KBOR chair sends letter to Legislature on higher education funding
Acting WSU President Richard Muma and Chief of Staff Andy Schlapp have recently testified before legislative committees in support of the Regents funding request described below. Click on presentation.
Kansas Board of Regents (KBOR) Chair Dennis Mullin sent the following letter to all state legislators outlining the need for a restoration of funding to higher education in Kansas.
Summer Tuition Assistance now open
Applications are now being accepted for summer term tuition assistance. Please note the following program changes:
- Budget Officer signature is no longer required for employee tuition assistance applications.
- Spouses and dependents are eligible to request tuition assistance for the summer term.
A fillable PDF application can be found online here. For more program information, go to Tuition Assistance.
Applications for the summer term are due on Monday, April 15. Because of the volume of applications received each semester, applications received after the deadline will be automatically denied. There will be no exceptions.
Teaching faculty are invited to apply for Tilford Incentive Grant
The 2019-20 Tilford Incentive grants will focus on promoting inclusive teaching. Course proposals that offer content and teaching techniques to promote the inclusion of first generation students, LGBTQ individuals, persons with disabilities or other marginalize groups will be given stronger consideration.
Proposals should be emailed to gergana.markova@wichita.edu by Sunday, March 24. For more information visit Faculty Development.
ITS to provide Duo Security two-factor training on Feb. 18
WSU is implementing Duo two-factor authentication security to all faculty and staff. Duo adds a second layer of security to your WSU login account. Duo enhances security by requiring the use of a secondary device at login to verify your identity, which will ensure that others cannot access your account by obtaining your password. Information Technology Services is providing training on Duo Security from 2:30-3 p.m. Monday, Feb. 18, in 142 RSC.
The purpose of this training is:
- To introduce Duo Security
- Provide demonstration on how to registering on Duo, and
- Frequently asked questions
You can enroll in these sessions through my Training located on the myWSU portal; under faculty/staff tab. The name of the training session is “Duo Security Software Demonstration.”
WSU uses Duo Security for all WSU CAS (Central/Authentication Method) Authenticated sites which include myWSU, Banner 9, Self-Service, Outlook web access, PeopleAmin, Office 365 web access and more.
For more information about Duo, please refer to Wichita.edu/Duo.
Assistant professors invited to meet with Muma today (Friday, Feb. 15)
Rick Muma
Assistant professors are invited to meet with Provost Rick Muma at 11 a.m. today (Friday, Feb. 15) in 261 RSC. All tenure track probationary faculty and non-tenure track teaching faculty in their first five years of appointment are welcome to attend.
University update recap at Weekly Briefing
A number of topics were addressed during the university update portion of the WSU Weekly Briefing, including SGA, expanded research, the WSU Foundation and eSports convention recap.
SGA
We’d like to start today’s briefing by recognizing the recent change in SGA leadership. Acting president Muma and the executive team is supportive of SGA, and the university administration expects to work closely with the new SGA president, Shelby Rowell, moving forward.
Expanded research
In research news, WSU’s research funding from federal and industry sources continues to increase steadily, and the university is on track to top last year's record total of $104 million. Recently, the National Institute for Aviation Research received a $16 million contract from the Department of Defense for sustainment and readiness of the legacy fleet. Other grants of significance in this fiscal year include $1.6 million from the National Institutes of Health; $3.5 million from the U.S. Department of Education; and $2.4 million from the Department of Defense.
WSU Foundation
As you may know, the WSU Foundation raised a record $66.6 million during the last fiscal year. We’re thankful for the continued generosity of our amazing donors and their strong commitment to the university’s vision and mission.
One recent example is Jane McDonald, a donor who passed away last October. Ms. McDonald honored her father, Frank A. Boettger, with a $5 million commitment to the construction of the new business school. In recognition of the gift, a 300-seat auditorium on the new building’s main level will be named for her father, who was an avid fan of Shocker athletics and who believed that the university was an important community asset.
We encourage everyone to visit wichita.edu/horizon to read the latest about the Foundation, its donors, and how they are investing in the success of current and future Shockers.
eSports convention recap
We want to acknowledge the success of the Midwest eSports Convention that was hosted in the Experiential Engineering Building on Feb. 1-3. According to the Sunflower, the event saw more than 1,000 attendees and more than $20,000 in prize money was awarded to tournament winners.
We’re excited about the rising popularity of eSports among our students and are working to create opportunities for them to pursue their eSports goals by:
- Offering a Bachelor of Applied Arts in Media Arts with a game design emphasis
- Hiring a full-time eSports coordinator
- Creating a three-credit-hour undergraduate course called the “Overview of Esports” within the sport management department
- And sanctioning and supporting WSU varsity eSports
Students wanting to participate in the eSports program can visit wichita.edu/esports to find out more.
Grad School Town Hall today (Friday, Feb. 15)
Provost Rick Muma and Kerry Wilks, associate dean of the Graduate School, will host a Grad School Town Hall meeting to answer questions and spark discussion on the Shock the Future Referendum, a student-led campaign that identifies a list of academic and student success infrastructure needs.
You’re invited to attend the Town Hall at 3 p.m. today (Friday, Feb. 15) in 266 Rhatigan Student Center.
This is your opportunity to listen to students’ thoughts on WSU’s future and find out more about the potential changes coming to our campus.
Fine Arts Town Hall today (Friday, Feb. 15)
Rodney Miller, dean of the College of Fine Arts, will host a College of Fine Arts Town Hall meeting to answer questions and spark discussion on the Shock the Future Referendum, a student-led campaign that identifies a list of academic and student success infrastructure needs.
You’re invited to attend the Town Hall at 3:30 p.m. today (Friday, Feb. 15) in Henrion Hall.
This is your opportunity to listen to students’ thoughts on WSU’s future and find out more about the potential changes coming to our campus.
RSVP by Feb. 22 for Faculty Appreciation Day lunch hosted by Meritrust at Braeburn
Join Meritrust for a WSU Faculty Appreciation Day and let us recognize your hard work and dedication from 10:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Friday, March 1, at Meritrust at Braeburn Square.
Stop by to check out their new branch location in Braeburn Square, meet the staff and have lunch on Meritrust.
RSVP by Friday, Feb. 22 at chi.bolander@meritrustcu.org.
Steve Feilmeier to speak at rescheduled SGu event
Because of last week’s inclement weather, the Startup Grind U had to be rescheduled. Join us for the SGu event from 5:30-8:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 20, in Marcus Welcome Center.
We will partner with Startup Grind Wichita to bring Steve Feilmeier to campus to speak
about his experiences in an entrepreneurial and innovative position. As a graduate
from Wichita State, Feilmeier has great insight to share with students about how he
became one of the highest ranking individuals at Koch Industries, and the directions
he sees both the company and local students going in the future.
Students, faculty, and WSU staff will receive free admission with a valid myWSUID
number. Space may be limited, so register for your seat now!
More information
Wednesday, Feb. 20 – Marcus Welcome Center
5:30-6:30 Networking (with appetizers)
6:30-7:30 Fireside Chat
7:30-8:30 Networking
StartupGrindU, in partnership with Google for Startups, brings together the community
and entrepreneurs, with a key focus on university students. We hope to build a bridge
between the entrepreneurial mindset of students on WSU's campus and the greater community
of Wichita to create an opportunity for collaborations and further development of
our city as a whole.
Volunteers needed for research study
Research Topic / Purpose of the study: The purpose of this research study is to explore the higher educational experience of Returning Adult Students and Traditional Students; looking at whether they prefer online learning or traditional classroom experiences.
Procedures: Participants will respond to an online survey that should only take about 15 to 20 minutes to complete. The survey is completely anonymous (no personal or identifying information is collected.)
Inclusion/Exclusion Criteria:
- Participants must be over the age of 18 and have participated or be currently participating in an online course.
To participate, click on the link and complete the survey.
Contact: If you have any questions regarding this survey, contact Amy Belden at amy.belden@wichita.edu or Jaehwan Byun at jaehwan.byun@wichita.edu.
Your participation in this research study is appreciated.
Graduate student seeking participants for buying habits and product packaging study
Are you the primary grocery shopper in your household? A graduate student in the Elliott School of Communication is looking for focus group participants to discuss buying habits and product packaging. The purpose of this research is to show marketers how to better advertise products through packaging.
The focus groups will be held from 6-7:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 25 (ages 35-50), Tuesday, Feb. 26 (ages 50+), Monday, March 4 (ages 25-34) and Tuesday, March 5 (ages 18-24).
For more information or to RSVP, email Katie Miller at kjmiller4@shockers.wichita.edu.
Family Fun Day tomorrow (Saturday, Feb. 16) at the Ulrich Museum of Art
You’re invited to Family Fun Day at the Ulrich Museum of Art from 1-3 p.m. tomorrow (Saturday, Feb. 16). It’s free and open to the public.
Bring the whole family for an afternoon of gallery exploration, games, and hands-on art-making activities inspired by the artist’s ideas and materials featured in our spring exhibitions. Snacks and refreshments provided.
For more information contact Jana Durfee at Jana.Durfee@wichita.edu.
Comedian Matt Bellassai to present show at WSU
Writer, comedian, Internet personality, and 2016 People’s Choice Award Winner Matt Bellassai will present a comedy show at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 7, in Hughes Metropolitan Complex, presented by Student Activities Council.
Bellassai writes frequently about pop culture, humor, and the struggles of daily life as a twenty-something man-child. He is the former writer, producer, and star of BuzzFeed’s “Whine About It,” a comedic web series that drew a weekly audience of more than 5 million viewers on Facebook. He can currently be found on Twitter, Tumblr, Instagram and Facebook in his new video series “To Be Honest,” where he shares his hilarious commentary on the struggles of life as a single gay man living a childish life in New York.
Tickets can be purchased for $5 to students with WSU ID (limit one per person), $8 to WSU faculty and staff with WSU ID (limit one per person), and $12 to the general public. All ticket options can be purchased in the Student Involvement Office, Suite 216, Rhatigan Student Center with cash or check only. General admission tickets can also be purchased online, via credit card, at WSUMatt.eventbrite.com*.
Tickets are on sale through 3 p.m. Thursday, March 7. Ticket sales will reopen when doors open at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 7. All on-site ticket sales will be sold at the general public ticket rate, and can be purchased with cash, check or credit card. Contact Student Involvement at 978-3022 for all event and ticket questions. *Taxes and fees not included in online general public ticket price.
For more information about SAC sponsored events, go to wichita.edu/sac or contact us at sac@wichita.edu.
Invitation to attend a Python Workshop on Thursday, Feb. 21
The IEEE HKN Epsilon Xi Chapter and WuLUG are organizing a workshop on programming using Python from 5-6 p.m. every Thursday starting Feb. 21, in 103 Lindquist Hall.
Sign up for ISU’s Badminton Championship
Want to play Badminton? Participate in International Student Union’s Badminton Championship from 5:30-8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 22, in the Heskett Center Gym Court B. Click here for details.