Building dedication in honor of Dr. Bardo at Sip & See 2019
Come "Sip and See" Wichita State's newly renamed John Bardo Center on the Innovation Campus during Open House Weekend!
The building, formerly named the Experiential Engineering Building, will be rededicated at 6 p.m. today (Friday, Oct. 4) in Dr. Bardo's honor. Speaking at the dedication will be Sen. Jerry Moran and Interim President Andy Tompkins.
The 13th president of Wichita State, Bardo was an innovator, nationally recognized scholar and deep believer in the value of public research universities. In his nearly seven years leading WSU, Bardo strategically and physically transformed the university and set us on an exciting course of innovation and creativity.
Enjoy events, food and fun at WSU’s Open House
Join Shocker Nation for three days of events, food and fun for the whole community—today (Friday, Oct. 4) through Sunday, Oct. 6.
Test your skill in our Cornhole tournament at Sip & See on Friday. Cheer on Shocker Athletics with a basketball scrimmage or softball game on Saturday. Take in some art at the Ulrich Museum on Sunday. Check back regularly, events added often!
WSU Open House Weekend Information
Flu Shot Clinic for today (Friday, Oct. 4) has been canceled
The State Employee Health Plan advised WSU yesterday (Thursday, Oct. 3) that due to unforeseen circumstances, on-site flu clinics have been canceled for this week.
Please note that covered members under all State Employee Health Plan (SEHP) medical plans are still able to get a flu shot by a preferred provider at no cost.
Employees who scheduled an appointment received an email regarding the cancellation. At this time, we have not been provided with information as to if or when the flu clinic will be rescheduled. If we are able to reschedule, those employees whose appointments were canceled will receive a notice via email.
We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.
2020 benefits Open Enrollment events
All benefits-eligible state employees must participate in Open Enrollment! Log in to the Member Administration Portal at https://sehp.member.hrissuite.com to make your elections.
Events occurring next week:
Monday, Oct. 7: KDHE Open Enrollment Presentation at 1:30 p.m. in 233 RSC. KDHE will be here to present your 2020 open enrollment benefits and changes.
Wednesday, Oct. 9: The Standard Presentation on Optional Life Insurance Open Enrollment at 9 a.m. in 233 RSC. If you are interested in newly enrolling in optional life insurance or need to make changes to your elections for open enrollment, this is the presentation for you!
Wednesday, Oct. 9: Open Enrollment Open Lab 2:30-4:30 p.m. in 122 Jabara Hall
Employees can drop in anytime during the open enrollment lab for assistance registering and entering enrollment elections. You can RSVP at www.wichita.edu/openenrollment. Open Enrollment Labs do not include a presentation of plans or changes.
Due to the high volume of work during the open enrollment period, the HR Total Rewards Team will not be available for walk-in traffic or to make individual appointments regarding open enrollment. Please take advantage of the scheduled presentations, on-demand webinar and open lab sessions. For a full listing of Open Enrollment events visit the Open Enrollment Website. Any questions should be directed to TotalRewards@wichita.edu.
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
ISME Colloquium today (Friday, Oct. 4)
Suvagata Chakraborty, an electrical engineering Ph.D. student at WSU, will present "Cyber Power System: Reliability Challenges and Possible Solutions," from 11 a.m.-noon today (Friday, Oct. 4) in 214 Clinton Hall.
Talk Abstract: The introduction of smart sensors and intelligent electronic devices allow cyber infrastructure to penetrate different levels of power system. Thus, the effective operation of a cyber-physical power system will be affected by cyber network reliability. Communication failure based on different infrastructure also impacts the overall reliability of the system. Hence technique adopted for reliability evaluation addressing the worst-case communication failure of a cyber-enabled distribution system is important. The talk focuses on how to analyze the reliability of a cyber-physical power system using the concept of three-layered system approach- Power, Communication and Decision. This presentation will highlight how to integrate the interdependency of the communication and decision layer into power system planning and operations.
‘Real-Time Control of a Powered Wheelchair using Neural Network Trained Hybrid Human-Machine Interface Technology’
Jaydip Desai
The next Mechanical Engineering Seminar will be held from 3:30-4:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 4, in 128 Jabara Hall. Jaydip Desai, assistant professor, Department of Biomedical Engineering and director of the Neuro-Robotics Lab at Wichita State, will present “Real-Time Control of a Powered Wheelchair using Neural Network Trained Hybrid Human-Machine Interface Technology.”
Wheelchair provides mobility to users suffering from muscular dystrophy, spinal cord injury, and cerebral palsy. These patients often require human assistance in moving a manual wheelchair or fine control of their fingers to navigate a powered wheelchair-using joystick. Due to severity of the injury or disease progression, these patients sometimes lose fine control of their fingers, which restricts them to use joystick-based controller.
This research project aimed to design a human-centered artificial neural network trained myoelectric controller that identifies human intent through hand gestures, detect objects in front of powered wheelchair, and safely navigate a powered wheelchair across objects. An institutional review board application was approved to recruit participants without muscular disability between 18 to 50 years of age to evaluate the proposed controller in real-time.
Each participants’ surface electromyography signals from their forearm acquired at 200 Hz sampling frequency followed by artificial neural network training and validation prior to human subject testing.
Results showed that the Bayesian Regularization artificial neural network architecture was the most accurate at 98.70% across all subjects and hidden layers compared with Levenberg Marquardt at 97.91% and Scaled Conjugate Gradient at 96.66%. Each participant was successfully able to control a powered wheelchair using the neural network trained hybrid human-machine technology with an average of 2.87 obstacles touched.
Costa Rica Study Abroad - Sustainability
Take advantage of this opportunity to travel and learn more about sustainability and culture in a country with high biodiversity and wilderness conservation. This tour will last nine days during the summer pre-session of 2020, and you can select your choice of geology, Honors College or Spanish courses for one or three credit hours. The tour will be organized by EF College Study Tours.
To learn more, attend the information session by tour leader Glyn Rimmington at 4:30 p.m. today (Friday, Oct. 4) in 216 Geology Building.
For more information, contact glyn.rimmington@wichita.edu or call 978-6140 Geology Department, or email ann.burger@wichita.edu or call 978-5374, Study Abroad Office.
How to Prepare a Budget for SBIR/STTR Proposals Webinar
This webinar from 10-11 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 24, will walk through the development of a project budget. Items covered will include what costs need to be included, how to write a budget justification, can the company afford to pursue this project, what indirect rate should be used and more. There is no cost, but registration is required.
Postal Services Manager to retire
The WSU community is invited to celebrate the retirement of Mike Sperlazza, manager of Postal Services, for 22 years of service. A reception will be held from 2-4 p.m. today (Friday, Oct. 4) in 142 Rhatigan Student Center.
Post Office to close early today (Friday, Oct. 4)
University postal services will close at 2 p.m. today (Friday, Oct. 4) so that postal services employees can attend the retirement reception of their manager of 22 years.
Professional studio portraits available at Strategic Communications
In conjunction with WSU’s new website profiles, Strategic Communications is now taking appointments for portraits. To learn more, and to book your 10-minute appointment, go to wichita.edu/photostudio.
An adaptation of Camus's The Fall, with dance sequences, comes to campus on Oct. 8
French theater company Caravague presents an adaptation of “La Chute” (The Fall) by Nobel Prize-winning author Albert Camus at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 8, in the CAC Theater. The performance will be in French with above-stage titles. This event, sponsored by Modern and Classical Languages and the WSU Foundation, is free and open to the public.
The Kansas African American Museum presents Trailblazers award to Deltha Q. Colvin
Deltha Q. Colvin
The Kansas African American Museum is honoring Wichita State University Associate Vice President for Special Programs Deltha Q. Colvin as the 2019 Education Trailblazer. Colvin, under the Division of Diversity and Community Engagement, will be presented the award at the Tribute to Trailblazers Gala Saturday, Oct. 5, in Wichita.
Colvin has been with WSU as a student or staff member for more than 50 years. She has written, edited, or co-authored Educational Talent Search, Upward Bound, Upward Bound Math/Science, Upward Bound Empowerment, Veterans Upward Bound, Communication Upward Bound, Educational Opportunity Centers, Disability Support Services, Student Support Services, and the McNair Scholars federal TRIO grants. Every four-to-five years these grant programs must compete and submit proposals for renewal. Wichita State has hosted federally funded TRIO programs since 1965.
Beginning in 2000, Colvin wrote the first GEAR UP state grant (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs). Since then, she has also written or edited five federally funded partnership program GEAR UP grants.
In addition to grant writing and supervising the federal grant programs, Colvin is a national trainer for TRIO and GEAR UP. Her extensive knowledge of the programs, federal regulations and reporting procedures has benefited not only the programs at Wichita State, but also TRIO and GEAR UP programs nationwide. Colvin truly is an Education Trailblazer!
WSU Cyber League team leads region in national rankings
WSU leads the central region in rankings of 419 teams competing in the National Cyber League (NCL), the league has announced.
NCL is a nonprofit cybersecurity competition for high school and college students that measures their ability to perform real-world cybersecurity tasks, like identifying hackers from forensic data, breaking into vulnerable websites, recovering from ransomware, and more. It has seen participation from all 50 states and Puerto Rico. WSU also ranked 14th overall nationally. Rankings are based on performance in the spring 2019 competition.
WSU’s team is comprised of members of the Wichita State Linux Users Group, known as WuLug. This was WuLug’s first competition. The group plans to compete again in the fall and welcomes new members to join.
“You don't need to be experienced with cybersecurity to join our team, as we are open to people of all backgrounds. You can join us officially by contacting us at wulug@wichita.edu,” said Dexter Gerig, a WSU computer science major who serves as WuLUG secretary.
National Cyber League Rankings
Here’s this week’s university update
If you missed Thursday’s Weekly Briefing, the university update included information on WSU / WSU Tech enrollment, U.S. Attorney General William Barr’s visit, and open house weekend.
WSU/WSU Tech enrollment numbers
For the first time in nearly 30 years, more than 16,000 students have enrolled for
fall classes at Wichita State. The total headcount at WSU for fall 2019 is 16,058
students, an increase of 274 students, or 1.7%.
Total student course credit hours are 165,903, an increase of 1%, which is the highest
in WSU’s history.
The university’s continued focus on its strategic enrollment management plan has also
led to increases in the following categories:
• undergraduate full-time enrollment
• underrepresented minorities
• undergraduate Hispanic students
• out-of-state students
• undergraduates from the I-35 corridor
• online majors
• and students choosing to live on campus
WSU Tech has achieved the highest enrollment in its history with a headcount of 4,920, a gain of 324 students or an increase of 7%. WSU Tech also reported 43,525 credit hours, which is 1,834 more credit hours than last year for an increase of 4.4%.
Moving forward, WSU and WSU Tech will continue looking for, and implementing, strategies that recruit, retain and graduate more students to better meet industry workforce needs, the needs of our community—and to boost our region’s economy.
For more information on our enrollment numbers, visit wsu.news/enrollment2019.
U.S. Attorney General William Barr visit
On Wednesday, the university was pleased to welcome U.S. Attorney General William Barr and Senator Jerry Moran to Shocker Nation. Attorney General Barr was here to tour the Law Enforcement Training Center and, specifically, the Gun Crime Intelligence Center, which is a collaboration between the U.S. government, WSU and local law enforcement.
There were also roundtable discussions involving representatives from the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms, Wichita Police Department, Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office, the Kansas Association of Chiefs of Police and others.
This visit, and the underlying investment of federal and local resources into our campus to address crime prevention, highlight the value of the growing number of partnerships LETC continues to generate.
Open House Weekend
And, finally, a quick reminder that WSU’s Open House Weekend happens Friday through Sunday, starting with tomorrow’s signature event, Sip and See, at 5:30 p.m. and a 6 p.m. dedication of the John Bardo Center—with remarks by President Tompkins and Senator Jerry Moran.
We hope everyone comes out and enjoys the events, activities and amenities that campus offers. For a full list of events, visit wichita.edu/openhouse.
Register for the Shocktoberfest Door Decorating Competition!
Shocktoberfest is a time to celebrate Shocker Pride! Student groups from all over campus will be competing and participating in events like Wu’s Birthday Bash, Hunger Games, Dodgeball and Songfest.
Departments can join in on the fun by participating in the annual Door Decorating Competition. Winning departments will receive a catered staff party valued at up to $100.
The deadline to enter is Wednesday, Oct. 16, and all doors must be decorated by the end of business on Friday, Oct. 18.
For information about the competition and to apply, go to wichita.edu/Shocktoberfest.
Volunteers needed for a research study
Study name: Effects of Lower Extremity Blood Flow Restriction Exercise on Strength Generation and Interleukin 6 Levels in the Elderly
Research Topic/Purpose of the study: To determine whether Blood Flow Restriction therapy during moderate exercise by people 55 years of age or older results in improved functional activity and health outcomes. Such findings may provide a new approach to promoting health through moderate exercise.
Procedures: Participants will pedal an exercise bike with or without Blood Flow Restriction therapy for approximately 30-minutes, three times per week over a 12-week period. At the beginning of the study and every three weeks, blood samples will be collected and tested for proteins related to exercise and a 30 second sit-to-stand activity will be performed to assess exercise functional outcomes.
Time: Participation is expected to last about 45 minutes. Inclusion/Exclusion Criteria:
- Participants must be age 55 or older
- No known muscular disorders
- No known neurological disorders
- No known cardiopulmonary disorders
- No use of nicotine products
- Not have diabetes
- Not be in an active exercise program
Location: Wichita State University Heskett Center Cycling Studio
Contact: If you are interested in participating in this study please contact Nils Hakansson at nils.hakansson@wichita.edu or call 316-978-5909 Chris Deck, PT, at cdeck@providence.org or Heidi Bell at Heidi.bell@wichita.edu.
Empty Bowls Chili Cook-off Oct. 5 brings community together to fight hunger in Kansas
It’s that time of year again when Wichitans can fill their bowls—and their bellies—with delicious chili while helping a good cause: fighting hunger in Kansas.
This year’s Empty Bowls Wichita Chili Cook-off will be held from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 5, at the building previously named the Experiential Engineering Building, and now named the John Bardo Center / Go Create on the Wichita State University campus.
For just $25, guests will get to select a one-of-a-kind handmade ceramic bowl to keep, fill their bowl with chili or soup made by competing local chefs and restaurants, and eat to their heart’s content. All proceeds from the event go to the Kansas Food Bank.
The cook-off, now in its sixth year, is part of the Empty Bowls Project, an international grassroots movement to help raise awareness about hunger.
Garba Night 2019 on Oct. 5 in RSC Shirley Beggs Ballroom
Come, dance the Indian way from 7-11:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 5, in the RSC third floor Shirley Beggs Ballroom. Admission is free.
Flashes of vivid colors, sounds of wooden sticks hitting each other rhythmically, laughter, dancers whirling around keeping pace with the energetic music, this is what you will experience.
AHINSA brings you “Garba Night,” an interactive, participatory Indian folk dance festival. The event is free, all are welcome and no experience is needed. Introductory lessons will be provided.
What is Garba? Garba or Dandiya Raas (with sticks), is a fun, high-energy folk dance for both men and women that originated in the state of Gujarat, India. This event will have a DJ playing traditional music with a Bollywood (modern) twist – strong, rhythmic beats gradually increasing in pace and intensity, challenging us to dance.
Women of WSU Membership Drive
The Women of Wichita State University Membership Drive is only $12 for a year.
This organization includes all female staff and administrators, female faculty, and faculty wives. We are a social group, and we raise funds for scholarships.
You can find our membership form on our website along with the events scheduled for this year. Payment of dues is online at wichita.edu/wwsu.
Women of Wichita State University
Engage ICT and 1A Across America present Women in Politics & The GOP
KMUW's Engage ICT and 1A Across America present Women in Politics & The GOP. Joshua Johnson, host of the national radio program 1A, will guest host this conversation at Crown Uptown Theatre at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 8.
Things have changed a lot for women over the last hundred years, from winning the right to vote to holding more seats in Congress than ever before. Democratic women swept the 2018 midterms, and now a record number of Republican women are planning to run for office in 2020.
We’ll hear from two women on why they ran, how they serve, and why they chose the party they did. We’re taking your questions, too. What do you want to know about how 2020 is shaping up for women in politics? This event is free to attend and open to all. Visit KMUW.org to learn more.
WSU Concert Chorale, A Cappella Choir and special guest Andover Central H.S. choirs in concert!
The WSU Concert Chorale, A Cappella Choir and Andover Central High School choirs will present a concert at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 8, in Wiedemann Hall.
Directed by Ryan Beeken, the Wichita State Concert Chorale is the premiere choral ensemble at WSU. The choir performs a wide variety of significant choral literature from Renaissance to present.
The A Cappella Choir under the direction of Tom Wine, is a mixed choir that performs the Renaissance contemporary style.
Joining the WSU choir ensembles will be the Andover Central Chorale.
Admission is free for students with a current WSU ID. Click here for ticket information.
LGBTQ+ research volunteers needed!
Volunteers are needed for a research study. Students from the WSU Physician Assistant Program want to identify health care barriers faced by the LGBTQ+ community so we can educate providers on how to address and overcome these barriers.
This will be an anonymous online survey that should take approximately 15-20 minutes.
Participants must be 18 years or older and identify as LGBTQ+.
If you have any questions about the survey, please contact PA Faculty Research Advisor Ronda Hanneman at 316-978-3011.
Research group by WSU PA students on Facebook
Finding hope and healing: How one WSU student is beating the odds
Jennifer Raymo, a Wichita State student earning her graduate degree in social work, recently became the Wichita Chapter director of The Healing Chair. The nonprofit is a Kansas City based organization aimed at helping breast cancer and mastectomy survivors find comfort, hope and healing.
Volunteers needed for the Pumpkin Run
The 24th annual Pumpkin Run 5K and 1K is less than four weeks away! Each year Campus Recreation hosts WSU's largest 5K bringing about 1,000 students, staff, and community members to campus promoting fun, fitness, and fundraising.
This year's proceeds will help support ICT SOS, a Wichita-based organization that fights against human sex trafficking.
Events of this size simply can't succeed without the help and support of volunteers, so if you have a free schedule please use the link below to sign up. Duties range from fruit cutting to pumpkin painting, result tables to cheer groups. All volunteers will be supplied with free breakfast on the morning of the race.
This year's race will start at 9 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 19. Volunteers are asked to be available from 8-11 a.m. Sign up at bit.ly/volunteerpumpkinrun.
WSU Women’s Basketball in need of graduate assistant
Wichita State Women's Basketball is in need of a graduate assistant with emphasis in graphic design and video coordination.
Duties will include, but are not limited to: (1) Support the digital, graphic design and photography needs of women’s basketball. (2) Collaborate with women’s basketball staff and team managers on practice and game film. (3) Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned. A scholarship will be offered to the candidate chosen.
- Bachelor’s degree required.
- Adaptive design eye and skill.
- Proficient in the use of Adobe Creative Suite (i.e. Photoshop) and Microsoft Office products
- Ability to design marketing skills.
- Preferred skills in graphic design, videography and photography.
- Exceptional teamwork and communication skills to collaborate daily with women’s basketball staff and team managers.
- Creative, self-motivated individual who takes initiative and has strong determination to work through difficult challenges.
- Ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously.
- Capable of working a flexible schedule and extended hours including but not limited to working early mornings, nights, weekends, and holidays.
- Must be admitted to a graduate program at WSU.
Please send cover letter, resume and samples to Erica Yancey at eyancey@goshockers.com.
Mortar Board hosts book drive
Mortar Board is collecting new and gently used books through the entire month of October! Donations can be dropped off during in the Student Involvement, Student Government Association, and Office of Diversity and Inclusion offices during office hours.
Donations can also be dropped off at our tables in the RSC on Oct. 8, 22, 28, and 30.
Register today for Big Pink Volleyball
Get your team together for a national fundraiser for Breast Cancer Research and win points for Shocktoberfest! This event is a blast and it funds a great cause.
This fun one-day event tournament begins at 10 a.m. Friday, Oct. 25, in the Heskett Center gymnasium, so grab your friends, create some costumes (not required), and play volleyball with our four-foot pink volleyballs. All the money raised goes to breast cancer research.
Register today at bit.ly/bigpinkwsu.
Shocker Cheer Clinic set for Nov. 3
Here's the opportunity for your cheerleader to work on their skills. On Sunday, Nov.
3, at the Heskett Center, cheerleaders can spend two hours with the nationally ranked
Shocker Cheer Team to work on cheers, a dance, stunts, tumbling, and jumps.
Participants will be divided by age range and work in rotations to maximize their
time with the current team members. With each $35 registration, participants will
receive a custom Shocker Cheer water bottle, a poster of the team and instruction
on how to perfect their skills as a cheerleader.
Registration is now open. Click here to register.