WSU professors and students recognized for innovative research
Three Wichita State University researchers and a student group have been awarded the John A. See Innovation Award.
The faculty winners are Wei Wei, Shuang Gu, and Davood Askari.
Wei Wei, assistant professor of mechanical engineering, won for her research project, “Direct conversion of CO2 to Graphene for solar energy applications.”
Shuang Gu is an assistant professor the department of mechanical engineering. His winning research project is titled “Redox-mediated ammonia synthesis with ultrahigh efficiency and low cost for sustainable fuels.”
Also from mechanical engineering, assistant professor Askari won for his project, “High-performance multifunctional nanocomposites reinforced with highly interlocked and chemically functionalized helical carbon nanotube.”
Students were also recognized for their venture-based projects. Jason DeGarmo, from chemistry won for his project titled “Boost Hoop – Boost your game.”
The John A. See Awards began in 2014 after See donated $1 million to provide prizes to WSU faculty and students conducting outstanding research or producing other significant work.
See was director of flight test and prototype development at Boeing until his retirement in 1985. Although not a Wichita State alumnus, he has been a generous WSU supporter who values the importance of higher education and believes in WSU’s commitment to growth and pioneering work.
Students narrowly defeat Shock the Future campus improvement referendum
Wichita State University students narrowly defeated the Shock the Future referendum to fund academic facilities improvements by 107 votes.
Students voted online Monday through Wednesday. The certified voting results from the web-based program Simply Voting were opened after voting ended at 5 p.m. today (Wednesday, March 6) by Director of Student Involvement Nancy Loosle. Loosle was accompanied by several administrators and students including Student Government President Shelby Rowell, SGA Interim Vice President Matt Madden and SGA Treasurer Stella Yang.
Loosle said 3,469 students, or 28.4 percent of those who pay student fees and are degree seeking, voted. The final tally was 1,681 (48.5 percent) for the referendum and 1,788 (51.5 percent) against.
Opportunity to discuss Shock the Future outcome today (Thursday, March 7)
Please let your students know that a Conversation Circle is planned for 1 p.m. today (Thursday, March 7) in 256 RSC, to enable a time of processing thoughts and feelings on the Shock the Future outcome through guided discussion.
USS and Non-Teaching UP employee signatures are due today (Thursday, March 7) for myPerformance evaluations!
USS and non-teaching UP Employee Signatures for myPerformance Evaluations from March 2018 through March 2019 are due today (Thursday, March 7). Employees should log in to myPerformance in myWSU to submit electronic signatures. For more information (including quick reference guides, training available, and open labs) go to www.wichita.edu/myPerformance.
March HealthQuest upcoming events
Employees enrolled in 2019 coverage through the State Employee Health Plan can earn a premium discount worth $480 annually and HSA / HRA rewards dollars up to $500 per year for each employee and covered spouse, just by participating and logging healthy activities throughout the year! Start by registering in the HealthQuest portal.
In March, there are five events currently scheduled, worth up to 42 points total. Here are some of this month’s events.
- March 13-27, - “Getting Lean in 2019” wellness challenge. Sign up in the HealthQuest portal by Friday, March 15 (2 points)
- March 14, on-campus Biometric Screening. Schedule your appointment today in the HealthQuest portal, or by calling 1-888-275-1205, option 3. (Up to 23 points)
- March 11-22, Naturally Slim program application window for quarter 2 class. Program kick-off will be April 8. (15 points upon program completion) Slimfast application
- March 14, on-campus Health Coaching. Schedule your appointment today in the HealthQuest portal, or call 1-888-275-1205, option 3. (1 point per coaching)
- March 21, “Basic of Estate Planning” EAP webinar. Register online. (1 point)
To see a list of currently scheduled HealthQuest events, click here.
Office of Human Resources to close for two hours Friday
The Office of Human Resources will be closed from 1-3 p.m. tomorrow (Friday, March 8) for an office function. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.
Nationally known speaker to lead three events at WSU this month
Anne Krook is a nationally known speaker who helps students transition from the academy (university) to the workplace, using the language that employers expect from applicants.
Krook herself left academia (she was an assistant professor of English at the University of Michigan) to work for a small startup in Seattle … Amazon (!), where she enjoyed many roles both abroad and in the United States. She then went on to become VP of Operations at another startup, Mindbloom, and then VP of Operations at Synapse.
She now specializes in helping graduate students transition to non-academic workplaces and undergraduate humanities majors translate their skills into jobs. In addition to her consulting work, Krook currently chairs the Board of Directors of Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund.
Krook will speak at WSU three different events later this month. Read on to learn more about these wonderful opportunities!
* Entering the Job Market with a Humanities or Arts Degree: A Talk with Anne Krook, Ph.D.
Wondering how to get a job with a liberal arts degree? Talk to someone who knows: Anne Krook, Ph.D., a former academic who transitioned successfully to the corporate and nonprofit workplaces, will share her story and advice from 4-5 p.m. Thursday, March 28, in 261 RSC. Hear about how you can identify and market the skills that make you an asset to many different jobs. All students and faculty welcome. Cosponsored by Fairmount College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Dorothy and Bill Cohen Honors College, Graduate School, and Career Development. Visit Dr. Krook’s LinkedIn profile.
* Women and Men in the Workplace: Colleagues & Allies
What are the economic, social, and cultural factors that influence how men and women see and treat each other in the workplace? Students (UG and GR) and faculty are invited to join consultant Anne Krook, Ph.D., for lunch from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Friday, March 29, in 156A Corbin Hall for a discussion that offers two models for making those relations work better: collegiality and allyship, and discusses why those well-known ideals sometimes fall short at work. Finally, it offers tactics for making those models more effective in your workplace. Visit Krook’s LinkedIn profile. Event cosponsors are Graduate School & Career Development Center. Make sure you get lunch by registering. Students register here to log into Handshake with your WSUID and password and click “Join Event.” An email confirmation will be sent to your "shockers.wichita.edu" email address. Faculty may register by emailing jenny.stauffer@wichita.edu.
* Marketing Yourself After Graduate School: A Talk with Anne Krook, Ph.D.
Join nationally known speaker and consultant Anne Krook, Ph.D. for practical advice for graduate students who want industry jobs outside of academia. We will meet from 2-5 p.m. Friday, March 29 in 305 RSC East Shirley Beggs Ballroom to learn from her how to identify your skills, craft a resume, and how to use the language that employers expect from applicants! Snacks served. Visit Krook’s LinkedIn profile. Cosponsors of event are the Graduate School & Career Development Center. All are welcome. Students register here to log into Handshake with your WSUID and password and click “Join Event.” An email confirmation will be sent to your "shockers.wichita.edu" email address.
Gearhart to give legislative update tomorrow (Friday, March 8)
Zach Gearhart, director of Government Relations, will provide a legislative update at 10 a.m. tomorrow (Friday, March 8) in the Morrison Hall boardroom. Interested faculty and staff are welcome to attend.
Women of Wichita State luncheon set for March 20
Join the Women of Wichita State for a luncheon from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Wednesday, March 20, in 233 RSC, for Make it March! We will be planting a succulent. Go to March 20 luncheon for more information.
Graduate School Professional Development Series – ‘The Struggle is Real: Manage Your Classroom Like a Pro’
Effective tips for how to manage common issues that arise in the classroom will be presented by Marche Fleming-Randle, vice president for Diversity and Community Engagement from noon-1:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 20, in 142 RSC. Lunch will be available for the first 30. RSVP to jenny.stauffer@wichita.edu.
Scenarios will be enacted in real-time to illustrate best practices in pedagogy. If you teach or think you might teach, this workshop is for you.
Haley’s research cited in China newspaper
Usha Haley
The “South China Morning Post,” the newspaper of record in Hong Kong and greater China, mentioned WSU and Usha Haley’s research on China, subsidies and trade negotiations. Haley is the W. Frank Barton Distinguished Chair in International Business & Professor of Management.
First-generation student finds success with help from WSU resources
Sandra Sanchez, is a first-generation undergraduate student at Wichita State University. She will graduate in May with a Bachelor of Social Work degree and an undergraduate certificate. It was a big decision for Sandra to consider going to Wichita State. There was a lot to think about in attempting to be the first in her family to get a college degree.
Tours of The Suites residence hall starting March 18
Housing and Residence Life will offer hard hat tours of Wichita State’s newest residence hall, The Suites at WSU, beginning Monday, March 18. Tours will be about 20 minutes long and will be offered every day, Monday through Friday, from 3:30-5 p.m. Tours will start and end at the front desk in The Flats Apartments. Visitors must wear closed-toed shoes. Join us for a first-hand look at the latest housing option at Wichita State! Please direct any questions to Katie Austin at Katie.Austin@wichita.edu.
Bike Share ICT comes to Wichita State campus
Wichita State students and the campus community now have more options to get around campus with Bike Share ICT at WSU.
Bike Share ICT will allow riders to pay through an app, grab a bike from one station, ride it to another Bike Share ICT rack on or off campus, and leave it there.
Students can buy a yearly membership with their Shocker email for $20 (with the yearly membership, the first 59 minutes each trip are free).
$34,000 awarded in CHP through Sherr Scholarship program
The College of Health Professions (CHP) is excited to announce the winners of our first annual Sam & Rosemary Sherr Dean’s Excellence Award (Scholarship/Fellowship) for academic year 2019-20. Each year all departments granting academic degrees in the CHP will be able to nominate one student for the Sherr Scholarship Award. The scholarship winner will be awarded $10,000. All other student nominees will also receive a scholarship award.
DiverseCity Showcase Kick-off information
Marche Fleming-Randle, vice president for Diversity and Community Engagement, will provide remarks to kick-off the start of DiverseCity. We encourage you to stop by and view all of the work from the submissions that highlight successes related to diversity. The showcase kick-off will be held from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Monday, April 15, in 233 Rhatigan Student Center.
Call for submissions
All students, faculty, staff, student organizations and departments are invited to submit entries that are examples of diversity or highlight successes related to diversity. We are looking for all kinds of diversity entries from individual / group projects, workshops, events, mixed media, photography or artwork. The deadline for submission is 5 p.m. Friday, March 15.
For more information and to submit your entry, go to DiverseCity.
Service-Learning Showcase registration open
The Service-Learning Showcase will be held from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Wednesday, April 24, in 233 RSC. It 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 WSU’s commitment to the public good. Awards are presented in the following categories: Overall Service-Learning, Community Impact, Innovation and Creativity (i.e., problem solving), and Collaboration/Leadership.
Registration is available here.
Freddy's Fish & Chips and Mint 'n Oreo Concrete!
Try Freddy's Fish & Chips Basket or Sandwich and Mint 'n Oreo Concrete for a limited time only. Available at Freddy's in the RSC from now through Wednesday, April 24.