WSU Today: Nov. 14, 2018

Total Rewards requesting Open Enrollment feedback

Open Enrollment feedback 2018

The Total Rewards team would like to recognize the efforts of every department at WSU for a very successful Open Enrollment season. KDHE has indicated that Open Enrollment will be an active enrollment each year moving forward.

With an eye on the future, the Total Rewards team is asking that everyone who participated in Open Enrollment share their feedback on how we can improve communications and resources available next year. Please give five minutes of your time to take a brief survey on your computer or mobile device. We appreciate your time and input!

If you have feedback you would like to share on 2019 plan changes, including employee cost, plan options or carriers, you can submit this feedback directly to the Kansas Healthcare Commission at kdhe.benefits@ks.gov.


Notice of Revisions to the Federal Policy for the Protection of Human Subjects

The revised “Common Rule” for the protection of human subjects is set to go into effect on Monday, Jan. 21, 2019. This involves some big changes in the way research is reviewed and approved by the IRB. In order to implement the changes, there will be a submission freeze on all new study submissions from Dec. 15, 2018 to Jan. 21, 2019.

For more information, go to the IRB website


Blackhawk helicopters to visit Wichita State campus today (Wednesday, Nov. 14)

Blackhawk helicopters at WSU

The Kansas Army National Guard will visit the Wichita State campus between 9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. today (Wednesday, Nov. 14). A Blackhawk helicopter flight will occur in the surrounding area for 20-25 minutes. The helicopter will take off and land near Braeburn Square. The program will be held in Marcus Welcome Center.

The purpose of the program is to educate the citizens of Kansas on the capabilities, opportunities and benefits, and to showcase some of the various local units and their equipment. The Kansas Army National Guard will also discuss a number of roles that they play in support of our nation's defense, and the support they receive from our local communities.

Parking is recommended in the lots to the north of Marcus Welcome Center.


Excellence award nominations are being accepted by Office of Research and Technology Transfer

Excellence awards nomination deadline Dec. 7, 2018

Nominations for Excellence Awards in Research, Creativity and Community Research are now being accepted by the Office of Research and Technology Transfer (RTT).

All full-time faculty, including distinguished professors and endowed chairs, who have served at WSU for at least three years are eligible. Faculty who hold an administrative position above that of chair are not eligible.

Previous winners of the award are ineligible to be nominated for a period of five years following the award. Please see the RTT website for additional details and nomination forms. Nominations must be received by Friday, Dec. 7, to be considered.


Retirement reception planned for Cindy Claycomb on Nov. 29

Cindy Claycomb reception Nov. 29, 2018

Cindy Claycomb has been employed in higher education at Wichita State University for 24 years, holding positions of professor of marketing, interim dean of the W. Frank Barton School of Business, founding director of WSU Ventures and most recently Assistant to the President for Strategic Planning. Prior to that, she spent more than a decade in analyst and management positions at two Fortune 500 companies—Boeing and Pizza Hut, a division of PepsiCo.

Claycomb is a two-time graduate of WSU, where she received Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Business Administration and is a graduate of Oklahoma State University with a Ph.D. in Marketing. 

In 2017, she was elected to a four-year term on the Wichita City Council for District VI. Prior to being elected, she served on the District VI Advisory Board and for eight years on the Wichita Board of Park Commissioners. She currently serves on the boards of Botanica, Downtown Wichita, Arts Council, the Wichita Regional Chamber of Commerce, the Wichita Area Metropolitan Planning Organization Transportation Policy Body, and the Wichita State University Alumni Association. Cindy is married to Charlie Claycomb.

Claycomb will continue her work as a member of the Wichita City Council representing District VI.  

Please join us for a reception in her honor from 2-4 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 29, in 265 RSC.  Remarks will be at 2:30 p.m., and refreshments will be served.


WSU Weekly Briefing to feature Rodney Miller, dean, College of Fine Arts

Weekly Briefing

The WSU Weekly Briefing will begin at 10 a.m. tomorrow (Thursday, Nov. 15) in the Marcus Welcome Center.

Rodney Miller, dean of the College of Fine Arts, will discuss the impact the student referendum would have on the College of Fine Arts and its students.

Tracee Friess, director of communications for research and technology transfer, will provide an overall university update.

The briefing will be livestreamed and available later that day at WSU Weekly Briefing. There will be time for questions following the briefing.


Face-to-face training on how OIEC processes reports of discrimination and harassment, coming Dec. 11

University Policies and Process address protected class discrimination and gender-based harassment, discrimination and sexual misconduct. It is important for the university's responsible employees to have a working knowledge of the policy and process, so if a student reports and asks, “What happens now?,” our employees are able to provide an answer.

Natasha Stephens and Christine Taylor will offer training from 10:30 a.m.-noon Wednesday, Nov. 28, and 3-4:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 11, on how the Office of Institutional Equity and Compliance processes reports of discrimination and harassment. 

This training is specifically targeted to our responsible employees, and will provide a greater understanding about the process and what happens when the OIEC receives a report, the difference between a report and an investigation, specific working examples of protected class discrimination, sexual harassment and quid pro quo harassment. 

To register, please go through My Training, and click on “Discrimination and Harassment 101 with OIEC.


Watkins Visiting Professorship Lecture Series continues today (Wednesday, Nov. 14)

Stan Brodsky

Stan Brodsky

Stan Brodsky is a professor of particle physics and astrophysics at Stanford University and the Department of Energy's SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory. Brodsky will give a technical lecture at 2 p.m. today (Wednesday, Nov. 14) in 128 Jabara Hall, as part of the Watkins Visiting Professorship Lecture Series. Refreshments and discussion will follow the lecture.

The technical lecture will be “Supersymmetric Features of Hadron Physics and other Novel Properties of Quantum Chromodynamics from Light-Front holography and Superconformal Algebra."

Read Stan Brodsky abstract


Chemistry Colloquium presents talk by Monica Kinde

Chemistry Colloquium

The WSU Chemistry Colloquium at 3:30 p.m. today (Wednesday, Nov. 14) in 224 McKinley Hall, will present a talk by Monica Kinde from the Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences. Kinde will present “Unlocking Anesthesia: Characterizing Anesthetic Binding in Large Membrane Proteins with 19F NMR.”


Let grad students know about Friendsgiving with the Graduate Student Association

Friendsgiving Nov. 16, 2018

The Graduate Student Association invites graduate students to celebrate Friendsgiving, an alternative Thanksgiving celebration with the Graduate Student Association, free of any family drama! The event is from 4-6 p.m. Friday, Nov. 16, in Shocker Sports Grill and Lanes.

All graduate students are invited to come for an evening of food, board games and camaraderie. Pizza, appetizers and soft drinks will be provided for graduate students. Spouses and / or significant others are welcome, but will need to buy their own drinks. For those wanting a bit of extra holly cheer, there will be beer specials available that evening -- make sure you bring your ID (showing age) if you plan to drink beer.


Rowell named a finalist for the Pickering Foreign Affairs Graduate Fellowship

Shelby Rowell

Shelby Rowell, with double majors in political science and French, has been named a finalist for the Pickering Foreign Affairs Graduate Fellowship.

She is headed to Washington, D.C., for an interview for the final competition.

Rowell is pictured above at the Palais des Nations (UN building) in Geneva, Switzerland, this summer.


WSU student creates diagnostic tool that could change the prenatal industry

Tammy Dorsey

One in 10 babies suffers from fetal acidosis, or a lack of oxygen during birth. Mother of five and Wichita State University student Tammy Dorsey has developed the Pedi-Cell, a noninvasive diagnostic tool that will close a huge clinical gap in the prenatal industry and make child birth safer.

Fetal acidosis can happen for dozens of reasons. When babies are in acidosis, they expel carbon dioxide like normal. However, hydrogen levels spike, which causes the acidity to build up in the blood. Organs and tissues are affected, causing a degree of complications that could be life long, chronic and, in extreme cases, cause death.

“I want the doctors to know when the baby is in trouble so they can make decisions that's best for the situation,” says Dorsey.

Read more about Tammy Dorsey


Black Friday at the Shocker Store

Shocker Store Black Friday Nov. 2018

Searching for the perfect gift for your favorite Shocker fan? Save big on Shocker gear at the Shocker Store's Black Friday Sale! On Friday, Nov, 23 and Saturday, Nov. 24, at their Braeburn Square location only, take 25 percent off storewide! Store hours are 10 a.m.-8 p.m. both days. See you there, Shocker Nation!


RSC Unplugged today (Wednesday, Nov. 14)

RSC Unplugged Nov. 14, 2018

Stop by the Rhatigan Student Center every Wednesday for the live music series, RSC Unplugged. Aaron Lee Martin will perform from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. today (Wednesday, Nov. 14) in the RSC's Starbucks Lounge. Grab a cup of coffee and relax with some great music!