State Employee Health Plan changes effective in October
Effective with the Oct. 4 paycheck, the State Employee Health Plan (SEHP) has announced two changes that we want to make you aware of.
Until now, medical and dental deductions occur on both the first and second paycheck each month. Surency Vision and MetLife Supplemental coverage deductions occurred only on the first paycheck of the month. Beginning in October, all SEHP deductions will be taken on both the first and second paychecks in each month. As before, no SEHP deductions will be taken on the third check issued in any month.
What this means for you: The total monthly premium amounts will stay the same for vision and MetLife coverages, but will be split over both the first and second paychecks beginning with the Oct. 4 paycheck.
- Other deductions, including medical and dental insurance, are not impacted by this change.
- Other monthly payments, including optional group life insurance premiums, will continue to be deducted once per month.
The other change will only impact employees who are separating employment from the university on or after October 1. For employees whose last day worked is the 1st of the month, all SEHP coverages will end on the 1st. For employees whose last day worked is between the 2nd of the month and the last day of the month, all SEHP coverages will end on the last day of the month. Deductions will be taken from the final paycheck(s) for all eligible coverage and employee contributions.
Come and hear about the refreshed University Strategic Plan today (Thursday, Sept. 19)
In May 2019, recommendations were made by the Strategic Planning Activation Teams, and the campus community shared their feedback at a spring town hall.
Shocker Nation will learn of the work that was done over the summer at a University Town Hall from 3-4:30 p.m. today (Thursday, Sept. 19) in 208 Hubbard Hall. Come and hear about the refreshed University Strategic Plan.
KBOR approves unified appropriations request; honorary doctorate for Parkinson
Yesterday the Kansas Board of Regents (KBOR) approved its unified state appropriations request for the public higher education system for the Fiscal Year 2021 budget. The request would add $95.3 million in state support for the public higher education system.
In May of 2019, the Legislature restored $34 million in base funding for state universities. The restoration, in combination with efforts by institutions to find efficiencies, allowed the Board to hold tuition flat for Kansas resident undergraduate students at state universities.
The request for state appropriation includes base funding for state universities, support for community and technical colleges, state aid for Washburn University, funding for the Excel in Career Technical Education Initiative, funding for a new need-based student financial aid that will leverage private dollars, funding for deferred maintenance of state buildings on university campuses, and a concurrent enrollment partnership pilot project for high school students to earn college credit.
The unified state appropriations request will now be sent to the Governor’s budget office.
KBOR also approved an honorary doctorate for former Gov. Mark Parkinson. Parkinson graduated summa cum laude from Wichita State in 1980. He was lieutenant governor of Kansas when then-President Obama appointed Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius to his cabinet. Parkinson became governor in 2009 and served nearly two years.
New crash lab will be a smashing hit for WSU aviation research
The crash dummies of Wichita State’s National Institute for Aviation Research have called the NIAR headquarters home for more than 25 years, but will soon pack their cotton stretch tees and size 11 loafers and move to the new Advanced Virtual Engineering and Testing Labs (AVET).
AVET, which is expected to open in early 2020, will house labs that are currently located in the Institute’s headquarters on Mid-Campus Drive.
The new space and equipment for the labs will enable the Institute to expand its work volume, hire more employees and provide more precise testing for its clients.
Read the complete story on the new crash lab.
Flu shots available on campus
WSU HR Total Rewards team is once again hosting on-site flu shots, available to state of Kansas employees and their spouses who are currently enrolled in SEHP medical insurance.
Friday, Sept. 20: No remaining appointments available for this date. You can stop by the Flu Shot clinic in 258 RSC between 3:30-4 p.m. on this date to see if there is any walk-in availability – walk-ins will only be available if a scheduled appointment for the day has been canceled.
Friday, Oct. 4: 8 a.m.-4 p.m. in 264 RSC (Online scheduler closes Sept. 27)
Click here to register and schedule an appointment online for any of the State of Kansas clinics.
If you participated in a clinic last year and completed a profile, you will be prompted to reset your password.
Note: Employees located in Kansas in a city other than Wichita can select a different on-site location by using the same registration link. However, individuals are encouraged to contact the alternate site in advance to confirm access, as not all sites are open to the public.
Click here for the Guide to creating your account and using the online scheduler.
HCEA Cybersecurity Speaker Series Kickoff today (Thursday, Sept. 19)
Don't miss out! Catch the first HCEA Sleepless Night Speaker Series session at 2 p.m.
today (Thursday, Sept. 19) in A131 Partnership 2 Building. Join us to hear from Tom
Ensz and Szde Yu about current issues in cybercrime and forensics.
Find out more and register here.
RSVP for the fourth annual Strategic Communications Seminar
Strategic Communications will hold its fourth annual marketing and communications seminar for WSU faculty and staff from 9:30 a.m.-noon, Wednesday, Oct. 9, in the Shirley Beggs Ballroom, Rhatigan Student Center (third floor). Gain additional insights, tools and tips to help you improve your marketing and communication efforts.
RSVP for the fourth annual Strategic Communications Seminar
Register now for Shocker Circles
The time to register is now.
Who? All of the Shocker Nation community are invited to participate.
What? The Circle process is a new method of engagement.
When? Meetings begin Monday, Sept. 23 through Saturday, Sept. 28, with afternoon, evening, and Saturday sessions offered.
Where? The Circles will be held on main campus.
Why? Learn a new technique that can be implemented into any meeting format utilized for faculty, staff, students, and any gathering of the minds.
The time is now. Select a spot in next week’s Shocker Circles. Registration will close on Saturday, Sept. 21. No notebooks, laptops or materials are needed to participate. All that is needed is your registration.
Register online or visit the Shocker Circle table in the RSC between 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Wednesday and Friday in the RSC. Questions, comments, or concerns can be emailed to shocker.circle@wichita.edu.
DIY Day at GoCreate
Want to learn to print design on to T-shirts?
Need to fix that missing button?
At GoCreate's semi-annual DIY Day, you can learn all that and more!
Take a tour of the facility, grab some free refreshments, and enter for a chance to win a free three-month membership.
All at GoCreate's DIY Day from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. today (Thursday, Sept. 19).
The Office of First-Year Programs is moving!
The Office of First-Year Programs in Student Success will be closed tomorrow (Friday, Sept. 20) to move to their new location on campus in 115 Neff Hall.
The office will reopen at 8 a.m. Monday, Sept. 23. If anyone needs assistance during this time, call Student Success at 978-3209.
Facilities Services after-hours emergency response
Facilities Services wants the campus to be aware of its after-hours emergency response plan.
Facilities Services regular work schedule is 7:45 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. The Custodial Services Department works two shifts from 7 a.m.-11 p.m. Monday through Friday.
For after-hours emergencies requiring Facilities Services assistance, please contact our University Police Department (UPD) at 316-978-3450. UPD will then contact Custodial Services and/or the appropriate on-call Facilities Services department.
Facilities Services has the following departments on-call seven days a week:
- Plumbing
- HVAC
- Electrical
- Lock Shop
- Energy Management (HVAC Controls)
- Carpenter
- Auxiliary Maintenance
- Fire and Safety (starting Saturday, Sept. 21)
You're invited to the 2019 Adobe Digital Literacy Day at Kansas State University
The second Adobe Digital Literacy Day in Kansas will take place on Friday, Oct. 18,
at Kansas State University as part of Science Communication Week.
Come see how educators across the state of Kansas — and the country — are using Adobe
software as a visual communication tool and for an engaging multimodal learning experience
in class. Student digital assets will be showcased along with some app workshops.
While registration is free, attendees will need to register to ensure adequate space
and meals — lunch will be provided by Adobe. To register, please go to http://bit.ly/KBORDigtialDay2019
An Adobe XD (Experience Design) Creative Jam also is scheduled on Friday, Oct. 25,
at the University of Kansas. Come learn how to design and create a prototype user
experience for mobile and desktop apps. XD requires no software coding knowledge and
has a relatively flat learning curve. Come see why this app will enhance your classroom
experience and enrich student resumes.
Both of these events are open to faculty, staff and students at Kansas Board of Regents
schools.
Hear from WSU Latinx keynote speaker Kat Lazo
The Latinx Heritage Month Reception Take the Lead featuring keynote Kat Lazo will be held at 6:30 p.m. today (Thursday, Sept. 19) in the CAC Theater.
Take the Lead is a program that builds and fosters relationships between allies and the Latinx students, faculty, staff, and Wichita community. Come out and engage with the movers and shakers in the Latinx community.
Our keynote this year is Kat Lazo from the Kat Call. Lazo shares what inspired her to create “The Kat Call,” and how acknowledging the different ways Latinx people embody both oppression and privilege can bring us all closer to liberation.
This event is free and open to the public. Learn more about the Office of Diversity and Inclusion Lecture Series.
Shocker Innovation Corps now accepting applications
Wichita State University is a National Science Foundation (NSF) I-Corps site. The Shocker Innovation Corps nurtures and supports Wichita State entrepreneurial teams interested in accelerating their STEM ideas, research and product commercialization. Ideas / projects can originate from student or faculty work, research, and institutional / industrial projects. The application deadline for the fall 2019 cohort is Wednesday, Sept. 25.
Registration for Ability Ally Training is still available for Oct. 17
Ability Allies are a network of faculty, staff and students who take a visible role in promoting disability awareness, supporting persons with disabilities, and maintaining resources for working and interacting with people with disabilities.
This Diversity in Action interactive training, at 9 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 17, in the RSC, is designed to shape your perspective on ability versus disability, and providing an open forum for questions and concerns for those interacting with individuals with disabilities. Click here for more information about the Diversity in Action Program.
This training is free and available to all WSU employees (faculty and staff). Log in to myWSU, and register through myTraining. For questions, contact myTraining@wichita.edu.
Listen to the Roundhouse podcast with Wichita State pitching coach Mike Pelfrey
The Wichita State baseball team will host Nebraska in an exhibition game at 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 21, at Eck Stadium / Tyler Field. Admission is $5.
Listen to this podcast with WSU pitching coach Mike Pelfrey.
Get your idea off the ground with E-Launch!
Have a product or business idea? Let E-Launch help you take the critical first steps in starting your business! Avoid spectacular failures in execution by learning before you launch, not after. Student/faculty I-Corps Teams attend free and receive seed money. Learn about I-Corps at wichita.edu/icorps and register for E-Launch at wichita.edu/elaunch!
Interested in advising a student organization?
With more than 325 student organizations at Wichita State, each organization is required to have an advisor that is a full-time faculty or staff member. We currently have two student organizations that need an advisor.
Marshallville is returning to campus, and serves as a basketball support team, as the previous description stated. The hope of that would be to unify people who might not normally come to games, and get them to support Shocker basketball.
The second organization is Shockerthon, which supports the Via Christi’s Children’s Miracle Network (CMN). We partner alongside CMN to plan and host a dance marathon each year in which we raise funds to benefit Children’s Miracle Network.
Becoming an advisor can be very beneficial to both the advisor and the students of the organization. These benefits include, but are not limited to, working with students as they learn and develop new skills, developing a personal relationship with students, and furthering personal goals or interests by choosing to work with an organization that reflects interests.
If you are interested in serving as an advisor to either of these groups, please email Gabriel Fonseca at gabriel.fonseca@wichita.edu.
More information for advisors of student organizations.
Fraternity and Sorority Life collecting books for Storytime Village
Fraternity and Sorority Life is partnering with Storytime Village to collect children's books. Storytime Village is a Wichita-based nonprofit that provides literacy resources and programming to underserved children in Kansas.
They are currently needing new books for their many book distribution events, and to fill their little free libraries that are popping up all around Kansas. They are seeking books that are appropriate for ages 0-8, including board books, chapter books and picture books. All books should be new or lightly used.
Books can be dropped off to Student Involvement in 216 RSC, anytime during regular business hours (M-Th 8 a.m.-7 p.m., Friday 8 a.m.-5 p.m.).
If you have questions, contact Rani Somers, coordinator of Fraternity and Sorority Life, at rani.somers@wichita.edu or call 978-7017.
Wear Your Suspender Days
Prevention Services is inviting all members of the WSU community to wear their #WSUWeSupportU suspenders shirts on Fridays in the month of September to bring added awareness during Suicide Prevention Month. The suspenders are a reminder that we hope to be a community that supports each other.
Now offering karaoke at the Shocker Sports Grill & Lanes
Start your weekend early with karaoke nights at the Shocker Sports Grill & Lanes! From 6-10 p.m. every Thursday, come relax with your friends and sing some tunes! Also, enjoy $2 Bud Light draws and $1 fountain beverages. For more information, call 978-3479.