Business dean candidate to visit campus today (Thursday, March 28) and Friday, March 29
Steven McClung, full professor, senior associate dean and VP of Operations of the Mercer Innovation Center at Mercer University, will visit Wichita State as a dean candidate for the Barton School of Business today (Thursday, March 28) and Friday, March 29.
Faculty and staff are invited to a public forum at 3:30 p.m. today (Thursday, March 28) in 107 Clinton Hall. Information is also available on the Academic Affairs website.
WSU women in STEAM feature: Tammy Dorsey
To honor Women’s History Month, WSU Ventures and the Center for Entrepreneurship at Wichita State have collaborated to highlight influential WSU women who have made a difference in the areas of innovation and entrepreneurship.
Every week during the month of March, we will feature an inspirational Shocker for her contributions and accomplishments.
Tammy Dorsey graduated from Wichita State University with a biomedical engineering degree and is studying in the Master of Innovation Design program. Last year, Tammy and her team won the Shocker New Venture Competition with their business, Prenatal Hope.
Moody’s improves WSU financial outlook
We’re pleased that Moody’s Investors Service has revised WSU’s financial outlook to stable from negative. Vice President for Finance and Administration Werner Golling spoke at length with Moody’s lead analyst for higher education, who developed the report issued this week.
This excerpt shows the Moody’s analyst clearly understands what we’re striving to accomplish: The university distinguishes itself from competitors through its comparatively low cost tuition pricing structure, comprehensive programming and extensive applied learning opportunities through its corporate partnerships. Its Innovation Campus provides for close strategic ties to the city of Wichita, serving as a key driver of economic activity and applied research. While competitive challenges persist, a well-managed enrollment strategy will support continued steady student demand and net tuition revenue growth above inflation.
Moody’s announcement can be found at https://wsu.news/moodys.
Open forum planned for USS and UP staff
A USS and UP Staff Open Forum Discussion will be held from 2:30-4:30 p.m. Monday,
April 1, in 233 RSC. The USS and UP Senates invite all USS and UP staff to attend
to gather feedback on combining the USS and UP Senates.
The senates have been discussing joining forces to form one representative body with both UP and USS members. Please join us to learn why the senates are addressing this issue and share your input on this important topic.
For more information, contact USS Senate President Matt Houston at matthew.houston@wichita.edu or UP Senate President Camille Childers at camille.childers@wichita.edu.
Service-Learning Faculty Training coming April 12
Are you interesting incorporating service-learning into a course? Want to hear tips and tricks from your colleagues? Please join us for the spring service-learning training from 10 a.m.-noon Friday, April 12, in 233 RSC.
The morning will begin with a brief overview of service-learning course integration and best practices, before moving into brief roundtable discussions, and concluding with an informational poster fair featuring our 2018-19 Service-Learning Scholars courses and service-learning projects. Additionally, the United Way of the Plains and VolunteerICT will be present to share resources on connecting to local community partners and needs. Breakfast will be served. Please RSVP by Monday, April 8, at wichita.edu/servicelearning.
For questions, contact Chelsea Redger-Marquardt, associate director, Student Involvement, at chelsea.redger@wichita.edu or Rhonda Lewis at rhonda.lewis@wichita.edu.
Wanted: Spring commencement volunteers
2019 spring commencement ceremonies will be held Saturday, May 18. The Commencement Office is looking for individuals who are available to work for each of the ceremonies that day. If you are interested in assisting, please visit the commencement website for more information including times and sign up to assist at commencement volunteers. If you have questions about assisting with commencement, contact commencement at commmencement@wichita.edu.
‘Indoor Localization Using Computer Vision and Visual-Inertial Odometry’
A Colloquium Talk by James Coughlan from Smith Kettlewell Eye Research Institute will present a talk on computer vision and visual-inertial odometry from 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Friday, April 5, in 264 Experiential Engineering Building. A light lunch will follow the presentation
An RSVP is requested by Monday, April 1. Limited space is available.
This is the first event of the Accessibility and Inclusion Technology Research Collaborative (ATRC) @ WSU. Coughlan is currently a senior scientist at The Smith-Kettlewell Eye Research Institute in San Francisco, California. His main research focus is the use of computer vision and sensor technologies to facilitate greater accessibility of the physical environment for blind and visually impaired persons.
Current and past accessibility projects include the development of systems to provide audio-haptic access to physical objects such as documents and 3D models, the ability to find and read signs and other textual information, and navigation assistance indoors and at traffic intersections.
The event is sponsored through a collaboration between the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, the College of Engineering, and the Envision Research Institute.
Host an event during Finals Frenzy
The Student Activities Council is gearing up to publicize the upcoming Finals Frenzy, which runs from Saturday, May 4, through Thursday, May 9. Is your department or organization planning to host an event during this time? Please fill out the following form on ShockerSync.
The submission deadline is 5 p.m. Wednesday, April 10. For more information, contact SAC at sac@wichita.edu.
WSU Foundation in search of a marketing and donor relations assistant
The Wichita State University Foundation is looking for a Marketing & Donor Relations Assistant to join the team. This is a great opportunity to learn more about the world of marketing and events, while supporting the initiatives at WSU! This position is full time with great benefits. Click here to see full job description and apply.
Artist will discuss work inspired by the Berlin Wall today (Thursday, March 28)
Tamryn McDermott
Visiting artist Tamryn McDermott will deliver a lecture at 4 p.m. today (Thursday, March 28) in 210 McKnight Art Center West. Her exhibition “representation : reconstruction : recollection” is on view through April 19, in the Clayton Staples Gallery, McKnight Art Center. An artist reception will follow from 5–6 p.m.
The exhibition presents a personal collection of Berlin Wall artifacts from 1990 and 2017 displayed in a museum case, and photographic images from the Eastside Gallery in Berlin, Germany, taken in 2017.
McDermott was a young American artist growing up in Germany at the time of the fall of the Berlin Wall. The evolution of her understanding and experience of the wall impacts how she navigates historical reconstruction as an artist.
McDermott is the campus arts associate at Pennsylvania State University in University Park, Pennsylvania.
Applications are open for Shocker Leadership Awards
Applications are now open for the 7th Annual Shocker Leadership Awards. The Shocker Leadership Awards are a way to recognize the work of student-led organizations, students, faculty and staff at Wichita State University. Recognized student organizations, university affiliated student groups and individuals may be nominated by a student, faculty member, staff member, or organization, or may nominate themselves for one of the awards.
One application form must be completed for every award for which one wishes to be considered. A nomination must have all parts to be considered by the selection committee. It is the responsibility of the nominator to turn in a complete packet. Click on leadership awards to learn more and to submit your application. The deadline is 5 p.m. Friday, April 12. For questions, contact Gabriel Fonseca, assistant director of Student Involvement at gabriel.fonseca@wichita.edu.
Alumni Weekend Set for March 29-31
Wichita State softball will hold its alumni weekend March 29-31 vs. UConn as part
of the 50 Years in Women's Athletics Celebration.
During the UConn series, Wichita State will be honoring the 1989 Gateway Tournament
championship team, the 2014 Missouri Valley Conference championship team and all former
Wichita State softball coaches. All former softball players are invited to attend
as well as any former women's athletes of any sport at WSU.
Women of Wichita State plan next luncheon
The next Women of Wichita State will be held at 11:15 a.m. Thursday, April 18, at Crestview Country Club, 1000 N. 127th E., in Wichita. Lunch will be served at 11:30 a.m. The cost is $16 per person (lunch must be purchased to attend).
Guest speaker Major Kelly J. Junkins, flight commander, 344th Air Refueling Squadron, 22nd Air Refueling Wing, McConnell AFB, will present “Women in Air Force Aviation and the CK-46 Tanker.”
Mail payment and reservation to Krysti Carlson-Goering, Information Technology Services, WSU, campus box 98, Wichita, KS 67260-0098, or pay online. Reservations must be received by 5 p.m. Thursday, April 11.
First WSU Computer Careers Day called a success
An event designed to promote Wichita State’s seven degrees that lead to computer and information technology-related careers drew nearly 125 high school students from six Wichita high schools on Tuesday, March 26. It was the first WSU Computer Careers Day sponsored by the university. Organizers are declaring the event a success based on post-event surveys in which 100 percent of participants said they would recommend it to others.
The event was designed to help students understand what kind of education you need for the many different kinds of jobs computer and IT jobs available. Attendees heard from Wichita State faculty, students and industry professionals from a dozen different companies about how they found their way into their respective fields.
Held in the Rhatigan Student Center, the event featured nine panels focused on nine different career tracks: software development, computer hardware engineering, network architect, cybersecurity, database management and data analysis, web design, video game design, multimedia graphic artist and IT Specialist. Each student was able to select three of nine panels to attend.
Students came from Wichita’s Northeast, Heights, Northwest, South, Southeast and West High schools. Wichita Public Schools has more than 1,000 Wichita high school students currently enrolled in computer-related career and technical education (CTE) courses, which include classes in programming, hardware support, networking and routers, digital graphic design, web design, information security and IT support. Organizers intend to open the event to additional schools in the future.
The event was coordinated by the College of Engineering, in partnership with the Barton School of Business, the College of Fine Arts and WSU Tech, Undergraduate Admissions, and the Career Services Center.
“We wanted an event broad in scope that could introduce students to all the options at Wichita State, and we were pleased to be able to work with other divisions of the university to highlight all our programs,” said Polly Basore Wenzl, youth outreach coordinator for the College of Engineering.
Computer Science and Computer Engineering degrees are offered by the Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Department in the College of Engineering. These degrees are appropriate for students who aspire to work software development, network management, and hardware design and computer science research.
Also within the College of Engineering is the Engineering Technology—Cybersecurity degree, sponsored by the Engineering Technology (ET) Department. This degree is appropriate for anyone who wants to work in information security, network security or cyber-defense in the military.
The Barton School of Business offers the Information Technology and Information Management Systems bachelor’s degree, appropriate for careers in computer systems administration, database management and data analysis.
The College of Fine Arts hosts the Applied Arts in Media Arts bachelor’s degree, appropriate for people who want to work in computer animation, videogame design or other multimedia graphic arts careers.
Finally, WSU Tech offers associate degrees in both Digital Marketing and Information Technology, which provide preparation for careers as web designers and IT support specialists, respectively.
“Not only are these careers extremely different, they have wildly different math requirements – with some degrees requiring only algebra while others require advanced calculus and beyond,” Wenzl said. “We wanted to help students to find the degree that is right for them.”
In the post-event survey, 82 percent of high schoolers who attended said they were more interested in computer-related careers than before, and 56 percent said they were “likely” or “definitely” now planning to become a Shocker.
Corporate sponsors of the event were NetApp and Wolters Kluwer.
Want to learn more? WSU has published a Computer and Informational Technology Careers guide with details about computer-related careers and the WSU degrees that can get you there. Read it here.
Save the date - URCAF 2019
The annual Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity Forum (URCAF) will be held on Friday, April 19, in the Rhatigan Student Center. The forum provides an excellent opportunity for undergraduate students at Wichita State to present their scholarly and creative activity to a faculty, student and community audience, while competing for cash awards. Abstract submissions are due by Friday, April 5. For more information, go to URCAF 2019.
Celebrating women in Asian cultures event on March 29
Join Sigma Psi Zeta Sorority Inc. during this month's Final Friday for a one-of-a-kind cultural event that showcases the art of community members, especially those from femme and Asian, Pacific Islander, and Desi American (APIDA) backgrounds. It will be held from 7-10 p.m. Friday, March 29, in Garvey Center, 250 W. Douglas Ave. #100.
Public Health Sciences seniors invite Shockers to free activities April 1-5
National Public Health Week (NPHW) is promoted each year during the first week in April. Each day of NPHW focuses on a specific public health topic with the aim to bring together communities and reduce the causes of poor health and disease.
Seniors in the Department of Public Health Sciences invite all Shockers to celebrate NPHW by participating in the free event.
National Public Health Week events
Updated invitation for Wichita State Night at the K
It’s Wichita State Night at the K. Join Campus Recreation’s Outdoor Adventures team as we watch the Royals take on the Los Angeles Angels at Kauffman Stadium. With it being Wichita State night, you will receive a KC Royals hat with a WSU stamp.
We will have Jimmy John’s boxed lunches on the ride up to Kansas City, arriving at the stadium by 5:30 p.m. ***Food and drinks will not be provided at the game. This will be an out of pocket expense.***
After the game we will head straight back to Wichita. Follow up communication will be emailed prior to the trip. Contact Kaycee Miller at Campus Recreation at 978-5820 or kaycee.miller@wichita.edu for any questions. Register here.
Sign up as a WSU Heart Walk Coach or join a team
Heart disease is the #1 killer in the nation and stroke is #5. Everyone knows someone who has been impacted by one of these. Help support the American Heart Association by signing up as a Heart Walk Coach for the Wichita State University team.
The Heart Walk will be held Saturday, June 8 on the Wichita State campus. If you are interested in being a WSU Heart Walk Coach, you can create a team or join an existing team here. If you have any questions, contact Trish Gandu at trish.gandu@wichita.edu.
Donate now: Professional clothing items
The WSU Student Government Association, Airbus and the Career Development Center are gearing up for our Professional Dress Clothing Closet event and we need your help! Donate your professional dress items now through Tuesday, April 2, to 219 Rhatigan Student Center. Professional dress items include suits, dress pants, professional shirts or blouses, professional skirts, belts, neckties, briefcases, shoes, cuff links, tie clips and more. For questions, contact Kim Kufahl at 978-6981 or kim.kufahl@wichita.edu.
Performance in the Plaza coming April 10
Performance in the Plaza brings dance, music, and performance art to you! Student Activities Council is hosting a showcase of performances from noon-3 p.m. Wednesday, April 10, at the WSU Plaza of Heroines in front of Ablah Library. This energetic event will immerse you into the craft, sophistication, and allure of dance, singing, and art.
For more information about SAC-sponsored events, go to www.wichita.edu/SAC or contact us at sac@wichita.edu.