WSU Today: Jan. 15, 2020

New look for myWSU login

Beginning tomorrow (Thursday, Jan. 16), there will be a new look when logging in to myWSU.

The myWSU login has been updated and the login screen has changed.

• When accessing myWSU, select ‘Login to myWSU.’
• From the authentication window, the log in process remains the same - using your myWSU ID and Password.

For questions, contact the WSU Help Desk at 978-HELP (4357).

SEM Update: Goal 5

By Carolyn Shaw, Associate Vice President for Strategic Enrollment Management

Goal 5 - Increase non-degree for credit enrollment

• WSU offers a variety of courses for non-degree seeking students and professionals in the community. These include badges, market-based tuition courses, and lifelong learning classes. WSU welcomes people from high school through retirement who enroll to gain new knowledge and skills.

These short courses serve to advance the university’s mission on several levels. Some of these courses help prepare high school students to be successful when they transition to college, thus promoting retention and student success. Other courses are designed at the request of industry to serve specific workforce needs, and still others are continuing education courses that enrich the lives of anyone who wants to engage intellectually.

Those who complete the courses gain new skills, get to experience a small slice of what WSU has to offer, and may choose to seek further educational opportunities at the university.

University community invited to attend Innovation Awards on Jan. 23

The university community is invited to attend the fifth annual WSU Innovation Awards at 3 p.m. Thursday Jan. 23, in Shirley Beggs Ballroom. The Innovation Awards, hosted by WSU Ventures and WSU Strategic Initiatives, recognize students, faculty, staff and partners who execute programs and initiatives that greatly impact achievement of the university mission and vision. The event is free and open to the public. Please RSVP at Innovation Awards.

Get Blackboard and accessibility help in 261 RSC today (Wednesday, Jan. 15)

Need help getting ready for the spring semester? There will be Blackboard and accessibility help all day in a come-and-go lab setting in the 261 RSC today (Wednesday, Jan. 15)! Staff will be on hand to help you from 9 a.m.-noon and from 1:45-3:45 p.m. Stop by at any point with your Blackboard and / or accessibility questions.

2020 Biometric Screenings appointment scheduler now open

Biometric screening dates for 2020 have been scheduled, and the appointment scheduler is open. All screening events are held 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Walk-ins may be available, but preference is given to those with scheduled appointments. There is no required wait period between when you had your 2019 screening and when you can schedule your 2020 screening. To avoid a long wait, employees and covered spouses are encouraged to schedule their appointments as early in the year as possible.

Attendees earn 5 HealthQuest points just for attending, and up to 18 additional points for blood pressure, blood glucose, and total blood cholesterol within ideal ranges, for up to 23 points and $230 HSA/HRA rewards dollars. If your metrics are outside of the ideal ranges, you can still earn the same points by participating in the CCE learning modules in the HealthQuest portal on blood pressure, blood sugar management, and / or high cholesterol, as needed.

TIAA financial consultant will be on campus Jan. 21-23

Jeremy Kohn, ChFC, TIAA financial consultant, has retirement counseling meetings available Tuesday through Thursday, Jan. 21-23, in the Rhatigan Student Center. In these meetings, Kohn can help plan and review your accounts, and help determine if you are on track for retirement, and how to invest your funds.

You may schedule meeting times with Kohn here. 

If you have trouble setting an appointment, contact him directly at Jeremy.kohn@tiaa.org.

KPERS 457 retirement counselor will be on campus Feb. 11

Robin Deiter, Retirement Plan Counselor with Empower for KPERS 457, will be on-site from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 11, for individual retirement counseling appointments in 238 RSC. You can schedule an appointment with Robin here.

If you would like more information, contact our plan representative below:

Robin Deiter - Empower – Retirement Plan Counselor KPERS 457

(844) 446-8658 x20468

Robin.deiter@empower-retirement.com

If you prefer to enroll online, you’ll need the following information:

Group ID: 130000-01

Enrollment Code: ilmjnQ6w

KPERS

Holiday greeting requests for ITS Telecommunications

Monday, Jan. 20 is a holiday and most departments on campus will be closed. Now is the time to submit your request if your department needs a holiday greeting activated on your calling-tree or call distribution number.

Please submit the request at www.wichita.edu/services/telecom. Choose “Telephone Request” as the requested service, then choose “Programming” as the telephone service. Please ensure to include all details in the description.

Only requests received via this method will be processed. Please email telecomservices@wichita.edu or call 978-3535 if you have any questions or need any help with this.

Enroll in a Badge course today!

Enrollment is now open for the spring semester! You can enroll from now until April 13. Courses start Tuesday, Jan. 21. All coursework must be completed by May 7.

Please note: Scholarships are not available for spring 2020.

Badges are academic short courses of one credit hour or less that are designed for working, non-degree seeking professionals. They are online and self-paced. Badges allow students to demonstrate to employers their knowledge, skills and competencies in a subject area.

Students who successfully complete a badge will receive a digital recognition of their accomplishment that they can share on social media and link to a digital resume.

To enroll and view the badge course catalog, visit badges.wichita.edu. For questions, contact workforce@wichita.edu or 978-7579.

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.

Gearhart to give legislative update on Friday, Jan. 17

Zach Gearhart, director of Government Relations, will provide a legislative update from 9-10 a.m. Friday, Jan. 17, in the Morrison Hall boardroom. Interested faculty, staff and students are welcome to attend.

Wichita State University honors the life and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr.

Wichita State University will celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. with a series of events on campus and throughout Wichita.

This celebration begins Friday, Jan. 17 and will last until Wednesday, Jan. 22 through citywide collaboration with organizations like Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., The Kansas African American Museum, and the Greater Wichita Ministerial League.

On Saturday, Jan. 18, the university will participate in the citywide Martin Luther King Parade, which begins at 10 a.m. The celebration continues on Monday, Jan. 20.  Wichita State will cosponsor with the Greater Wichita Ministerial League to host the 2020 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day Worship Celebration at noon in the Eugene M. Hughes Metropolitan Complex.

Later that week, the Office of Diversity and Inclusion will host its 12th annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commemoration at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 22, in the Rhatigan Student Center Shirley Beggs Ballroom.

A majority of events are free and open to the public. A compiled guide of celebrations for this year’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day can be accessed at wichita.edu/MLK.

For more information, contact the Office of Diversity and Inclusion at 978-3034 or diversity@wichita.edu.

Join the Office of Diversity and Inclusion and Office of Undergraduate Admissions in the citywide MLK Parade

Join the Office of Diversity and Inclusion and the Office of Undergraduate Admissions in the Citywide MLK Breakfast and Parade on Saturday, Jan. 18. Bring a nonperishable item to be donated to help with hunger in the community. Wear your WSU gear. Line-up is at 9:30 a.m. at the Christian Faith Centre, 1130 S. Broadway. The citywide parade will begin at 10 a.m. at the Christian Faith Centre and head to Chester I. Lewis Reflection Square Park, 205 E. Douglas Ave.

For more information on MLK events, go to Wichita.edu/mlk or contact the Office of Diversity and Inclusion at 978-3034.

WSU Weekly Briefing to feature Martin Luther King Jr. observances at WSU and Wichita

The WSU Weekly Briefing will begin at 10 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 16, in 262 Rhatigan Student Center. The featured speaker will be Community Engagement Coordinator Kevin Harrison talking about the Martin Luther King Jr observances at Wichita State and the greater Wichita community.

Tracee Friess, director of communication for Research & Economic Development, will give the overall university update.

The briefing will be livestreamed and available later that day at WSU Weekly Briefing. There will be time for questions following the briefing.

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.

You can help prevent suicide

Learn how you can support your community with the #WSUWeSupportU Preventing Suicide Training. Each training lasts an hour-and-a-half, and gives you the tools you need to assist someone in need through the Share, Ask, Support method.

To sign up, visit the myTrainings tab on your myWSU, or go to wichita.edu/SuicidePrevention.

Asian fusion restaurant now open in Braeburn Square

The Shocker and Wichita community now have a new dining option with the recent opening of Journey East in Braeburn Square.

Journey East is located on the south end of the south building in Braeburn, next to Meritrust Credit Union. The restaurant serves Asian fusion cuisine and was created by the same people who own the popular Malaysia Cafe.

Journey East is open 10:30a.m.-10 p.m. every day.

Read more about Journey East and follow them on Facebook.

Student Activities Council hosting Roaring 20s Party

Applesauce! SAC is throwing a Hop! Join Student Activities Council for a swanky Roaring 20s Party to celebrate the new decade from 8-10 p.m. Friday, Jan. 31, in the Shirley Beggs Ballroom in the RSC.

Go full Gatsby and wear your finest 20s attire. Free to WSU students with Shocker ID, $3 faculty/staff; $5 general admission and $1 for kids 12 and under. No advance ticket sales. Cash or check only accepted at the door.

For more information about SAC sponsored events, please visit wichita.edu/sac or contact us at sac@wichita.edu. 

SAC

$10 Tee at the Shocker Store

Now through Saturday, Jan. 25, or while supplies last, you can grab the pictured T-shirt at the Shocker Store for just $10 to celebrate the new semester. RSC location only, not valid with other discounts or promotions.