How are we assessing student learning at the classroom level?
The University Assessment Committee will host a Fall Symposia, “Creating Assessments for College Courses," with a brief Q&A session with Jason Herron, from 2-3:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 22, in 262 RSC.
Please register on the assessment symposia page with your attendance plans.
Supervisors asked to help with 2020 Benefits Open Enrollment
With only 33% of enrollments submitted, the Open Enrollment window to submit 2020 benefits elections is now halfway over! Supervisors will begin receiving email updates this week if members of their team have not submitted 2020 elections. The HR Total Rewards team is asking all supervisors to help spread the word to all staff and faculty that Open Enrollment is mandatory.
REMINDER: All benefits-eligible state employees must make their 2020 elections by the deadline on Thursday, Oct. 31. Employees currently enrolled in medical coverage who do not complete an open enrollment election will be defaulted into medical Plan N with a use-it-or-lose-it HRA effective Jan. 1. Employees should log in to the Member Administration Portal at https://sehp.member.hrissuite.com to make their elections, even if they don’t plan to make any changes from their current 2019 coverage.
There are many resources available to employees at www.wichita.edu/openenrollment, including open enrollment presentation and lab times as well as an on-demand webinar at Open Enrollment Webinar (best viewed in Google Chrome).
Highlights from Wednesday's Board of Regents campus visit
On Wednesday morning, members of the Kansas Board of Regents began a two-day visit to campus.
Day 1 started with a panel on WSU’s progress and plans for student access, affordability and success.
Wichita State is using a variety of initiatives to increase enrollment and retain students with applied learning opportunities, aggressive and transparent financial aid help, and listening to the needs of business.
“We have a really good story to tell,” said Provost Rick Muma. “We’re unique, different from anybody in the state. For years, the university struggled with retention and graduation rates. In 2010, we had a 40% graduation rate.”
Wichita State set a goal of improving that rate to 50% by 2020. The university reached that goal in 2019.
“We invested a lot of effort into this,” Muma said. “We made it one year ahead.”
Wichita State increased its support for students with free tutoring, at-risk reports, supplemental instruction with peer mentors, and other programs. It aimed admissions and financial aid efforts at first-generation and under-served populations.
In addition to growing enrollment and improved retention, other topics were discussed, including:
- Wichita State has ranked in the top 6% of CollegeNET Inc.’s Social Mobility Index, a list of nearly 1,400 four-year schools, according to how successfully they enroll students from low-income backgrounds and graduate them into careers.
- Director of Financial Aid Sheelu Surender told the Regents that her department works to help students cover funding gaps with scholarships and grants. Their goal is to be transparent about the cost of Wichita State from the beginning in order to help students and families plan and make good financial decisions. She said her staff attends about 500 events to educate people about financial aid.
- WSU Tech President Sheree Utash told Regents about the The Metallica Scholars – Women in Manufacturing program. She said the $100,000 grant, funded by the famous rock band, helped 30 women enter the program. Twenty-seven are employed in jobs at four Wichita employers, such as welding, machining and sheet metal, and three remain enrolled at WSU Tech.
- Shirley Lefever, dean of the College of Applied Studies, updated Regents on the Bachelor of Applied Studies and Workforce Leadership. WSU worked with WSU Tech to design the program, which includes 21 hours of applied learning and 18 hours of courses designed to foster leadership, teamwork, and communication.
In the afternoon, following a partial campus tour, a panel discussion consisting of professionals from the Wichita area spoke on applied learning and career opportunities for students.
Some highlights from the discussion included:
- Across the board, the panel recognized that having freshmen and sophomore students work in their company provides a long-term connection and networking opportunity. The students are encouraged to start their professional portfolios early to show their experience.
- A current challenge businesses are running into is students not being able to understand and interpret data to take the information, make decisions and apply it to current situations.
- At Wichita State, there are more applied learning positions available than students to fill them. The I-35 corridor recruits to cities that don’t have the same opportunities found at Wichita State.
- Students who have been tracked through the applied learning program have earned more than $8 million in billable hours.
- Overall, applied learning experiences help the student make connections by working with the university and company together. The end goal is to make the student more successful before graduation.
Today’s visit will include a faculty breakfast and a panel discussion focusing on Kansas economic prosperity.
Center for Real Estate to host annual Commercial Real Estate Forum
Stan Longhofer
The Wichita State Center for Real Estate will host an annual Commercial Real Estate Forum in partnership with the Kansas CCIM Chapter on the WSU campus tomorrow (Friday, Oct. 18) at the Marcus Welcome Center. About 100 commercial real estate professionals are expected to attend and hear about different aspects of the commercial real estate market in Wichita.
Wichita State University Professor Stan Longhofer will moderate the third annual Forum.
Learn about cybersecurity concerns in the health care industry
Join the Hub for Cybersecurity Education and Awareness from 2-3:30 p.m. today (Thursday, Oct. 17) in 010 Devlin Hall. Attendees will hear from Amber Stone of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas City about cybersecurity concerns within the health care industry. Find out more and register at Wichita.edu/cyberhub.
Register for Cybersecurity Education and Awareness
Kansas City artist to speak on campus today (Thursday, Oct. 17)
Sarah Hearn will deliver a lecture at 4 p.m. today (Thursday, Oct. 17) in 210 McKnight Art Center. The talk will be followed by a closing reception for "Astrobiological Futures," her solo exhibition in the Clayton Staples Gallery, in 205 McKnight. The exhibition is on view from 9 a.m.–5 p.m. through Friday.
Hearn is a Kansas-City-based interdisciplinary visual artist and citizen researcher. Through explorations of biological life and natural phenomena, the artist’s work inhabits two realms: "one grounded in studies of life on planet earth and another hovering in a hazy atmosphere of science fiction." She also serves as the regional program manager for Artist INC and as a member of the artist services team at Mid-America Arts Alliance. She consciously works within her community and beyond to cultivate a climate where artists can thrive.
Remembering Andy Hurt, a member of our Strat Comm family
On Wednesday, Oct. 9, the Office of Strategic Communications said goodbye to Andy Hurt, a valued and loved member of our team.
Andy was a marketing copywriter and editor, creating original advertising copy, and fixing all of our errors for the past 12 years.
In recent months, he had taken on additional work, helping with the rollout of the new website and guiding us through each Thursday’s media briefing with a new script every week. Andy was always there with a helping hand.
Even if you never met him, chances are you’ve at least read Andy’s words or heard them in WSU commercials. Countless future Shockers have too.
Andy was a Wichita native and earned his bachelor’s in communication from Wichita State in 2003. He and his wife were married in Fiske Hall, and this past May, Andy succeeded in earning his master’s in public administration, for which he worked incredibly hard.
Andy was a private person, but never hesitated to crack everyone up with a perfectly timed biting joke, random video or groan-worthy dad joke.
He leaves behind his wife, a young daughter and son, and many devoted friends in the Hugo Wall School of Public Affairs.
We are in communication with Andy’s family regarding arrangements for a memorial, and will provide more information when it’s available.
Andy, your presence is already missed. Our office and Wichita State won’t be the same without you.
Teaching Conversations to be led by Jennifer Stone
Jennifer Stone
Jennifer Stone, associate professor in the School of Education, College of Applied Studies, will lead two workshops on inclusive teaching.
Inclusive teaching: Accommodating for learning disabilities will be held at 1:30 p.m. today (Thursday, Oct. 17) in 326 Clinton Hall. Light refreshments will be provided.
Inclusive teaching: Deconstructing barriers to learning will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, Nov. 1, in 326 Clinton Hall. Light refreshments will be provided.
Join the F1rst-Gen CC for a brown bag webinar today (Thursday, Oct. 17)
The F1rst-Generation Coordinating Council (FGCC) will host the 60-minute webinar, "Becoming an Individual & Institutional Advocate for First-generation College Students," with a brief Q&A session from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. today (Thursday, Oct. 17, in 142 RSC. Attendees are encouraged to bring their lunch to the presentation.
About this webinar: First-generation students are shown to have stronger academic and completion outcomes in environments where their needs are understood and thoughtful relationships are established. This live briefing will focus on opportunities for student and academic affairs professionals of all functional areas and levels to become individual and institutional advocates for first-generation student success.
Please respond with your attendance plans on the F1rst-Gen CC events page. Click here for more information on First-Gen events.
Professional studio portraits now in 021J Morrison Hall
In conjunction with WSU’s new website profiles, Strategic Communications is now taking appointments for portraits. Photos will now take place in 021J Morrison Hall, near the Print Shop. Easiest access to this room is via the north staircase.
To learn more, and to book your 10-minute appointment, go to wichita.edu/photostudio.
You are invited to the Master of Social Work Information Night
Are you interested in the Master of Social Work Program at Wichita State University? Do you need more information about the program? If so, please attend the MSW Information Night from 5:30-7 p.m. today (Thursday, Oct. 17) in 100 Lindquist Hall.
Save the date for the 2020 URCAF
Save the date! The 20th annual Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity Forum (URCAF) will be held on Friday, April 10, 2020, in the Rhatigan Student Center. The forum provides an excellent opportunity for undergraduate students at Wichita State to present their scholarly and creative activity to a faculty, student, and community audience, while competing for cash awards.
Spring tuition assistance now open
Tuition Assistance applications for spring 2020 are now being accepted.
A fillable PDF application can be found online here. For additional program information, visit www.wichita.edu/TuitionAssistance.
Applications for the spring 2020 semester are due no later than Dec. 2.
Applications with incorrect or incomplete information, including missing signatures, will be returned to the applicant for completion, and will be considered submitted as of the date of submission of the fully completed form. Applications returned for completion will be denied if they are not submitted with all complete and accurate information prior to the deadline. Due to the volume of applications received each semester, late applications will be automatically denied. There will be no exceptions.
Questions may be directed to TuitionAssistance@wichita.edu.
Volunteers needed for Fall Commencement
The 2019 Fall Commencement ceremony will be held Sunday, Dec. 15. The Commencement Office is looking for individuals who are available to work from approximately noon to 5:30 p.m. that day. If you are interested in assisting, please visit the commencement website and sign up. If you have questions about assisting with commencement please contact the commencement office at commencement@wichita.edu.
RSVP for Oct 24 World Trade Council dinner event
The next World Trade Council of Wichita (WTCouncil) dinner event on Thursday, Oct 24, is presented by the Holland International Distribution Council. The talk covers international distribution channels and the benefits of Holland as the U.S. seeks new trade routes.
A link to the flier is available here.
WTCouncil talks have an educational component to inform students and managers on international-business environments. We expect this talk will cover channels (marketing), purchasing (supply chains), management issues and culture (management, international business) and trade barriers (economics).
Contact Sherryl Hubble at sherryl.hubble@wichita.edu for reservations. Students have a discounted rate. More information on the WTCouncil is available at https://tinyurl.com/CIBA-WTCouncil.
I hope to see you at the WTCouncil!
Usha Haley, chair, World Trade Council of Wichita / director, Center for International Business Advancement.
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
Wichita State Volleyball digs pink
Come out at 1 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 20, as Shocker Volleyball takes on USF for this year's Dig Pink game! $2 of every ticket sold will be donated to the SideOut Foundation in support of breast cancer research and awareness. Student tickets are admitted free.
WSU Volleyball promotions 2019