The Engagement and Economic Prosperity Taskforce needs your help!
Is your unit engaged with the local or regional community in an effort to solve pressing problems? Are you working with industry or community partners on projects that advance the public good or drive education, economic or health outcomes? Are you working to create or sustain jobs for south central Kansas?
If your answer to any of those questions is, “YES,” please enter your activity / event / service or administrative action into the Strategic Planning Initiative Database on the Strategic Planning website in order to be included in the campuswide landscape analysis.
Questions can be forwarded to Kaye Monk-Morgan, taskforce co-chair, kaye.monk@wichita.edu.
Applied learning plus ITS equals success
WSU’s Information Technology Services (ITS) practices what the university is preaching – applied learning is good for students and employers. As proof, in recent years, Wichita State’s ITS has hired three of its student assistants – two as programmers and one as a network administrator.
ITS currently has 23 student assistants and 70 full-time, permanent employees.
“It was a fantastic experience being able to give these students some hands-on, real-world, on-the-job training in advance of their full time, permanent employment here,” said Chief Information Officer Toney Flack. “It has been an invaluable experience for us and for them, and we’ve ended up with three employees who were immediately productive on day one, and we already knew that they were a good cultural fit from the onset. It has been a perfect example of applied learning here at WSU.”
Pictured above from l to r are Kip Landwehr, Caitlin Allan, Alexandra Andino.
Kip Landwehr, Caitlin Allan and Alexandra Andino are unanimous in acknowledging the value of their student assistant experiences at Wichita State.
Kip Landwehr
“Working as an intern while pursuing my degree provided me the opportunity to see how the theory I was learning in the classroom applies in a real world environment. It supplemented the knowledge I was obtaining in the classroom by allowing me to learn and use skills that my degree did not teach me directly, such as general troubleshooting and systems administration. It also allowed me to explore different professions within my field of study and decide what I really wanted to do after graduating.”
Caitlin Allan
“I began working as a student intern for Information Technology Services the summer before I graduated from college. Going into the internship, I felt very unsure of what I wanted to do after graduation, and I was not confident in my skill set.
During my internship, I worked on various projects using different technologies. My coworkers helped teach me new skills that they use every day in their jobs. This really helped me gain experience and confidence in my field and helped me figure out what I wanted to do after college.
Working with my coworkers as an intern helped me get to know everyone, and made me feel comfortable in the work environment. I was very happy to finish up my last semester of college knowing that I would be starting a job I knew I would enjoy.”
Alexandra Andino
“Working as a student in ITS helped me gain understanding in the field and learn the culture of the office. I was better prepared when I was hired full-time because of the time spent as a student in ITS.
The work I was entrusted to do as a student gave me the confidence I needed to work on larger projects as a full-time employee. Thanks to my experience working as a student, I more easily adapted to my full-time job.”
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Flack learned a lot while helping to coordinate and attend a Young Professionals session at the Mark Arts Center in Wichita. The IT leaders (CIO’s) of WSU, Spirit, Koch, Textron and the city of Wichita hosted student assistants / interns, and those fresh out of undergraduate school on the cusp of starting a career in technology for an afternoon to hear what that generation is seeking when actively looking for permanent employment.
“Many of the issues of interest are things that WSU is already doing to attract new talent in this area of specialization and this area of the globe,” said Flack. “It was very productive and gave real-time, real-world feedback for those organizations in attendance.”
Important changes for Verizon and EC500 users
Verizon has rolled out a new application that is intended to block robo calls and ensure their end users deal with them less. Unfortunately, it appears to also be blocking campus calls to cellular phones when the EC500 feature is activated to make calls to your university number ring your cellular phone also.
We have a configuration change we can make on the phone system to fix this, but we need to make it only for cellular phones that are configured with EC500 on the desk phone and using Verizon as the carrier. Because not all of the cellular phones using EC500 are university-issued, we don't know the carriers for all of the cellular phones involved.
If you have Verizon as a carrier for your university or personal cellular phone and use EC500 on your desk phone, please submit a request at www.wichita.edu/services/telecom. Choose “Telephone Request” as the requested service, then choose “Programming” as the telephone service. In the description, please enter "Robocall change for EC500 and Verizon" and your desk phone extension.
Requests received via this method are the fastest way to complete this. Please email telecomservices@wichita.edu or call 978-3535 if you have any questions or need any assistance with this.
KDHE shares information about 2019 Novel Coronavirus
You might have heard about the outbreak of coronavirus that originated in Wuhan, China. A small number of cases have now been reported in the U.S. In an effort to keep you safe, Student Health Services has been closely monitoring the situation with information provided by federal, state, and local authorities. To learn how to protect yourself and to get the latest news about the coronavirus outbreak, visit Student Health's Travel and Health Advisory webpage.
Information from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment is available here.
Understanding Finance at WSU is tomorrow (Tuesday, 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.
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.
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.
Awareness of early deadlines is important for this and future semesters
We are only few days into the new semester which brings excitement, but also urgency in relation to early deadlines that can contribute to student persistence. Encourage students to visit the academic calendar to find deadlines related to schedule changes, payment arrangements and refunds.
If students are planning on applying for scholarships to cover costs next year, they should visit the Financial Aid’s scholarship page to find opportunities. Some scholarship deadlines may have already passed, so let students know now is the time to submit the required information.
Ins and outs of grant administration: open workshops for faculty, staff
The Office of Research will host multiple workshops for faculty and staff who need help with or have questions about grant administration. Research staff can help with all of your questions, including those involving topics such as post-award, expenses, reports, funds, budget, cost-share and effort. Labs will be held throughout February. No need to RSVP or register, just show up with your questions. All labs will be held in 409E Jardine Hall. Contact Amy Delgado at amy.delgado@wichita.edu or call 978-5377 for more information.
Open workshop times are:
4-5 p.m. Monday, Feb. 3
4-5 p.m. Friday, Feb. 7
4-5 p.m. Monday, Feb. 17
4-5 p.m. Friday, Feb. 21
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.
You are invited to CCHT's 6th Annual Anti-Trafficking Conference featuring Gretchen Carlson
You are invited to the WSU Center for Combating Human Trafficking’s (CCHT) 6th Annual Anti-Trafficking Conference on Friday, Jan. 31, in Hughes Metropolitan Complex.
This year’s theme is “Context Matters: Confronting a Culture of Exploitation,” broadening the focus to take an in depth look at the various “-isms” and cultural contributions that create opportunity for abuse, exploitation to occur.
The headlining speaker will be Gretchen Carlson, who made international news in 2016 when she sued Roger Ailes, CEO of Fox News. Since that time, she has continued to shed light on the epidemic of sexual harassment and to provide education and resources for victims and survivors. Individual tickets to hear Gretchen are available at www.wichita.edu/bethebombshell.
The afternoon keynote will be Rafael Bautista. He serves as an expert consultant for the Office for Victims of Crime Training and Technical Assistance Center and the National Human Trafficking Training and Technical Assistance Center.
We are thrilled to welcome Gretchen Carlson and Rafael Bautista to Wichita. Gretchen offers a personal perspective of navigating and challenging systems of abuse and silence in a moderated Q&A. Rafael will broaden the conversation more and challenge us to think about the ways in which culture can create vulnerabilities to trafficking.
Offering General Session talks are Marisa Kwiatkowski, investigative reporter with USA Today, and Daniel Dye, Assistant Chief Deputy Attorney General from Pennsylvania. Marisa and Daniel have investigated major cases of sex crimes, sex abuse, and cover-ups. They will share their journeys of investigation and what they learned from these cases that garnered national attention.
For more information about speakers, to register for the full day, or the Gretchen Q&A only, go to www.wichita.edu/bethebombshell.
Springfest 2020
Want to broaden your horizons? Check out the largest variety of involvement and fitness opportunities that campus has to offer! Bring your WSU ID to the second-floor gym of the Heskett Center from 5-7 p.m. tomorrow (Tuesday, Jan. 28).
Help end the blood shortage! Donate blood at WSU blood drive Jan. 29-30
The American Red Cross has a critical need for blood and platelet donors to give now to help ensure lifesaving medical treatments and emergency care are not delayed or canceled this winter. Your help is needed ASAP!
Donate blood at the WSU blood drive from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 29 or Thursday, Jan. 30, in the Heskett Center lobby. Donors will receive a free T-shirt as a thank you for donating.
To make your appointment visit www.redcrossblood.org; Sponsor Code: Wichita State or call 1-800-Red-Cross. Walk-ins are also welcome.
College of Applied Studies shares 2019 Annual Report
The College of Applied Studies is excited to share their 2019 Annual Report. You can view the full publication here.
Highlights include:
- another record year for enrollment
- Clash of the Colleges champions!
- 4 new degrees, certificates and minors
- 6 new faculty
- $479K awarded in scholarships
College of Applied Studies 2019 Annual Report
HCEA Cybersecurity Speaker Series presents Brig. Gen. David Weishaar
Join the Hub for Cybersecurity Education and Awareness from 2-3:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 29, in 264 John Bardo Center to hear from 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. Find out more and register at wichita.edu/cyberhub.
Don’t be a victim; lock your cars
WSUPD welcomes all students, faculty and staff back to campus for the spring semester 2020.
Remember to put valuables in the trunk. If you have to leave valuables in the car, place the items out of sight or under the seat.
Please pay attention to your surroundings. Call 978-3450 if you see what you believe to be suspicious activity anywhere on campus. Help be the eyes and ears of Shocker Nation!
Project Management gold standard curriculum
DeAnn Sullivan, PMP, will present “Project Management Essentials” from 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Thursday and Friday, Feb. 13-14.
This class is designed for business professionals faced with getting projects done on-time, within budget and to the customer’s satisfaction. It provides interactive training that will benefit both first-time and experienced project leaders and team members. Participants will develop skills through hands-on exercises that allow them to practice the processes to organize, define, plan, track, and manage any project successfully.
- Managing scope, schedule, cost and quality
- Managing risk, procurement, communication plans, and resources
- Integration and closing the project
The cost for the two-day class is $899. A 40% discount is available for WSU faculty, staff and students. Some restrictions apply.
For more information, go to cmd.wichita.edu or register at 978-3118.
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.
- 1-2 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 28 in 122 Jabara Hall
Any questions, reach out to HR Total Rewards at TotalRewards@wichita.edu.
Graduate Student Town Hall with President Jay Golden on Thursday
Graduate Students, the Graduate School invites you to join President Jay Golden for a Town Hall meeting from 4-5 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 30, in 266 RSC, to discuss what is important to you regarding your education as WSU moves forward. President Golden will be in attendance to engage in conversation and get feedback from you.
Speed mingling on Feb. 7
Finding friends can be a challenge, especially if you are new to WSU. Luckily SAC has your back with speed mingling at 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 7, in 233 RSC. We’ll have different stations set up that will allow you to find new friends with similar interests to help you get through your time as a Shocker. This is a great way to explore, step out of your comfort zone, and meet a ton of new people.
Register now for Wu's Big Event XII
Join us from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. on Feb. 8 to make a HUGE impact in the Wichita community. Individuals, groups, organizations, faculty, staff, students, alumni, friends and family are all encouraged to participate in Wu's Big Event, Wichita State's largest volunteer event. Registration is free and includes a light breakfast, lunch, a t-shirt and transportation to and from service sites. For questions, email CSB@wichita.edu or call 978-3022.
Join us for LinkedIn: Craft a stellar profile and build a valuable network
For many, LinkedIn is the social media equivalent of an awkward networking event. However, 98% of recruiters and 85% of hiring managers use LinkedIn to find candidates.
Join the Graduate School and Career Development Center with presenter Christina Unrein from the Possibility Lab from 5-6:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 30, in 209 Hubbard Hall, to learn how to craft a stellar profile, build a valuable network and leverage both to your advantage. RSVP at Handshake and make sure to bring your laptop.
LaunchPrep applications now open!
LaunchPrep provides your early stage startup with access to a select group of Wichita’s most successful entrepreneurs. These mentors, along with round table topics brought to you by industry leaders, creates a winning combination for all participants.
Go to wichita.edu/launchprep for more information.
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.
Submit your applications for Senior Honor awards
Applications are being sought for Wichita State’s 2020 Senior Honor awards. This is considered one of the most prestigious honors a student can receive at WSU. Up to 10 students are chosen for this honor each year. Application deadline is 5 p.m. Friday, Feb. 14. To review the eligibility requirements and application process, go to www.wichita.edu/seniorhonor.
Undergraduate Research Day at the Capitol
The Kansas Undergraduate Research Day at the Capitol event is an opportunity for students to present their research experiences to state lawmakers in Topeka on Wednesday, March 4. Up to 40 students participate each year, representing each of the state’s eight public four-year institutions. Students should follow the link here for more information and to apply. Applications are due by Friday, Jan. 31.
Celebrate the Year of the Rat
Celebrate the Year of the Rat from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. tomorrow (Tuesday, Jan. 28) on the first floor, RSC.
2020 marks the Lunar New Year of the Rat. Experience the traditions, activities and performance to celebrate the New Year. St. Anthony Lion and Dragon Dance Team will perform at 12:15 p.m. The event is hosted by the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, and various WSU Asian and Pacific Islander cultural groups. For more information, go to or contact the Office of Diversity and Inclusion at 978-3034.
SAC presents DIY Planners
We’re back from break and it’s time to start being productive again. We know the process is hard, so we are supplying you with all the tools you’ll need to make your own customized planner.
Come by between 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 29, in the RSC, and kick-start your productivity, by designing a unique planner to organize your busy schedules.
For more information about SAC-sponsored events, go to wichita.edu/sac or contact us at sac@wichita.edu.
Sponsored by Student Activities Council
First Job Hunting Lab of the semester - Jan. 29
The Career Development Center is hosting their first Job Hunting Lab of the semester from 3:30-4:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 29, in 258 RSC.
Students are invited to join us in learning how employers hire, and how to use that information to build a resume that passes a 10-second scan. Get tips on how to exhibit professionalism and why it matters during the interview.
Join CAPS this semester for Keep Calm & Breathe On
Join Counseling and Prevention Services (CAPS) again this semester for Keep Calm & Breathe On!
Drop in to build structured relaxation time into your life and learn techniques to do relaxation on your own. You will be led in meditation, mindfulness and relaxation practices. The meetings are every Wednesday from 12:15-12:45 p.m. in 257 RSC.
Transfer student social
Transfer students are invited to join Student Involvement for a social event to meet with other students and learn about campus resources from 1-2:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 30, in the RSC third floor Shirley Beggs Ballroom. There will be a scavenger hunt, free hot chocolate, free cookies, board games, and featuring the Boot Scootin’ Shockers for some line dancing. This is a great way for transfer students to transition into WSU.
Special buy on a Sherpa jacket from the Shocker Store
Still needing something to keep you warm this winter? Visit the Shocker Store in the RSC to score a great deal on their new Sherpa jacket, just $28.99, sizes small-2XL in RSC location only while supplies last. Not valid with other discounts or promotions.
Join us in your home away from home
The Office of Diversity and Inclusion invites students, staff, faculty and community members to its Spring Open House from 1-2:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 5, in 208 RSC, and to make the office your home away from home.
Stop by to learn more about available resources and programs. Light refreshments will be served. For more information, go to Wichita.edu/odi or contact the Office of Diversity and Inclusion at 978-3034.
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 from 8-10 p.m. Friday, Jan. 31, in the RSC's Shirley Beggs Ballroom. 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.
Spread the love
Have a Hippo Valentine’s Day with SAC, CSB, and SGA from 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 13, on the first floor, RSC.
Come and make flowers to take to your Valentine and make a Valentine’s Day card that we’ll take to the children at the Wichita Children’s Home and Wesley Pediatric Unit. Play some romantic games with Huxley and visit with SGA to let them know how they can show you the love by giving them feedback for what you would like to see on campus.
For more information about SAC-sponsored events, go to wichita.edu/sac or contact us at sac@wichita.edu.