WSU Today: Feb. 25, 2019

Managers – Due Thursday, March 14
Manager signatures for myPerformance evaluations from March 2018 through March 2019. The ability to submit manager signatures will be available as soon as the employee has signed and submitted their signature. Managers should log in to myPerformance in myWSU to submit electronic signatures by March 14.

Planning for myPerformance evaluations from March 2019 through March 2020 is available to complete on Feb. 1, 2019. (To access the current review period’s evaluations, look for “2019-2020 Annual” in the list of evaluation titles.) This will allow managers to potentially meet with their direct reports for the current (2018-19) end-of-review as well as the next cycle’s (2019-20) planning meeting at the same time, if desired. Managers should add expectations for the review period including competencies and goals in myPerformance, then meet with their employees to provide copies and review planning. Planning should be completed by Sunday, March 31.

For more information (including quick reference guides, training available, and open labs) go to www.wichita.edu/myPerformance.

Controlling Your Financial Future – 9 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 27

• For employees with more than 5 years until retirement
• 5 hours

Your journey to retirement is unique. But to get on the right path, everyone should answer 3 questions:

1. Where are you today?
2. Where do you want to go?
3. How do you plan to get there?

This interactive workshop will help you answer these questions, while learning ways to:

1. Improve your financial future.
2. More effectively manage your finances.
3. Prioritize your financial goals.

Fundamentals of Investing – 10 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 27

• For all employees
• 30 minutes

Asset allocation and diversification help you find the best balance of risk and potential return when investing for retirement. But one size doesn’t fit all. We’ll look at how to keep your investment portfolio on track. We’ll also talk about the options available through KPERS 457 to help you build a diversified portfolio across different asset classes.

 

Managing Your Retirement Income – 11 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 27

• For employees within 3 years of retirement
• 5 hours

How you spend money in retirement is as important as how you save it.

This workshop can help you create a well-planned, worry-free, spend-down strategy with tools and resources to achieve your vision of retirement success.

 

Are You Saving Enough? – 1 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 27

• For all employees
• 30 minutes

Important Note: KPERS 457 retirement counselors only work for KPERS 457 participants and do not make a commission. They’re motivated to provide service and education, not to sell.

Your contribution rate can have the biggest impact on your retirement income. Are you saving enough?

A retirement specialist will discuss:

1. How to know how much you need to save.
2. How to come up with the money to save.
3. How to get started saving or increase your savings.

Nearing Retirement – 2 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 27

• For employees within 3 years of retirement
• 45 minutes

You’re ready…but are your finances?

A retirement specialist will discuss:

1. Steps to consider with your KPERS 457 before retirement.
2. Income replacement and income needs in retirement.
3. Options for continuing benefits from KPERS 457 in retirement.

Website Experience – 3 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 27

• For all employees
• Joint session with Roth 457 Option
• 30 minutes

Join us for a demonstration of your KPERS 457 online account experience. We’ll explore the user-friendly features designed to make it easier for you to enroll in the plan, set up a login, find information, track progress and make changes to how you save and invest.

 

Roth 457 Option – 3 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 27

• For all State of Kansas employees
• Joint session with Website Experience
• 30 minutes

The Roth 457 will allow additional after-tax contributions to the plan

A retirement counselor will discuss:

1. What a Roth 457 is.
2. What rules apply with Roth 457.
3. How to get started with Roth 457.

Muma, 56, has made a steady climb at Wichita State University throughout his 23 years on the hill. Most recently, he was Senior Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs and Strategic Enrollment Management two years ago, then became the university's chief academic officer as Provost last year.

President John Bardo was hospitalized for a chronic lung condition in November, and Bardo named Muma acting president Jan. 2. He leads the university through a busy time, most notably a March referendum that asks students to raise their own fees to pay for a new School of Business building and other campus improvements.

Associate editor Kirk Seminoff sat with Muma recently for his thoughts on his new role and the qualities he brings to it.

You have said that being a provost of a university pales in comparison to taking care of terminally ill patients as a physician’s assistant, but what qualities of a PA have you brought to the role of provost and now acting president?

One of the things is, when you’re learning to practice medicine, is you learn how to listen and take information from individuals and diagnose the situation. So that’s very relevant to what I do every day in terms of meeting with different colleagues, my dean colleagues and various people across the university. It’s problem solving, diagnosing the situation, coming to some sort of conclusion. All of those are very relevant.

Many of those who work with you describe you as a good listener and someone who’s genuinely interested in them as students, staff members or university supporters. From where did you learn to be that type of person?

One of the things I found most gratifying about taking care of patients is hearing their stories and the interest they bring to the patient-clinician encounter. A lot of times, people don’t have an opportunity to tell their story until they get into a situation where they’re struggling. I just think that’s fascinating and what made patient care so interesting. That also translates to everybody has a story as a student, everybody has a story as a faculty member, everybody has a story as an administrator, and I like hearing them. It makes for a better relationship and a much more richer experience. And I can also better understand where they’re coming from and see where they are in the situation.

Do you consider yourself a shy person, an outgoing person, somewhere in the middle? And is that part of being a good listener?

I’ve been told and I believe this, more reserved than most people. You’ll see me listening for a while before I bring anything forward because I think it’s important to have context and full understanding. Some people may say I’m a more reserved person, but I don’t think people who get to know me would think that, really. My colleagues who I’ve worked with for a really long time know a different side of me. I don’t think of myself as shy, but some people might think that because they confuse being reserved and being more thoughtful to being shy.

How does your leadership style differ from Dr. Bardo’s?

Dr. Bardo is a very visionary individual. He’s really transformed the university. He’s a transformational president. I also can be visionary, but I know from experience and being a manager and an administrator that you also have to execute. So I’m probably more focused a lot of times, certainly looking at vision and where we need to go, but how are we going to make that happen? It’s one thing to talk about it, it’s yet another thing to move through the processes with students and faculty and it’s all very complex and you have to get them on board with whatever the issue might be.

The “Shock the Future” referendum that students will vote on March 4-6 would, if passed, add $6 per credit hour to students’ fees and help finance projects such as classroom and laboratory renovations, plus a new Barton School of Business building. What kind of reactions have you personally received from students who could be adding to their cost of attending college?

As you can imagine, it’s mixed. Anytime we’re asking a student to increase their fees, no one’s going to say, "Oh yeah, sign me up." I’d say that there’s going to be a number of students who are just not going to vote for it because they’re concerned about the increase in tuition and fees and I totally get that. I understand that. I hate that we have to do that, but there’s really no other way to make these improvements because the state’s not investing in those kinds of things.

But when I do have a student who is sort of on the fence and they want to hear more about it, then they can understand the need for this and the whole notion of rising tides affect all ships. Even though you may not be a business student, you might take a class in the new business building. You might never go into Henrion Hall, but your best friend’s a fine arts major and you hate the fact they’re studying in a building that has no air conditioning. So once we explain that a little bit more and also bring up the fact that students previous to them considered this same kind of thing when the (Rhatigan Student Center) was decided to be renovated. ... Now look how nice that is for them.

So getting both sides of it. We’re doing as many outreach efforts and town halls … to talk to students and we’re encouraging faculty to do the same thing. The more we talk about it, the more people understand why this is important. They don’t like it, I don’t like it either, to be quite honest. I would like for the state to help us to do these kinds of things.

What would be the next step if it fails?

We have basically two major initiatives in the overall referendum, business school and other parts in the core of the institution. If this doesn’t pass, those projects on the core part of the campus are not going to be able to move forward in an expeditious kind of a way. We have access to some resources, minimal resources, for repair and rehabilitation that we can use for some of these projects maybe, because that all has to fit into the guidelines of the state.

The business building needs to be built. We have donors who have given $30 million to build that building. There's an interest in the business community to get that facility built. If it doesn’t pass, we’ll have to take that referendum just to the business students to raise their fees, which would be a significant amount more than what we’re proposing now.

When I was given this to execute on, there’s a vision, right, and then you've got to make sure you work on how this is going to happen. I just wasn't comfortable taking a referendum to the student body just for a business school building when there’s so many needs on this side of campus.

The university’s Innovation Campus is entering its sixth year. Are you happy with its progress and where do you see it going in its next six years?

I think all of us who have been involved in that work are really surprised that it’s taken off like it has in terms of different industry partners that have located here or are working with us on other kinds of research projects because of it. From that perspective, I think that’s been good, there’s a lot of support for it in the community.

We’ve had some controversies surrounding our housing and some other things on that part of campus, but I think that’s going to be expected when you start thinking about public-private partnerships. People aren’t used to that. I’ve been at two other institutions (and it’s) very common to have public-private investment together on a university campus, both in an urban kind of setting and a small-town kind of setting. So I’m kind of used to that.

Obviously to this community, this is new to them, so we’re working through some of those issues. What I think will help move things forward is to have much more transparency, have an open, honest conversation built on trust and integrity. That’s been my main message with the faculty — make sure everyone has an opportunity to come forward. I think we’re going to continue to see investment from the private sector. The industry wants to be a partner with us. They want us to be fully engaged with their needs and how we train students so when they graduate they’re ready to work or (get) the minimal kind of training. That’s all good for industry but it’s also very good for the students.

I think for the most part people understand it and that it’s a good move for the institution. One of the things I talk about when I go talk to the Legislature and the Governor is we’re Kansas’ only urban public research university, and urban public research universities do something different. One of the things they do is provide access to the people in this community and that’s a major focus of ours. We have the most diverse student body of any of the regent schools. That’s really important to make sure we’re serving this community, but we’re also helping industry solve some of their most pressing issues. And marrying those together I think really helps drive the economy, helps with jobs, and ultimately helps students.

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RICK MUMA

Title: Provost, professor and acting president, Wichita State University

Age: 56

Education: Bachelors, University of Texas Medical Branch; masters, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston; doctorate, University of Missouri.

Experience: University of Texas Medical Branch, 1988-94; Wichita State University, 1994-99; Saint Louis University, 1999-2000; Wichita State, 2001-present.

Family: Spouse, Rick Case; children, Drew, 29; Collin, 26.

We appreciate the campus community’s patience during this time and are excited for the improvements this project will provide for our student-athletes.

The renovation includes a new 10,000-square foot performance facility that will feature a strength and conditioning center, locker room, media room, player lounge and offices for coaches and staff.

For any questions, please contact the ticket office at 978-FANS (3267).

He currently conducts research on invalid cognitive test performances and malingering of cognitive functioning. He has worked on multiple funded research projects and in 2018, he was awarded the Early Career Award from the National Academy of Neuropsychology.

We hope you will invite your students and your colleagues to attend Schroeder’s colloquium.

"Citations: How Do I Write Papers in APA Style?" from 4-5 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 27, in 217 Ablah Library. See workshop details.

           "Scopus Webinar: The Basics" from 10-11 a.m. Friday, March 1, in 217 Ablah Library. See workshop details.

           "Dear Diary: How Can I Find Diaries, Journals, and Letters?" from noon-1 p.m. Friday, March 1, in 217 Ablah Library. See workshop details.

          "Scopus Webinar: The Basics" from 2-3 p.m. Friday, March 1, in 217 Ablah Library. See workshop details.

          "Scopus Webinar: The Basics" from 11 a.m.-noon Monday, March 4, in 217 Ablah Library. See workshop details.

           "Scopus Webinar: Beyond the Basics" from 1-2 p.m. Monday, March 4, in 217 Ablah Library. See workshop details.

            "Scopus Webinar: Beyond the Basics" from 11 a.m.-noon Tuesday, March 5, in 217 Ablah Library. See workshop details.

          "Scopus Webinar: The Basics" from 2-3 p.m. Tuesday, March 5, in 217 Ablah Library. See workshop details.

          “Copyright Concepts for Entrepreneurs” from 5:30-7 p.m. Tuesday, March 5, in 217 Ablah Library. See workshop details.

         “Research: How Do I Write a Literature Review?” from 4-5 p.m. Wednesday, March 6, in 217 Ablah Library. See workshop details.

            "Scopus Webinar: The Basics" from noon-1 p.m. Thursday, March 7, in 217 Ablah Library. See workshop details.

            "Scopus Webinar: Beyond the Basics" from 4-5 p.m. Thursday, March 7, in 217 Ablah Library. See workshop details.

           "More Endnote: What Else Can I Do with It?" from noon-1 p.m. Friday, March 8, in 217 Ablah Library. See workshop details.

For more information and event registration, go to library events. Students, faculty and staff are welcome to attend.

Wallace Scholars are a community of more than 40 engineering students, representing every class and nearly every major in the College of Engineering. Wallace Scholars are involved on the WSU campus and within the Wichita community to promote engineering, math, science and community service.

Selection for the Wallace Scholarship is based on recipients’ high school GPA, ACT score and performance at the annual Wallace Invitational for Scholarships in Engineering (WISE), which was held in November and drew 233 students from 14 states.

The Wallace Scholarship is made possible through the Dwane and Velma Wallace Endowment, created in 1976, which supports scholarships for engineering students and provides funds for the College of Engineering. Since 1980, the endowment has benefited more than 360 engineering majors at WSU.

The 2019 Wallace Scholars include:

• Ashley Bland, Muriel Williams Battle High School, Columbia, Missouri, biomedical engineering
• Cameron Cropper, Topeka West High School, Topeka, aerospace engineering
• Alexander DeWerff, homeschool, Wichita, aerospace engineering
• Logan Mauch, Western Plains High School, Ness City, Kansas, aerospace engineering
• Josh McConnell, Summit Christian Academy, Lee’s Summit, Missouri, aerospace engineering
• Amanda Mudra, Wichita Collegiate School, Wichita, aerospace engineering
• Trent Oberlander, Raymore-Peculiar High School, Raymore, Missouri, aerospace engineering
• Jessica Orchard, Northeast Magnet High School, Wichita, mechanical engineering
• Richard Oswalt, Central Christian High School, Hutchinson, Kansas, undecided engineering
• Connor Rockey, Goddard Senior High School, Wichita, aerospace engineering
• Sabrina Saathoff, Northeast Magnet High School, Wichita, undecided engineering
• Esmeralda Sanchez-Torres, Wichita North High School, Wichita, aerospace engineering
• Kyle Walter, homeschool, Wichita, biomedical engineering
• Kourtney Zwiener, Andover Central High School, Wichita, computer science

Wallace scholar biographies

Ashley Bland
Columbia, Missouri
Muriel Williams Battle High School
Biomedical engineering

Ashley is a member of National Honor Society, National Society of Black Engineers and is a valuable mentor to high school freshmen under the Link Leader program at her high school. She is also a very frequent volunteer at her local Humane Society and Food Bank. In her free time, Ashley enjoys being a team captain for her basketball team and throwing shot put and discus for her high school. At one time, she even held the school record for girls’ javelin, an accomplishment Ashley is proud of. At her high school, she will be graduating sixth in a class of 326, with her 3.98 GPA and 32 ACT score to show for her work ethic.

Cameron Cropper
Topeka, Kansas
Topeka West High School
Aerospace engineering

Cameron is a member of his school's baseball team, the Scholars Bowl team and participates in Math Club. He also participates in Robotics Club at the Topeka Center for Advanced Learning and Careers, where he has earned a certification for programming and handling an industrial robot. Cameron is a Kansas Honor Scholar and has been on the academic honor roll in every semester during his high school career. In his free time, Cameron works part-time at a Sonic Drive-In and also enjoys playing pool and table tennis.

Alexander DeWerff

Wichita

Heritage Academy Homeschool

Aerospace engineering

Alexander has always been homeschooled and is the oldest of four siblings. He participated in the Kansas BEST Robotics competition for three years. During his senior year, he was a leader on his team and helped them win first place at state and second place at regionals. Alexander has performed in many musicals and stage productions, played piano in numerous festivals and recitals, volunteered with a local ESL program, and participated in his local AWANA club for the past nine years. He enjoys reading a good book, playing the piano, throwing yo-yos and learning Latin.

Logan Mauch
Ness City, Kansas
Western Plains High School
Aerospace engineering

Logan is the student body president at Western Plains High School. He is the captain of the school’s varsity scholars bowl team. He also participates in forensics, basketball, track, KAYS, band and robotics. Logan is passionate about math and computers. He loves to watch physics documentaries as well as play pool and video games.

Josh McConnell
Lee’s Summit, Missouri
Summit Christian Academy
Aerospace engineering

Josh McConnell is the second oldest of six kids. He is a member of Fellowship of Christian Athletes and is the National Honor Society president at his high school. He has played varsity football for four years and was a national finalist for private school player of the year. He also made the all-state football team as a junior and senior. Along with football, Josh also enjoys playing the piano. He enjoys serving his church in many ways including playing the piano in the youth worship band. He has been an International Buddy, a math tutor and part of the Junior/Senior Ensemble at his high school. In his free time, Josh enjoys playing sports, reading Harry Potter and hanging out with family and friends.

Amanda Mudra
Wichita
Wichita Collegiate School
Aerospace engineering

Amanda is a three year Kansas All-State musician and participated in both the 1234A band as the first chair French horn and the orchestra and is a four-year district musician as well. She has performed at Carnegie Hall as a member of an international band in the Honor Performance Series and been a part of another international band that performed at the Pearl Harbor 75th Anniversary. She is the 2nd chair French horn in the Wichita Youth Symphony Orchestra and participates in her school's jazz band as a trumpet player. Amanda is also a captain of her school's cheer team and partakes in both cross country and track. In her free time, Amanda enjoys sketching and building lots of Lego sets. 

Trent Oberlander
Raymore, Missouri
Raymore-Peculiar High School
Aerospace engineering

Trent is involved in his school's Student Leadership Team, National Honor Society, Technology Student Association, Wind Symphony and swim team. He was named Outstanding Senator at Missouri Boys State for his role as Majority Floor Leader in the Senate, Student of the Month by the Sunshine Optimist Club, All-Conference and All-State Honorable Mention for two years, and has nine varsity letters across academia and athletics. He is second chair tenor saxophone in the Raymore-Peculiar High School's Wind Symphony and also plays the flute. When not trying to learn something new, Trent enjoys working out, playing and attempting the composition of music, and playing strategy games.

Jessica Orchard
Wichita
Northeast Magnet High School
Mechanical engineering

Jessica Orchard has been the president of her school’s Christian Club for two years and is a member of the National Honor Society. At her school’s magnet project fair, she has won first place in the science magnet portion two times and second place in the art magnet portion once. Outside of school, Jessica is involved in her church, where she sings for her youth group’s worship team and is a part of the Students as Leaders Team. In her free time, Jessica enjoys spending time with her family, playing the piano and singing.

Richard Oswalt
Hutchinson, Kansas
Central Christian High School
Undecided Engineering

Richie has played football, basketball and track each year in his high school career. Richie was recently recognized as one of the top eight-man football players in the state of Kansas, and has been selected to participate in the eight man all-star game later in the year. He has been president of his class twice. He also placed first at the Academic Olympics in both pre-calculus and chemistry. He has volunteered over 100 hours of his time helping at organizations such as the food bank and youth programs. Richie enjoys playing sports, lifting weights and spending time with friends.

Connor Rockey
Wichita
Goddard Senior High School
Aerospace engineering

Connor is an alto saxophonist and was the section leader for the saxophones during the 2018 marching band season. He is also fourth chair in the Kansas All-State Band. He is a member of Tri-M and National Honor Society and participates in the Science Club at Goddard High School. He helped with Goddard’s entry for the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Competition. His role was to model and print a 3D-printable case for the project. He enjoys practicing his saxophone and playing any kind of game with his friends and family.

Sabrina Saathoff
Wichita
Northeast Magnet High School
Undecided engineering

Sabrina is the vice president of Tri-M Music Honor Society. She is also involved in National Honor Society, Student Council and Christian Club. She has been a percussionist for District Band and All-State Orchestra. Sabrina is currently an intern at High Touch Technologies and is a National Merit Commended Scholar.

Esmeralda Sanchez-Torres
Wichita
Wichita North High School
Aerospace engineering

Esmeralda is a member of Wichita High School North’s National Honor Society and has been a recipient of Honor Roll since her freshman year. Aside from academics, she has been a part of the choir department for four years and is currently one of the 24 Madrigals. Esmeralda was also selected for the 2019 All-City choir. She was a member of North High’s Varsity Scholars bowl team since her junior year. She was also a proud participant of the Gilder Lehrman Saturday Academy for four years. In her free time, Esmeralda enjoy playing board games, reading, baking pastries, exercising at the gym, gardening and walking her dog Coco.

Kyle Walter
Wichita
Walter Academy Homeschool
Biomedical engineering

Kyle is the oldest of three brothers and a small business owner in Wichita. He is a licensed UAV pilot and founded the drone photography company Gemini Sky LLC with his twin brother last summer. Kyle is a second-degree black belt in Taekwondo and enjoys volunteering to teach classes at the YMCA. He has competed in BEST Robotics with the Wichita Homeschool Warriors and went to regionals last year. His hobbies include biking, working out, model building, gaming and growing his company.

Kourtney Zwiener
Wichita
Andover Central High School
Computer science

Kourtney is the daughter of Drs. Kevin and Kassie Zwiener, born and raised in Wichita. She is involved with Marching Band, which she has had the pleasure of being a section leader for two years, Symphonic Band, Pep Band, Scholar's Bowl, National Honors Society, and Tri-M Music Honors Society. Last summer, she was given the amazing opportunity to attend the Bob Dole Youth Civic Leadership Institute at the University of Kansas. Whenever there is time to spare, she prefers to spend it spoiling her dog, playing video games or watching movies (preferably Marvel).

Regier has a BFA in sculpture from Kansas State University and an MFA in studio arts from Maine College of Art. He is represented in numerous museums and private collections nationwide including the Emprise Bank Collection, Marianna Kistler Beach Museum of Art, and the Spencer Museum of Art. Public commissions include Salina Arts Commission, the Wichita Public Library Foundation and most recently “Open Spaces,” an international sculpture biennial installed in parks and urban spaces throughout Kansas City, Missouri.

Emerging Artists is presented by the Art & Design Advocates, the patron group supporting ADCI. The Advocates create opportunities for WSU art and design students, including fundraising to support student travel, project costs and equipment purchases.

Sculptor Constance Ernatt is 2019 Emerging Artists juror. She will award three prizes of $1,000, $500 and $250. Celebrity Cruises is the award sponsor.

“We chose to partner with the Art & Design Advocates after last year’s great showcasing of WSU’s stellar art talent,” said Angel C. Gomez, Celebrity associate vice president of guest sales and service. “We have no better way of telling our local artists to stay local, and applaud them for their work, than by investing money into their talented work.”

Most of the work in the Emerging Artists show will be available for purchase from the artists.

Students were selected to participate based on faculty nominations, and works represent all four ADCI programs including art education, graphic design and studio art. Two art history students will serve as co-curators, and students are responsible for pricing and selling their own work.