July 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 July, there are four events currently scheduled, worth up to 30 points total! Here are some upcoming events this month:
- July 10-Aug. 7, “Drink Up!” wellness challenge. Sign up in the HealthQuest portal by July 16. (4 points)
- July 8-Aug. 2, Earn Double Health Coaching Credits. Up to five sessions may be completed during this promotion. Sign up in the HealthQuest portal. (2 points each, max of 10 points)
- July 22, Naturally Slim Session 4 kickoff. (15 points upon program completion)
- July 24, “Encouraging Kids to Be Active” EAP webinar. Register online. (1 point)
We’ll publish upcoming events each month, but if you’d like to plan in advance, check out all currently scheduled HealthQuest events.
Paid Parental Leave for employees effective July 1
Effective July 1, 2019 the Kansas Board of Regents (KBOR) has approved a paid parental leave benefit for benefit-eligible state employees at all KBOR institutions, including Wichita State. This benefit will provide a period* of paid leave to eligible employees for qualifying birth or adoption events occurring on or after July 1, 2019.
University Policy 3.57 / Paid Parental Leave Program for Employees has been published in the WSU Policy Manual to enact the provisions of this benefit.
To request Paid Parental Leave, employees may use the program procedures located on the WSU Human Resources website.
*Benefit Period: Within the first 12 weeks following a qualifying event, eligible Primary Caregivers may receive up to six weeks and eligible Secondary Caregivers may receive up to three weeks of Paid Parental Leave.
If you have questions, email the Human Resources Total Rewards team at totalrewards@wichita.edu.
Take advantage of the campus chemical cleanup event
Old, expired or unwanted chemicals being stored in your department create potential hazards for employees and students and are an environmental and regulatory liability.
During the week of July 8-12, the Environmental, Health and Safety (EHS) Office will conduct free disposal for any university-related waste chemical. This event is an opportunity for all departments to get rid of unwanted chemicals in a safe and compliant manner. Chemicals will be picked up in your department by EHS staff and include: paints, solvents, batteries, light bulbs, oils, acids, etc.
In order to participate in the event, please submit a Facilities Services work order before Friday, July 12.
Safety note: If any of your chemical containers have any crystals or powder build-up on the container, do not attempt to move them. Some crystals on old chemical containers can be shock-sensitive and can explode.
Contact Mike Strickland at 978-3347 or Andrew Clem at 978-7904 immediately.
Opportunity to develop new First-Year Seminars on July 10 and 31
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 wanting to teach a seminar in fall 2020, we recommend you submit your course proposal to your department committee no later than Sept 30.
For tenure and non-tenure track faculty members interested in learning more about how to develop a first year seminar course, Information Sessions are scheduled for:
- 11 a.m. Wednesday July 10, in 240 RSC
- 3 p.m. Wednesday July 31, in 262 RSC
More sessions will be scheduled in the future and announced in WSU Today. Information is also available at First-Year Seminars, or you can contact Carolyn.Shaw@wichita.edu or Kim.Sandlin@wichita.edu with questions.
Chrome River launch July 29 – Sign up for trainings now
Chrome River Basics
If you have any involvement with travel authorizations, travel reimbursements, or Pcards (including but not limited to travelers, approvers, delegates, reconcilers, etc.), we strongly encourage you to attend Chrome River Basics. Topics will include transition to Chrome River schedule, training resources, approval tracking, and live demonstrations of pre-approval, expense and Pcard reports.
Chrome River Open Labs
For hands on experience and step-by-step instructions, attend a Chrome River Basics - Open Lab beginning Monday, July 15.
Attendees are encouraged to bring examples of actual completed travel authorizations and/or travel reimbursements to enter into the Chrome River test environment. Test travel scenarios will also be available for those without travel to enter.
Chrome River Basics and open labs will be offered beginning July 15 (open labs for Pcard reconciliation will be offered beginning Tuesday, July 30).
These trainings are free and available to all WSU employees (faculty and staff). Seating is limited, so sign up early! Log in to myWSU and register through myTraining. For questions, contact myTraining@wichita.edu.
Celebrate the 50th anniversary of Apollo 11 at NCAT July 22
U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran invites you to join him and NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine for a celebration of the 50th anniversary of Apollo 11, and a discussion on our “Next Giant Leap” from 10:30 a.m.-noon Monday, July 22, at the National Center for Aviation Training, 4004 N. Webb Road. RSVP here.
The event will include a NASA video premiere, remarks from Moran and Bridenstine, and a panel on getting back to the moon addressing topics such as STEM and workforce initiatives.
The event is hosted by Wichita State University in partnership with WSU Tech and the Cosmosphere. There will be an area reserved for space-related displays. Email ksharkey@niar.wichita.edu to reserve a spot.
Student Conduct and Community Standards is moving offices July 11-12
On Thursday and Friday, July 11-12, the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards is moving to Shocker Hall, A1060. During this time, staff will have limited availability to telephones, emails, and computers. Additionally, phones may be disconnected for a brief amount of time while we transition offices.
Our website will be updated with our new campus location, so students, staff, and faculty can ensure people are being referred to the appropriate location on campus. Our phone numbers will remain the same to allow for ease of communication for those who have our main office line or direct lines saved. Our campus box number will remain 149, and can continue to be used throughout the move.
Upcoming change to WSU travel booking process at Sunflower Travel
Wichita State University currently uses a central credit card (aka Ghost Card) for billing airfare and rental cars booked through Sunflower Travel. These charges are expensed to departments based on information provided on the approved Travel Authorization in TEM.
Effective Wednesday, July 10, WSU will discontinue the use of the Ghost Card associated with Sunflower Travel. This change will allow the university to reduce costs and gain efficiencies by replacing the current manual reconciliation process.
Chrome River, the university’s new expense software, provides a user-friendly, streamlined process for handling expense charges. This upcoming change will provide departments and travelers with greater visibility into their Sunflower Travel charges.
Travelers will now have the option of creating a travel profile at Sunflower Travel containing their myWSU ID, WSU issued procurement card and / or personal credit card information. Details about obtaining a WSU issued procurement card can be found on the WSU Business Procurement Card Program webpage.
Contact wsutraveloffice@wichita.edu with questions.
Wanted: Move-In Volunteers
Housing and Residence Life is seeking Move-In Volunteers to assist residents with moving in to their rooms from 7:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 15 and Friday, Aug. 16. If you are interested in volunteering, please complete the sign-up form.
Volunteers get a new WSU Move-In Crew T-shirt and pizza. If you have any questions, contact Katie Austin at Katie.austin@wichita.edu.
Athletic Training students host cleat drive
The Athletic Training Student Association is collecting cleats to be donated to Wichita-area high schools. Donations of new and gently used football, baseball, softball, and soccer cleats are accepted. Cleats can be mailed to Whitney Bailey at campus box 16 or contact whitney.bailey@wichita.edu for pick up.
Extra discount on clearance merchandise
This week at the Shocker Store, take an extra 10% off already-marked-down clearance items! Score some great deals on Shocker gear! Sale is in Rhatigan Student Center location only.