May 28 Letter to the Campus Community
Jay Golden
Fall 2020 Updates
Dear Shockers:
I hope this finds you and your families healthy and safe and enjoying a bit of rest and relaxation after the end of the spring semester. Despite the unprecedented challenges our university has faced over these past three months, I am reminded daily of the incredible spirit, kindness and resilience of our entire Shocker community.
While the summer months will allow us a few moments to pause and collect our thoughts, we continue our diligent efforts to prepare to welcome students, faculty and staff back to campus in the fall. Our campus re-integration working groups are working daily to implement our campus reopening plans. Our top priority remains the health, safety and well-being of our entire campus community as we strive to maintain goals of educational excellence, research and innovation.
I write today to provide you some updates to our plans for the fall.
NetApp breaks ground for building on Wichita State University Innovation Campus
Work has begun on a permanent new home for NetApp's Wichita operations on the Wichita State University Innovation Campus, near 17th Street and Innovation Blvd. It is expected to open in early 2022.
The 168,000-square-foot LEED Silver building is designed as an open office plan, with 600+ workstations. The data center will be outfitted with 420 racks for NetApp’s product development purposes. Developing a permanent home on Innovation Campus will allow the company to work even more closely with WSU students, faculty and other researchers.
NetApp, a world leading solutions provider in digital transformation, is already one of the largest employers of Wichita State students and alumni. NetApp is a Fortune 500 global data storage and cloud management company, headquartered in Sunnyvale, California.
The entrance to the building will be through a two-story pedestrian mall that will serve as the entrance for NetApp, along with a kitchen and dining area for the public. NetApp’s plan includes a public outdoor recreation space with a multi-layered water ecosystem, seated terraces, and a multi-sport court for pickle ball and basketball.
The company held an online virtual groundbreaking Wednesday (May 27) for its employees. The groundbreaking showed earthmoving on the site by Crossland Construction, a full 3D walkthrough of the planned building and site by GLMV and included brief remarks from Wichita State President Jay Golden and NetApp’s Brad Anderson, Executive VP Hybrid Cloud Group, Kim Stevenson, SVP & GM FDSBU, and Robin Huber, site manager of Wichita operations.
While the new building is under construction, NetApp has leased Innovation Campus Partnership 3 Building, on 18th near Oliver, as a temporary home for many of its operations and employees. Most employees are currently working from their homes and will continue to do so while COVID-19 remains a major health concern.
Looking beyond that time, President Golden said: “I fully expect that NetApp's deepening collaboration with Wichita State will change the company, university and the broader community in many positive ways. The collaboration with NetApp is a cornerstone of the university's new National Institute for Digital Transformation.
"It is an ambitious effort." Golden said, "to harness the university's strengths in computer sciences, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, convergence sciences, fine arts and humanities to advance human knowledge, provide hands-on learning experiences for students and create economic growth for Wichita and Kansas."
Golden told NetApp employees: "I believe that bringing our students and faculty in close contact with NetApp’s people and expertise will spark new ideas that will be beneficial to university research, your customers and, ultimately, to companies and device users around the world. Your presence on this campus will be good for Wichita and the region’s economic recovery, as we collaborate to provide world-leading technologies from Wichita.”
Huber said: “NetApp has been deeply involved with GLMV Architecture in the design of the building and is looking forward to working with students and faculty as part of Wichita State’s research emphasis on digital transformation. From the company’s standpoint, we expect our presence on the Wichita State Innovation Campus to help us attract and retain excellent employees. This is the next logical step in NetApp’s 20+ year partnership with Wichita State.”
Four candidates to be interviewed for Health Professions dean position
The Office of Academic Affairs will virtually interview four dean candidates for the
College of Health Professions. Anyone is welcome to participate in virtual public
forums with each candidate, streamed live on YouTube.
Phillip Funk, Ph.D.; associate dean for Health Programs and Initiatives; associate professor of
Biology, College of Science and Health, DePaul University. Monday, June 1, and Tuesday,
June 2. Faculty and staff are invited to participate in a virtual public forum at
3 p.m. Monday, June 1. Watch live here.
Sathees Chandra, Ph.D.; director of the Biomedical Sciences Program; professor of Biomedical Sciences,
College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Barry University. Wednesday, June 3, and Thursday,
June 4. Faculty and staff are invited to participate in a virtual public forum at
3 p.m. Wednesday, June 3. Watch here.
Gregory Hand, Ph.D., MPH; professor of Epidemiology, Medicine, and Physical Activity and Sport
Sciences, Robert C. Byrd Health Sciences Center, West Virginia University. Thursday,
June 4 and Friday, June 5. Faculty and staff are invited to participate in a virtual
public forum at 1 p.m. Friday, June 5. Watch live here.
Kimberly McDowall Long, Ph.D.; provost and vice president for Academic Affairs; professor of psychology,
Newman University, Monday, June 8 and Tuesday, June 9. Faculty and staff are invited
to participate in a virtual public forum at 10 a.m. Tuesday, June 9. Watch live here.
See additional information regarding the candidates on the Academic Affairs website
Distribution and return of mifi devices have changed
ITS Telecommunications front office staff is back on campus full-time from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday to Friday. All mifi distribution and returns will go through our office in 027 Jabara Hall going forward. To return or pick up a requested device, simply visit our office and ring the doorbell. Please remember to wear a mask to keep yourself and our staff as safe as possible.
If you have any questions about this procedure, contact us at 316-978-3535 or telecomservices@wichita.edu. Devices can be mailed to us at WSU ITS Telecommunications, 1845 Fairmount, Box 061, Wichita, KS 67260
We would like to thank the staff of the Media Resources Center for helping us in the last two months get these mifi’s into the hands of students, faculty and staff that needed them.
University Libraries has new hours for Shocker community
University Libraries is preparing to start welcoming Shockers back into the building on Tuesday, May 26! We have been working diligently to create a safe, welcoming experience for our students, staff, and faculty, while maintaining safety protocols found in the Shockers United plan. While we are staffing the Libraries in order to provide service hours to the Shocker community, please note that many Libraries employees will continue working remotely.
Stay up-to-date with University Libraries
Keep up-to-date on when, where and how to use library resources on our website. For questions, send us an e-mail at librarystaff@wichita.edu or call us at 316-978-3481.
University Libraries provides online checkouts
To check out library materials, place a hold using the Libraries’ online catalog at https://libcat.wichita.edu/
Instructions:
You may place requests for materials at any time and they will be paged every two hours during our hours of operation. We will notify you via email when your holds are ready. Please note that holds placed for items at the McKinley Chemistry Library and Thurlow Lieurance Music Library will take longer to retrieve.
To pick up your holds, please stop at the Circulation Desk in Ablah Library. Your materials will be held in a locker adjacent to the desk. Upon showing your Shocker ID card, Libraries staff will provide you the information needed to retrieve your materials. The process in place is designed to provide contactless checkout of your materials.
Have questions for the Career Development Center?
Need help with your resume? Want to talk about possible careers? Looking to do a quick mock interview? Have questions about the Career Development Center? All of these and more can be done during drop in hours with me! No need for an appointment time, just drop in and wait your turn on Zoom! We have three available times this week:
Virtual Q&A Drop-In Session with Maggie Slack
1-3 p.m. Tuesday, June 2
Virtual Q&A Drop-in Session with Margarita Baez
9-11 a.m. Wednesday, June 3
Virtual Q&A Drop-In Session with Sarah Rupp
9-10 a.m. Thursday, June 4
Career Development Center events
Summer 2020 E-Launch
E-Launch has been developed to foster entrepreneurial activity that will lead to the commercialization of ideas. This summer training will be held June through July. For more information and registration go to wichita.edu/elaunch.
Shocker Innovation Corps now accepting applications for the online summer 2020 cohort
Wichita State University is a National Science Foundation (NSF) I-Corps site. The Shocker Innovation Corps 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.
This summer cohort will be held completely online. With the university continuing classes online for the summer term, we want to offer the flexibility of attending the E-Launch sessions online. Visit www.shockericorps.org to find out more information or to apply.
Tech updates keep Shocker Studios on cutting edge for applied learning
- Shocker Studios features studios for animation, film, recording, motion-capture and 3D design.
- Technology upgrades are crucial to giving students their applied learning opportunities.
- School of Digital Arts director Justin Rorabaugh leans on industry input to keep equipment current.
Please use Student Health's main entrance starting today
Starting today (June 1), please use the main entrance for the Student Wellness Center in the lobby of the Steve Clark YMCA. If you are experiencing fever, cough or other symptoms of illness, please call Student Health at 978-4792 before coming into the center.
June 2 Tuesday Talk with SHS will discuss ‘Transgender Health & The Real You’
For Tuesday Talk on June 2, join Sandy Hill, DNP, APRN, and Nurse Heather for a discussion about “Transgender Health and the Real You.” Tune in to Facebook Live at 2 p.m. and learn about the transgender process and one student's story in Part I of our Pride Month series.
New hours for Chick-Fil-A and Shocker Sports Grill & Lanes
Chick-Fil-A and the Shocker Sports Grill & Lanes will both reopen on Monday, June 1.
Initial operating hours for Chick-Fil-A are 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Monday-Friday.
At Shocker Sports Grill & Lanes, initial hours will be 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Monday-Friday. The complete menu will be served for either carry-out or dine-in, with social distancing measures in place.
Additionally, starting June 8, the bowling lanes, pool tables and dart boards will be open. They will have social distancing protocols for these, as well as disinfecting procedures after every use. Hours of operation will be evaluated on a week-to-week basis and may change at any time.
Take the CliftonStrengths survey
Student Involvement and Student Affairs are excited to collaborate with you to implement CliftonStrengths into your group, course or department. As we explore different ways to offer Strengths-Based programming, we created a quick survey.
If you are interested in learning more about our ShockerStrengths initiative, would like to implement and administer CliftonStrengths, would like to participate in individual/group coaching, or have questions about the programs, please complete this survey.
Shocker Store curbside service moved
Now that the Rhatigan Student Center and the Shocker Store are open, curbside service has moved inside to the front of the RSC store, rather than off the parking lot. Both are open 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday-Friday. Within the store, guests are expected to wear masks and maintain six feet of social distancing.
Extra discount on clearance merchandise at the Shocker Store
This week in the Shocker Store, take an extra 10% off their already-marked-down clearance items! Sale is in RSC store only. Store hours are 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday-Friday.
WSU Theatre makes a film during quarantine
During the stay-at-home situation the past two months, WSU Theatre made a movie. Using Zoom actors performed in the film, “Pursuit,” written and directed by Dr. Bret Jones, professor of Theatre and Program Director of Filmmaking at WSU.
WSU Theatre students auditioned for roles by filming their auditions and sending them to Jones. Jones cast the film, recorded directions for the project, and coordinated students filming their scenes for the movie. Jones edited the scenes and added music to complete the 20-minute film.
”Pursuit” is available to view on YouTube at Wichita State University Theatre Films.
Perspectives on the Pandemic series now on Fairmount College YouTube channel
Making sense of the issues surrounding the coronavirus can be challenging. Faculty experts in the Fairmount College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at Wichita State University are helping clear the confusion.
The Perspectives on the Pandemic series features several Fairmount College faculty and community members explaining various aspects of the pandemic. The presentations may be found on the Fairmount College YouTube channel.
Congratulations to KMUW's Stephan Bisaha, recipient of a Regional Murrow Award for excellence in journalism
KMUW news reporter Stephan Bisaha has received a 2020 Regional Edward R. Murrow Award for sports reporting. His winning feature, "Kansas Community College Football Now Has Its Own Stars, Netflix Series and Scandals," can be found at KMUW.org/awards.
Bisaha now advances to the prestigious National Murrow Award competition. The Radio Television Digital News Association has been honoring outstanding achievements in broadcast and digital journalism with the Edward R. Murrow Awards since 1971.
Participants sought for undergraduate research, please share with students
I am recruiting study participants for my Experiences with Language and Schooling Research Project. This is undergraduate research. Upon completion of the interview, they will also be able to enter a drawing for a $50 gift card. Please help by sharing the following information with students:
Experiences with Spanish and Schooling Research Project
Would you like the chance to win a $50 gift card?
Participate in our study. Interviews will last about 60 minutes and will be conducted to examine the school experiences of students from Spanish speaking backgrounds in terms of language and identity. To participate you must be 18 years or older and have attended a U.S. public school at some point in your academic career. We are looking for Hispanic participants from Spanish-speaking backgrounds, whether you speak Spanish yourself or were just raised in a Spanish-speaking environment. All responses will be confidential.
If you are interested, contact cizacarias@shockers.wichita.edu or jennifer.pearson@wichita.edu for more information.
Invitation Extended by Councilman Brandon Johnson, Wichita City Council, District 1
Attention Shockers!
Do you want to add your voice to conversations about community development happening both near and around our campus?!
Do you know what Community Benefits Agreements (CBAs) are and how they can help support the needs of WSU’s students, faculty, staff and neighbors?
Do you believe that it is important for those who live, work, or play in the community to have a voice in what happens there?
During the next six weeks, a committed group of community residents will host Virtual CBA Focus Groups to discuss all these questions and more.
Sign up today to participate and have your voice be heard!
JoVE Science Library streaming free for WSU students and faculty
Find innovative instructional streaming collections at JoVE Science Library! Through University Libraries, WSU faculty and students have free access to JoVE through June 15. This online resource has videos on a variety of STEM subjects. More information is available here.
Check out Student Health Services on YouTube
Missed a previous Tuesday Talk from Student Health Services? Looking for information on how to stay healthy, specifically how to stay healthy during the outbreak of COVID-19? Student Health Services has a YouTube channel!
Check out our latest videos here.
Pizza Hut Museum open by appointment only through June 30
The Pizza Hut Museum will remain closed to the general public through June 30. In the meantime, people interested in visiting the museum can request an appointment to visit between 8 a.m.-5p.m., Monday-Friday, at www.wichita.edu/PizzaHut.
Meet a Shocker: Spring 2020 graduates
The COVID-19 pandemic changed the course of our history and the Wichita State University campus during the spring 2020 semester. While we cannot have a traditional commencement ceremony in May, the WSU community celebrates our more than 2,400 Shocker graduates with a spirit of unity and pride. Here's what some of them have to say about their time at WSU and their futures.