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.
Tuesday, Jan 21 in 266 RSC
Tuesday, Feb 18 in 265 RSC
Monday, Mar 9 in 266 RSC
Tuesday, Apr 14 in 266 RSC
Tuesday, May 19 in 266 RSC
Tuesday, Aug 18 in 266 RSC
Tuesday, Sep 8 in 266 RSC
Tuesday, Oct 20 in 266 RSC
Tuesday, Oct 27 in 266 RSC
To schedule your appointment, register or log in to the HealthQuest portal, or call to schedule at 1-888-275-1205, option 3! All employees and spouses will need to re-register for the new 2020 HealthQuest portal. Click here for registration instructions.
New look for myWSU login
Effective Thursday, Jan. 16, there is 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).
Attention: USS and non-teaching UP employees: It’s self-evaluation time!
Emails to USS and non-teaching UP Employees will be sent as a reminder that annual myPerformance Employee Self-Evaluations are due between Jan. 16-31. This allows employees to provide input on job performance and accomplishments. Employees can access their self-evaluation through the myPerformance link found in myWSU.
For more information (including quick reference guides and other assistance) go to www.wichita.edu/myPerformance.
‘Help! my evaluation has disappeared!’ – myPerformance tips and tricks
“I need to access my evaluation again, but it has disappeared! How do I get it back?” or “How can I access past evaluations?” These are the most common questions the myPerformance Team gets this time of year.
Never fret, the solution is simple: After you have accessed an evaluation for the first time, the status automatically changes from “Not Started” to “In Progress.” Therefore, you will need to checkmark the (teeny-tiny-easy-to-miss) box that says, “Show completed and expired tasks” and then click on the Search button. Voila! You should be able to access your current and past evaluations from there.
Remember: During Employee Self-Evaluation (Jan. 16-31), only employees will have unlimited access to their 2019-20 myPerformance evaluations. Leaders / Managers will have access to their direct report evaluations again during Manager Review (Feb. 1-29).
More information, including myPerformance training, can be found at www.wichita.edu/myPerformance.
It’s here! myTraining has a new look!
Out with the old, in with the new. myTraining has a new look! myTraining now has a sleek new design to help you customize your subjects and find free training sessions, presented by Wichita State subject-matter-experts, available to all WSU faculty, staff, and student employees.
Worried about the training sessions you had previously registered for? What about your myTraining Transcript? Never fear. All previous content should have rolled over to the new layout. Same content, new look.
More details about this myTraining and much more can be found at www.wichita.edu/myTraining or by contacting the myTraining Team at myTraining@wichita.edu.
Add subjects to your new myTraining Learner Homepage
The new myTraining Learner Homepage is here! Upon your very first visit, you will be prompted to add subjects you would like added to the (also new) main carousel! Choose any subject area you are interested in (i.e. Technology, Diversity, Finance) and the myTraining Learner Homepage will customize your learning experience with suggested training sessions! For more information, visit the myTraining webpage at www.wichita.edu/myTraining or email the WSU myTraining Team at myTraining@wichita.edu.
Services today for former campus minister
Retired Wichita State campus minister Richard D “Dick” Lewis, age 87, died Jan. 16.
He is survived by his wife, Cheryl Lewis, brothers Allen K. Lewis, Overland Park, and Mel Lewis, Wisconsin, and sister Sandra Bohnsack, Topeka, Kansas.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. today (Tuesday, Jan. 21), at University United Methodist Church, 2220 N. Yale in Wichita.
Memorials go to University United Methodist Church, Mennonite Housing, and Ronald McDonald Charities of Wichita.
Position open at Shocker Studios
Shocker Studios has an opening for an Administrative Specialist. To apply, go to job postings.
HCEA Cybersecurity Speaker Series presents Brig. Gen. David Weishaar
Join the Hub for Cybersecurity Education and Awareness to hear Brig. Gen. David Weishaar from the Kansas National Guard and learn more about Creating a Cybersecurity Workforce and Cyber Threat Responsibilities for the Kansas National Guard from 2-3:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 29, in 264 John Bardo Center.
Find out more and register at wichita.edu/cyberhub.
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.
Joint senate meeting today (Tuesday, Jan. 21)
Join the USS and UP Senates at 3 p.m. today (Tuesday, Jan 21), in 264 John Bardo Center for their joint meeting. All meetings are open to the campus community.
Unclassified Professional Senate
The Office of Research invites you to a retirement celebration for Kay Boyd
Please come and share well wishes with Kay Boyd in celebration of her retirement and her years of service to Wichita State University. This come-and-go event will be from 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 24, with remarks at 11:30 a.m. Refreshments will be served.
New issue of Teaching Today now available
The newest issue of Teaching Today is now available. This month's theme is "why didn't anyone tell me that?!" and we try to make sure everyone is up-to-speed on topics such as merging Blackboard classes, Blackboard Ally "dials," and how to make custom PowerPoint slide shows. If you have any questions about Teaching Today, would like to contribute to a future issue, or have requests for a future article, contact Instructional Design and Access at IDA@wichita.edu.
Cops and chips
The Wichita State University Police Department is starting a new Community Policing effort at the beginning of the spring 2020 semester on Tuesday, Jan. 21.
Officers will be carrying WSUPD “poker chips” that will have our badge on the front and the WSU logo and a website address on the back. The website will direct you to locations on campus that you will be able to exchange the poker chip for a reward. Those rewards vary by location, but could include free drinks with meals, tacos, merchandise discounts, and more. Chips are redeemable at on-campus locations only.
In order to receive a chip, engage an officer on campus, introduce yourself, and get to know the officer. You might be rewarded with a poker chip. If you choose to keep the poker chip you may, but you must turn it in for the reward.
Be looking for our officers after the beginning of the spring 2020 semester. Check the website for the locations of rewards. You might find something you like! Officers will have limited quantities, and may run out at anytime.
Visit www.wichita.edu/police, Click on the In This Section button and select Rewards.
On-site Health Coaching appointments available today (Tuesday, Jan. 21)
Are you a benefits-eligible employee enrolled in the State Employee Health Plan, and want to get started on your health goals this year and earning HealthQuest points?
On-site Health Coaching Sessions (1 point) will be held from 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. today (Tuesday, Jan. 21) in 238 RSC. To schedule your appointment, register or log in to the HealthQuest Portal, or call to schedule at 1-888-275-1205, option 3.
Walk-ins may also be accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis if appointments are not filled.
Reminder - All employees and spouses will need to re-register for the new 2020 HealthQuest portal. Click here for registration instructions.
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.
You are invited to the 17th annual POWER Conference
You are invited to the 17th annual POWER Conference at Wichita State University. We are excited to invite people from all disciplines to attend this event. Register for the POWER Conference here.
This year’s theme centers on the 12 Grand Challenges of Social Work – a national initiative that serves as a call to action for social workers and other helping professionals to harness our science and knowledge base, collaborate with people from all fields and disciplines, and to work together to tackle some of our toughest social problems. Our world faces serious, interrelated, and large-scale challenges, and it takes all of us working together to craft solutions.
The Grand Challenges include these areas of focus:
- Ensure healthy development for all youth
- Close the health gap
- Stop family violence
- Advance long and productive lives
- Eradicate social isolation
- End homelessness
- Create social responses to a changing environment
- Harness technology for social good
- Promote smart decarceration
- Reduce extreme economic inequality
- Build financial capability for all
- Achieve equal opportunity and justice
Attendees have the opportunity to engage in up to six hours of pre-conference sessions, focused on safety, eating disorders / diagnosis and ethics, as well as the full main conference day.
POWER gives us the opportunity to connect together, grow together, and change the world together – this conference can help us be inspired by the innovation of others, rejuvenated as practitioners, invigorated by new knowledge, and challenged with fresh perspectives.
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
Need help with HealthQuest?
It’s the start of a new plan year, which means a fresh start for HealthQuest points! Employees enrolled in 2020 coverage through the State Employee Health Plan can earn a premium discount worth $480 annually and HSA/HRA rewards dollars up to $500 per year for each employee and covered spouse, just by participating and logging healthy activities throughout the year!
You may have noticed that the HealthQuest portal has been completely redesigned for 2020, and all employees and spouses must re-register. Click here for registration instructions.
HR Total Rewards is holding HealthQuest labs in January to help employees get registered, tour the HealthQuest site and get started on activities. Sign up through myTraining.
- Wednesday, Jan. 22 from 9-10 a.m. in 122 Jabara Hall
- Tuesday, Jan. 28 from 1-2 p.m. in 122 Jabara Hall
Any questions, reach out to HR Total Rewards at TotalRewards@wichita.edu.
The Lecture Series in the Mathematical Sciences presents Mark Walsh, Maynooth University, Ireland
Please join us for a public lecture by Mark Walsh, titled "H-spaces, Loop spaces and Curvature" at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 22, in 127 Jabara Hall.
Refreshments will be served before the lecture at 3 p.m. in 353 Jabara Hall.
View an abstract and a list of upcoming lectures here
Ulrich Spring Opening Party will feature exhibitions examining technology’s impact
From visualizations of gerrymandered political districts, to the art of a former Madison Avenue “Mad Man,” the four new exhibitions opening at the Ulrich Museum of Art have one thing in common: all examine our efforts to come to terms with technology.
The Ulrich will unveil the four new exhibitions at its Spring 2020 Exhibition Opening Party from 5-8 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 23. The event is free and open to the public.
Ulrich Museum Director Leslie Brothers said this latest suite of exhibitions was especially relevant given WSU’s commitment to technology and innovation.
“We couldn’t be more excited to share these exhibitions with the Wichita State community and the greater public,” Brothers said. “WSU is known as a technology-savvy campus and these four exhibitions offer an intriguing spectrum of views on how our humanity is connected to technology.”
The spring exhibitions will be on display at the Ulrich until March 29, with the exception of Solving for X, which will be on display until June 28. The four exhibitions are:
Lee Adler: A Mad Man Amid the Machines
Adler came to art-making in his late thirties, having already established a successful career in marketing—including a stint at one of the advertising firms featured on the TV show Mad Men. He threw himself head first into his new pursuit throughout the late 1960s and 1970s, producing over 70 editions of prints and over 300 paintings.
Based largely on the Ulrich’s uniquely rich holdings of Adler’s works, this exhibition will reassess the legacy of a forgotten artist and show how the imagery he created in the 1960s and 1970s foreshadowed urgent present-day concerns about the way human lives have become intertwined with the technology that surrounds them. In Adler’s work, the machines are humanized while human figures become machines, and his forms continue to capture something essential today about our reality as hapless cyborgs confused about where “nature” ends and technological culture begins.
Not seen at the Ulrich since 1991, Adler’s work is long overdue for greater exposure and reassessment. This exhibition will be the first attempt anywhere to present Adler’s work in a retrospective fashion.
Zoe Beloff: Emotions Go to Work
This interactive multimedia installation investigates how technology is used to turn our feelings into valuable assets—what the artist calls the transformation of emotion into capital. Beloff is an artist and filmmaker who lives and works in New York City. Her projects often involve a range of media including films, drawings, and archival documents organized around a theme.
The exhibition, accompanied by a limited-edition book, is an exploration of the “dream life of technology” and of our imaginative and imagined relationships with machines—how we create them in our image, shape them to serve our desires, and how they, in turn, reshape us. Beloff will be at the Ulrich on February 20 to deliver her artist talk.
The exhibition will be accompanied by a film series co-curated by the artist and Rebecca Cleman of Electronic Arts Intermix (New York). The films, ranging from feature length works to YouTube videos, will investigate in further depth the complex relationship between humans and their technologies that the exhibition explores. The first installment of the film series takes place at 6 p.m. on Friday, January 24 at the McKnight Art Center on the WSU campus. Beloff will introduce and lead a Q&A for the February 21 screening.
A.P. Vague: Digital Palimpsests
This exhibition presents a series of experiments in which the artist considers the materials of image-making as aesthetic resources in themselves.
At the root of A.P. Vague’s inquiry are the questions of how we trust photographic images, how they communicate their meanings across distance, and how they create a sense of personal connection to remote events. Does a negative still bear the imprint of the moment it was exposed, even if the visual information is blurred beyond recognition? In the age of fake news, Photoshop, filters galore, and truthiness, what can we believe about an image and what can we trust the image-maker to reveal?
Solving for X=Representation: Slaying the Gerrymander
Solving for X is a series of exhibitions organized by the Ulrich to work with scholars across campus to help create visualizations of their research. This latest installment looks at the process of “gerrymandering,” the term given to district drawing done for the benefit of the people drawing the maps. Dr. Brian Amos, an Assistant Professor in Political Science at WSU, is helping to stop gerrymandering by using computers to automate the drawing of districts. Amos’s work has been dedicated to improving the algorithms available to researchers and activists on this front. He does this by identifying bias in existing approaches that may skew measurements in how gerrymandered a map is, and by incorporating Voting Rights Act protections for racial and ethnic minority groups into algorithms created for other countries without those protections.
Real world tools for root cause analysis that you can use every day
“Problem-Solving Skills to Lead Your Team” will be presented from 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 5, by Anita Barrett, PMP.
Experienced leaders know that problem resolution comes from a concrete method of questioning and evaluation of the entire problem environment to bring about the needed change quickly. This class equips you with the tools to drill to the core of a problem, preventing band-aid fixes that don’t solve the real problem. This program delivers fundamental tools and techniques of problem solving, focused on root cause identification and analysis.
* Assess the situation and clearly define the problem
* Decision analysis to select be best alternative
* Implement, monitor and close
The cost is $399, and a 40 percent discount for WSU faculty, staff and students; some restrictions apply.
For more information, go to cmd.wichita.edu or register at 978-3118.
Voice faculty member Castaldi to perform recital on Jan. 26
Voice faculty member Cristina Castaldi, soprano, and her pianist-husband, Gene Philley, will perform in recital at 3 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 26, in Wiedemann Recital Hall.
The program will feature the works of Erich Korngold, Claude Debussy and Richard Strauss. Admission is free.
Black and Yellow Days coming this spring
On Monday, Feb. 17, the Office of Admissions will host the first of two Black and Yellow Days this spring. Each semester, we invite high school juniors, seniors and college transfer students to this all-day event on campus where they have the chance to participate in sessions hosted by each academic college, tour campus and explore the hands-on learning opportunities available at WSU.
The event is $15 per student and $5 per guest, and includes lunch in Shocker Hall Dining. This spring, students can choose to attend Monday, Feb. 17 or Friday, April 17. Interested students can register at wichita.edu/visit and click on "Admissions Events."
Questions? Contact Sarah Brill, event coordinator and SAS advisor, at sarah.brill@wichita.edu.
Student Activities Council to host Roaring '20s Party
Applesauce! SAC is throwing a Hop! Join SAC for a swanky Roaring ‘20’s Party to celebrate the new decade! 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.
Soup of the Week at the Shocker Sports Grill & Lanes
Soup is back at the Shocker Sports Grill & Lanes just in time for the cooler weather. A different soup will be featured each week, Monday-Friday. Grab a cup for $2.99 or a bowl for $3.99. For Jan. 21-24, the Soup of the Week is Vegan Chili.