Ward Jewell receives WSU Foundation Faculty Fundraising Award
Professor of Electrical Engineering Ward Jewell (center above) recently received the WSU Foundation Faculty Fundraising Award. The award was established to recognize WSU faculty or staff members who have played a key role in cultivating and securing a major gift for WSU. The award was established in 2012 by the WSU Foundation Board of Directors and is announced each year at the spring meeting of the WSU Foundation National Advisory Council.
Jewell was nominated by Dr. Zaruba and selected by the WSU Foundation NAC committee.
Following is a summary of College of Engineering Dean Dennis Livesay’s introductory remarks:
“Dr. Ward Jewell joined Wichita State University in August 1987 as an assistant professor. When Ward came to WSU, we only had an undergraduate program in electrical engineering. Ward led the development of our graduate program, and he graduated his first Ph.D. student in 1992, which was also the program’s first graduate. Since then, Ward has graduated 17 Ph.D. students and 80 MS students who are employed all over the world practicing and teaching electric power and energy engineering.
Ward has brought in more than $4 million in research funding. In 2000, he joined researchers from 12 other universities to create an industry-university collaborative research center—Power System Engineering Research Center (PSERC). This was initially funded by National Science Foundation and is currently supported by 35 industrial members.
Ward’s work has been recognized by the College of Engineering Wallace Excellence in Research Award, which he has received twice.
Ward is also a caring citizen. He has been active in both his professional and local community. His professional interactions are numerous, but I will focus on his community efforts, which include: volunteer bicycle maintenance and repair instructor for Wichita Children’s Home, music instructor at Alpha Montessori School, baseball coach, and many more. Ward truly cares about people, and he does everything he can to help them.
Finally, in terms of development and industry engagement, Ward has—once again—excelled. The power program depends heavily on his efforts. His industry connections provide internship opportunities for our students and full-time jobs for our graduates. Additionally, he was instrumental in securing a $250K gift form Westar Energy to upgrade and modernize the Power Systems Teaching Laboratory, and he is currently working closely with Evergy to build an advanced power system lab with solar and wind generation facilities.
Ward is the quintessential teacher/scholar, and he will forever be the model that I hold in front of young faculty as what they should aspire to. Ward is truly deserving of this recognition. Congratulations, Ward!"
Giving Wu Week: April 22-28
Giving Wu Week is almost here! All of Shocker Nation are invited to participate in our online fundraising campaign dedicated to raising money to support faculty and students. Go check out all of the giving area goals. Follow along all week to track progress and view matching gifts on our Giving Wu Week site.
- Follow us and share on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram @WSUFoundation
- Payroll Deduction Forms for Foundation Employees
- Payroll Deduction Forms for University Employees
Questions? Contact WSU Foundation at 978-3040.
Wichita State University to sign Army ROTC declaration today (Thursday, April 18)
Wichita State University has partnered with the Kansas National Guard and Cadet Command Army ROTC to begin offering a Senior Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) program.
You are invited to attend the official declaration signing event from 1:30-2:30 p.m. today (Thursday, April 18), at WSU’s Experiential Engineering Building lobby.
Department of Philosophy Colloquium Series starts today (Thursday, April 18)
Carl F. Craver, professor of philosophy and philosophy – neuroscience – psychology at Washington University in St. Louis, will be the guest speaker in the WSU Department of Philosophy Colloquium Series Thursday, April 18, and Friday, April 19, in McKinley Hall. The events are free and open to the public.
Craver will present “Living Without Memory: Can Individuals with Amnesia Consent?,” from 4-5:30 p.m. today (Thursday, April 18), in 204 McKinley Hall.
He will present “Gloomy Prospects and Roller Coasters: Finding Coherence in Genome Wide Association Studies of Psychiatric Disorders,” from 2-4 p.m. Friday, April 19, in 204 McKinley Hall.
Faculty Town Hall meetings continue today (Thursday, April 18)
The Faculty Senate recently voted to modify the faculty policies on Chronic Low Performance and Dismissal for Cause - for tenured faculty - to clarify the process and provide definitions of some terms. The intent was not to make substantive changes to the policy.
This policy will be voted on at the General Faculty meeting at 3:30 p.m. Monday, April 29, in 208 Hubbard Hall. Faculty are encouraged to attend town hall meetings to discuss this and other issues before the general meeting on the dates below.
Faculty Town Hall meetings will be held from 3-4 p.m. today (Thursday, April 18), in 266 RSC; and 11 a.m.-noon tomorrow (Friday, April 19), in 257 RSC.
Faculty Senate to meet Monday, April 22
The Faculty Senate will discuss open educational resource recommendations and vote on Senate rule changes, and hear an update from Provost Rick Muma on the budget, and a compensation on tenured faculty salaries related to equity from 3:30-5 p.m. Monday, April 22, in 126 Clinton Hall.
Faculty Senate minutes and agenda
Accessibility Tip of the Week: Describing images
Tip: Include descriptions of all information-bearing images in your documents and course materials. If you use content-bearing images in your PowerPoints, documents, or other course content, ensure the content is also communicated in written text.
- Adding image descriptions is as easy, but the method varies by the type of system you have. Check out these resources for specific training. If your software version still offers you both a “Title” and a “Description” field, use “Description.”
- Images can also be described in a caption or in the surrounding text if appropriate.
- Label decorative images as “decorative” rather than leaving the description field blank. That way, screen reader users know the image has been evaluated.
Writing meaningful Alt Text takes practice. Focus on being brief, descriptive and on communicating the information that is important for your purposes.
Gearhart to give legislative update tomorrow (Friday, April 19)
Zach Gearhart, director of Government Relations, will provide a legislative update at 10 a.m. tomorrow (Friday, April 19), in the Morrison Hall boardroom. Interested faculty and staff are welcome to attend.
EECS Department presentation set for tomorrow (Friday, April 19)
Kangkang Li, a Ph.D. candidate in Department of Computer Science and Engineering at the University of Notre Dame, will be the featured speaker from 9:30-10:30 a.m. tomorrow (Friday, April 19, in 261 Jabara Hall. He is expected to receive his Ph.D. degree in May. His talk will be “Topology-Aware Job Scheduling and Placement in Cloudlet and High Performance Computing Systems.”
ME Graduate Seminar to feature presentation by Rajeev Nair
Rajeev Nair
Rajeev Nair, assistant professor, Mechanical Engineering Department, will present “Lase Nanodiamond Coatings for Property Enhancement of Lightweight Metal Alloys,” from 3-4 p.m. tomorrow (Friday, April 19) in 127 Jabara Hall.
‘Improving Strategies Through Storytelling’ presentation
GoCreate, WSU Strategic Initiatives and the U.S. Small Business Administration will present a workshop “Improving Strategies Through Storytelling” by Whitney Proctor, from noon-1:30 p.m. Friday, April 26, in the Experiential Engineering Building.
Registration required, but no fee charged. Sign up here.
Proctor is an experienced business development and HR consultant with a passion for connecting people to what matters to them. She is an advocate for businesses in Kansas and hopes to one day see the Greater Wichita Area listed as the #1 place to work in the country. She thinks that we can get there by telling a story that matters and being consistent to live out that story every day in our organizations.
Proctor is a K-State alum and is finishing her MBA with three small children at home between the ages of 3 and 7. When she's not shaking the dust on business plans or company policies, she enjoys traveling with her husband and children.
If you are not telling your own or your company’s story in a clarifying, moving way, you’re losing potential customers, hires and employees to others who have well-told stories. Learn how to tell your story in this power-packed session to attract, retain and develop top talent. Entrepreneurs, employers and employees can benefit from this workshop.
Shared governance update
This winter, the Office of Human Resources undertook the creation and hosting of 21 discussion groups to explore shared governance at Wichita State University. The forums were sponsored in conjunction with the Strategic Planning committee and in support of the 2018-19 University Priorities.
As promised, the notes and discussion responses have been compiled and are being shared with the university community. This act of transparency is intended to help move the dialogue forward and encourage others to join in the discussions about how we can better engage diverse and usual voices.
The next phase of this work has begun with a partnership with Kansas Institute Peace and Conflict Resolution. A team of university faculty and staff are currently working to design a process for improving trustworthiness that will result in a decision-making framework. The Strategic Planning committee hopes to share both tools with the campus community at the May 2 Strategic Planning Town Hall meeting. We hope to see you there.
Read about the Shared Governance Forums and review the work of the discussion groups.
Summer 2019 Financial Aid Application information
Plan on taking classes this summer? The Summer 2019 Financial Aid Application is available for completion.
Here’s what you need to do. Enroll in Summer 2019 classes.
- Complete the Summer Aid Application* in your myWSU student portal, under the myFinances tab, under Financial Aid Links.
- Find out all about summer courses at Wichita State here.
*Please allow up to three (3) weeks for processing.
Remember, we’re here to help:
finaid@wichita.edu
316-978-3430 / 1-855-WSU-1STP (24-hour support)
203 Jardine Hall
8 a.m.-6 p.m. (M-T), 8 a.m.-5 p.m. (W-F)
Gain access to your VA Healthcare
Let Military and Veteran Services help you get the healthcare and service that you deserve from 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 24, in the Rhatigan Student Center, first floor near the food court. This event is open to all veterans, dependents, family members using GI Bill benefits and anyone at WSU who would like to know more about the VA, including volunteer opportunities, applying for federal positions on USA Jobs and more.
Experts from various departments within the VA will be on hand to address your questions (Social Work, Human Resources, Patient Benefits, Veterans Experience Office, Public Affairs and Business Development).
Shocker bowler stuck with his sport and grew in time
Wichita State’s new bowlers hear the “Flower Garden” talk to start the school year. Ryan Kendall heard, but didn’t understand as a freshman.
The experienced bowlers advise the freshmen on study habits, relationships with professors and how to organize their time.
Four years later, Kendall is a three-time Academic All-American (3.5 grade-point average or better) and a member of the Shockers Selected Team that competes in the United States Bowling Congress Intercollegiate Team Championships that begin on Wednesday in Dayton, Ohio.
#filmisnotdead by WSU Photo Guild in Cadman Art Gallery
#filmisnotdead is a group show presented by WSU Photo Guild. Their work will be on display from now to Friday, April 26, in Cadman Art Gallery, first floor, RSC. Join the artists for their opening reception at the Cadman at 5 p.m. Friday, April 19.
The artists in #filmisnotdead use a variety of analog film media. They use film cameras to create images that range from landscapes, portraits, documentary and street photography. On display are the various cameras and processes used in making these images. There is a resurgence in the use of analog film media and the photographers of IN FOCUS want to convey that #filmisnotdead.
They are interested in the viability of analog media for creating beautiful and at times haunting photography that can only be achieved with film.
For more information about this exhibit and others visit Cadman Art Gallery.
RSC will be closed for Easter Sunday
Rhatigan Student Center
The Rhatigan Student Center and its departments will be closed on Sunday, April 21 for Easter Sunday.
$1 off bakery items at Starbucks in RSC
Celebrate Earth Day with $1 off any bakery item from Starbucks when you purchase any grande or larger handcrafted beverage now to Tuesday, April 23.