Weekly Briefing recap
Here are some of the items that were presented during the university update portion of this week's Weekly Briefing.
Meritrust and Spirit AeroSystems
We want to share a quick update on the campus expansion. On Monday, Meritrust Credit Union opened its doors at Braeburn Square followed by a Wednesday dedication and ribbon cutting.
And over at Partnership Building 2, the Spirit AeroSystems sign is now installed, and Spirit is scheduled to make its move into the second floor of P2 early in the new year.
To Spirit and Meritrust, we want to say: “Welcome to Wichita State.”
We’re excited about partnerships like these and the important role they’ll play in making campus a destination for the entire community and in furthering WSU’s mission.
Shocker Sound Machine – upcoming performances
And, finally, if you missed Shocker Sound Machine’s debut performance during women’s basketball on Dec. 8, you still have several chances to catch this high-energy, fast-moving, loud-and-proud marching ensemble, including the Jan. 29 women’s game and at two men’s games on Jan. 30 and Feb. 28.
We’re pleased to offer this marching band experience that draws upon the talents of current and prospective students who enjoyed the excitement of their high school bands. Shocker Sound Machine will eventually be worked into the curriculum to help music education majors get experience they need to effectively teach marching band.
We look forward to seeing and hearing Shocker Sound Machine in full force starting in the 2019-2020 academic year.
Briefings resume in January
Finally, we want to remind you that university offices will be closed starting Dec, 21 and will reopen on Jan. 2, with briefings starting up again later in the month.
Looking back on this year’s briefings, we’re happy about the positive feedback we’ve received from the campus and community. This feedback has encouraged us to continue holding these briefings on a weekly basis after the break, although the format may be a little different. We’ll keep you updated about any changes.
We wish you a safe and happy holiday season, and we’ll see you in 2019.
Financial processing deadlines for December
As of 5 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 20, the university will officially be closed until Wednesday, Jan. 2.
To ensure all financial processing is completed for the month prior to Holiday Closedown, the following items must be received by the office listed, no later than 5 p.m. Friday, Dec. 14:
- Invoice Control Documents (ICDs) - Office of Purchasing
- Payment requests associated with a purchase order - Financial Operations Office/Accounts Payable
- Inter-Organization Transfer Documents (IOTDs) and Correction Requests - Financial Operations Office/Accounts Payable
Travel Reimbursements (TRs) must also be final approved in the Travel Expense Management (TEM) system no later than 5 p.m. Friday, Dec. 14.
Transactions received after the above dates may not be processed until January 2019.
RH: Stephenson's game starts with a shake
Gene Stephenson scoffs at the idea he possesses a handshake technique. That would
imply an agenda behind a gesture he sees as simple and straight-forward.
"You shake hands with a guy and you let him know you're alive," he said. "You're
glad to meet this person. That's the way I do it."
The notion is more complicated for those on the receiving end of Stephenson's gesture,
a grip that entertained and terrorized college baseball for years. The word "crushing"
is often used, followed by "bear paws" and "meat hooks" by the victims.
This weekend, Stephenson joins the Pizza Hut Shocker Sports Hall of Fame as the sole
member of the 2019 class. Stephenson will officially be inducted into the Hall of
Fame during halftime of the Wichita State men’s basketball game vs. Southern Miss.
The induction celebrates his 1989 College World Series title, seven trips to Omaha,
the 54 Shocker All-Americans and his 1,768-673-3 record over 36 seasons.
Faculty training opportunities
All instructional staff are invited to choose from several in-person training topics offered on Friday, Jan. 18, in the Marcus Welcome Center. Classes will be offered in formatting images (photographs, artwork, etc.) for your class, Panopto, Quality Matters, the Blackboard Grade Center, and running effective online discussions. There will also be an opportunity to take the required accessibility instruction for faculty so you don’t have to do it online.
Please sign up through myTraining, and send questions to Instructional Design and Access at IDA@wichita.edu, and session names and descriptions can be found online at Instructional Design and Access Workshops.
IDA will also offer a special session of the Blackboard and Accessibility come-and-go lab time from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Marcus Welcome Center this day, and there is no need to sign up for the lab, so if you find you need some help getting your spring classes set up, please come join us there!
HR has early deadline to post positions and make job offers
The HR Talent Team will have an early deadline to post positions and to make offers to ensure they are processed prior to the holiday shutdown. This will also allow the team to prepare for the Jan. 3 New Employee Orientation. To accomplish this, the following deadlines are in place:
- All position descriptions must be completely approved in the PeopleAdmin routing process by Tuesday, Dec. 18 to be posted to the WSU website prior to the shutdown.
- All offers must be accepted by Tuesday, Dec. 18 to be able to start on Jan. 3, 2019.
Any pending position descriptions or requests for posting after Dec. 18 will continue processing on Jan. 2. Any offers that are accepted after Dec. 18 will be able to start on or after the Jan. 14 New Employee Orientation.
Please call Human Resources at 978-3605 with any questions.
Wichita State University to hold 2018 fall commencement ceremony Dec. 16
Wichita State University will hold its fall ceremony of the 121st commencement in
Charles Koch Arena at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 16. Nearly 1,200 students are eligible
to graduate this fall.
All graduates will walk across the stage and be individually recognized. Doctoral
candidates will be hooded at this ceremony.
Wichita State's fall commencement ceremony in Koch Arena will be available via webcast.
To view the ceremony, go to www.wichita.edu/commencement and click on "Live Commencement Streaming." The site will go live at about 2:25 p.m.
Dec. 16.
Security procedures will be implemented
To ensure the safety of everyone attending commencement, the following security procedures
are being implemented:
Everyone attending, assisting or participating in commencement will be required to
be screened and pass through metal detectors as they enter the arena. Koch Arena will
open at 1 p.m. We recommend you arrive early to allow sufficient time to get through
security.
Please note the following items are prohibited:
- Outside food and drink
- Weapons not allowed by law
- Noisemakers
- Pocket and box knives
- Alcohol and drugs
Wichita State staff reserves the right to prohibit any items deemed inappropriate.
How much do you know about the WSU Faculty / Staff Holiday Card Scholarship?
Over 50 years ago, Dr. Nicholas Pronko, professor emeritus of psychology, came up with a unique fundraising idea for Wichita State. He called on faculty and staff to give the few dollars they normally would spend sending each other holiday cards to a scholarship benefiting WSU students with financial need – and this became the Holiday Card Endowed Scholarship Fund.
Now, with more than 3,400 donations and nearly $82,000 contributed (and that’s just during the time we’ve been able to track), it’s easy to see how successful Dr. Pronko’s vision has become. The endowed fund has grown to the point we are able to award up to four scholarships a year averaging more than $1,000 each. It is truly impacting the lives of WSU students.
Unfortunately, support for what was once an important holiday tradition for WSU faculty and staff has been declining over the past few years. With many loyal supporters having retired, and so many new employees, it’s easy to understand how this happened. This is a renewed appeal for you to help turn the tide. Whether this is the first you’ve heard of the scholarship – or you’ve supported it for years – please consider participating this year.
Visit the Holiday Card Endowed Scholarship Fund site by clicking here. You’ll be able to learn more about the scholarship and can even give a gift. If you’re unable to support financially, you can still make an impact by advocating for the scholarship and promoting it to your friends and colleagues. Your involvement at any level will make a difference.
If you have questions, or would like to learn more about ways you can support the WSU Faculty/Staff Holiday Card Scholarship Fund, please contact Aaron Winter at the WSU Foundation by emailing aaron.winter@wichita.edu or call 316-978-3803.
Happy holidays to all – and congratulations on another great year at WSU!
FUN / Future Now at the Ulrich
FUN / Future Now at the Ulrich Museum of Art is a series of PechaKucha-style presentations featuring campuswide research. We have three dates for the spring, and if this takes off, we will program into the next academic year.
The Ulrich is planning four presentations per night, and will go to five if there is demand. Spring dates are:
Friday, Feb. 1, 4-5 p.m. reception following / deadline for submission is Thursday, Dec. 20
Friday, March 1, 4-5 p.m. reception following / deadline for submission is Friday, Feb. 8
Friday, April 26, 4-5 p.m. reception following / deadline for submission is Friday, March 29
Simply send an email proposal to jana.durfee@wichita.edu with the following information – Name / Title / Department / Research Topic / Preferred Date.
The program is an extension of the museum's “Solving for X” exhibition series.
Billingham’s research is referenced in ‘The Atlantic’
Chase Billingham
A co-authored study by WSU assistant professor of sociology Chase Billingham and Shelley Kimelberg, a sociologist at the University at Buffalo was cited in “The Atlantic.” The article was titled “Parents Are Biased Against Even Quality ‘Urban’ Schools.”
In their study, Billingham and Kimelberg analyzed data from a survey of residents in metropolitan areas across the United States. When controlling for other factors, every one-point increase in whites’ perception of their neighborhood’s school quality was associated with a 15 percent decrease in the odds that they would describe their area as “urban.”
The 6th Annual Puppy Paddle is tomorrow (Saturday, Dec. 15)
Bring your furry friends and take a dip in our pool from 10 a.m.-noon tomorrow (Saturday, Dec. 15) at the Heskett Center! You and your puppy can swim together, lob tennis balls or practice jumping in. This event raises money for animals in need and will showcase dogs in need of a fur-ever home.
Heskett Center winter break hours now to Thursday, Dec. 20
The Heskett Center has announced its winter break hours.
Friday, Dec. 14: Regular hours
Saturday-Sunday, Dec. 15-16: 1-6 p.m.
Monday-Wednesday, Dec. 17-19: 7 a.m.-8 p.m.
Thursday, Dec. 20: 7 a.m.-5 p.m.
Wiedemann Natatorium
Friday, Dec. 14: Regular hours
Saturday-Thursday, Dec. 15-20: Closed
Shocker Fit Schedule
Friday, Dec. 14: F45 class from noon-12:45 p.m.
Monday-Wednesday, Dec. 17-19: F45 classes from noon-12:45 p.m. and 5:15-6 p.m.
Thursday, Dec. 20: F45 class from noon-12:45 p.m.
All Shocker Fit classes are held in F45 studio
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.
Game Day Sale at the Shocker Store tomorrow (Saturday, Dec. 15)
On Saturday, Dec. 15, head to the Shocker Store at Braeburn Square to take advantage of their Game Day Sale! The day of every men's home basketball game you can take 20 percent off your entire purchase! (Braeburn Square Store only, some exclusions may apply)
Spirit Squad is selling Wichita State shirts
The Wichita State Shocker Spirit Squads are selling the perfect holiday gift for the Wichita State fan in your family. The long-sleeve shirts will be available in youth small to 4XL online.
After purchase, you can and either have it delivered to you by a cheerleader or dancer that you know, or have it mailed to you for a flat rate of $5.
*If shipping is selected please provide the address you would like the shirts sent to on the first record only. The long-sleeved shirts range in price from $20-$32, and will begin being delivered by Thursday, Dec. 20. Online sales will last until tomorrow (Saturday, Dec. 15).
For more information, please contact Kelli Rappard at krappard@goshockers.com.