SGA Town Hall recap
Wichita State University leadership answered questions about reopening plans for campus in a Virtual
Wichita State University leadership answered questions about reopening plans for campus in a Virtual Town Hall organized by the Student Government Association on Thursday, April 30.
President Jay Golden joined Provost Rick Muma; SGA president Rija Khan; Carolyn Speer, manager of instructional design and technology; and Terri Hall, vice president of student affairs.
You can watch the video here.
“Your educational experience at Wichita State or at any university is highly dependent upon, not just the faculty but the whole campus environment,” Dr. Golden said. “All of our staff, all of our partners and I just want students and their families to know that everybody on our campus is taking this very seriously. Everybody is truly dedicated to making sure that your student experience starting this fall is impactful, is less stressful, and is as enjoyable as possible.”
President Jay Golden assured student and their parents that the university is moving forward to open campus, beginning on May 26, in the safest manner possible.
He said there’s a slight enrollment decline for returning students, but incoming freshmen enrollment is up.
Wichita State currently has a $6.8 million deficit, and the university is being “aggressive and progressive” in dealing with this, Golden said. The university is taking discretionary funding to provide the best experience for students. Tuition increases are still up in the air and largely dependent on the state budget. However, he said if there is a tuition increase, it will likely be less than $70 per student per semester. There will not be any decision on fees until June 1.
Graduates are reminded that May 1 is the deadline to register for virtual commencement. There will be an opportunity for an in-person commencement on Oct. 10.
Provost Rick Muma spoke about campus reintegration efforts and said there are seven working groups made up of faculty, staff, and students.
- Health and safety
- Classroom and activity spacing while social distancing
- Faculty curricular design
- Student finances
- Research
- Innovation partners
- Communication
Recommendations from the working groups and the university will begin to be communicated in early May.
Student body president Rija Khan said Shocker Support Locker has expanded its offerings.
“We are now carrying diapers, baby food, formula, baby wipes, etc. Starting in mid-May, the locker will add Monday in addition to Wednesday and Friday for curbside pick-up dates through the summer,” Khan said.
The townhall then took questions from the viewers. Here are some of the highlights:
What can students expect regarding extra cleaning to prevent the transmission of viruses?
Muma said the custodial staff is engaged in extra cleaning, and that will continue. He said it’s always important for people to take ownership themselves and be cognizant of their surroundings.
“I’ll be carrying a little bottle of hand sanitizer myself to make sure I’m constantly sanitizing my hands and my work surface. I think everybody’s going to have to do that. We’re not going to be able to be there at every moment that we need something cleaned,” Muma said.
Teri Hall, vice president of student affairs, added that masks or face coverings should be part of students’ school supplies, along with hand sanitizer.
“Students should expect to have at least one mask to wear when they’re in confined spaces on campus and social distancing is impossible,” she said.
If classes are transitioned back online, will there be online fees?
Muma said that only classes that are assessed online fees are those that are intended to be online.
“Those that would possibly have to transition to a different format — those courses will still be assessed the same fees that they currently are, which does not include an online fee,” Muma said.
What can we expect from professors? Should students delay enrolling until they know what classes will look like?
Muma discourages any delays in enrollment, saying that students need to make sure they have the courses they need to stay on track for graduation.
“I feel very confident faculty will do a good job in terms of delivering the content in the fall,” he said.
Carolyn Speer, manager of instructional design and technology said the university is working to ensure that instructors have all the support they need to deliver their materials.
“We put a high value on instructors making decisions for their courses and to work with the technologies and the trainings and other support mechanisms available to them to make sure that they have everything that they need in order to be successful,” she said.
Dr. Golden added: “Your educational experience at Wichita State or at any university is highly dependent upon, not just the faculty but the whole campus environment,” Golden said. “All of our staff, all of our partners and I just want students and their families to know that everybody on our campus is taking this very seriously. Everybody is truly dedicated to making sure that your student experience starting this fall is impactful, is less stressful and is as enjoyable as possible. From athletics to student affairs to faculty, we’re all in this. I can guarantee you that everybody is truly dedicated to make this experience the best possible under unusual circumstances.”
Virtual Celebration RSVP deadline is today
Virtual Celebration registrations are due by 5 p.m. today (Friday, May 1).
Spring / Summer 2020 graduates, don't miss your chance to participate in Wichita State University's Virtual Celebration of you and your achievements! The celebration takes place at 9 a.m. Saturday, May 16.
The Virtual Celebration will not take the place of a traditional, in-person experience. Graduates may also participate in a commencement ceremony in either October or December 2020 to make that anticipated trek across the stage!
The virtual option will allow us to celebrate safely during this time of social distancing. All eligible spring and summer 2020 graduates should have received an email asking them to opt in if they want to participate and requesting information such as a photo, name pronunciation, and personal message in order to design a custom slide for each participating graduate. Please note: Spring and summer 2020 graduates need to check their Shocker email to opt in, or visit the commencement webpage for step-by-step instructions by clicking on “Register for WSU’s Virtual Celebration.”
MarchingOrder will provide a web page, specifically designed for Wichita State University’s spring and summer 2020 graduates, with shareable links for social media posts and the ability to download a custom slide. In addition, there will be a link on the commencement webpage to a digital program that will list the graduate's name, degree and any academic honors received. There will be an option to download, print or share digitally with family and friends. The celebration will also include pre-recorded remarks from the President, Provost, Deans, and Alumni Association.
For commencement updates, go to http://www.wichita.edu/commencement.
We look forward to celebrating the spring and summer 2020 graduates in this unique way!
Virtual Finals Prep Workshop at 11 a.m. today
Students are invited to join the WSU Office of Diversity and Inclusion for its virtual finals prep workshop from 11 a.m.-noon today (Friday, May 1)! This will be a secured Zoom session, so please RSVP at the link on our graphic above.
Thank you to TRIO Disability Support Services and WSU Counseling and Prevention Services for joining us.
This workshop is open to all students. Please email diversity@wichita.edu with questions.
GRASP 2020 is today!
The 16th Annual Graduate Research and Scholarly Projects Symposium is live on Blackboard today (Friday, May 1)! To view graduate student presentations, self-enroll in the GRASP 2020 Blackboard: log in to Blackboard, visit the GRASP 2020 Blackboard Organization page, and click the “+Enroll” button.
Textbook Buyback is now online only
Spring Textbook Buyback is now online only! Ship your gently used textbooks for free and receive cash for your books. Visit the “Course Materials” section of shockerstore.com for more information.
First-Generation Student Organization virtual Zoom meeting today
The First-Generation Student Organization (FGSO) seeks to raise awareness within Wichita State University’s student and professional community through activities and programs designed to foster the education of first-generation students.
Our next virtual meeting is at 11 a.m. today (Friday, May 1) via Zoom.
Kennedy Rogers, coordinator of Leadership Development at Student Involvement, will be our speaker and she will share her expertise on leadership styles. We will review the “16 Personalities” test, too, so please take it before our meeting and have it on hand to discuss. Click here to take the personality test.
We are looking forward to making long-standing connections and doing great things with and for the first-generation college students here at Wichita State University, while having fun in the process.
Career Development Center invites you to meet with KCOE today
If you are struggling to make sense of how to retake control of your career ambitions, or if you are interested in gaining perspectives on how to handle adversity in the workplace in uncertain times K·COE ISOM invites you to join us for our upcoming webinar: Pursuing your Career Path in Challenging Times.
KCOE has assembled a team of leaders and experts to help guide you through the process of dealing with adversity in the workplace, creating a mentor relationship, expanding your professional network, and creating a strategy to move forward when it feels like the world is going in reverse. This will be a great opportunity for you to understand how to collect your emotions, clarify the purpose and goals of your career, and make connections virtually.
This hour-long interactive webinar and panel Q & A will be led by James Boyd, Talent Advisor, and Samantha Dinkel, Senior Campus Recruiting Specialist.
See you at 1 p.m. today (Friday, May 1).
We hope you will join us!
Pursuing Your Career Path in Challenging Times
Adaptable art students launch Design Zoo exhibit
When Wichita State University’s graphic design students conceptualized the theme of adaptability for their senior show, they had no idea how much they’d need to embrace that notion.
“Every year at the end of the year, seniors have a show,” said Irma Puskarevic, visiting professor of graphic design. This year’s show was scheduled to display in WSU’s ShiftSpace Gallery, but the COVID-19 pandemic changed all that: “This year they had to do it online.”
The result: Design Zoo, where for at least 30 minutes, the 21 artists of Design Zoo will be live and streaming to talk and interact with the audience about their work, “as if they would if this were a real gallery,” Puskarevic said.
Design Zoo will be presented online at 6 p.m. today (Friday, May 1), on the group’s Facebook and Instagram pages.
Student Ambassador Society to award scholarship to current Wichita State student
The Student Ambassador Society will award the Amie Montgomery Scholarship of $500 to one current Wichita State student. Amie had a tremendous impact on the lives of other students who knew her during her time as a student at Wichita State University and as a student ambassador.
To find additional requirements and apply for the scholarship, go to www.Wichita.edu/SASscholarship.
The deadline for the 2020-21 school year is 5 p.m. Wednesday, May 13.
Top 10 reasons to take summer courses
Matt Ferguson, a marketing intern in the Office of Strategic Communications, offers the top 10 reasons to take summer courses.
Help shape Wichita State by taking brand survey
Help us better serve you by letting us know what you think through our new Wichita State University brand survey.
Your thoughts are important in this time of change. Help us make the right decisions to ensure everyone finds value in Wichita State and feels welcome in the Shocker community.
Your next few minutes will make an important difference! Share your thoughts on our survey at https://wsu.news/survey. A Spanish-language version of the survey is available at https://wsu.news/surveyspanish.
Relief fund established to help local creatives affected by COVID-19
- An emergency relief fund has been set up for Wichita-area creatives who have been financially affected by the current pandemic.
- Applications are reviewed every Thursday, and $500 grants will be given to those who show the most need.
- To qualify, applicants must meet a list of requirements.
Pictured above: Mary Alexis Wirths, a fund recipient and senior WSU ADCI student studying community and social practice, helps build a class sculpture.
KMUW podcast presents ‘Hindsight: Looking Back at 100 Years of Women’s Suffrage’
“Hindsight: Looking Back at 100 Years of Women’s Suffrage” is a year-long podcast series from KMUW, hosted by Wichita State University's Dr. Robin Henry. A blend of historical context and conversations with scholars, politicians, and activists, Hindsight aims to educate, entertain, and help listeners gain a better understanding of women’s diverse voices and roles in US history. Episode 2: Conflict & Compromise is out now. Listen at kmuw.org and wherever you get your podcasts.
Hindsight: Conflict and Compromise
BME grad student wins second in student written paper contest
Congratulations to Fadi Gerges, BME graduate student working in the Neuro-Robotics Lab, for winning the second-place award for Student Written Paper Contest at RMBS 2020.
Gerges, who was working in the Neuro-Robotics Lab under the direction of Dr. Jaydip Desai, won the award at the 57th Annual Rocky Mountain Bioengineering Symposium (RMBS), originally scheduled for April 23-25, at the University of Wyoming, in Laramie, but canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
His research with Dr. Desai focuses on design and development of a soft-robotic glove to improve hand rehabilitative tasks for stroke patients. His six-page peer-reviewed paper on “Design of a Low Pressure Pneumatically Actuated Soft-Robotic Glove for Stroke Rehabilitation,” will also be published in the Biomedical Sciences Instrumentation journal.
See Fadi’s work in the Neuro-Robotics Lab.
SHOCK DOC: Tram Ngo, a business school graduate
Tram Ngo is a recent graduate of the W. Frank Barton School of Business and former Student Ambassador. She now works in the Community Advancement Department at the Wichita Regional Chamber of Commerce. Tram built strong connections during her time at Wichita State and says her internships helped her realize exactly what she wanted to do following graduation. Hear what else Tram has to say about her experience post-graduation through our latest Shock Doc!
SAC Virtual Scavenger Hunt sign-up now
The SAC Virtual Scavenger Hunt is live, and you can still join! To register, click here.
Search high and low for the answers to clues and report back your findings. The scavenger hunt will take you to different places such as museums, zoo’s, art gallerys, etc.
The first batch of clues was delivered to registered participants on April 15. From there participants will submit a screenshot of their findings on shockersync, then you will receive the next set of clues. Participants that make it to the final stage and submit all correct answers will be entered to win AirPod Pros.
KMUW News has daily updates on COVID-19 in Kansas
As news regarding the COVID-19 pandemic rapidly changes, KMUW News is compiling daily updates. At KMUW.org, you'll find the latest information, including the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Kansas broken down by county.
KMUW podcast presents ‘Hindsight: Looking Back at 100 Years of Women’s Suffrage’
“Hindsight: Looking Back at 100 Years of Women’s Suffrage” is a year-long podcast series from KMUW, hosted by Wichita State University's Dr. Robin Henry. A blend of historical context and conversations with scholars, politicians, and activists, Hindsight aims to educate, entertain, and help listeners gain a better understanding of women’s diverse voices and roles in US history. Episode 2: Conflict & Compromise is out now. Listen at kmuw.org and wherever you get your podcasts.
Hindsight: Conflict and Compromise
Volunteers needed for a research study
Procedures: Participants balance, reaction time, and cognitive function will be tested using the SWAY application using a SMART device and receiving instruction through a virtual zoom session.
Time: Participation will include three separate sessions placed one week apart. Each weekly session is expected to last about 30 minutes.
Inclusion / Exclusion Criteria:
- Participants must be age 18 or older
- No known muscular disorders
- No known neurological disorders
- No known orthopedic disorder
- No uncorrected vision
Location: Telemedicine approach: virtual Zoom appointments using computer technology and a SMART device.
Contact: If you are interested in participating in this study please contact Dr. Heidi Bell at: heidi.bell@wichita.edu or 316.393.3339
Millicent Setzkorn at mrsetzkorn@shockers.wichita.edu or 620-393-5320
Should you have any questions or concerns, email Dr. Heidi Bell at heidi.bell@wichita.edu or call 316-978-5150.
To the stars, student defies odds
Just 10 percent of aerospace engineering majors are female. Black women make up less than a fraction of a percent in the field. Khristian Jones is undeterred by the odds. She aspires to be an astronaut.
“As an eighth grader, I knew that I was talented in math and science, had a love for space and wanted to be a part of the space community,” Jones said. “I just had to figure out a way to put those things together.”
Her research led her to pursue a degree in aerospace engineering at Wichita State University. It represented a big change from her hometown of Chicago, but she’s adjusted to the smaller city.
Tuesday Talks with Sara Friesen and Student Health Services
For the next Tuesday Talks at 2 p.m. Tuesday, May 5, join mental health nurse practitioner Sara Friesen, APRN, PMHNP-BC, for a Q&A about mental health!
Join us on Facebook Live at 2 p.m. to discuss mental health and its stigma, culture, and discussing it with your family. Missed our last Tuesday Talks? Check out the previous ones here.
Learn how you can make a BIG difference with Kansas Big Brothers Big Sisters
Are you ready to be a part of something BIG? Learn more about Kansas Big Brothers Big Sisters during Kansas' BIGgest Virtual Info Session ever at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, May 5. Register today for the free webinar; space is limited.
There are currently more than 1,500 Littles waiting for a Big across the state of Kansas. Will you join the more than 100 Wichita State faculty, staff and students already involved by being a friend to the youth in need? For more information visit KansasBigs.org.