University update for COVID-19
We are all aware of the unique circumstance that people across our country and globe are facing in regard to the COVID-19 Coronavirus. This is a situation that has all of us concerned, yet we must not become panicked. It’s important to note that at this time, there are no known COVID-19 cases on our campus, in Wichita or Sedgwick County.
As President of Wichita State University, my number one priority is the student experience. This most especially includes the health and well-being of our students and campus community.
Today, I want to share with the entire campus community some important updates to university operations that will soon be implemented as described below. The following plans apply to the Wichita State University student, faculty, and staff community. WSU Tech will continue communicating to their community and keep me appraised of their actions.
Registration for the National Science Foundation Grants Conference opens March 17
The National Science Foundation is hosting a two-day Grants Conference on May 18-19. The conference is designed for new faculty, researchers, educators and administrators who wish to know more about NSF funding, and NSF's proposal and award process. The Grants Conference will be in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and registration will open on Tuesday, March 17.
Managers of USS and non-teaching UP employees: Your signature is due tomorrow!
Managers of USS and non-teaching UP employees should log in to myPerformance (through myWSU) to submit electronic signatures for 2019-20 evaluations by 11:59 p.m. CST tomorrow (Saturday, March 14).
Helpful Hint: The Manager Signature (Step 5) will not be available if the Employee Signature (Step 4 due March 7, 2020) was not completed. Once the employee signs and submits their evaluation, you should have access to the Manager Signature (Step 5).
Note: myPerformance evaluations are available for 2020-21 competency and goal planning. Managers should add expectations, competencies, and goals for the 2020-21 review period, then meet with their employees to review and provide them hard copies of their evaluation for reference throughout the year. Competency and goal planning should be completed by Tuesday, March 31.
For more information (including quick reference guides and other assistance), go to www.wichita.edu/myPerformance.
The Roundhouse Podcast features President Golden talking sports
Wichita State President Jay Golden talks sports - his love for the Dodgers, impressions of Shocker athletics and possible plans for adding varsity and club sports. What might be next for Cessna Stadium? What role does athletics play in the university mission?
Savvy Scholar Workshops help with all research needs
Free sign-up for Savvy Scholar Workshops is available at libraries.wichita.edu/savvyscholar.
These and other workshops hosted by Wichita State University Libraries take place throughout the spring semester!
Call for Service-Learning Faculty Scholars for 2020-21
The Service-Learning Faculty Scholars program has been designed to empower committed service-learning faculty to cultivate and support interest in service-learning in their fellow faculty members and through their classes and college. Our goal is to infuse the campus and community with a spirit of service-based academic engagement that ties the classroom experience to applied learning and experiential knowledge. The goal of the Faculty Scholars program is to involve faculty in the advancement of the service-learning pedagogy among fellow faculty. For a full list of program responsibilities, faculty support, and application information, go to Service-Learning Scholars. wichita.edu/servicelearningscholars
Questions can be directed to the Service-Learning Faculty Fellows team: Dr. Rhonda K. Lewis at rhonda.lewis@wichita.edu, or Dr. Chelsea Redger-Marquardt at chelsea.redger@wichita.edu. All application materials are due on Friday, April 17, by midnight to Dr. Lewis.
Service-Learning Faculty Resources
'De la mar a la selva' - Children’s non-fiction books about the environment
Dr. María Alejandra Zambrano from the Universidad San Francisco de Quito will present “De la mar a la selva,” children’s non-fiction books about the environment at 11 a.m. Tuesday, March 17, in 261 RSC. The presentation is in part of the Latin American and Latinx Series sponsored by the Department of Modern and Classical Languages and Literatures, and Sigma Delta Pi, Spanish Honor Society.
In an era of uncontrollable amounts of information and unrestricted access to the Web, adults can help children filter what is available to them. One way of organizing this information is the publication of non-fiction books that cover a variety of topics such as history, human rights, politics, sexuality, science, religion, migration, among others.
According to literary critic Ana Garralón, non-fiction books have the potential to ignite children’s curiosity by presenting contemporary and/or problematic topics in creative and interesting ways. Though these books are not necessarily written in a simple language, their format challenges readers’ desire to learn through beautiful illustrations, well-written texts, and verifiable scientific evidence. Moreover, the creation of non-fiction books help disseminate knowledge otherwise confined to the academic circles and often considered too complex for younger readers.
In this presentation, Dr. Zambrano will share how we are transforming the research conducted at USFQ’s Tiputini Biodiversity Research Station (TBRS), into a non-fiction book for children about the Amazonian jaguar.
Dr. Zambrano is Associate Professor of Latin American Literature and Creative Writing in the Department of Social Sciences and Humanities at the Universidad San Francisco de Quito in Ecuador. She is in a faculty exchange program with the University of Kentucky. Her current research focuses on the history of Ecuadorian Children’s Literature and community-based arts pedagogies.
Dr. Zambrano is also the founder and director of La Poderosa Media Project, a nonprofit organization that encourages creative autonomy, cultural empathy, and collaborative learning through community-based arts programs in the Americas.
For questions, email rocio.delaguila@wichita.edu.
The inaugural ALOTY Awards Celebration will be held March 19
The Office of Adult Learning would like to invite you to the inaugural ALOTY Awards Celebration from 2-4 p.m. Thursday, March 19, in 262 RSC.
Watkins Visiting Professorship Lecture Series: Physics
Charles Beichman
Dr. Charles Beichman, executive director of the NASA ExoPlanet Science Institute at Cal Tech, will give a public lecture, “Goal for 21st Century Science: Finding and Characterizing Earth 2.0,” will be presented at 4 p.m. Tuesday, March 17, in 211 Hubbard Hall.
Beichman will also give a technical lecture at 2 p.m. Wednesday, March 18, in 128 Jabara Hall, titled “Science Goals for James Webb Space Telescope.”
The Watkins Visiting Professorship was created in 1974 by the Watkins Foundation.
WSU psychology student focuses on mental health stigmas in minorities
She’s a dreamer, full of ambition and passionate with a goal to change the world. A lofty task, some might say, but for her, she understands if “not her, then who?”
Inneke Vargas, a senior studying psychology with a minor in criminal justice, returned to Wichita State University after working in various industries. During her time outside of school, she worked at Via Christi, Cox Communications and Koch Industries, just to name a few. Her experiences narrowed down her desire, eliminated career paths and opened the doors to return back to school.
Read complete story on Vargas.
Call for Poster - Wichita State University Analytics Showcase
The Wichita State University Analytics Showcase invites students to submit a poster for presentation at the first Wichita State University Analytics Showcase on April 17 at the WSU Hughes Metropolitan Complex.
This is a great opportunity to present your data analytics research or applied project to the WSU community, industry and other stakeholders. The Wichita State Analytics Showcase will deepen your understanding of accomplishments in the field of analytics in terms of research advances, curricular programs, analytics software, hardware, and skill-building; and it is a great opportunity to interact with other Data Analytics researchers and practitioners.
Submit your abstract at Analytics Poster. Note that you may use the same abstract that you are using for GRASP. Deadline for submission is today (Friday, March 13).
Registration is now open for the inaugural Wichita State University Analytics Showcase
The WSU Analytics Showcase will be held from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday, April 17, 2020, in the Hughes Metropolitan Complex. Registration is free for students and faculty, but space is limited.
Contact the Analytics Showcase organizers
Learn more and register for the Showcase
Tuition Assistance applications for summer 2020 now being accepted
Tuition Assistance applications for summer 2020 are being accepted through the new Online Application Form through Wednesday, April 15.
Effective for the summer 2020 term, the fillable PDF form will no longer be accepted.
Because of the volume of applications received each semester, requests to submit late applications will be automatically denied. There will be no exceptions.
Full program details can be found at www.wichita.edu/tuitionassistance.
Questions may be directed to TuitionAssistance@wichita.edu.
Passage 2 Success student leader applications open until noon March 16
Passage Leaders are an integral part of Passage 2 Success, a four-day retreat for incoming freshmen from diverse backgrounds to help in their transition to Wichita State University. If you or a student you know are interested in applying, go to wichita.edu/p2sleaders. #WSUDIVERSITY
Applications are open until noon Monday, March 16.
Remember your home away from home is the Office of Diversity and Inclusion.
WSU Opera Theatre presents Mozart's ‘Cosi fan tutte’
WSU's Opera Theatre is pleased to present Mozart's "Cosi fan tutte," a comedic tale of romance and the awkward situations that arise when you put love to the test. Performances are scheduled at 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, March 19-21, and 2 p.m. Sunday, March 22, in Miller Concert Hall.
Sung in Italian with the English translation projected above the stage, the opera is free to all WSU students with your student ID. Please see the School of Music website, stop by the Box Office in Duerksen Fine Arts Center, or call 978-3233 to reserve your ticket.
Tickets
Hunting for a Job? Join us in this lab today
Learn how employers hire so you will know what they are looking for, and then use that information to build a resume that passes a 10-second scan. In this Job-Hunting Lab, get tips on how to exhibit professionalism and why it matters during the interview.
Join the Career Development Center from 2-3 p.m. today (Friday, March 13) in 324 Ablah Library to help you launch your career management plan.
SGA Academic Committee welcomes nominations for Graduate Teaching Assistant of the Year and Academic Advisor of the Year
Do you know a Graduate Teaching Assistant or an Academic Advisor of the Year who has made such a meaningful impact on your collegiate career or has made an impact to your department and/or college? Nominate them for the Graduate Teaching Assistant of the Year and Academic Advisor of the Year.
Applications are due at 5 p.m. Friday, April 3. Click here to submit a nomination.
March Rewards in the Shocker Sports Grill & Lanes
Members of the EAT.DRINK.PLAY. Rewards Program in the Shocker Sports Grill & Lanes can enjoy $1.50 bowling lanes anytime lanes are available on Fridays in March, even during cosmic bowling.
Joining the rewards program is free and easy. Simply stop in to sign up and start getting rewarded today!
Join us for College Night with the Wichita Force!
It’s College Night with the Wichita Force! Join us as we take on the Salina Liberty at 7:05 p.m. Monday, April 13, at Hartman Arena.
Students and faculty can get tickets for this game at a discounted rate with the presentation of your WSU ID at the Hartman Arena Box Office, or the Wichita Force office. Additional promotional and event details will be released upon finalization.
For constant updates, follow the Wichita Force on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. For more information call the Force office at 316425-1965, or visit our website at http://www.wichitaforce.com.