WSU Today: March 17, 2020

Given the very recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance for limited gatherings for at least 8 weeks, this decision was made not only to protect our campus community but also to provide some sense of certainty during these unprecedented times.

In an effort to support public health efforts by Sedgwick County and the State of Kansas, Wichita State University will begin limiting on-campus housing operations at 5 p.m. on Sunday, March 22. Students who have already left campus will not be allowed to return without explicit authorization from Housing & Residence Life staff. However, students who have traveled to the following areas over the break will not be allowed to pick up items until they have completed 14 days of self-quarantine as detailed by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment:

• California
• New York state
• Washington state
• Eagle, Summit, Pitkin and Gunnison counties in Colorado

Wichita State University Housing & Residence Life recognizes that leaving the residence halls is not an option for all of our students, so we will allow students meeting the criteria outlined below to register to remain on campus:

• International students and students with a permanent address in an area heavily affected by COVID-19.
• Students with health conditions or disabilities that prevent travel home.
• Students who reside with a family member/guardian with health issues that put them at increased risk of COVID-19.
• Students without the ability to return to their permanent residence due to other documented circumstances.

The university is in the process of determining how to address housing and dining refund requests. Once a decision is made, we will update the university’s website https://www.wichita.edu/covid19news

To our students, faculty, and staff: Our Provost, Rick Muma, is working with our faculty to plan for online and/or remote format for the remainder of the academic year. He and his colleagues in Academic Affairs will also be keeping students and faculty and staff apprised of any needed changes involving academic programs.

Dr. Teri Hall, Vice President of Student Affairs, and her colleagues will be providing updates to students, including continuing services for mental and physical well-being and housing.

Vice President for Finance and Administration Werner Golling and our Human Resources office will continue to keep you informed of our policies on pay and benefits, sick leave, telecommuting and more. Some of these communications may be sent through your divisional vice president.

To the parents of our students: I understand and appreciate what you are having to deal with right now to support your child and their needs while also trying to balance home and work. My younger daughter just returned from her college semester abroad, which was cut short. Not only did we have to scramble to get her back to the United States, she is now in a 14-day voluntary self-quarantine in North Carolina. My wife is providing the necessary parental support, such as groceries etc. All of this can be disruptive to family lives. Every decision we make will impact you and your family; we know this. I want to make sure we are doing all we can to minimize these disruptions as best as possible.

To our seniors and those graduate students completing studies this semester: I am saddened that your final semester has been disrupted in this way. Because we can’t predict the near-term future of COVID-19 spread, we are going to have to indefinitely postpone in-person spring commencement. I do want to promise to you and your families that I will make sure your incredible accomplishments will be recognized and that your university and your president will honor all that you have done.

Please know that these difficult decisions are not being made in isolation. I have been meeting with our university leadership team every morning and they are meeting with their divisions throughout each day as well. We have and continue to be in constant discussions with county and state health professionals and are following their guidance.

I and my team members have been consulting and coordinating with our counterparts at the University of Kansas and Kansas State University and, especially, with our Kansas Board of Regents who are working very hard to support all of our university students and institutions. We all want to do what is best for our students, faculty, staff and university community.

Remember, we will get through this together. Take a moment and check on each other and remind each other that you care. Follow CDC and local health guidelines-as we are doing at Wichita State. Please make sure to continue to check our Wichita State University COVID-19 website and FAQ pages at https://www.wichita.edu/covid19news

I will keep you informed. Until my next note, stay safe, stay strong and as always … Go Shocks!

Dr. Jay Golden

President, Wichita State University

For plan participants who reside in the Topeka area, the HealthQuest Health Center available to members enrolled in the health plan, is located at 901 S. Kansas Ave., Topeka

• Phone screening is recommended before going to the center: 785-783-4080
• If a patient walks into the clinic, they will have them put on a mask and clean their hands with hand sanitizer. The health center staff will evaluate the patient’s symptoms and recommend they isolate if the initial findings and/or symptoms present are a positive indicator for the virus.
• Testing is not available at the health center for COVID-19 and the clinic will refer all patients that meet the risk criteria to the local health department for testing and further evaluation.

Recruitment and Retention Tips:

• Invest the time to design and maintain an attractive and informative webpage. This is the primary way that all prospective students, high school, transfer and international, learn about our programs.
• Host or support a career exploration event that will help current and prospective majors understand the opportunities available to them.

SEM Shout Outs:

• To Neal Hoelting, Community College Coordinator in the Office of Admissions, who travels extensively to all the community colleges in the state. He regularly goes above and beyond his normal job duties to accommodate students.
• To all of our advisors who carry out dual advising: Caroline Fulbright, Patricia Phillips, Sheri Barnes, Ricki Ellison, Tierney Mount, Sherena Langley, Ana Lazarin, Yadid Perez, Mandy Konecny, Benjamin Donals, Alicia Fullilove, Janet Ives, Sanya Wiles, Noelle Wilson, John Sandlin, and Jessica Raburn.

SEM Plan

Orientation Faculty Fellows will work closely with the undergraduate Transition Mentors (TMs) and the Orientation staff to provide a welcoming atmosphere while communicating expectations within the college classroom.

The time commitment for Faculty Fellows includes one 45-minute session during each Freshman Orientation program for students and their guests (Faculty Fellows and TMs with Success Coaches if desired), and one 40-minute session during each Transfer Orientation and Transfer/Returning Adult Orientation program for students and their guests (with the advising center from your college). We will schedule a meeting in advance of the programs to go over content and address questions. Orientation dates are listed on the Orientation website here.

You are also encouraged to attend lunch during freshman programs and asked to attend the college receptions during the transfer/returning adult programs.

Please note, we will have two Orientation programs scheduled in January 2021 for new students starting at WSU in the spring semester. We do expect participation from the Faculty Fellows during those programs as well. January dates will be shared when available.

Faculty Fellows may also be asked by International Education to assist with the International Orientation program annually scheduled the week prior to the fall and spring semesters. Look for communication from International Education when it becomes available.

Those interested in being considered for an Orientation Faculty Fellow position should possess the following characteristics:

• Student-centered educational philosophy
• Experience and demonstrated excellence in teaching first-year students
• Genuine interest in mentoring new students
• Support of the out-of-class educational experience

We will select two Faculty Fellows from each academic college. Each Fellow will receive a $1750 stipend for serving in this role, as well as lunches at programs throughout the summer. If interested, please submit a letter of interest indicating why you would like to serve as an Orientation Faculty Fellow and how you meet the characteristics above to Kim Sandlin at kim.sandlin@wichita.edu, by 11:59 p.m. Friday, April 3.