Thank you, and keep up the good work!
Wichita State University is soliciting donations of any PPE, including N-95 respirator masks, surgical masks, Latex gloves, surgical gowns and protective face shields.
Wichita State University is a central community repository and will coordinate with the Kansas Department of Emergency Management, the City of Wichita and Sedgwick County on distribution of all PPE. The Shocker Store has curbside pick-up – Rhatigan Student Center (Lot 7) Dock. Monday-Friday; 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Please visit Wichita.edu to learn more.
Stay Home Order: What all WSU employees need to know
Yesterday Sedgwick County issued a Stay At Home Order that requires us, as a community, to pivot yet again as we enter the next phase of our operational plan. Our county officials understand and recognize that WSU, as a higher education institution, must be allowed to continue essential services and operations to support our learning and research.
Effective 12:01 a.m. today (Wednesday, March 25), and for at least the next 30 days, work performed on-campus must follow the parameters below.
WSU campus will operate primarily remotely with only “essential business operations” continuing to operate on campus. All departments must now fully implement their plans to reduce their on-campus presence.
We have prepared a comprehensive statement about essential business operations, who is authorized to work on campus and other key details about how this order affects employees.
Stay Home Order: What faculty and students need to know
These past two weeks have been a period of great transition for our university as we navigate the uncertainty of COVID-19 and its impact on university operations. There have been changes to classroom instruction, housing operations, university-sponsored travel and commencement.
Yesterday’s Stay at Home Order issued by Sedgwick County will require us, as a community, to pivot yet again as we enter the next phase of our operational plan. Our county officials understand and recognize that WSU, as a higher education institution, must be allowed to continue essential services and operations to support our learning and research. However, effective 12:01 a.m. today (Wednesday, March 25), we must do so in compliance with the Stay at Home Order.
In an effort to help guide you through the weeks ahead, below is a link with updated information in light of the Stay at Home Order. We fully expect students, faculty and staff to comply with these temporary emergency measures as we work to do our part to slow the rate of community spread of COVID-19.
READ FULL STATEMENT FROM PROVOST RICK MUMA
Institutional Review Board (IRB) response to COVID-19 (Coronavirus) and Human Subjects Research
The continued health and wellbeing of students, faculty, staff and community are of the utmost importance. In an effort to minimize the risk of contracting or spreading Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in human participant research, the university is placing temporary restrictions on human subjects research effective immediately and until further notice.
- All research studies (both on and off campus) conducted by faculty / investigators that currently require direct person-to-person interactions must immediately pause enrollment and discontinue in-person interactions unless study procedures can be modified to use alternative methods of gathering study data (e.g., Zoom/Skype, telephone interviews, email, etc.). If this is the case, an Amendment form needs to be submitted to the IRB. Please note these changes may quickly inundate the IRB, so please be patient as the requests are reviewed. (Note: If researchers are relying on an outside IRB, please contact the WSU IRB and we will work with any exceptions to this on a case-by-case basis.)
- Studies involving no direct person-to-person interactions with participants may continue (e.g., secondary data analysis, remote or online contact, etc.).
- IRB review of new studies may be delayed.
Principal investigators will need to partner with their research staff, students and graduate student research assistants who are impacted by this pause in work to identify an appropriate plan moving forward, including any financial ramifications this may pose. You should actively work to communicate this change to your teams.
Please contact the WSU IRB at irb@wichita.edu, should you have any questions.
Continuity of Instruction Task 8: Creating and Uploading Videos to Blackboard
To support instructors during this time of transition from in-person classes to online / remote delivery, Instructional Design and Access has created 10 set of tasks to help those who are new to online learning to be successful. Each day we will post one "Task Set" for instructors to work through.
Task Set #8: Creating and Uploading PowerPoints and Videos to Blackboard
Task 8 walks instructors through how to add voice to PowerPoints and how to upload video files to Blackboard. Please send any questions to IDA@wichita.edu.
Blackboard text editor supports math notation
Did you know that Blackboard's text editor supports math notation? Instructional Design and Access has put together a page to show you how to put equations into Blackboard.
Have more questions? Send them to IDA at IDA@wichita.edu.
Blackboard and Remote Teaching Labs through Zoom
Instructional Design and Access is maintaining open labs through Zoom. These are come-and-go labs you can reach via this Zoom link between the hours of 1-3 p.m. every Tuesday and Wednesday through May 20.
We will do our best to take anyone who needs help when they arrive to the lab, but if the Zoom lab area gets too full at any one time, we may need to ask you to join later. We can address Blackboard, Zoom, Panopto, accessibility, and remote pedagogy questions.
If you prefer, we also offer a direct email address where you can send your questions, concerns, and frustrations: IDA@wichita.edu, and we have extensive resources on our webpages: https://wichita.edu/IDA
Instructional Design and Access Labs
How to troubleshoot in Blackboard
Troubleshooting in Blackboard
If you are experiencing difficulties in Blackboard, you may find these simple troubleshooting techniques helpful:
Make Sure You are On the Internet. Especially if you are using Wifi, you may find that you have lost your connection.
Go to Blackboard directly: Type blackboard.wichita.edu directly into your address bar. Do not access Blackboard through the MyWSU portal.
Switch Browsers. Good browsers to try for Blackboard include Chrome and Firefox. If you are a Mac user, Safari usually works well too. Internet Explorer and Edge are not good choices when using Blackboard.
Check Your Physical Connections. It may seem surprising, but many of the problems we see in help tickets are related to someone's computer (microphone, camera, monitor, etc.) getting unplugged. Make sure everything is plugged in tightly, including cables at the back of your machine.
Get Help. If none of the troubleshooting steps above worked, it's time to get help by putting in a Blackboard help ticket.
Troubleshooting and best practices
Door sign template available for all offices
As most of us adjust to working remotely, it’s important to emphasize to students that they have, at all times, ready access to services such as health and wellness, advising, tutoring and more. To help communicate that message, we’re providing a template for a door sign you are encouraged to download, fill out and print off to hang on your office’s front door. This will remind students that Wichita State faculty and staff are ready to help and point them toward services. To download the template, go to the sidebar at www.wichita.edu/covid19news and scroll to the bottom. Click on the button called Door Sign Template.
State Employee Health Plan updates in response to COVID-19
Governor Laura Kelly announced four provisions on March 13, that are effective immediately and for the next 60 days for employees and dependents enrolled in medical insurance through the State Employee Health Plan.
- SEHP will cover medically necessary diagnostic tests that are consistent with CDC guidance related to the COVID-19 at no cost share to member where it is not covered as part of the Public Health Service response.
- SEHP will allow early refills on 30 or 90-day prescription medications and/or allow members to use their mail-order benefit.
- Given the nature of the COVID-19 outbreak, seeking in-person medical care has the potential to further spread the virus. SEHP partners with Aetna and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas to provide Telehealth services with a virtual doctor’s office. There is 24/7/365 access to this service. The member cost-share will be waived for any Telehealth service.
Blue Cross Blue Shield members - Amwell
For all up-to-date information regarding COVID-19 and the WSU campus, go to www.wichita.edu/covid19.
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.
Student Health Services is still open!
The door sticks, so pull hard! Student Health Services hours are subject to change. Hours are currently from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday. Staff will be screening all individuals prior to entrance, and additional visitors are asked to stay home.
Starting tomorrow (Thursday, March 26), please use the southwest entrance to access the Student Wellness Center. This entrance is off the parking lot closest to the lake. Thank you.
Adjustments in HR service delivery WSU
The health and safety of our employees is of the utmost importance, and we have been told that the best method to protect ourselves during this time is through social distancing. We also know that employees have a need to interact with HR during these unsettling times. In order to accommodate both of these needs, Human Resources will adjust how services will be provided to our WSU employee community.
Beginning today (Monday, March 23), Human Resources will have limited staff physically on campus, but will have full HR support available to employees through many different social distancing methods including email, telephone, Skype, and Zoom video and audio conferencing.
We will temporarily suspend in-person service at the HR office, to safeguard employees and remain diligent in our efforts to support social distancing. We are providing the following information to assist employees in navigating Human Resources until social distancing methods are no longer required.
Email Access: Please use the following emails for initial contact with Human Resource Support areas:
Totalrewards@wichita.edu (This email can be used for questions related to leave, benefits and compensation.)
employment@wichita.edu (This email can be used for assistance with posting positions, recruiting and hiring employees, completing I-9 forms.)
HR.OrganizationalDevelopment@wichita.edu (The email can be used for questions related to training, myPerformance, new employee orientation and new leader orientation.)
HR.ServiceCenter@wichita.edu (This email can be used for any type of general HR question. We will ensure your question / request is forwarded to the appropriate HR team member.)
Telephone Access: Employees may also call the main HR number at 316-978-3065 for assistance.
HR Business Partner Access: Below are the names of the HR Business Partners. If you do not know the Business Partner for your area, please email HR.ServiceCenter@wichita.edu or call 316-978-3065.
Nominate an advisor for the Excellence in Academic Advising Award
Do you know of an advisor who goes above and beyond for students? The Advising Network (TAN) is proud to support student success by recognizing academic advisors at Wichita State University. Anyone who provides advising services in any role (faculty or staff) is eligible for nomination.
These awards recognize individuals who demonstrate qualities and practices that make significant contributions to the improvement of academic advising at WSU and beyond.
Nominate an advisor by completing an online form by April 3.
Help WSU by taking the National Collegiate Health Assessment
Win a red parking spot for an entire semester or other prizes such as free massages and gift cards to the Shocker Store by entering a drawing through the National College Health Assessment and the Prevention Services Advisory Board. Simply fill out the survey sent to your Wichita State University email address and be automatically entered. For information, go to wichita.edu/PSABgiveaway.
National Collegiate Health Assessment
URCAF 2020 canceled
The Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity Forum (URCAF), originally scheduled for April 10, has been cancelled in order to align with COVID-19 protective measures. There are no plans to reschedule at this time. Please contact the WSU Conference Office at conference.office@wichita.edu with any questions.
Your opinion is valuable and appreciated
In January 2020, Wichita State University President Dr. Jay Golden launched several task forces and studies as a commitment to shared governance, transparency and refining the focus of the university.
The Marketing and Branding Study is charged with actively engaging members of our campus community to examine how effectively we are branding and marketing our institution and provide recommendations.
The Student and Community Experience Survey seeks to engage students, campus community and the greater Wichita community to examine how effectively we are creating a positive "Shocker" experience for events and programs at Wichita State.
Your opinion is valuable and appreciated.
Update from the Shocker Store
The Shocker Stores of Wichita State University and WSU Tech want to ensure our customers’ safety during the COVID-19 outbreak. We’re offering free shipping over $25 online and free curbside pickup at our Rhatigan Student Center location. More information can be found here.
We also have created a FAQ page that will help answer questions you may have during this time about textbooks, buyback, ordering Shocker gear and more. We will regularly update this page with the most current information. Visit our FAQ page here.