COVID-19 UPDATES
What you need to know for this week
In accordance with state and local health and government official guidelines, WSU continues to prepare to implement Phase 2 of the Shockers United plan (reopening/summer) beginning today (Tuesday, May 26). Just a few reminders as we enter this phase:
- Departments should continue to look for ways to stagger work schedules and should continue to allow employees to work remotely unless it is essential that the employee report to campus. We understand that each department’s needs, business hours and remote work schedule may look different depending on the demands of the department and the needs of the employees in that department. We ask that all departments assess their operations while keeping in mind the health and safety of their employees. Employees who are concerned about returning to work should work with their supervisor and human resources on a plan that meets the needs of the department but also meets the health and safety needs of those in the department.
- Familiarize yourself with the Shockers United plan, which has frequently asked questions broken out for supervisors, employees, etc. If you have a question that isn’t answered on the website, email president@wichita.edu.
- There is detailed virtual training available for employees and supervisors that answers many questions you may have about returning to work. Everyone should complete this training to be prepared.
- A common concern is how to obtain a cloth face covering, which is expected for everyone on campus unless you’re in an office alone or walking outside alone. Submit your work order request for face coverings here. If you have any questions, call 978-3444.
- Many offices will now begin having physical office hours for all or a portion of the time. Go to wichita.edu/officehours to see an updated list.
- All employees coming to campus are expected to perform daily wellness self-checks and maintain social distancing, limited congregation, wear face coverings or masks (as appropriate), disinfect spaces and limit non-essential travel.
- We understand that members of the Wichita State community may be experiencing heightened levels of anxiety as we discuss employees coming to the campus. Employees who feel anxious or worried about COVID-19 are encouraged to contact the State of Kansas Employee Assistance Program, or EAP, which is available to help. Kansas EAP is available 24 hours-a-day at 888-275-1205, press option 1. In addition, Wichita State’s Care Team helps with health or mental health concerns, financial stressors and more. Contact the Care Team at care@wichita.edu or at 316-978-3149.
- Strategic Communications has created – and continues to update – a signage toolkit for your office needs. Go to https://wsu.news/signage to download and print signage. Please remember that all signs should be hung up with painter’s tape only.
Thank you for your continued patience as we move on to our next phase. You will undoubtedly have more questions as we work through this together. Please don’t hesitate to reach out at provost@wichita.edu.
President Jay Golden and Provost Rick Muma
Health and safety measures for employees, students and campus visitors
All individuals (students, employees, visitors) on-site at Wichita State University will be asked to comply with health and safety measures when coming onto campus. These measures are described in the What You Need to Know About Coming to Campus resource guide and the Expectations for Employees Working on Campus online training. Both of these resources are available on the COVID-19 Training Resources for Employees and Supervisors webpage.
Town Hall recap from May 22
Wichita State University leadership answered questions about reopening plans for campus during a Virtual Town Hall for faculty and staff on Friday.
Provost Rick Muma joined Jeffrey Jarman, president of the faculty senate, Julie Scott, president of the UP Senate, Vice President for Student Affairs Teri Hall and Matt Houston, president of USS Senate.
You can watch the town hall here.
- Muma gave several top recommendations for the return to campus. Those included wearing face coverings, practice social distancing and washing hands. He encouraged people to visit Wichita State’s COVID-19 website and Shockers United website for information.
“Everybody needs to make sure they perform a daily, personal wellness check before they come to campus,” Muma said. “Do not come to campus if you feel ill in any way. Contact your health-care provider to see if that’s anything you need to check into. Contact your supervisor to make sure they understand that you’re not feeling well.”
Muma also encouraged people to watch the employee training videos before returning to camps.
Students, faculty, staff, and visitors are expected to wear mask and appropriate PPE at all times, unless walking alone outdoors or working alone in a personal office space. Faculty should follow this except in large lecture halls where ample space exists between students. Muma said WSU is working on physical barriers for classrooms that may change that expectation.
- Wichita State will designate spaces as possible quarantine areas for students in case of a COVID-19 diagnosis. Hall said she expects around 1,400 students to live on campus. The university is cutting down on the number of triple residency rooms to cut back on density.
“We will save one floor in one of our halls for quarantine and isolating students, should we have to,” she said. “Our goal is to come back and have a full residential life experience for students.”
- Fall activities for faculty, staff and students will likely look different. WSU will follow Kansas’ phased reopening guidelines and social distancing will limit the number of attendees.
“It doesn’t mean we have to cancel activities,” Muma said. “We just have to plan them a little bit differently. They might be smaller. They might be a mix of (remote and in-person).”
Hall said move-in day in August is an example. It will take place over several days and by appointment for students and families. Fewer volunteers will likely take part.
“It’s about how do we do what we normally do in a way that is safe.” Hall said.
- Muma said there are no plans to start the fall semester earlier than Aug. 17. Discussions are ongoing about how to treat the academic calendar for fall break and Thanksgiving break, Muma said. He offered the possibility of moving to remote classes after Thanksgiving as an option to limit potential problems caused by travel for the holiday.
“We haven’t decided that yet,” he said.
- Muma and Jarman encouraged faculty to respond to a survey about the format of fall classes. Students can go to academic course plans as that website is updated to plan their semester.
“It’s going to be a little bit of a mix for all students,” Muma said. “Most students probably will be required to come back to campus for some kinds of activities – testing or some content that can’t be delivered in a remote or online fashion. The faculty are providing that information to us. We’re encouraging them to do that as soon as possible so students can make their decisions.”
- Muma said Wichita State continues to plan for a two-percent budget cuts. No furloughs are planned beyond those previously announced for the executive team. The university also is evaluating a tuition increase and must submit plans by June 1 to the Kansas Board of Regents.
- Wichita State is waiting on guidance from the federal government on how using its $4.6 million from the CARES Act.
- Muma and Jarman joined Dr. Jay Golden’s request to cut Zoom meetings on Fridays in June as way to allow faculty and staff to catch up on work or take vacation.
“I can’t wait until those days come around,” Muma said.
Office signage toolkits available now
Strategic Communications has created a signage toolkit for office and building use. Go to https://wsu.news/signage to download and print signage related to hours of operation, signs and symptoms of COVID-19, how to perform a wellness check, office best practices, and - NEW today - what to do before entering a building. Please remember that all signs should be hung up with painter’s tape only.
If you need assistance printing these signs, including outdoor signage needs, please reach out to shockerprinting@wichita.edu. (Additional fees may apply).
For classroom and occupancy signage needs, the Classroom/Activity Space group continues to work on a plan prior to fall. More will be communicated in the future.
Sign up now for the June 8-12 Academic Resources Conference events
The first half of the new and improved Academic Resources Conference will take place online via Zoom during the week of June 8. Sign up for trainings now via myTraining.
The Academic Resources Conference is Wichita State's largest instructor training event, and this year is greatly expanded and available fully online. All instructors of any rank, student facing staff, and faculty support staff are likely to benefit from this event. If you are interested, you are invited! Zoom events will run the week of June 8 and the week of Aug. 10, and online / on-demand events will be available all summer through the ARC website.
You can see a full list of June events here or browse by topic here.
The June events include:
1) Best practices for online instruction
2) Protecting your mental health
3) Library services and resources
4) Technical training in Blackboard, Panopto, Zoom, and Respondus
5) Tips for creating instructional video
We miss your face! So, this year we are also offering fun, social events each evening from 6-6:50 p.m. These "Cocktail Hour" events include opportunities to discuss classroom engagement, demonstrations of fun online games (yes, attendees will play), and on Friday night a murder mystery night. Sign up for Cocktail Hour events early as their caps are low. No alcohol required for Cocktail Hour, of course.
Sign up for all events through myTraining found in the myWSU portal. Know an adjunct or new GTA who doesn't have myTraining access? Encourage them to come, and we will handle their sign-up. Just email IDA@wichita.edu.
Order limited edition 125th anniversary lapel pins by May 28
In celebration of the 125th anniversary for Wichita State University, a special edition lapel pin has been designed to mark the celebratory period of July 1, 2020 through June 30, 2021. The extended deadline to be part of this bulk order is 5 p.m. Thursday, May 28.
The full-color, approximately 1.25” hard enamel pin, is available with a butterfly (military) or magnet fastener. Please note that the price point for the magnet fastener is slightly higher than the butterfly fastener.
The price point breakdown based on the quantity ordered is noted. For example, if all combined orders for military-style lapel pins with magnet fasteners total 10,000, then the cost per unit will be .84. However, if all combined orders for magnet-style fasteners is 100, the cost per unit will be $1.25.
Each department will only be invoiced for the quantity requested.
Submit requests to Ellen Abbey, director of Auxiliary Services, at ellen.abbey@wichita.edu by 5 p.m. Thursday, May 28.
Please provide the following information:
Quantity
Department Name
Org/Fund
Delivery Address
New syllabus template available
The newest course syllabus template is now available. Language regarding university policies and available student resources have been provided in a hyperlink instead of inserted into the body of the document. This will allow this content to be updated regularly without faculty having to change their syllabus or search for the newest template. If you would like to remove these additional pages from your template, just insert the following link instead: www.wichita.edu/syllabuspolicies.
Warmest greetings from all of us at the WSU Foundation
Like so many of you, we continue to grapple almost daily with the challenges presented by the pandemic. Despite those challenges, we remain strong and positive as we continue our work to advance Wichita State while taking the necessary steps to stay safe and healthy.
Beginning in early June, our staff will start returning to the Foundation offices in Woodman Alumni Center on the WSU campus. We hope to be fully reintegrated by July 6, with new rules and policies in place to safeguard our staff as well as visitors. Between now and then, we will continue to conduct most of our work and connect with you remotely and digitally.
One of our top priorities remains helping WSU students cope with pandemic-related financial struggles. We are doing that in two ways: through an emergency fund for students with the immediate need and a second fund to provide need-based scholarships for each academic college this fall. We invite all who can contribute to consider these student-focused funds. And to those who already have a heartfelt thank you. To hear the stories of two students helped by the emergency fund, click here.
Some helpful links:
∙ To donate to the student funds described above, go to foundation.wichita.edu\shockersup.
∙ For our staff email addresses and phone numbers, go to http://bit.ly/WSUFDirectory
∙ If you have a payment or requisition question, please email our finance team at foundation.ap@wichita.edu.
∙ Visit our website at foundation.wichita.edu.
Beginning July 6, documents, checks and other correspondence may be dropped off at the front desk in Woodman Alumni Center from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. Our main phone number, 316.978.3040, will be staffed during these times. Voice messages left during off-hours will be answered as soon as possible.
For now, our development officers will connect with you by phone, email or text. We want to check in with you and share Wichita State updates. We miss our face-to-face interactions with our Shocker community and look forward to a time very soon when that resumes. Until then, we wish good health and happiness for you and all your loved ones.
Go Shox!
Elizabeth King, WSU Foundation President and CEO
Have a great rest of the week.
Stay up-to-date with University Libraries
Keep up-to-date on when, where and how to use library resources on our website. For questions, send us an e-mail at librarystaff@wichita.edu or call us at 316-978-3481.
Ulrich boosts outreach efforts amid COVID-19
COVID-19 might have forced Wichita State’s Ulrich Museum of Art to close its doors, but the museum has found new avenues to shine and thrive: an ambitious public art project and building the Ulrich’s online presence into a teaching and learning resource.
“We’ve redirected our programming outside of the museum; and in that way, we just transcend all of the COVID-19 unknowns,” said Leslie Brothers, director of the Ulrich. “We’re not putting anybody at risk on the staff, and we're not putting any of our visitors at risk. The digital collection just solves the problem in a beautiful way.”
Though expansion of the museum’s digital offering has been in the works for a while, the pandemic nudged things along a bit faster than planned.
“What we're doing is simply not a response to the current environment, but it's part of a planned path that we'll continue to grow and sustain,” Brothers said.
For the public art exhibit, the museum is creating a billboard campaign called Ulrich + Artists + You, which will include works from 20 artists. The billboards will be spread across neighborhoods and high-traffic areas in Wichita.
The billboard project is expected to start on July 1 and end on Dec. 30.
RH: ‘I know other people struggle’
Rebekah Topham wants to tell the story about her difficulties reading when she came
to Wichita State in 2015.
Not many people know, she says, outside of her family. It is a scary thing to talk
about. She is a senior, one outdoor track season from wrapping up an outstanding career,
and an excellent student; and it is time for people to know.
It is a story she wants told the right way because she is a perfectionist. She comes
to the interview prepared with notes, compiled at 2 a.m. that day, so that nothing
is missed.
She wants to tell the story to inspire others who might fear essay questions or see
letters scrambled into an unintelligible pile and wonder if they can get through college
and pursue whatever they love. She wants to tell the story to be authentic in a world
where social media can make everything seem like gold medals and selfies.
Join KMUW for Digital Democracy on Tap: Advice from the Frontlines
The stay-at-home order is being rolled back in Kansas, but the battle against COVID-19 continues. Join KMUW's Engage ICT: Democracy on Tap for Advice from the Front Lines. We'll learn how to maintain your own health and the health of your neighbors and children. We will be joined by a pulmonologist, a pediatrician, and an ER nurse to hear what it’s like to fight COVID-19, what they expect as restrictions are loosened, and what you need to know.
The conversation will be streamed live from KMUW's Facebook page at EngageICT.org starting at 5 p.m. today (Tuesday, May 26).
Are you looking for employment opportunities because of COVID-19?
The Shocker Career Accelerator has created a program designed to help you refocus your job-hunting efforts and reconnect you with employers who are hiring. Join the Career Development Center from 1-2 p.m. today (Tuesday, May 26).
- Learn to use Handshake, LinkedIn, and other online job search tools to connect with over 40 employers who are looking to hire Wichita State University students.
- Compare the gap between your current skills and the skills required for open positions.
- Explore LinkedIn Learning for help closing your skills gap.
You MUST Register in advance for this meeting, which is held from 1-2 p.m. today (Tuesday, May 26.
STEM Diversity Virtual Career Expo tomorrow
Employers are recruiting diverse STEM talent from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. tomorrow (Wednesday, May 27).
Join CareerEco's virtual fair for current college students, recent college graduates, entry-level job seekers and experienced professionals who have backgrounds and career interests in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. Job candidates represent all members of minority groups and diverse cultures, including people with disabilities, women, and veterans.
You must register for the event for entrance.
STEM Diversity Virtual Career Expo
KANSASWORKS Virtual Statewide Job Fair - May 27-28
Welcome to the KANSASWORKS Virtual Job Fair - The first statewide virtual job fair focused to help Kansas job seekers and businesses.
The fair will take place from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Wednesday, May 27, and Thursday, May 28. If you would like to chat live with any of the employer participants, you can do so from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Wednesday, May 27.
Any individual with a disability may request accommodations by contacting 877-509-6757 prior to the event.
Participants sought for undergraduate research, please share with students
I am recruiting study participants for my Experiences with Language and Schooling Research Project. This is undergraduate research. Upon completion of the interview, they will also be able to enter a drawing for a $50 gift card. Please help by sharing the following information with students:
Experiences with Spanish and Schooling Research Project
Would you like the chance to win a $50 gift card?
Participate in our study. Interviews will last about 60 minutes and will be conducted to examine the school experiences of students from Spanish speaking backgrounds in terms of language and identity. To participate you must be 18 years or older and have attended a U.S. public school at some point in your academic career. We are looking for Hispanic participants from Spanish-speaking backgrounds, whether you speak Spanish yourself or were just raised in a Spanish-speaking environment. All responses will be confidential.
If you are interested, contact cizacarias@shockers.wichita.edu or jennifer.pearson@wichita.edu for more information.
Congratulations to the first Open Alternative Textbook grant recipients!
Ikram Ahmed-Mechanical Engineering, John Hammond-Mathematics, and Enrique Navarro-Spanish were selected to receive the university's first Open Alternative Textbook (OAT) grants this summer. Each recipient will be working to develop a textbook or supplemental course materials that are no-cost options for students in their classes.
As the OAT initiative grows on campus, we hope to have additional funding to support more of these grants in the future. If you have courses that have no textbook costs for students, you are encouraged to apply for an OAT course designation. New applications will be accepted in the early fall.
Questions for the Career Development Center?
Need help writing a resume? Need help deciding what to major in? Need to do a quick mock interview? Have questions about the Career Development Center? By dropping in during this time you can get your questions answered and get help with professional documents without having to make an appointment.
Attend a Virtual Q&A Drop-In Session this week:
1-3 p.m. today (Tuesday, May 26)
9-11 a.m. Wednesday, May 27
9-10 a.m. Thursday, May 28
10-11:30 a.m. Thursday, May 28
Parking lots near Duerksen Fine Arts Center will be closed this week
Parking lots 16N and 16S on the west end of campus near Duerksen Fine Arts Center will be closed from today (Tuesday, May 26) through Friday, May 29 so maintenance work can be done on those lots. It will be okay to drive and park on those lots after they are reopened until the contractor returns at a later date to be determined for the asphalt pour.
Shocker Store in Rhatigan Student Center reopening today
The Shocker Store (Rhatigan Student Center location) will reopen today (Tuesday, May 26) with operating hours of 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday-Friday. They will also have curbside service available from 8 a.m.-4 p.m.
Within the store, guests are expected to wear masks and maintain 6-feet of social distancing.
Remember, they are also still available to assist you remotely through email, phone calls and online shopping at shockerstore.com.
Starbucks in RSC now open
The Starbucks in the Rhatigan Student Center is now open from 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Monday-Friday.
Chick-Fil-A will be open starting on Monday, June 1 with hours of 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Monday-Friday. Initially, lounges and dining areas in the RSC will be closed to the public, so orders will be for carry-out only.
For information on other RSC department reopening dates and hours, go to wichita.edu/rschours.
Invitation Extended by Councilman Brandon Johnson, Wichita City Council, District 1
Attention Shockers!
Do you want to add your voice to conversations about community development happening both near and around our campus?!
Do you know what Community Benefits Agreements (CBAs) are and how they can help support the needs of WSU’s students, faculty, staff and neighbors?
Do you believe that it is important for those who live, work, or play in the community to have a voice in what happens there?
During the next six weeks, a committed group of community residents will host Virtual CBA Focus Groups to discuss all these questions and more.
Sign up today to participate and have your voice be heard!
Herzik joins the General Counsel’s Office today
Kelly Herzik joins Wichita State University’s General Counsel’s Office, after almost 30 years in private practice, where she focused on complex civil litigation, regulatory compliance, and client advisement.
Herzik represented clients in a broad spectrum of legal issues relating to business matters, and routinely litigated matters for clients in both state and federal courts nationwide, in alternative dispute resolution, and before regulatory agencies at the local, state, and federal level.
Herzik received her bachelor’s degrees in marketing and modern languages from Texas A&M University, and her Juris Doctor degree from the University of Houston Law Center. She served six years on active duty as an officer with the US Air Force as a judge advocate attorney. Herzik left active duty before moving to Wichita, and served in the reserves for two years while entering private practice.
Protect yourself and others by doing a wellness check before coming to campus
As we prepare for more people to be on campus starting today (Tuesday, May 26), we all have a personal responsibility to safeguard our health and others' by doing a personal wellness check. This should be done each day before coming to campus. Please do not come to campus if you feel ill.
See a personal wellness checklist and other information for employees and supervisors.
WSU students continue work-study program through distance learning
The America Reads Challenge is an initiative started in 1996 by the Clinton Administration. President Clinton proposed a national literacy campaign to enlist 1 million volunteer tutors and provide school- aged children the personal attention they needed to catch up and get ahead. The federal government is a crucial part of the program because it builds an army of reading tutors.
The federal program was built off the Department of Education’s work-study program. The program provides part-time employment for college students who tutor preschool and elementary school children in math and reading.
At Wichita State University, six students participated in the work-study program during the spring semester. But when the pandemic hit, the students were out of work with no pay.
During the transition from in-person learning to remote education, Scholastic, a publishing and book fair company, changed its policy to allow online read-alouds through social media. Previously, Scholastic’s policy forbids online story times with its books.
Pictured above: Isabel Ridpath is one of the six Wichita State students who participated in the America Reads work-study program. Through distance learning, she's able to share videos of herself reading books through YouTube.