University on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
President:
Twitter: @presidentwsu
Facebook: @presidentwsu
Wichita State University:
Twitter: @wichitastate
Facebook: @wichita.state
Instagram: @wichitastateu
WSU TODAY
WSU Today will continue for faculty and staff Monday through Friday. News releases and press conferences will also occur as needed.
SHOCKER BLAST
Shocker Blast will continue for students on Monday, Wednesday and Friday when classes are in session in spring and fall.
CAMPUS CONNECTION
Campus Connection also will continue for employees on the Innovation Campus every Tuesday.
Postponed - Wichita State University Analytics Showcase
The Wichita State University Analytics Showcase has been postponed until further notice following the COVID-19 response by the university. The organizing committee is working to bring this event to the community at a future date. For updates, continue to check www.wichita.edu/analytics/. Thank you for your understanding.
Wichita State University Libraries events suspended
All Wichita State University Libraries events are suspended until further notice. Wichita State University Libraries will continue to provide plentiful academic online resources. See http://libraries.wichita.edu/covid19 for more details.
4th Annual DiverseCity has been postponed!
After much thought and consideration, we have made a difficult decision to postpone the 4th annual DiverseCity Showcase, originally scheduled from April 13-18.
We are taking the advice of the CDC to practice social distancing due to COVID-19. Wichita State University and WSU Student Health Services are closely monitoring the COVID-19 outbreak. The health and safety of our students, faculty, staff and community members is our highest priority.
Your opinion is valuable and appreciated
In January 2020, Wichita State University President Dr. Jay Golden launched several task forces and studies as a commitment to shared governance, transparency and refining the focus of the university.
The Marketing and Branding Study is charged with actively engaging members of our campus community to examine how effectively we are branding and marketing our institution and provide recommendations.
The Student and Community Experience Survey seeks to engage students, campus community and the greater Wichita community to examine how effectively we are creating a positive "Shocker" experience for events and programs at Wichita State.
Your opinion is valuable and appreciated.
Participate in the US Census 2020
College students tend to be one of the demographic groups that's the most under-counted in past censuses. Do your part and participate in the US Census 2020.
How to participate in the U.S. Census 2020?
Starting in mid-March, you will receive a letter of invitation from the US Census bureau in the mail inviting you to participate in the US Census. You will be provided with a geo-code to log on to the website of the US Census Bureau to fill out the census form. Because the geo-code can only be used once to log on to the website, it is strongly recommended that every person who resides in the same address should be present to fill out the census form together. That way, no critical information about any individual who resides in your address will be missed. If you don’t have the geo-code at hand when you fill out the census, you can use your address to log on to the census website, or you can call in to answer the census questions.
If you are a college student who lives with your parents, you should only be counted at your parents’ address. If you live in on-campus housing, such as the flats, dormitories, or fraternity / sorority housing, you should confirm with your residential director as to how you should be included in the census. A census taker might interview you to get information to fill out the census for you; or a census taker might drop off census forms with your building’s contact person who will distribute one to each resident; or a designated representative from your dorm might complete the census form on behalf of all residents in the building.
If you live off-campus in an apartment complex or a group home, all the apartment mates in your address should fill out only one census form online, with everyone’s information included in it. If you spend some time elsewhere during the spring break or go home to visit your parents, you should still fill out the census form with your apartment address. In other words, the address where you spend the most time and sleep on a regular basis is the address where you should be counted for the census.
If you are an international student who lives off campus, you should fill out a census form online that includes everyone who lives at your address. If you have a spouse or children who reside with you, they should also be included in the census form.
Confidentiality: Census workers are required by Federal law to keep all the information you fill out in the census form strictly confidential. No government agencies, including ICE, FBI, or local police, can use any of the information you provided on the census form against an individual. Census data is used to compile aggregated statistics, so no identity of any individual will be disclosed. The census will ask you to provide information on the number of people at the address, any additional people living or staying there, whether you are a homeowner or a renter, your phone number, name, gender, age, date of birth, whether you are Hispanic, your race, and the relationships of the people who reside in the address.
Why is it important to participate in the U.S. Census? Responding to the census is important, because census numbers are used to distribute more than 6 billion federal dollars to Kansas every year. Every uncounted person costs the state about $2,000 in federal funding. An accurate count of our community can ensure fair congressional representation for Kansas. It will also ensure adequate Federal dollars for Pell Grants, student health services, and upgrading of infrastructure and public transportation in our community.
Volunteers needed for a research study
Purpose of the study: We are studying active listening and are interested to see if relative age has an effect on how a person feels they are communicating with another.
If interested, follow the link below to take an anonymous online survey that should take no more than 10 minutes. This survey is to be completed only by those 18 years of age or older.
If you have any questions or comments, contact Ardalia Criner at ardalia.criner@wichita.edu, Jill Fisher at jill.fisher@wichita.edu, or Robert Zimmerman at rdzimmerman@shockers.wichita.edu.
Wichita State Common Read call for nominations!
Have a book that you would like to suggest for consideration for the Wichita State Common Read program? Send in your nominations for the next common read book for the 2021-22 school year!
Wichita State Common Read is the university's common read program designed to spark conversation between students across majors on campus. This program strives to take educational concepts learned in the classroom and provide meaningful connections with out-of-the-classroom programs and activities. The Office of First-Year Programs is currently reviewing nominations.
Click here to submit your book.
If you have any questions, email tahrima.musa@wichita.edu.
Student Health Services is offering monthly deals on over-the-counter medicine
March is the time to get on top of your allergies and begin a daily preventative medicine! For more information about the effects of allergies, click here.
Share your sustainability news
As WSU prepares to celebrate Earth Day in April, we are creating a list of sustainability initiatives on campus. Submit upcoming sustainability events, current sustainable practices, or accomplishments by faculty, staff or students related to sustainability. Use our brief submission form to share these with the Sustainability Steering Committee. Consider joining one of the Working Groups, too!