University schedule for the 2018 Holiday Closedown
The holiday closedown period at Wichita State University will commence at the end of the day on Thursday, Dec. 20, and reopen on Wednesday morning, Jan. 2.
The state paid holidays are Monday, Dec. 24; Tuesday, Dec. 25; and Tuesday, Jan. 1. For more information, go to Holiday Closedown.
Faculty training and help setting up spring classes
There are faculty training opportunities available to faculty this Friday, Dec. 7. There will also be help available for any instructor who wants to set up spring classes in Blackboard.
To sign up for faculty-focused training in Word or Excel, or to attend the “Spring Class Clean-up / Improvement” time, go to myTraining. All events can be found on Dec. 7 in the training calendar.
ITS / HR announces myWSU Training and HR lab joint sessions
Teams from ITS Applications Training, HR Organizational Development, and HR Total Rewards are excited to announce a schedule of trainings and labs designed to streamline onboarding for new employees and provide additional resources to current employees!
The next session will be held from 2:30-4:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 5, in 122 Jabara Hall. Employees can register for part or all of this session in myTraining. In the training portion of the session, ITS will present training in myWSU, with lab space available for hands-on application. HR staff will be present during the lab portion to answer questions and assist with access to benefits, training, HealthQuest, and more.
For more information go to www.wichita.edu/NEOLab. This page also includes a form where employees can request registration in a session if they do not yet have access to myTraining. Questions can be emailed to myTraining@wichita.edu.
Joint sessions will be held biweekly from 2:30-4:30 p.m. in 122 Jabara Hall. Please note, there will not be a session on Jan. 2, because of the university holiday schedule. All sessions will be held on Wednesdays, with the exception of Jan. 7, which is the Monday following the winter holiday closedown. Upcoming available sessions are:
- Wednesday, Dec. 5
- Wednesday, Dec. 19
- Monday, Jan. 7
- Wednesday, Jan. 16
Service-Learning Showcase results
The Service-Learning Showcase is a unique opportunity for students who participate in service-learning through applied learning opportunities to showcase their experience through a research or reflective poster about the application of their course work to current community issues. The showcase is an open forum for students to interact with faculty/staff, community partners and other students to engage in conversation about Wichita State University's commitment to the public good.
Students should reflect on the semester to set goals for the future
Students should consider taking time to reflect on the past 15 weeks and look ahead to the upcoming spring and summer as they are wrapping up this semester. Thinking about what went well and what they would change are important steps to improving student performance and success.
Students can meet with a Success Coach or a Peer Financial Coach in Student Success for assistance in setting goals, completing success plans or designing a financial plan to remain on the path to graduation.
Considering future co-curricular opportunities are also important in developing goals and plans for next year. Internship and cooperative education opportunities can be explored through the Career Development Center and social and leadership opportunities can be explored in Student Involvement[BROKEN LINK].
Meritrust at Braeburn Square branch opening Monday, Dec. 10
Meritrust's new high-digital-touch branch at the Wichita State University Braeburn
Square on the east side of campus is scheduled for opening Monday, Dec.10.
“We're proud to be offering this new location to serve the university community and
our membership,” says James Nastars, Meritrust President/CEO. “The new Meritrust at
Braeburn Square branch allows us to better serve the students, faculty and visitors
of the campus and the businesses nearby, while building upon our long-term support
of Wichita State's growth and investment in the future.”
Braeburn Square is located near the intersection of 21st and Oliver in northeast
Wichita. The Meritrust branch is opening near the Shocker Store and – opening in summer
2019 – Fuzzy's Taco Shop. Nearby are Airbus, Marcus Welcome Center, Law Enforcement
Training Center, new residence halls and the planned Student Wellness Center and YMCA.
Wichita State branding will be featured prominently throughout the branch, and it
will have an emphasis on digital technology. This focus will include Interactive Teller
Machines (ITMs), allowing members to have a more interactive experience with their
finances.
Two interior ITMs will be housed within the location, allowing members to make financial
transactions and providing 24/7 access to Meritrust card-holding members within a
vestibule for eATM deposits and withdrawals.
Another drive-up ITM will provide members an enhanced drive-thru experience during
business hours and 24/7 deposit and cash withdrawals.
The ITM technology of the new branch will complement the four Meritrust ATMs currently
located on campus, providing options for convenient banking access for students, faculty,
staff and visitors. ATMs can be accessed at the Rhatigan Student Center, Shocker Hall,
The Flats at WSU and Koch Arena (during games).
The new Meritrust at Braeburn Square branch is the next step in a longtime partnership
between Meritrust and Wichita State. Meritrust is heavily involved on campus, and
through a three-year $324,000 gift to the university, Meritrust is helping bring the
Professional Edge career development program and financial literacy curriculum to
Wichita State students in the Barton School of Business. Through this program, students
are able to identify career paths and opportunities, learn how to interact with business
professionals and develop their skills in professional networking, resume writing,
communication etiquette and financial literacy. Meritrust is also a supporter of Wichita
State Shocker athletics.
A ribbon-cutting celebration date for the new branch will be planned for early 2019.
Meritrust at Braeburn Square
Address: 4510 E. 19th Street, Wichita
Braeburn Square, located near 21st and Oliver on the east side of Wichita State's
campus
Branch Hours
Monday – Friday
9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Saturday
Live Teller via vestibule ITM
9 a.m. to noon
24/7 self-service deposits and quick cash available after-hours via the vestibule
machine.
Oklahoma native is proud to call WSU his home
Wichita State senior and sport management major Barak Cole Segura is not afraid of change. Originally from Oklahoma City, Barak chose Wichita State University to be his second home.
Seeking participants for a paid study about computer monitor resolution
Participants are sought for a paid study investigating the effects of computer monitor resolution on user performance and experience.
Do you play computer video games or digitally create / edit illustrations, photos, textures or animation? We are seeking computer users 18 and older to participate in a research study about computer monitor resolution.
The study will take place in McKinley Hall and last about 90 minutes. Participants in the study will earn $25 or six SONA credits if enrolled in a WSU psychology course.
If you are interested in participating, take a few minutes to take the screening survey. If you qualify for the study, you will be contacted by the researcher to schedule a time to participate.
Questions can be directed to Christal Haskins at cahaskins@shockers.wichita.edu.
Shocker Athletics launches fundraising campaign for softball program
Wichita State Athletics has launched its first GiveCampus crowdfunding campaign for the Shocker Softball program.
Money raised will provide the resources needed to fulfill and enhance the look and branding of Wilkins Stadium - the home of Shocker Softball. Our goal to enhance and brand Wilkins Stadium is a high priority for our softball program, which affects every aspect of current and future softball student-athletes. We are launching a capital campaign to achieve the branding goal, and encourage you to get involved.
"We're going to need the support of our community, our fans, alumni, parents and former
student-athletes," said Wichita State head softball coach Kristi Bredbenner.
Crowdfunding uses the internet, email and social media to raise gifts of varying
amounts from a large number of people. The department's goal is to inspire Shocker
Nation to support the softball program by making a donation. There is no donation
minimum and every gift goes toward the project.
Send a letter from Santa
Once again the Campus Post Office will offer eight different letters that you can choose from and have sent to a child. “A Letter from Santa” will be forwarded to the Santa Claus Post Office in Indiana for a pictorial postmarking and then sent to the addressee on the envelope.
Each letter will cost $1.25. The last day to purchase a letter will be Wednesday, Dec. 14, to allow them to get the pictorial postmark.
The Santa Claus Post Office is the only post office in the world with the Santa Claus name, and during the Christmas season thousands of letters are mailed to Santa each year.
The first Santa Claus Post Office opened its doors in 1856. The town's name did not peak interest, however, until 1914 when Santa Claus' 14th postmaster, James Martin, took it upon himself to answer the children's letters.
Soon after, people flocked to the Santa Claus Post Office to get the special postmark; so much that in the early 1930s the U.S. Postal Department suggested changing the name of the town to avoid the Christmas season frenzy. Fortunately, for everyone, that did not happen!
James Martin continued answering letters and eventually enlisted Jim Yellig to aid in helping him write back to children across the world. Today, the nonprofit organization, Santa's Elves Inc, and the Santa Claus Museum, organize volunteers to answer all the children's letters that flood this tiny post office during the holidays. More than 22,000 letters were answered in 2018.
RH: Bob Powers' plans keep Final Four team close
In 1966, a burly Wichita State center with bad ankles decided to quit basketball and
go home to Pennsylvania.
"Sitting on the bench was driving me crazy," Bob Powers said. "I'm competitive."
Coach Gary Thompson told Powers to stay in Wichita, that things were going too well
for him to return to Washington, Pa. When Powers said his family couldn't afford tuition
without the basketball scholarship, Thompson told him not to worry. He found a way
to keep Powers on scholarship for the three semesters he needed to graduate with a
degree in education.
"It was Gary Thompson who made my life all come together," Powers said. "His family
didn't know what that meant to me. That's why I'm so involved in this project. I know
what that man did for my life."
Fifty-two years later, Bob Powers, 73, is happy he stayed in Wichita, where he and
wife JoAnn built a life with eight children and 23 grandchildren.
Fifty-two years later, Bob Powers is paying back Thompson's kindness while sitting
in his 2005 tan Suburban on a cold morning outside Koch Arena. He is with sculptor
Ann LaRose, watching a life-size, bronzed, statue of Shocker star Dave Stallworth
placed on a granite pedestal.
Finals Frenzy deals at the Shocker Sports Grill & Lanes
From today (Monday, Dec. 3) through Saturday, Dec. 8, you can unwind at the Shocker Sports Grill & Lanes with $1.50 bowling games (shoes included) and $3 per hour billiards rental.
Campus Credit Union invites you to donate toys for Wesley Children's Hospital
The Campus Credit Union is collecting toys to take to the kids at Wesley Children's Hospital. Help us make some awesome kid's Christmas a little brighter and joyful as we look forward to filling the sock! Bring the toys to the Campus Credit Union by Tuesday, Dec. 18.
12 Days of Christmas Sale continues today (Monday, Dec. 3)
Looking to find your favorite Shocker a holiday gift? Stop by the Shocker Store's Rhatigan Student Center location for its annual 12 Days of Christmas Sale from now to Saturday, Dec. 8. Or shop the sale online at shockerstore.com.
New sale items are added daily and will stay on sale the remainder of the promotion or while supplies last.
The new sale item for today (Monday, Dec. 3) is 20 percent off select fleece hoodies and crew sweatshirts.
The special sale item on Saturday, Dec. 1, which continues this week while supplies last, is 20 percent off blankets.