COVID-19 UPDATES
Shockers United information now combined with COVID-19 Response pages
In early May, Wichita State revealed its then-future plan to reopen with the Shockers United website. Now that the plan has entered its Reopening Phase, we’re folding the FAQ information on the Shockers United site into the COVID-19 Response pages (wichita.edu/covid19news) to provide a single source of information on the all aspects of the pandemic. Look for Shockers United FAQ sections on pages throughout the COVID-19 Response site.
June edition of president's newsletter, First Tuesday, set for today
The fifth edition of the monthly newsletter, First Tuesday, will come to your email inboxes today (Tuesday, June 2).
This newsletter is a way to keep the campus community up-to-date on what President Golden's top initiatives are and ways he is engaging with the Shocker and local community. This month's edition features an important announcement regarding organizational updates and preliminary task force recommendations.
Reminder about designated holidays for State of Kansas employees
Holidays for State of Kansas employees are designated on an annual basis by the Governor of the State of Kansas and the Kansas Board of Regents (KBOR) for eligible employees. You can view the governor’s memorandum here.
The following dates have been designated as paid holidays for all departments of Wichita State for the 2020 calendar year. This information is available online at any time.
- Discretionary Day*
- New Year's Day - Wednesday, Jan. 1
- Martin Luther King, Jr. Day - Monday, Jan. 20
- Memorial Day - Monday, May 25
- Independence Day – observed on Friday, July 3
- Labor Day - Monday, Sept. 7
- Veterans Day - Wednesday, Nov. 11 (classes are in session on this day)
- Thanksgiving Day - Thursday, Nov. 26 and Friday, Nov. 27
- Christmas Eve - Thursday, Dec. 24
- Christmas Day - Friday, Dec. 25
*The discretionary day must be used during the payroll calendar year. For 2020, it must be used Dec. 29, 2019 – Dec. 26, 2020. This paid leave benefit is used for observance of a holiday, family event or other special day. Employees who work a Monday through Friday schedule should plan to use their discretionary day on or before Wednesday, Dec. 23, 2020.
Recently announced changes to student instructional schedules do not impact the designated university paid holidays and closedown schedule. With the announcement that in-person instruction will be completed by Nov. 20, some employees may wish to take advantage of using additional vacation time prior to the holiday. As always, employees should work directly with their supervisors to determine whether or not vacation requests can be accommodated.
As a reminder, the 2020 University Closedown commences at the end of the day on Friday Dec. 18, 2020 and reopens on Monday morning Jan. 4, 2021. The communication regarding the 2020 closedown can be found here.
Real Talk: Debriefing the recent racial events
The Office of Diversity and Inclusion and WSU Counseling and Prevention Services are coming together to host an upcoming Real Talk - Intersection Dialogues from 1-2 p.m. Wednesday, June 3, via Zoom (Link will be provided after you RSVP).
As we continue to hear more news about the devastating racial events happening in society, our upcoming topic will be "Debriefing the Recent Racial Events." Engage in meaningful dialogues around various topics that impact identity, diversity, inclusion, equity, and society. We welcome you to lean into discomfort and join in on the discussion.
Register for this event at wichita.edu/odievents. You will receive the Zoom session link and password after you RSVP. For more information, contact the Office of Diversity and Inclusion at 316-978-3034.
Fall 2020 Tuition Assistance deadline approaching
The HR Total Rewards team reminds staff and faculty that the deadline for Fall 2020
Tuition Assistance applications is Wednesday, July 1.
Reminder: Tuition Assistance applications for Fall 2020 are submitted through the Online Application Form.
The fillable PDF form will no longer be accepted. Due to 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.
University Libraries provides online checkouts
To check out library materials, place a hold using the Libraries’ online catalog at https://libcat.wichita.edu/
Instructions:
You may place requests for materials at any time and they will be paged every two hours during our hours of operation. We will notify you via email when your holds are ready. Please note that holds placed for items at the McKinley Chemistry Library and Thurlow Lieurance Music Library will take longer to retrieve.
To pick up your holds, please stop at the Circulation Desk in Ablah Library. Your materials will be held in a locker adjacent to the desk. Upon showing your Shocker ID card, Libraries staff will provide you the information needed to retrieve your materials. The process in place is designed to provide contactless checkout of your materials.
Campus visits resuming soon
The Office of Admissions will resume hosting official campus visits beginning Monday, June 15. Interested students and their families can register at wichita.edu/visit.
For a two-week period, campus visits will consist of a university presentation, campus / housing tour, and individual meetings with admissions staff. Beginning late June, campus visitors will meet with academic college representatives if appointments are accommodated in-person during the campus visit.
Focused funding opportunities
For access to WSU’s Pivot account to search for funding opportunities, please sign up and affiliate with Wichita State University using your WSU email address. To request assistance with a customized searching, contact funding@wichita.edu.
Tuesday Talk with SHS will discuss ‘Transgender Health & The Real You’
For the Tuesday Talk today (June 2), join Sandy Hill, DNP, APRN, and Nurse Heather for a discussion about “Transgender Health and the Real You.” Tune in to Facebook Live at 2 p.m. and learn about the transgender process and one student's story in Part I of our Pride Month series.
Distribution and return of mifi devices have changed
ITS Telecommunications front office staff is back on campus full-time from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday to Friday. All mifi distribution and returns will go through our office in 027 Jabara Hall going forward. To return or pick up a requested device, simply visit our office and ring the doorbell. Please remember to wear a mask to keep yourself and our staff as safe as possible.
If you have any questions about this procedure, contact us at 316-978-3535 or telecomservices@wichita.edu. Devices can be mailed to us at WSU ITS Telecommunications, 1845 Fairmount, Box 061, Wichita, KS 67260
We would like to thank the staff of the Media Resources Center for helping us in the last two months get these mifi’s into the hands of students, faculty and staff that needed them.
Meet a Shocker: Theresa Le, communication graduate
As a first-generation student from Florida, attending Wichita State was a huge step for Theresa Le. She found the balance and resilience necessary to make her college career successful and now plans to start her own business.
Theresa is one of more than 2,400 students eligible for spring/summer 2020 graduation. Learn more about her time at Wichita State and what is next for the grad.