New technology protecting wind turbines from lightning underway through WSU, Westar partnership
Wichita State's Billy Martin has created a technology that protects wind turbine blades from lightning. Now a partnership between WSU and Westar Energy is moving his technology forward.
Phishing email safety tips
The holidays are a special time of year, but also particularly busy with both personal and work-related year-end activities. Therefore it is necessary to be especially vigilant with respect to suspicious e-mail messages. Specifically “phishing” (for digital credentials – ID and password) is extremely common now and becoming increasingly more sophisticated in terms of spoofing legitimate email addresses, including genuine company logos, purporting to be urgent, and appearing to be sent from a legitimate senior executive in our organization.
Why does this matter?
Your myWSU ID and password in the hands of vandals not only exposes access to your e-mail account in order to send spam, etc., but also provides access to many other WSU systems, including particularly your salary direct deposit information in Banner. Remain aware that it is a best practice to have completely unique passwords for your personal and work systems. If you manually make them all the same or very similar, as some users are tempted do for their convenience, that potentially exposes you to even greater damages in the event that any of your accounts become successfully compromised.
What Can You Do?
For detailed information regarding how to recognize e-mail messages as hazardous and what to do about them, please visit the Phishing Email Safety link by logging in to myWSU , under Faculty/Staff tab, Employee Toolbox, Technology Help Desk, (see screen image above).
If you are uncertain about a particular email message or feel that you may have responded to a phishing scheme and unintentionally provided someone your WSU credentials, you should immediately change your WSU password. To do that go to myWSU and click in the top right on “Manage your password.” Please forward questionable emails to spamreport@wichita.edu. You can also contact the ITS help desk at helpdesk@wichita.edu or 316-978-4357 if you need additional assistance with changing your password.
Best Regards,
WSU Information Technology Services
University mourns the passing of two Wichita State students
We are heartbroken to hear of the passing of two beloved Wichita State students in separate incidents, Kelsey Hanna and Hyosil Kang. Kelsey was a senior in the biomedical engineering program. Hyosil graduated in 2004 with a degree in performing arts and was currently enrolled as a graduate student in the College of Applied Studies.
We will keep everyone informed once information about services becomes available. The Counseling and Testing Center is available to help with any grieving students or staff. You can contact them at 316-978-3440 to make an appointment.
Applications are open for the John A. See Innovation Award
Applications for the John A. See Innovation Award will be accepted now to Friday, Feb. 1. The award was established in December 2013 by John A. See to support prototype development, which may include development of products in engineering and science, development of life-enhancing therapeutic products, creation of application of new knowledge and artistic ventures.
Faculty and students are eligible to apply for the Innovation Award. For more information and access to the online application options go to John A. See Innovation Award.
New policy regarding HVAC Systems Standards for all university buildings
WSU has passed a new policy: 11.27/ HVAC Systems Standards for use in all buildings owned and leased by WSU.
This policy primarily addresses expectations on appropriate set points for heating and cooling seasons, along with a procedure for staff or faculty to report temperature variances or concerns. This policy was proposed and worked on by Crystal Stegeman, university property manager, and Bob Smith, executive director, Facilities Services and was approved by the Executive Team.
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
Student teams move on to next round of Koch Innovation Challenge
Five student teams were selected as first-round winners of the Koch Innovation Challenge. They are:
Hearing Aid Battery Changing Tool
Brett Herrman, Andrew Hodge, Cameron Pint, Adam Shoemaker, Colton Wasinger
A device to make changing the tiny batteries in hearing aids easier.
Twirl&Brush
Alexa Easley, Elbie Saysombath, Emanuel Mijares, Garrett Delmar
A convenient travel toothbrush with toothpaste included.
Uplift Pillow
Nickolas House, Sadiya Jaba, Edward Jones, Kyra Hernandez, Bailey Seltmann
An inclined pillow to help knee surgery patients heal at the right angle with an embedded cooling system.
3D Engineers
Jennifer Alfaro, Kenny Do, Phillip Espinosa, Zachary Keitel, Matthew Minter, Alexandro Morales
A device to capture electricity from industrial water usage.
Water Level Sensor Pals
Cierra O'Neill, Edie Reese, Jedidiah Borchard, Tyler Thompson
A mechanical device to detect the water level for the blind or visually impaired.
Each of the five winners will be provided up to $1,200 in investment capital to pursue their big idea ventures during their second semester. Additionally, students on the five winning teams will be awarded a $1,000 Koch Innovation Challenge scholarship for their second semester. Further, each winning team will be paired with a faculty innovation mentor as they pursue their big idea ventures.
At the end of the second semester, a final competition will take place during the annual Engineering Open House on May 3, 2019, to identify the Grand Champion Team. The members of the Grand Champion Team will be awarded a travel grant to attend the national Collegiate Entrepreneurs' Organization (CEO) Conference during their third semester. At the National CEO Conference, they will compete in the National Elevator Pitch Competition.
Keep Calm & Breathe On today (Wednesday, Dec. 12)
Join the Counseling and Testing Center for Keep Calm & Breathe On. Drop in to build structured relaxation time into your life and learn techniques to do relaxation on your own. You will be led in meditation, mindfulness and relaxation practices. The meetings are from 12:15-12:45 p.m. every Wednesday in 257 RSC. Drop in or contact the Counseling and Testing Center for more information at 978-3440.
The last session of the semester will be Wednesday, Dec. 19.
Enroll in a Badge course today!
Badges are academic short courses of one credit hour or less that are designed for working, nondegree seeking professionals. They are online and self-paced. Badges allow students to demonstrate to employers their knowledge, skills and competencies in a subject area.
Students who successfully complete a badge will receive a digital recognition of their accomplishment that they can share on social media and link to a digital resume.
You can enroll and start courses from Jan. 22-April 19. All coursework must be completed by May 9.
To enroll and view the badge course catalog, visit badges.wichita.edu. For questions, please contact workforce@wichita.edu or 316-978-7579.
Call for Fiscal Year 2020 Educational Opportunity and Student Fee funding requests
It's again time to begin the process for submission of funding requests through Student Government for the Educational Opportunity Fund and Student Services Fee for FY 20. Through student fees, these programs provide funding for financial assistance to students (Educational Opportunity Fund) or the funding of programs / activities delivered directly to students (student fees).
If you've submitted requests in the past, the Budget / Review Officer should have received an email from the Budget Office last week to kick-off the submission process. If you have not submitted requests in the past, but are considering submitting a new request, please contact Lauren Smith, Jason Post, or David Miller in the Budget Office at 978-3030 for more information.
Requests are due no later than Friday, Jan. 25.
Encourage students to participate in Kansas Undergraduate Research Day at the Capitol
Undergraduate researchers from all disciplines are encouraged to submit their application for the annual Kansas Undergraduate Research Day at the Capitol poster symposium on Wednesday, Feb. 20, in Topeka. Researchers must:
- be undergraduates during the 2018-2019 academic year;
- have completed research under the guidance of a Kansas 4-year public institution faculty mentor;
- follow the methodology of the appropriate academic discipline;
- be of sufficient quality to be presented at a professional academic meeting;
- have the skills, resources, and capacity to produce a professional academic poster;
- agree to undergo presentation training and rehearse their presentations prior to the Capitol event.
Go to Undergraduate Research for a submission form. More questions?
Email undergraduateresearch@wichita.edu.
ODI Computer Lab temporarily closing starting Dec. 14
Starting Friday, Dec. 14, the computer lab in the Office of Diversity and Inclusion in 208 Rhatigan Student Center, will be temporarily unavailable for the remainder of the semester because of construction. The computer lab will reopen in Spring 2019. We apologize for the inconvenience caused.
RH: Shovels on deck at Eck Stadium
It is time for Eck Stadium to change again to help keep pace with college baseball's
building boom.
Construction on a multi-sport strength and conditioning facility is expected to begin
in January or February, associate athletic director Brad Pittman said. The project will also include moving Wichita State's dugout, locker room, offices
and operations to third-base side of the stadium, all connecting with the Bombardier
Learjet Indoor Practice Facility.
"It will give us much more space," coach Todd Butler said. "Our players live here, and to see this phase happen is a big deal to our players
and program."
Pittman said SJCF Architecture's drawings are in the hands of the state of Kansas
for review. If approved, he foresees putting the project out to bid for a contractor
by mid-January. He wants to break ground before the baseball season starts in mid-February.
Pittman's goal is to finish the $3.5 million project by the fall of 2019.
Game Day specials all day today (Wednesday, Dec. 12)
The Shocker Sports Grill & Lanes is your Shocker Basketball headquarters! For each men's basketball game, they will have a different game day special, honored all day long.
Join them today (Wednesday, Dec. 12) for $1 off all burger combos, and again on Saturday, Dec. 15, for 15 percent off all starter menu items!