WSU Today: Jan. 14, 2020

Reminder: RIA proposal requests due Friday, Jan. 17

The Regional Institute on Aging (RIA) at Wichita State University is pleased to announce a new funding opportunity for interdisciplinary faculty research that addresses issues related to well-being in older adults. This funding opportunity is supported by a gift from the estate of Evelyn Cassat. Funding will be provided for three interdisciplinary research projects at WSU that contribute to knowledge and practice related to well-being in older adults.

The maximum funding amount for each of the three proposals is $25,000 for a 12-month period. Proposals may be either for foundational research or applied research (see definition below). Foundational and applied research projects that actively involve faculty members at WSU from at least two distinct disciplines and more than one college will be given priority; however, sole researcher projects will also be considered.

More information on RIA funding opportunity

Applied research projects that provide evidence of real or potential impact for improving or sustaining older adults’ access to and inclusion in services or activities that foster physical, cognitive, and social well-being will be given preference.

All projects must also include an impact statement describing specifically how the project will benefit the quality of life for older adults in the community and provide practical guidelines for possible implementation. Projects must also include a plan for obtaining future funding from external sources to continue the research.

The application due date is Friday, Jan. 17.

For details on how to apply, go to wsuria.org/applyhere/.

Further questions? Contact: Carryl Baldwin, RIA Director, at Carryl.Baldwin@wichita.edu.


Schedule Building labs

Schedule Building open labs available

Need help with Schedule Building or just a quiet space to work on the upcoming Fall Schedule? ITS Applications Training has plenty of opportunities available in myTraining under Banner Schedule Building Open Lab.

You can also sign up for one of the ITS open labs offered every other Thursday afternoon from 2-3 p.m. in 122 Jabara Hall.The ITS training team will be on site to assist you with any training-related questions you have, including Schedule Building.

If these options don’t work with your schedule, contact ITS training by phone at 978-5800 or email ITS_training@wichita.edu to schedule a time that works best.

Please note that the fall 2021(10) schedule will be due Friday, Jan. 31.

Schedule Building


Aviation layoffs uncertainty

Impacted by the layoffs in the aviation industry in Wichita?

In the news lately we’ve been hearing about the impact across Wichita of the market uncertainty and layoffs that are affecting local aviation businesses, suppliers and their employees. Human Resources developed a website with information and resources which might be helpful for employees who may be directly impacted by this uncertainty.

Go to www.wichita.edu/CommunityResources for information and resources available to you.


WSU Finance 101 Jan. 28, 2020

Understanding Finance at WSU coming on Jan. 28

Understanding finance at WSU can be a challenge for budget officers and support staff. Lois Tatro will present WSU Finance 101 from 2-3:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 28,  in 208 Hubbard Hall. This presentation includes information on GU and RU funding, how to stay on top of departmental finances, processing revenue, expenses, BPC cards, travel and more.

If you have questions regarding finance that you would like covered, please email training@wichita.edu as soon as possible.

To view session details and register, go to myWSU > myTraining. Registration is helpful to determine the number of handouts. Contact ITS Applications Training at 978-5800 if you need assistance.


Internal grant opportunity

Award for Research/Creative (ARC) proposals are due by Feb. 7 to the Office of Research

Proposals are due to the Office of Research for Award for Research / Creative (ARC) projects no later than 5 p.m. Friday, Feb. 7. The ARC provides funding of up to $4,000 to enable faculty to pursue research or creative projects during the summer. Proposers must work with a Grant Specialist in the Office of Research prior to submission, and all complete applications require an endorsement from the chair and dean. Incomplete or late applications will not be reviewed or considered.

Please contact proposals@wichita.edu to get started, or visit our website for additional information.


Blackboard and Accessibility Open Lab time

Instructional Design and the MRC Web Team will host a Blackboard and Accessibility lab in the morning and afternoon of Wednesday, Jan. 15, in 261 RSC. The lab will open at 9 a.m. and run to noon, and reopen at 1 p.m. and continue to 3:45 pm.

Bring Blackboard and general accessibility questions any time throughout the day. If you have questions about PDF accessibility for your Wichita.edu webpages, help will be available during the 1-3:45 p.m. session. This is a come-and-go lab, and is open to all WSU instructors and staff; there is no need to sign up. Anyone who comes to the lab will receive a fresh dry erase marker and mini dry eraser.


Open / Alternative Textbook initiative

Open / Alternative Textbook (OAT) application forms are open

The Open / Alternative Textbook (OAT) initiative is designed to promote, incentivize, and grow the use of freely-available resources in WSU classes to reduce the economic impact of textbook costs on the student body.

The project has two elements:

  1. OAT Course Designation: Provides an incentive to faculty based on a $10/student course fee, which will be applied to an approved course that is using Open / Alternative textbooks that have no cost to the students. This money is split between the department offering the course (60%) and the Open / Alternative Textbook grant program (40%).
  2. OAT Grant Program: Provides $2,000-5,000 grants to faculty who apply for the grant to redesign a course with no-cost resources, or to write or contribute to an open educational resource, or other alternative text that can be provided to the students free of charge. These grants are funded by the course fees.
    Read more on Open / Alternative Textbook application forms.

    The OAT Initiative will be managed by Academic Affairs. OAT Course Designations and Grant Applications will be submitted via web form and reviewed by a panel be made up of: Two faculty members (appointed by Faculty Senate), a representative from University Libraries , a representative from Instructional Design and Access, at least one student (appointed by SGA), and the Associate Vice President for Strategic Enrollment Management (ex officio).

    Apply now for Fall 2020 course designation. Deadline: Feb 1.

    Grant applications will be due May 1 for AY 2020-21.

    Open / Alternative Textbook Initiative


myTraining new look

Coming soon: myTraining is getting a new look in 2020

Out with the old, in with the new! Keep an eye out for a new look coming to myTraining soon. myTraining will have a sleek new design so you can customize your subjects and find free training sessions available to WSU faculty, staff, and student employees.

Worried about the training sessions you have registered for? What about the training sessions you have completed? Never fear! This content should rollover to the new layout. Same content, new look.

More details about this myTraining update will follow in future WSU Today announcements. For more information, go to www.wichita.edu/myTraining or contact the myTraining Team at myTraining@wichita.edu.


Chances of SBIR / STTR Success Webinar on Feb. 4

You'll spend many hours writing your SBIR or STTR proposal, so you’ll want to give yourself every chance of winning the prize. The proposal review is a critical determinant of success, so give yourself every advantage by writing to those reviewers.

In this webinar from 11 a.m.-noon Tuesday, Feb. 4, learn about how the various federal agencies review SBIR/STTR proposals, what reviewers look for in a proposal, and how to write to “sell” your technology. The webinar will also provide formatting tips to make the reviewers’ job easier, who makes up a review team, the criteria they use to evaluate proposals, scoring and review and award timing.

Chances of SBIR/STTR Success Webinar


Mark your calendar for Feb 14: Interdisciplinary program award presentations

Join us to hear presentations from the interdisciplinary program award competition semifinalists from 3-4:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 14, in 256 RSC.

The semifinalists are:

Roy Myose, Jeff Pulaski, Jeff Jarman - Minor in Science, Technology and Society

Mythili Menon, Rachel Showstack, Doug Parham, Jeff Hershfield - BA in Applied Linguistics

Raina Rutti, Gary Brooking, Gery Markova, Kara McCluskey - Minor in Sustainability Management

Bill Hendry and Kiley Hicks - BS in Pre-Genetic Counseling

Interdisciplinary Program Competition


Global Journal January 2020

The Global Journal of Community Psychology Practice turns 10 this month!

CEI took the reins of the Global Journal in 2015 during an editorial transition. Scott Wituk and Nicole Freund have served as editors, and it has reached more than 1,000 subscribers and 1,700 Facebook followers. In this time, it published 85 peer reviewed articles, several community program tools and videos, and many editorials and non-traditional content.

Born from a need to have an open access outlet that publicized and disseminated quality community-based work, the Global Journal has enthusiastically taken on this mission, providing both academic research and non-traditional content that helps spread good work around the world. It is as essential today as when the first issue was published in January 2010.

The last 10 years have witnessed a great deal of change, valuable research, and numerous emerging issues, and the Global Journal has continued to highlight the work of community practice and make it accessible to all. A special 10th Anniversary issue will publish in January 2020 with reflections about the Global Journal’s role in community psychology and community practice from contributors, founders, and editors.

More information and past issues can be found at www.gjcpp.org.


Classroom Technology Training Schedule for spring 2020

Classroom Technology Training Schedule for spring 2020

Classrooms across campus are equipped with uniform technology and media equipment. Access is available to faculty and staff with consistent keys for most classrooms that are issued during a short training session. We encourage you to bring your personal laptop to test in the room during training. If there are additional needs or questions, please call 978-3588.

Faculty are encouraged to verify that their assigned rooms have the technology they need prior to the start of the semester.

Spring 2020 Classroom Technology Training Schedule


Goal-setting workshop 2020

Registration for Goal-Setting Workshop is now available

WSU faculty and staff looking for tips about how to set and keep both personal and professional goals should sign up for this free workshop facilitated by ComPsych / Employee Assistance Program (EAP). Qualified employees will receive a HealthQuest point for completing the session! This workshop will be held January – March, and will take place in the RSC. Seating is limited. Registration is required through the myTraining link (found in myWSU). For assistance with myTraining, email myTraining@wichita.edu.

More on goal-setting workshop

Goal-setting gives you long-term vision and short-term motivation. The process of setting goals allows you to choose where you want to go in your personal life as well as your professional career. A life without goals is like a road trip without a map. By knowing exactly what you want to achieve, you are less likely to get lost, and you will be happier and less frustrated along the way.

At the end of this workshop, you will be able to:

  • Define what goals mean to you
  • Identify the specificity that differentiates goals from wishes or dreams
  • Identify the reasons goals sometimes fail
  • Describe how you can overcome common pitfalls
  • Describe how to write your goals effectively
  • Identify how to use a goal-setting worksheet
  • Describe your action plan for keeping to your goals

Joint Senate meeting Jan. 21

Joint senate meeting set for Jan. 21

Join the USS and UP Senates at 3 p.m. Tuesday, Jan 21, in 264 John Bardo Center for their joint meeting. All meetings are open to the campus community.

Unclassified Professional Senate


Student Intern placements set a new record

Wichita State placements of our spring 2020 Washington, D.C. and Topeka interns continues to grow. Our total of 15 sets a new record for total interns, and our eight Topeka interns is up from last year's record of two. Most of our postings are with legislators or interest groups, but we also have students in Topeka doing lobbying and journalism.

We are able to provide housing and transportation funding for all interns again this year, with support from Political Science donors, along with support from the Cohen Honors College and the Elliott School of Communication.

See list of student interns and their placements.

Washington, D.C.

Olivia Babin: Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY)

Tyler Coates:  Sen. Steve Daines (R-MT)

Jackson Wingert: Rep. Sharice Davids (D-KS)

Eric Kruse:  Fairvote.org

Mackensie Gibson:  Cancer Support Community

Janine Shinn:  Congressional Hunger Center

Sofia Gilkeson:  National Migrant and Seasonal Headstart Association, U.S. State Department

Topeka

Jaiden Soupene:  Senate Democratic Caucus, Sen. Anthony Hensley (D-Topeka)

Essence Dickinson:  Sen. Oletha Faust-Goudeau (D-Wichita)

Yezin Alwidyan:  Sen. Mary Ware (D-Wichita)

Madeline Spurlock:  Rep. Jim Ward (D-Wichita), Jim Ward for State Senate Campaign

Ariel Dillon:  Rep. Elizabeth Bishop (D-Wichita)

Roger Ruvalcaba:  Rep. Cheryl Helmer (R-Mulvane)

Maryam Boudraa:  Watkins Public Strategies lobbying firm

Daniel Caudill:  Kansas News Service statewide NPR


Distinguished Service Award nominations for 2020

Nominations open for 2020 Distinguished Service Awards

Do you know an Unclassified Professional (UP) or University Support Staff (USS) employee who deserves special recognition for their contributions to WSU? Nominate them for the 2020 Distinguished Service Awards!

These awards recognize the dedication and excellence of UP / USS employees who have provided exemplary, dedicated and caring service to the WSU community that is beyond the expectations of the duties and responsibilities of their position. Selected honorees are recognized at the annual Shocker Pride Celebration.

Submit a nomination by 5 p.m. Friday, Jan. 31, at Distinguished Service Awards.


Ten dollars off of 50 dollar purchase

Save $10 off $50 at the Shocker Store Braeburn Square

The Shocker Store is having a sale to celebrate the women’s basketball team taking on Tulsa! On Wednesday, Jan. 15, take $10 off a $50 (subtotal) purchase all day at the Braeburn Square location. Some exclusions apply. Not valid with other discounts or promotions.


Clearance Sale at Shocker Store in RSC

Extra discount on clearance merchandise

Now through Saturday, Jan. 25, take an extra 10% off already marked-down clearance merchandise at the Shocker Store! Sale is valid at RSC location only.