Become a WSU Microsoft Office Power User
Nearly 50 WSU faculty and staff have achieved Power User status! Would you like to join them? Attend a suite of ITS lead Microsoft Office trainings within one year and become a WSU Microsoft Office Power User. You will receive a certificate, your name listed on our website, and a lot of useful knowledge. Feel free to try a training session or two, or complete the full suite for a certificate.
For more information, visit Power User. Questions? Contact Ali Levine at ali.levine@wichita.edu.
Building fire alarms to be tested this week
Fire alarm
These tests ensure that all components of our fire protection systems are operating as designed to provide maximum safety.
If you have any questions, contact Mike Strickland, director, Environmental, Health and Safety at 978-3347.
Workshop training day for instructors coming Monday, Oct. 15
Instructional Design and Access will host several in-person training opportunities for instructors on Monday, Oct. 15. There are two session times, 9 a.m.-noon and 1-4 p.m., with three workshop opportunities to choose from.
The trainings will be held in the RSC. Topics include: Panopto, Introduction and Intermediate Blackboard, Faculty Accessibility Training, Blackboard Ally and running effective online discussions in Blackboard.
For more information, visit IDA's Workshop webpage.
You can sign up for any session through myTraining.
2019 Open Enrollment is in progress!
Log in to the Member Administration Portal at to make your elections, even if you don't plan to make any changes from 2018. All benefits-eligible state employees must make their 2019 elections by the deadline on Wednesday, Oct. 31. Those who do not will be defaulted into medical Plan N with a use-it-or-lose-it HRA and all other coverage types waived effective Jan. 1. If you waived all coverage or only had vision or supplemental options in 2018, those elections will carry over into 2019. Otherwise, you must make your 2019 elections during Open Enrollment.
We've developed many ways to learn about 2019 plan changes and get help completing your online enrollment! See how we can help you get enrolled for 2019.
In addition to online resources, in-person presentations, webinars and lab sessions are all in full swing this week!
- Registration is required for KDHE webinars. Register online
- Registration is required for HR lab sessions. Register in myTraining at myWSU.wichita.edu.
- For a full listing of Open Enrollment events and resources, see the Open Enrollment website.
There is a KDHE webinar scheduled at 2 p.m. today (Monday, Oct. 8).
Kaye Monk-Morgan is quoted in national report
Kaye Monk-Morgan was quoted in a national report just released on first generation students titled “National Analysis Finds Support for First-generation Students at Four-Year Institutions Varies Widely.”
"We're sending students into environments that were not created with them in mind. We don't have to hold their hands every day, but we have to walk beside them. Not because they're at a deficit, but because the institution is not nimble enough to effectively give them what they need to be successful," said Kaye Monk-Morgan, assistant vice president for Academic Affairs and former director of TRIO Upward Bound Math Science Center at Wichita State University in the report.
SGA statement regarding the use of Shocker Support Locker
Fellow Shockers,
The Shocker Support Locker will be undergoing two major changes to its operation. These changes follow the rapid disappearance of food from the Locker after two major donations, as well as reports from students indicating violations of posted rules in the Locker.
All 176.4 pounds of food from the WSU Police Department food drive were gone within a few hours of their donation on Monday, Oct. 1. Similarly, the massive Dillons donation two weeks ago was gone in three business days after its arrival in the Locker.
In response to the reports, SGA will be implementing two changes to Locker usage, effective today (Monday, Oct. 8). The full statement is available at the link below.
SGA Shocker Support Locker Statement
University Libraries hosting Statista webinars during October
Have you heard about Statista? University Libraries is hosting several training webinars in October for the new statistical database, Statista, in 217 Ablah Library:
2-3 p.m. today (Monday, Oct. 8)
Noon-1 p.m. Friday, Oct. 19
10-11 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 25
This exciting new resource provides immediate access to more than one million statistics and facts from over 22,000 sources on over 80,000 topics, including media, business, politics, society, technology, health and education. Ready-made charts and infographics can be downloaded in multiple formats for presentations and research papers or embedded in web pages.
The webinars are open to all faculty, staff and students. Registration is requested, but not required. For more information about Statista and to sign up for one of the October webinars, go here.
Come to the Advising Fair tomorrow (Tuesday, Oct. 9)
Faculty, staff, and students: Plan on coming to the Advising Fair from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. tomorrow (Tuesday, Oct. 9) in the Shirley Beggs Ballroom, third floor, Rhatigan Student Center.
Meet the staff and learn about the broad array of services provided by advising departments and student support services areas, grab a bite and win prizes. For more information, contact patricia.phillips@wichita.edu.
French Department invites you to theatrical event
The French Department at Wichita State invites you to come and enjoy a theatrical adaptation of Antoine de St Exupéry's novel "Terre des hommes" ("Wind, Sand and Stars" is the English title). La Compagnie Caravague (Paris) will present the adaptation at 7:30 p.m. tomorrow (Tuesday, Oct. 9) in the CAC Theater. Admission is free.
From the author of "The Little Prince" comes the story of his life as an aviator. It's an homage to life, friendship, heroism and camaraderie and addresses why the author feels that life is worth the effort.
The author of “Le Petit Prince” reminds us that hope is always opportune. In this work, two men in a biplane converse as they look out over the clouds. Seen from the sky, beyond walls between peoples and cultures, signals approach.
The event is made possible by the WSU Foundation, in cooperation with Modern & Classical Languages & Literatures. For more information, contact Wilson Baldridge at 978-6645.
Concert Chorale and A Cappella Choir present fall concert
Join the WSU Concert Chorale and A Cappella Choir as they present their fall concert at 7:30 p.m. tomorrow (Tuesday, Oct. 9) in Wiedemann Concert Hall. This concert, each choir's inaugural performance of the academic year, features a wide variety of exciting literature.
Tickets are $12 for adults, $10 for seniors / military and $6 for students. WSU students
are admitted free with a WSU ID. For tickets, call 978-3233 or go to https://www.wichita.edu/fineartsboxoffice.
Concert Chorale will perform a set of music entitled "Night and Day," featuring works
by William Byrd, Samuel Barber, Ēriks Ešenvalds, Sergei Rachmaninoff, Cole Porter
and Shawn Kirchner.
A Cappella Choir will perform works by Frank Loesser, Gary Kent Walth, Dan Forrest
and Mark Hayes.
The concert will feature a special guest performance by the Lawrence High School Bellissima
Treble Choir.
Know the services provided by TRIO Disability Support Services
The TRIO Disability Support Services (DSS) program is here to serve you. DSS is a federally funded program that assists and advocates for undergraduate students with disabilities through academic support, resources and services, enabling them to persist and graduate from Wichita State University.
DSS Program provides the following services:
- Academic advising throughout your academic career
- Adaptive computer lab
- Career advising & Graduate School information
- Financial advising & scholarship opportunities
- Grant aid information
- Study skills workshops
- Tutoring services
For more information please go to TRIO DSS or 158 Grace Wilkie Annex, 978-5949.
Space is available in Employment Relationship Training class on Wednesday, Oct. 17
Space is available in an Employment Relationship Training class from 9-11 a.m. Wednesday,
Oct. 17, in 102 Marcus Welcome Center. To register for training, go to myTraining
through myWSU.
This course is provided for leaders who supervise employees (UP, USS, students), and
will focus on the overall employment relationship. It will provide guidance on managing
performance, setting expectations, how to identify when an employee has not met expectations
and how to effectively address those concerns. This could include concerns with attendance,
job performance, conflict with coworkers, etc. This training will also introduce you
to tools to use to effectively document an unmet expectation. If you have questions,
contact mytraining@wichita.edu.
Enrollment starts soon!
The time is now to help prepare students for enrollment for spring classes. Many degree programs require meeting with a faculty member or an advisor prior to enrolling in courses. Encourage students to check their student accounts, or refer to their Guide app, to be sure nothing is preventing them from enrolling.
For contact information and locations of advising centers, go to www.wichita.edu/advising.
WSU Reads presents: Dine and Dialogue
Students, faculty and staff are invited to discuss the themes of “Just Mercy” by Bryan Stevenson at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 10, in 266 RSC. Haven't read the book? No worries – watch Bryan Stevenson at Academic Convocation on WSUTV's stream, covering the major themes within the book during this event.
Dinner will be available as we dive into our discussion. Contact Student Success: First-Year Programs at first.year@wichita.edu or call 978-5420 with any questions.
Physical therapy students are looking for volunteers with chronic ankle instability
Students in the Doctor of Physical Therapy program at Wichita State are looking for participants for their research study on the effects of an ankle strengthening exercise program on functional ankle instability. Your participation in this study may help the field of physical therapy to more effectively treat ankle instability.
If chosen to participate in our study, you will be required to come to the WSU Old Town campus at 213 N. Mead on Friday, Oct. 19, for an initial evaluation. You will be able to select a 15-minute time block that is convenient for your schedule.
After scoring appropriately, you will then perform a muscle strength test for your ankle and be tested on the flexibility of your ankle. After testing, you will be assigned to a group, which may include a six-week ankle strengthening exercise program or a control group who will not be performing any exercises.
All materials and instructions will be provided. The exercise program groups will be required to submit a video to the researchers of themselves performing the exercises at the three-week interval (halfway through the program) and then return to the WSU Old Town campus on November 30, 2018 for a 6-week re-evaluation lasting approximately 10-15 minutes.
If you are interested in participating, click on the link below to complete a brief questionnaire about your ankle stability. It will only take about 5-10 minutes of your time. Once you have completed the survey, you will receive an email with further information within five-to-seven business days.
Your participation is graciously appreciated, voluntary, and your responses will remain confidential.
Should you have any questions or concerns, email Melynda Bussman at mjbussman@shockers.wichita.edu or Barb Smith at barb.smith@wichita.edu.
Nominate a special Shocker
Every year since 1955, the WSU Alumni Association has honored Shocker excellence through
its WSU Alumni Awards Program, which applauds the accomplishments and service of not
only deserving alumni, but also faculty, staff and friends of Wichita State University.
Nominations are being taken now through Monday, Nov. 5 for 2018 honorees, who will be recognized during a gala ceremony on Thursday, April 18, 2019.
Nominate a special Shocker today at Shocker Alumni Award Nomination.
Graphic above, from left: M. Lee Pelton, Mike James, Cindy Claycomb, V. Kaye Monk-Morgan,
Lisa Teachman, Dorothy and Bill Cohen, and Bob Gutschenritter, 2017 Alumni Award honorees
WSU Symphony Concert features student soloists
Performances by four young artists will be featured in the annual Concerto-Aria Honors Concert by the Wichita State University Symphony Orchestra at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 11, in Miller Concert Hall. The program, featuring music by Mozart, Glière, Arnold, and Enesco, will be led by Mark Laycock.
The soloists, selected in September by competitive audition, are first-year graduate students in the WSU School of Music: Yu-hsuan Chang, horn, performs the third movement of Reinhold Glière's Horn Concerto; Sarah Larson, oboe, performs the first movement of Mozart's Oboe Concerto; Juan Guillermo Mireles, cello, performs Lars-Erik Larsson's Concertino for Cello and String Orchestra; and Brandon Sklute, trumpet, performs Arutiunian's Trumpet Concerto.
Tickets, $12 for general admission with discounts available, may be purchased through the Fine Arts Box Office at 978-3233 and Fine Arts Box Office.
Save some cash, help the environment
The Shocker Sports Grill & Lanes has a new reusable, refillable tumbler. Our 32 oz. tumbler can be purchased full of your favorite fountain beverage, tea or lemonade for $6. Refill any time for just a buck! Save some paper while saving some cash!