IRB develops guidelines to restore human subject research involving person-to-person interactions
Dear WSU Researchers,
The WSU Institutional Review Board has developed guidelines to restore human subject research that involves direct person-to-person interactions. The IRB’s main purpose is to protect the welfare of human subjects recruited to participate in research activities at WSU. As the current pandemic has created additional levels of risk associated with person-to-person interaction, the IRB is striving to maximize the safety of participants as well as researchers.
Restoration will consist of three phases that are meant to reflect the currently recommended practices for the university community. Phase 1 is effective immediately. Phases 2 and 3 will be authorized as conditions improve.
Click here for more information.
Summer library hours
University Libraries has been working diligently to create a safe, welcoming experience for our students, staff, and faculty, while maintaining safety protocols found in the Shockers United plan. While we are staffing the Libraries in order to provide service hours to the Shocker community, please note that many Libraries employees will continue working remotely.
Political Science professor participates in a digital program about democracy in post-pandemic Latin America
Dr. Dinorah Azpuru was invited as one of four panelists to the program "2020: The Pandemic, with Daniel Zovatto: the future of politics and democracy in Latin America in the post-pandemic."
The program is part of a digital series that has been running since early April in one of Mexico's most prominent news outlets, Aristegui Noticias. It is widely transmitted to Spanish speaking countries.
Aside from Dr. Azpuru, other participants were Dr. Arturo Valenzuela (former US Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs and Emeritus Professor of political science and international affairs at Georgetown University); Manuel Alcantara (professor of political science and former Director of the Institute of Iberoamerica at the University of Salamanca), and Julia Pomenares (a political scientist who is Executive Director of the Argentinean think-tank CIPPEC).
Campus gas line replacement work start delayed one day
The start of the gas line replacement work was delayed one day by wrap-up work on the previous Kansas Gas Service line project.
Contractors will be on campus for work to start today (Wednesday, June 10). The area of work to start will be the north section of the project, from 21st Street N. south to Perimeter Road along the north side of Shocker Hall and Hubbard Hall.
The work is expected to last three-to-four weeks, and the contractors will strive to keep pedestrian areas open for safe passage around their work zones.
Dell Back to School Special at the Shocker Store
Take advantage of Dell’s Back to School Special at the Shocker Store! Now through Oct. 31, purchase an in-stock Dell or customized unit from the Shocker Store with a value of $499 or greater and receive $100 cash back. Purchase in-store only. Submit proof of purchase to www.identit-e.com/dellpromo2020. Email shockerstore@wichita.edu for additional details.
Announcing the next Common Read book!
First-Year Programs in Student Success is pleased to announce the 2020-21 Common Read book, “Some Were Paupers, Some Were Kings: Dispatches from Kansas,” by Mark E. McCormick.
We are excited to welcome a new class of students using the themes of this book throughout the year! If you have a program, student organization or course that may be interested in using the book, or have any questions, contact First-Year Programs at 978-5420 or Tahrima Musa at tahrima.musa@wichita.edu. See wichita.edu/commonread for more information.
Wanted: Volunteers to help with 2020 bicycle and pedestrian count event
Volunteers are needed to help manually count bicycle and pedestrian activity across 35 sites in the Wichita Metro area. The annual event, sponsored by the Wichita Area Metropolitan Planning Organization will be held Sept. 24 and 26.
This important event relies heavily on the commitment of community volunteers to gather data about how our network of paths and lanes are being used.
According to Tricia Thomas, WAMPO Communication’s Manager:
“One of the greatest challenges facing the bicycle and pedestrian field is the lack of documentation on usage and demand. Without accurate and consistent demand and usage figures, it is difficult to measure the positive benefits of bicycle and pedestrian investments, especially when compared to the other transportation modes such as the private automobile.”
As such, this event is the only source for regional-scale bicycle and pedestrian data. The results of this data are then used to guide investments throughout the regional transportation system.
So please consider volunteering! This annual event is a real opportunity for local residents to become involved in a piece of the regional transportation planning process. As we know, bicycle and pedestrian investments stimulate the economy, public health, and the overall quality of life in a variety of ways. Communities that invest in these facilities inherently attract people and businesses so it’s good for everyone! Register to volunteer here!
Wichita State partnership allows high-schoolers to build airplane in hands-on program
In the recent partnership among Wichita State University, Airbus and Tango Flight, the sky is the limit.
Tango Flight, a program that launched in 2016 in Georgetown, Texas, provides students the tools to build a two-seat airplane. The young learners are given applied-learning experiences before graduating high school.
“The program caught the eye of Airbus. They wanted to have more people that know-how to build and interact with airplanes,” said Chris Wyant, director of the Corbin Connect program, clinical educator and interim mathematics department chair at Wichita State University. “Eventually Airbus sponsored the program and started a site in the Maize school district.”
Maize was the first expansion for Tango Flight, which occurred two years ago. Since then, it has partnered with 12 other building sites across the country.
When the partnership began between Airbus and Tango Flight, Wyant was contacted to help develop curriculum for the students to follow in hopes of moving to a national audience.
Pictured above: Chris Wyant, a clinical educator for the College of Applied Studies, helped create the curriculum that Tango Flight uses in their partnership with Airbus and the Maize School District.
Admissions deploys text messaging to communicate more effectively
The Office of Admissions deployed its text messaging solution in April 2019, allowing admissions staff to communicate with prospective students through a newer, high-impact medium. A comprehensive text messaging communication plan was developed for our fall 2020 students, where we are intentional about reaching out to students with personalized messages to foster relationships, provide helpful nudges through the enrollment funnel and build a sense of affinity for Wichita State University.
While this has been a highly effective form of communication throughout the year and
allowed us to connect with students we wouldn’t have otherwise been able to, it has
been particularly useful during the COVID-19 pandemic as staff have been able to keep
in touch with students that we may have traditionally seen at their high school or
at an on-campus event.
Since July 1, 2019, the admissions team has sent more than 186,000 text messages and
received nearly 47,000 messages from students. This summer, messages are primarily centered around yield and melt efforts – helping
students navigate the application, orientation and enrollment processes, get connected
to their academic area, address any questions or concerns and build a sense of community.