Blackboard will be down several days starting the evening of Dec. 17
In an effort to improve Blackboard's performance and stability, and to set the foundation for further improvements in the Blackboard Learn system throughout 2021, WSU will be bringing Blackboard down for several days in December.
Our system will go down at 11 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 17, and be down for several days. Our current estimate for the system to be restored and fully functional is Tuesday, Dec. 22, although it's possible this down time could extend to Christmas Day.
To prepare for this down time, instructors should:
1) Plan to have all fall 2020 final grades submitted
2) Have any January term classes set up before Dec. 17, or make plans to do so after Dec. 22
3) Notify any students who are working on incompletes or late submissions that Blackboard will not be available during this window.
Once Blackboard service is restored, Instructional Design and Access will run extensive testing on the system. If you notice any technical problems after service is restored, please report those problems through a OneStop Blackboard Help ticket and not by direct emails to IDA staff. It is very important that technical problems can be addressed in a systematic way to ensure a quick resolution.
Testing Services is still open to students and community members
Testing Services is open for students and community members. If you need to take a proctored exam this semester, we are here for you! Our hours are 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday. We will be closed for the Holiday Shutdown but will return on Jan. 4, 2021.
Zoom appointments are available to students registered with the Office of Disability Services only and require prior instructor approval. Please note that Zoom appointments are first come, first served and we ask for at least 72 hours notice.
Testing Services cares about your safety. We disinfect all testing stations after use and require all who enter wear a mask. Plus, we've expanded our space to offer better social distancing and have limited private rooms available.
Please call WSU-TEST (978-8378) for more information.
Office hours available online
Want to know when an office is open? Go to wichita.edu/officehours to get started. If you don’t see what you’re looking for, let us know by sending an email to lisa.hansen@wichita.edu.
Shocker Strong Prize Drawing deadline extended to Friday, Dec. 11
Shocker Strong participants will have one additional week to complete and submit assignments in Blackboard. Complete eight out of 11 modules by 11:59 p.m. Friday, Dec. 11, in order to be entered into the Shocker Strong Prize Drawing for one of five prizes, including two book scholarships worth up to $500.
Learn more at wichita.edu/SSdrawing.
Help ODI and the KLC Beat the Virus!
The Office of Diversity and Inclusion is participating in the Kansas Leadership Center’s statewide initiative to help “Kansas Beat the Virus.” We are tasked with convening and facilitating 20 virtual meetings of 8-12 people to come up with action ideas that will help Kansans stop the spread of Covid-19.
If you are able to help convene a group of your staff, students and friends, please reach out to Alicia Sanchez at alicia.sanchez@wichita.edu to schedule a meeting. The meetings must take place before Monday, Dec. 21.
Fall 2020 Shocker Speakout results
More than 500 students in 40 sections of Communication 111, Public Speaking, found their virtual voices in the 42nd Shocker Speakout.
The Speakout is an event that occurs at the end of each fall and spring semester to
showcase outstanding public speaking students and the graduate assistants who teach
most of the Comm 111 classes in the Elliott School of Communication.
Each Comm 111 section recently selected its outstanding Persuasive Policy speaker,
and those students participated in a preliminary round. For being chosen as their
section representative, each of these students received 100 points available for their
Persuasive Policy speeches.
Winners in the preliminary round advanced to the final round and were judged by Aaron
Rife, an Assistant Professor in the School of Education; Eric Wilson, an instructor
in the Elliott School; Gregory Nordyke, Virtual Branch Manager, City of Wichita’s
Advanced Learning Library; and Abigail Schwab, Peer Counselor in the First Year Seminar
Program.
The winners are:
1st Place - Dawna Raehpour
2nd place - Regan Carlson
Runners Up - Shanlii Dace and MacKenzie Debozy
The winner’s name will be engraved on a plaque that hangs in the Center for Excellence
in Communication in Elliott Hall. The overall winner and finalists will each receive
digital gift cards from Cengage, publisher of the Comm 111 textbook, certificates
of achievement, and a Shocker Speakout T-shirt.
Do you want a non-traditional Honor Society experience?
Fill out the application now to be part of the Mortar Board Honor Society next school year!
The Mortar Board Honor Society is one of the country's premier senior college honor societies. Open to academic seniors of all disciplines and majors, the society stresses its members to exhibit its three core ideals: Scholarship, Leadership, and Service.
As a member, you will be part of an organization that strives to help its school and local communities by hosting various charity events and fundraisers. These events, and others, will also bring you into contact with the other members of the society and help you form connections that will enhance your final year as a Shocker!
Due to the fact that each year the society replaces its members due to graduation, you will have the guaranteed opportunity to leave a huge mark on a student organization, even if you have a full schedule. Interested in joining? Fill out the application below and you'll be notified if you are selected. The deadline to apply is 11:59 p.m. Dec. 31, 2020.
Mortar Board Honor Society Member Application
Donate to Adult Learner Scholarship in honor of Dr. Susan Norton
Susan Norton, director of the Office of Adult Learning, will retire this month. Her last day at WSU will be Friday, Dec. 18. She has been at Wichita State since 2008.
Norton is requesting that instead of having a retirement party, she would like those who can, to donate. The WSU Foundation has helped set up this page for those who would like to donate toward an Adult Learner Scholarship.
Enroll for a service-learning course in psychology!
The INSPYRE research lab directed by Dr. Samantha Gregus is currently recruiting undergraduate mentors for a 3-hour service-learning course in psychology (PSY 416) for the Spring 2021 semester. The class is with a required service-learning component involved with mentoring at-risk youth. The service-learning component can be completed remotely.
Prior to enrolling in PSY 416 (Psychology and Problems of Society) mentors are required to: pass an interview and background check and attend class on Mondays from 3:30-5:30 p.m. Status of the class attendance (i.e., in-person or remote) is to be determined.
We have a course syllabus, class readings, and paper assignments. Mentors will receive training at the beginning of the course and a grade at the end based on attendance and completion of assignments. We are interested in recruiting mentors from any college and major.
For more information, please contact the INSPYRE research lab at inspyre@wichita.edu ASAP.
WSU students give back this holiday season
Epsilon Tau Chapter of Beta Alpha Psi (BAP) recently supported the Guardian Angel program of the Salvation Army program for the second year in a row. Student members shopped for gifts requested by youth in Wichita for the holiday season. This is a volunteer activity for BAP Wichita State student members who shop for the gifts and then have them delivered to the Salvation Army.
Pictured is Sayed Bari looking for that perfect gift for his angel. Also participating were Milah Linenberger and Garrett Stover and Will Davis and Kyra Zachry.
Beta Alpha Psi is the national academic fraternity for Accounting, Finance and MIS majors, and sponsors Meet the Firms on campus twice a year. They have attained the high ranking of Superior Status for the past 8 years.
Latin American Philosophy is a new course in spring 2021
Latin American Philosophy examines the origins of Latin America, how social-political forces have shaped Latin American identity, and the borders that separate Anglo America and Latin America. It engages historically influential Latin American philosophers as well as contemporary Latinx philosophers. (PHIL 304, MW 5:35-6:50 p.m., CRN 27130)
10 political science students accepted into D.C. and Topeka internship program
Ten Wichita State University political science students were recently accepted into the Washington, D.C. and Topeka Internship Program.
The program provides undergraduate students the opportunity to earn nine course credits while interning in D.C. or Topeka. The program also offers stipends and covers housing for the students. After being accepted into the program, participating students seek out and apply for placements relevant to their post-graduate career goals. Funding for the internship program is provided by the Department of Political Science and the Cohen’s Honors College.
The internships will begin in spring 2021.
Cultural Value Orientation as a Predictor of Adolescent Bullying
Are you a parent of a teenager?
The INSPYRE Research lab at Wichita State University is conducting a study to explore how parent and child values relate to how adolescents respond to bullying situations.
In order to be a part of the study, parents and their teen must be together at the start of the survey, and parents must provide permission for their teen to participate. We will ask parents to complete demographic questions and study measures. Then, we’ll ask the parent to hand the study off to their teenager to complete the remaining survey. This study should only take 15 minutes to complete in total. Parents must be at least 18 years old, adolescents must be between the ages of 10-17 years old, and both must be able to read English in order to participate. At the end of the study, the family has the opportunity to be entered into a raffle to win a prize.
For more information, click the survey link to find the parent consent form.
If you have any questions, please e-mail Dr. Samantha Gregus, director of the INSPYRE lab, at inspyre@wichita.edu or call at 316-978-6180.
GRASP 2021 abstract submission deadline is Friday
The Graduate School is currently accepting abstract submissions for the 17th annual Graduate Research and Scholarly Projects (GRASP) Symposium. GRASP 2021 will be held on Blackboard again this year with video presentations open for WSU Community viewing starting on April 2. Abstract submission closes Friday, Dec. 11.
Santa letters available at WSU Post Office
WSU Postal Services is selling letters to Santa now to Wednesday, Dec. 16. The letters will be sent to Santa Claus, Indiana, and will receive a pictorial cancellation when sent to the recipient. The cost per letter / envelope is $1.50 and covers all postage.
Applied Learning Highlight of the Week - Inneke Vargas!
Thank you, Inneke Vargas, for all your hard work as a psychology major at Wichita State, and congrats on your position with Central Plains Area Agency on Aging as a Quality Assurance Specialist! Your success inside and outside the classroom will not go unnoticed.
Share her posts on social media.
Great prices on last minute gift ideas
Didn’t get a chance to make the Shocker Store’s Shock the Halls Sale? Don’t worry, because they still have some of those great deals available! Items are available in the RSC store and online at shockerstore.com. Choose free in-store pickup or free shipping over $75. Happy Holidays, Shockers!
Under Armour shooter shirt
Shocker fans, snag the Under Armour shooter shirt now for just $20! Available in sizes small-3XL. Available online at shockerstore.com and in both the RSC and Braeburn Square locations. No other discounts permitted.
Free shipping at shockerstore.com
Not a local Shocker? Don’t worry, the Shocker Store has free shipping with a $75 purchase at shockerstore.com through Dec. 17! Not valid on textbook purchases.