Shocker Alert System adds instant National Weather Service tornado warnings
Wichita State University’s Shocker Alert System has been upgraded with instant National Weather Service tornado warnings. Tornado warnings were previously issued manually by the University Police Department, so the new system will shave minutes off the notification time.
As you may have noticed during the storms on Sunday, May 5, when the agency issues or updates a tornado warning for Sedgwick County, the alert will be automatically triggered through text message, email, RSS feed, Alertus, Shocker Alert Facebook and the Guardian App. The alert will display the tornado warning expiration time with further details about the warning available in the email channel. Here's more information about the Shocker Alert System.
Here’s what the latest articulation agreement means
Representatives of Wichita State University and WSU Tech signed an articulation agreement that will provide students seeking a bachelor’s degree with a seamless transfer process into WSU’s College of Applied Studies. The agreement will allow students enrolled, or formerly enrolled, in WSU Tech’s Associate of Applied Science and Technical Certificate programs to transfer credits to the Bachelor of Applied Science in the College of Applied Studies at Wichita State University.
The Bachelor of Applied Science in Workforce Leadership (WLAL) and Applied Learning is a newly approved degree offered within the College of Applied Studies. The WLAL is a response to a demand from business and industry for degrees, skills, and trainings focused on on-the-job training and building 21st century job skills, such as creativity, leadership, and collaborative problem-solving.
Additionally, the WLAL is a flexible degree focused on providing students a variety of courses, pathways, and learning options in order to meet their individual needs. Students complete a practicum, internship, and apprenticeship experiences which provide students the opportunity to earn while they learn. Employers are able to not only take an active role in helping students, but also develop the workforce of the future.
IDEA will not be available next year for course evaluations
Faculty have had two options when choosing a teaching evaluation instrument for the classes they teach, SPTE and IDEA. Last year 89% of classes used SPTE and 11% used IDEA.
We were notified earlier this year by the vendor for IDEA that their platform was changing and that our institutional cost would increase from $5,400 annually to $55,000 annually (with a 4% annual increase) starting in June of this year. Due to budgetary restraints, our IDEA contract will not be renewed for next fiscal year. The Faculty Senate has appointed a committee to provide feedback on different teaching assessment systems and enhancements to accommodate faculty needs in the future.
Opportunity to develop new First Year Seminars on May 29
After piloting First Year Seminars (FYS) for three years, the faculty have approved requiring an FYS course for all first-time-in-college students as part of their general education experience starting in fall 2021. This is an exciting opportunity to add another best practice to our other student success strategies on campus. Summer presents a good time for new course development.
For those interested in learning more about how to develop a first year seminar course, an FYS Information Session will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday May 29, in 203 RSC.
Additional sessions will be scheduled in the summer and fall. Information is also available at www.wichita.edu/FYS, or you can contact Carolyn.Shaw@wichita.edu or Kim.Sandlin@wichita.edu with questions.
Openings posted for fall 2019 Recruitment Faculty Fellows
The Office of Admissions has openings for Recruitment Faculty Fellows for fall 2019, faculty who desire to be more engaged in the recruitment process. The fellows will work in partnership with the Office of Admissions to recruit undergraduate domestic students during the 2019-20 academic year, for students to enroll at Wichita State.
Nine awards are available at $2,500 apiece. The application deadline is Friday, May 17, and the notification date is Friday, May 31. Questions about applying should be directed to Aaron Hamilton at 978-3631 or aaron.hamilton@wichita.edu.
Submit applications to Carolyn Shaw at carolyn.shaw@wichita.edu.
Fall tuition assistance now open
Applications are now being accepted for fall 2019 tuition assistance.
A fillable PDF application can be found online here. For additional program information, visit tuition assistance.
Applications for the fall 2019 term are due on Monday, July 1. Because of the volume of applications received each semester, applications received after the deadline will be automatically denied. There will be no exceptions.
Legislative update from Zach Gearhart
Read the latest legislative update from Zach Gearhart, director of Government Relations at WSU.
See Legislative Update No. 12.
Teacher Appreciation Day today (Tuesday, May 7)
Celebrate National Teacher Day today (Tuesday, May 7), with 25% off at any WSU Dining location in the RSC when you show your WSU faculty ID!
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.
Physics Seminar presents Wichita State’s Caleb Gimar
Graduate student Caleb Gimar will present be present “Simulation Design Study for a Solar Neutrino Spacecraft Detector,” at 2 p.m. tomorrow (Wednesday, May 8) in 128 Jabara Hall. Refreshments and discussion will follow the presentation.
WSU men's and women's tennis offers free tennis clinics on Wednesdays
The WSU men's and women's tennis programs will offer free tennis clinics for WSU faculty, staff and Innovation Campus employees at the Coleman Tennis Complex this spring.
The free Wednesday clinics will resume from noon-1 p.m. tomorrow (Wednesday, May 8) and run indefinitely as long as there is interest.
These clinics are for all ability levels, from beginner to experienced. Even if you've never played tennis, give it a try. Rackets will be provided if you let Nick Taylor know ahead of time. RSVP to nicholas.taylor@wichita.edu.
Graduate School -- GRASP 2019
The 15th Annual Graduate Research and Scholarly Project (GRASP) Symposium was an awesome graduate student research fest!
Congratulations to all 116 graduate student presenters of 68 research posters who represented departments and programs from across the university and whose research covered wide-ranging topics. The event was a huge success. A special shout-out to GRASP award winners:
- 1st place: Jamie Wooley-Snider, Department of Sociology. Advisor: Dr. Jodie Hertzog. Topic: Sexual Minority Youth and Teen Dating Violence: Predicting Emotional Distress.
- 2nd place: Heather Forster, Department of Biological Sciences. Advisor: Dr. Bin Shuai. Topic: Innovative Genetic Approach May Give Crops Resistance to Charcoal Rot Disease.
- 3rd place, Alisha Prince, Department of Biological Sciences. Advisor: Dr. David McDonald. Topic: Antimicrobial Synergy Between Cranberry and Manuka Honey Against Dental Caries Bacteria.
- Tied 4th place, Ramanan Sritharan, Department of Mechanical Engineering. Advisor: Dr. Davood Askari. Topic: Mechanical Properties Improvement of Polymeric Nanocomposites Reinforced with Chemically Functionalized Helical Carbon Nanotubes: Influence of Processing Time and Molarities of Acids.
- Tied 4th place, Caleb Gimar, Department of Physics. Advisor: Nickolas Solomey. Topic: Monte Carlo Simulations of a Near-Solar Orbit Neutrino Detector.
And last, but not least,
- People's Choice, Paige Feikert, Department of Mechanical Engineering. Advisor: Dr. Bin Li. Topic: Linear Viscoelastic Properties of Soy Protein/Polyethylene Oxide Composites.
Thank you graduate students for pursuing and sharing your work, faculty research advisors and judges for your commitment, and all other student and Graduate School staff event assistants.
To view abstracts from the event, click on GRASP.
Faculty panel to discuss ‘Venezuela in Crisis’
Panelists Dinorah Azpuru and Neal Allen of political science, and Rocio Del Aguila Carreno of Modern and Classical Languages and Literatures, will discuss “Venezuela in Crisis,” from 11 a.m.-12:15 p.m. Thursday, May 9, in 142 RSC. The event is free and open to the public, and sponsored by the Department of Political Science.
Stressed out? Pet-A-Pup tomorrow (Wednesday, May 8)
Stressed out from studying for finals? Come take a moment to relax by getting your paws on a pup provided by Love on a Leash from 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m. tomorrow (Wednesday, May 8), on the RSC north patio. It will be a time filled with cuddles, kisses, and lots of wet noses.
Participants 60+ years of age needed for research study on the effects of a visual training program
Are you 60+ years of age? Do you want to improve your visual and cognitive functions?
The Visual Perception & Cognition Lab is looking for participants for research studies that investigate the effects of a visual training program. The research study involves about five, one-hour tests or training sessions that will be conducted on the WSU campus or WSU Shocker Studios on East Harry Street. Participants will be compensated with $120 for completing the study.
Contact Inga at ixsogaard@shockers.wichita.edu or call 316-737-6863 to learn more about what is involved in this exciting research study!
Engineering Open House set for Friday, May 10
Now in its 64th year, the Engineering Open House is the WSU College of Engineering's annual celebration of the accomplishments of students and faculty and showcases senior design and research projects from across all engineering disciplines at WSU.
This year’s event will be from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Friday, May 10, in the Experiential Engineering Building. Come and go anytime, engage with student project teams and view multiple lab demonstrations.
Renew or clear out your Heskett Center locker before May 12
It’s that time of the semester again! Renew or clear out your locker before Sunday, May 12, at the Heskett Center. If you wish to retrieve your items after this date, there is a $10 fee. If you have any questions contact us at 978-3082.
Campus tour via Facebook Live
The 2019 Facebook Live campus tour was a success! Thanks to everyone involved, and thanks to those who tuned in to watch the Shocker Navigators live. Did you miss the recent tour? You can view it on the Wichita State Admissions Facebook page and share it with future Shockers you know.
During the broadcast, high school students, current Wichita State students, staff and faculty, as well as WSU alumni tuned in. One alum even commented, "What happened to my campus?! Entirely new place! Looks awesome!"
If you see the Shocker Navigators around campus, be sure to tell them good job. They
spent hours practicing for the live tour, as it's completely different talking to
a phone when they're used to talking and interacting with a group of people. To date,
the tour is approaching 5,000 views and 50 shares on Facebook.
Questions about the Facebook Live tour can go to Jamie Bredbenner, campus visit manager,
at jamie.bredbenner@wichita.edu.
Art History Awards with Randall Griffey
In partnership with the Ulrich Museum of Art, the art history program in the School of Art, Design and Creative Industries presents the first annual Art History Awards from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Friday, May 10, at the Ulrich Museum of Art. This event celebrates the achievements of Wichita State art history students.
Award categories include outstanding individual research project, performance in art history courses and growth as an art historian. The Art History Awards also include a special recognition for teaching excellence by a Master of Fine Arts candidate in studio art. Randall Griffey will deliver the keynote address. Griffey has served as curator of modern and contemporary art for the Metropolitan Museum of Art since 2013.
Invitation to Rowing Spring Banquet
You are cordially invited to the Rowing Spring Banquet, 5 p.m. Saturday, May 11, in Marcus Welcome Center. Come celebrate another year in Shocker Rowing. There will be food, awards and silent auction. Tickets for the banquet can be purchased for $25 at Rowing Spring Banquet.
Sale on alumni and grad merchandise
Looking for a graduation gift for a graduating Shocker? Now through Saturday, May 18, take 20% off alumni and grad specific gifts in the Shocker Store! Sale is valid in both the RSC store and Braeburn Square store.
Student Health Services to adjust clinic hours starting May 13
Student Health Services in 209 Ahlberg Hall will offer clinic hours from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday, beginning Monday, May 13.
WSU salutes student-athlete achievements at 2019 GCA Banquet
Wichita State recently held its sixth-annual Gold Carpet Awards banquet on Monday
night, recognizing student-athletes from all 15 varsity sports teams for their outstanding
achievements on the playing field and in the classroom over the past 12 months.
Click here to see the list of 2018-19 award winners.