Wichita State administrators answer questions from students in Virtual Town Hall
Wichita State University president Jay Golden joined Student Body president Kitrina Miller and others for a Virtual Town Hall on Thursday.
Provost Rick Muma, associate vice president for student affairs Aaron Austin and Carolyn Speer, manager of the Instructional Design and Access department, also answered questions submitted during the town hall.
Golden and Miller plan to hold town halls regularly, perhaps bi-weekly.
“We are all going to get through this, it’s just going to take a little time,” Golden said. “Our students, and our faculty and staff, have shown incredible patience and grace during this period of time. We are still continuing and that’s the important part.”
- Golden said the transition to remote learning has largely gone smoothly.
“We haven’t really received any major issues with the online instruction to date,” he said. “There have been some small issues that have popped up, more individual cases, and those have been addressed by the Provost and his office.”
- Golden and Muma stressed the importance of students asking for help and using university resources if they are struggling academically or with their mental or physical wellness.
“I want the students to know you can help by letting us know what your needs are,” Golden said.
Muma emphasized that students should talk with instructors, advisors, tutors, Financial Aid and others if they encounter academic or financial problems.
“We have a whole host of resources that are available remotely,” he said. “If you’re struggling, promise all of us here today that you’re going to reach out to someone before you make any decision that’s going to negatively impact you.”
- Wichita State does not have a pass/fail option for grading.
- The process for credits/refunds for room, board and parking began earlier this week.
- Wichita State is not refunding tuition, course and program fees, student activity fees, online fees or the campus infrastructure fee primarily used for OneStop Student Services.
“When it comes to student fees, the thing to remember is that those programs continue to serve students,” Austin said. “One great example is Counseling and Preventions Services. A lot of their funding comes through student fees. They are still available to students. They are putting out programming to help students. Student Government Association had their meeting (Wednesday). Your dollars are still being in use and those dollars are still being used to help you.”
- Golden said that a determination on the format for summer classes will be made soon.
- Wichita State plans for a normal fall semester, while also planning for other options should circumstances require a change.
- Wichita State will recognize graduates with a virtual ceremony in May. A commencement ceremony is planned for October in Charles Koch Arena. Graduates would also have the option to participate in the December ceremony.
“You’re going to have one heck of a commencement in October on campus,” Golden said. “We are going to recognize the great work you’ve done.”
Care Team has compiled resources for those affected by COVID-19
For those who have lost access to needed resources due to COVID-19, Care Team has compiled resources for emergency assistance and self-care. Resources include housing, health, clothing, food and involvement.
In addition, Care Team and Shocker Strong are conducting a four-week program on Remote Wellness. Learn more at wichita.edu/remotewellness.
Looking for temporary or part-time work during COVID-19?
The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted many students' employment options. The Career Development Center has collected these resources to help Wichita State University students find part-time, remote, and work-from-home opportunities.
Career Development COVID-19 Update
COVID-19 Emergency Fund grants now available to students
We’ve heard from students who are suffering financial hardships related to COVID-19. The WSU Foundation has created an emergency fund for students who have lost their job or had other financial setbacks due to the pandemic.
The fund has been started with $25,000 from WSU Foundation donors. Students may apply for grants of up to $500 by visiting the WSU Office of Financial Aid website at https://www.wichita.edu/finaidCOVID19 for the application and FAQs related to financial aid and COVID-19.
If you know of others who would like to support Wichita State students through the emergency fund, they can contribute at https://foundation.wichita.edu/shockersup.
A letter from your dean of students
Hello Shockers!
We are probably all feeling a variety of emotions about the coronavirus. Not only how it has affected your school year, but our whole lives.
Scared. Anxious. Exhausted. Frustrated. Overwhelmed. Sad.
It is hard to imagine an emotion that is not being felt, and none of them are wrong. The thing to remember is that we are all in this together and we will come out the other side of this stronger and better.
From academic advising to mentoring, you are still connected to the campus. As a Wichita State University student, you still have access to a variety of resources and services. A list of resources can be found on the Student Affairs website as well as the services and methods you can use to reach them. Also remember that OneStop is available 24 hours a day.
If you need to speak to someone, remember that you are not alone. There is help available via Counseling and Prevention Services. If you see someone else struggling, offer to help them.
If you’d feel more comfortable with someone else reaching out to them, you can also send me an email at aaron.austin@wichita.edu and I’ll reach out to them.
Be safe. Take care of yourself and take care of each other.
Aaron Austin
Associate vice president of Student Affairs and dean of students
The Great Eight Career Competencies Virtual Workshop is today
Employers are looking for Wichita State graduates to be Career Ready — meaning you know how to use your talents, strengths, and interests. Being Career Ready means you can recognize and demonstrate the competencies identified by employers that are crucial to a successful transition into the workplace.
Our workshops are designed to help you understand the meaning of these competencies, learn how to identify and exhibit these skills, and how to further develop them. Join the Career Development Center from 11 a.m.-noon today (Friday, April 3) for this Virtual Career Readiness Workshop!
Great Eight Career Competencies
SGA Academic Committee welcomes nominations for Graduate Teaching Assistant of the Year and Academic Advisor of the Year
Do you know a Graduate Teaching Assistant or an Academic Advisor of the Year who has made such a meaningful impact on your collegiate career or has made an impact to your department and/or college? Nominate them for the Graduate Teaching Assistant of the Year and Academic Advisor of the Year.
Applications are due at 5 p.m. today (Friday, April 3). Click here to submit a nomination.
How to troubleshoot Blackboard problems
Troubleshooting in Blackboard
If you are experiencing difficulties in Blackboard, you may find these simple troubleshooting techniques helpful:
Make sure you are on the Internet: Especially if you are using Wifi, you may find that you have lost your connection.
Go to Blackboard directly: Type blackboard.wichita.edu directly into your address bar. Do not access Blackboard through the MyWSU portal.
Switch Browsers. Good browsers to try for Blackboard include Chrome and Firefox. If you are a Mac user, Safari usually works well, too. Internet Explorer and Edge are not good choices when using Blackboard.
Check Your Physical Connections. It may seem surprising, but many of the problems we see in help tickets are related to someone's computer (microphone, camera, monitor, etc.) getting unplugged. Make sure everything is plugged in tightly, including cables at the back of your machine.
Get Help. If none of the troubleshooting steps above worked, it's time to get help by putting in a OneStop ticket.
Educational Continuity for Students
Parking update for spring 2020
For the remainder of the semester, Wichita State University is suspending parking enforcement for lots with green, yellow and green-and-yellow-striped signage. Parking enforcement personnel will continue to enforce permits in stalls with red signage, as well as ADA parking stalls, fire lanes and other reserved parking areas.
We understand the impact the global pandemic has placed on students and are doing all we can to accommodate the Shocker community during these challenging times.
Graduate Assistantships in Student Affairs / Student Services
Master level graduate students who are in or going into the following degree programs, Higher Education Student Affairs, Educational Leadership, Education, Public Affairs and Communication are encouraged to apply for graduate assistantships within Student Affairs / Student Services. For more information or to apply, please visit wichita.edu/HESAGradAssistantships or email getinvolved@wichita.edu.
Virtual Clinical hiring event today · Hosted by Ascension Via Christi
Ascension Via Christi realizes the importance of social distancing at this time, and staying home with your family. We also realize that many of you are still searching for that next step in your career.
The Career Development Center invites you to join us for our Virtual Career Fair from noob-2 p.m. today (Friday April 3). You will have the opportunity to chat with Ascension Via Christi recruitment team members from our Wichita, Pittsburg and Manhattan hospitals about our many open positions from the comfort of your own home.
Event Details:
Chats are about 10 minutes long, leaving you plenty of time in your day for other things. Join the chat any time between 12 - 2 p.m. CST and speak with a member of our recruitment team.
Open Positions:
- CNA
- Emergency Services
- Laboratory (Phlebotomy Tech, MLT, MLS)
- LPN
- Medical Assistant
- Non-clinical/Administrative
- Radiology/Imaging
- Rehabilitation Services (PT, OT)
- Respiratory Therapist
- RN
- Social Worker/Case Management
- Surgical Services (Surgical Technician, Processing Specimen Technician)
Changes to GRASP
Given current recommendations, the in-person Graduate Research and Scholarly Projects (GRASP) Symposium has been canceled. However, in order to provide an opportunity to showcase graduate research and scholarly projects, we will be moving GRASP online. We’re still working on logistics and will announce details later.
Aren't familiar with GRASP? Please visit our website to learn more about our annual symposium at wichita.edu/grasp.
Chartwells family meals with free delivery
Free delivery in Wichita and surrounding areas. Let us bring food to your door.
Don’t risk leaving your house when we can come to your door and deliver healthy and tasty meals for the entire family. Check out our family meal options here. Order today!
Call 316-978-5863 or email wsucatering@compass-usa.com.
Office of Institutional Equity and Compliance is working remotely, but still available to address student and employee concerns
The Office of Institutional Equity and Compliance (OIEC) continues its commitment to review and address student, faculty and staff concerns pertaining to protected class discrimination and harassment, gender-based discrimination and harassment and sexual misconduct. The OIEC is equipped to provide interim support and available resources both on and off campus. We will also work to identify available resources and support options for students currently outside of the Wichita area.
Complaints can be filed using our online form, emailing OIEC@wichita.edu or by calling 316-978-3205.
University Libraries to offer free webinar on IEEE courses
Join us for a free webinar to learn more about IEEE Courses from noon-12:30 p.m. Thursday, April 9. To view log in information for the webinar, visit the event page.
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.
Please visit Common Read to submit your book.
If you have any questions, email tahrima.musa@wichita.edu.
Know Your Rights: Gender Marker & Name Change Webinar April 7
The Center of Wichita, GLSEN Kansas and the Office of Diversity and Inclusion will host a Know Your Rights: Gender Marker & Name Change Webinar, presented by Delaney Hiegert (they/them) and Ellen Bertels (she/her) at 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 7 on Zoom. This is an information webinar for transgender and non-binary individuals as they seek affirming gender marker and name changes in Kansas.
Bookmark the link: zoom.us/j/275705714
For more information, contact the Office of Diversity and Inclusion at 316-978-3034.
Online tax appointments
The Office for Student Money Management encourages all students, faculty, and staff to file their taxes. We currently partner with the United Way to offer a free online tax program at MyFreeTaxes.com through H&R Block. While our services are free, this software MAY charge for any individual who has a health savings plan, 1099s, or other Schedule C-D-E tax forms. It does not charge for filing W2's and 1098T.
We also help international students using the Glacier Tax Filing software found on their MyWSU. International students will need to have a personal laptop / computer, their passport, I-20, and I-94 forms ready. Please be sure to have an access code for creating a new account through Glacier prior to scheduling with us. An email from the International Office has already been sent out on these instructions.
Our staff is fully trained to help guide you through the process of doing taxes on your own. Please take this opportunity and schedule an appointment with us. We are now providing our services ONLINE ONLY and are not meeting students in-person.
For all other questions or to schedule an appointment, call us at 978-3254 or email at osmm@wichita.edu.
Student Health Services is still open!
The door sticks, so pull hard! Student Health Services hours are subject to change. Hours are currently from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday. Staff will be screening all individuals prior to entrance, and additional visitors are asked to stay home.
Please use the southwest entrance to access the Student Wellness Center. This entrance is off the parking lot closest to the lake. Thank you.
Curbside Services now being offered through Student Health Services
Student Health Services is now offering Curbside Services! Pick up refilled prescriptions or get your TB test read without having to leave your car. Offered during normal hours, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
2020 Summer Leadership Institute announcement
As we continue to evaluate our programming for this semester and keep the safety and well-being of our students, faculty, and staff at the forefront of our priorities, we have made the difficult decision to cancel this year’s Summer Leadership Institute (SLI).
While we recognize this event takes place further out, we want to be proactive in offering alternative programming that reaches our students virtually. For more information about upcoming Student Involvement programming, please visit the Student Involvement webpage[BROKEN LINK].
Reach out to Kennedy Rogers at kennedy.rogers@wichita.edu if you have any questions regarding this year’s 2020 SLI.
Ulrich Museum offers Museum at Home resources to help with self-distancing
The Ulrich Museum of Art on the Wichita State University campus is excited to offer several wonderful resources to help you stay connected to the arts -- and the museum -- during these difficult times of self-distancing.
Whether you're trying to develop lesson plans and activities for your kids, or just interested in furthering your own learning, stay connected to our website and our social media platforms for regular features meant to entertain and inform you as we get through this challenging period.
Among the resources now available:
The "Staff Selections" video series. Our staff members pick their favorite talks from the 80+ recorded talks. They give a brief explanation of why they chose that particular artist talk, and then provide a small excerpt from the lecture. Our hope is that it will whet your appetite for more and inspire you to view the artist's full talk. Our first installment features Curator Ksenya Gurshtein introducing Artist Trenton Doyle Hancock's talk. Be sure to check our website and social media regularly for new installments!
Outdoor Sculpture Collection Coloring Pages. Need something to keep the kids busy? Or maybe you just need to escape from the news. If so, print out our Outdoor Sculpture Collection Coloring Pages, featuring some of your favorite pieces from our world-class Martin H. Bush Outdoor Sculpture Collection. Once you've finished coloring, feel free to share it with us at ulrich@wichita.edu. We'll show off your masterpieces on social media!
"Meet Me in the Vault." We encourage you to explore our new Collection Portal (accessible through our website[BROKEN LINK]), pick your favorite work of art from our permanent collection, and email it to us at ulrich@wichita.edu. Please include the artist, title, and your name with a brief statement about why this piece is one of your favorites. Your picks will be shared on social media!
From all of us at the Ulrich, stay safe and healthy, and keep in touch.
The Office of Diversity and Inclusion is celebrating InspirASIAN Month in April at Wichita State University!
Originally celebrated in May, Asian-Pacific Islander Desi American (APIDA) Heritage Month is honored by commemorating the achievements and contributions of APIDAs have made to American history, culture and society.
In 1978, Congress passed a joint Congressional Resolution to celebrate Asian-American Heritage Week during the first 10 days of May. This date was chosen because two important anniversaries fall during this time: the arrival of the first Japanese immigrants in the United States on May 7, 1843, and the completion of the transcontinental railroad by many Chinese laborers on May 10, 1869. In 1990, President George H. W. Bush and Congress voted to expand the celebration, and since 1992, May has been designated as APIA Heritage Month.
InspirASIAN Month is celebrated in April because of activities related to the end of the academic year and commencement in May.
We look forward to featuring several prominent individuals and organizations in the APIDA community throughout the month.
For more information, contact the Office of Diversity and Inclusion at 316-978-3034.
Celebrate GAYpril - LGBTQ+ Pride in April!
April, or GAYpril, is a month-long celebration of PRIDE for the LGBTQ+ community through a series of events that includes webinars and workshops.
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ+) Pride Month is currently celebrated each year in the month of June to honor the 1969 Stonewall riots in Manhattan. The Stonewall riots were a tipping point for the Gay Liberation Movement in the United States. The purpose of the commemorative month is to recognize the impact that LGBTQ+ individuals have had on history locally, nationally, and internationally. At Wichita State University, we celebrate LGBTQ+ Pride as GAYpril prior to the end of the semester.
We will highlight some of the prominent LGBTQ+ individuals and organizations that have made a huge impact in our community.
For more information, contact the Office of Diversity and Inclusion at 316-978-3034.
COVID-19 Relief Loan offers
Campus Credit Union understands the pressing needs of our WSU community given changes resulting from COVID-19. In response, we have created the following loan offers:
#1. Allow any member affected by COVID-19, to skip-a-payment up to 60 days with no fee.
#2. Any member getting a loan due to COVIID-19 issues is allowed their 1st payment date to be in 60 days
#3. For any member in need of money for a COVID-19 issue a special relief loan up to $1,000 at 5% with term up to 12 months.
*Offers #1-3 are with approved credit and subject to change without notice.
We hope this can help remote workers, those with an immediate need, or anyone trying to make ends meet. We want to be there to help. Those who are not members can become members.
If you have any questions don’t hesitate to reach out at (316) 978-3666. We remain in full operation via drive-up, phone, email, home banking, and mobile banking. Our lobby is closed for the next two weeks.
RSC Engraving resumes production
Having now settled into working remotely and social distancing, the RSC Engraving Shop is ready to resume production to serve all of your engraving and award needs. We realize that while in-person classes have been temporarily halted, the need to recognize students, faculty and staff for their achievements may be more important than ever!
In an effort to promote social distancing, in-person orders are not being taken at the present time. Instead, you can start an order by emailing rsc.engraving@wichita.edu or leaving a voicemail message at 316-978-7048.
Upon completion, we will arrange for curbside service for pick-ups or even deliver completed orders when feasible.