WSU Today: July 8, 2020

University schedule for the Holiday Closedown 2020

The holiday closedown period has been approved this year to commence at the end of the day on Friday Dec. 18, 2020 and reopen on Monday morning Jan. 4, 2021. We are once again communicating the schedule to ensure all employees can manage their time off appropriately. The closedown is 10 days, three of which are paid holidays. Classes will not be in session during this period.

Unclassified Professional and University Support Staff who would normally be scheduled to work the days may use accumulated vacation leave or their *2020 discretionary day during the holiday closedown. Non-exempt employees can also use accumulated compensatory time off during the holiday closedown.

If your role requires you to work during the holiday closedown it must be approved in advance by your immediate supervisor.

Teaching This Fall: Day 3 Questions about Teaching Online

To support instructors who are prepping their classes for fall, the Faculty Curricular Design Working Group has created 10 sets of featured questions related to our new teaching environment. Each day we will post one set of frequently asked questions to respond to issues that faculty have raised about how to be prepared.

FAQs Set #3: Questions about Teaching Online

• What online test proctoring options are available?
  Respondus Lockdown Browser + Respondus Monitor, ProctorU Review+, and ProctorU Live. Learn more here.

• Do I own the content I develop in Bb for online and hybrid teaching?
  Yes. Pursuant to WSU Policy 9.10 (Intellectual Property Policy and Institutional Procedures), ownership of mediated courseware is as follows: (1) for self-initiated courseware (employee develops the courseware without specific direction from the university), the ownership of the courseware remains with the employee; (2) for university-directed mediated courseware (university specifically directs the creation of the courseware and/or provides a stipend), the ownership of the courseware remains with the university, unless otherwise agreed. In the case of university-directed mediated courseware, the university retains the right to direct who can use the courseware. In either case (self-initiated or university-directed), the employee retains the right to use the developed courseware for instructional purposes.

Additional FAQs about teaching this fall can be found on the COVID-19 university webpage

Save the date for the 2nd Annual TAN Excellence in Academic Advising Awards Virtual

Save the date for the 2nd Annual TAN Excellence in Academic Advising Awards Virtual Celebration from 4-5 p.m. Wednesday July 22.

The Advising Network (TAN) is proud to support student success by recognizing academic advisors at Wichita State University. The Excellence in Academic Advising Awards recognize individuals who demonstrate qualities and practices that make significant contributions to the improvement of academic advising at WSU and beyond.

Find out who was voted advisor of the year in the following categories:

Excellence in Advising - New Academic Advisor

Excellence in Advising - Primary Role Academic Advisor

Excellence in Advising - Faculty Academic Advisor

Also, new TAN steering committee members will be announced.

Click the link to receive the virtual celebration Zoom link and password.

Wichita State grad's AI software fights COVID-19

Shocker alum Arfath Mohammad is using artificial intelligence to help save lives during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The Coronavirus has affected thousands of people all over the United States. I wanted to find a way to contribute and help prevent the spread,” said Arfath Mohammad, who graduated with a master’s degree in mechanical engineering in 2020.

Mohammad is making strides with an artificial intelligence-based software that helps enforce COVID-19 safety precautions, such as wearing face coverings, social distancing and hand-washing.

The software uses the face detection capabilities, allowing a machine to continuously monitor the surveillance camera in stores or crowded areas. The software then identifies people who are not wearing face coverings or taking precautions and alerts and managers.

Pictured above: Arfath Mohammad, Shocker Alum, stands beside the wall dedicated to him in the Rhatigan Student Center.

Read complete story.

Chemical Clean-Out Week continues

Old, expired or unwanted chemicals being stored in your department can create potential hazards for employees and students and can be an environmental and regulatory liability.

From now to July 10, the Environmental, Health and Safety (EHS) Department will pick up any university-related waste chemicals or other hazardous items. This event is an opportunity for all departments to clean out these items in a safe and compliant manner. Items will be picked up in your department by the EHS staff. Items include paints, solvents, lab chemicals, acids, oils, light bulbs, batteries, etc. 

If you have items for pick up, please submit a Facilities Services work order before Friday, July 10.

Safety note:  If any of your chemical containers have crystals or powder build-up on the container, do not attempt to move them. Some crystals on old chemical containers can be shock-sensitive and can explode.

If you discover a chemical container with crystals or powder build-up, contact Mike Strickland at 978-3347 or Andrew Clem at 978-7904 immediately.  

Community members welcome back to University Libraries with limited hours

University Libraries is welcoming back community members with limited hours. Patrons are expected to adhere to safety guidelines laid out in the Shockers United plan for campus re-entry, including bringing and wearing a mask and six-feet social distancing. Community hours are Thursdays 9 a.m.-6 p.m., and Fridays 9 a.m.-1 p.m. However, Ablah Library will be closed tomorrow (Friday, July 3) Hours subject to change.

University Libraries

IRB moving to Phase 2 of Human Subjects Research Restoration Plan

The WSU Institutional Review Board is ready to move to Phase 2 of our Human Subjects Research Restoration Plan today (Wednesday, July 1). During Phase 2, researchers are permitted to conduct studies without maintaining physical distancing. However, researchers should strive to achieve as much physical distancing as possible and precautions to prevent viral spread (e.g., PPE, disinfecting, etc.) will still need to be taken. A Virus Protection Plan (VPP) must be submitted to the IRB for review and approval prior to the start date.

Authorization to conduct research will be granted following review of the VPP by the IRB.

Please visit Wichita State’s IRB website for more information or contact irb@wichita.edu with any questions.

Please join the WSU community in recognizing Steve White

After 29 years of service to the State of Kansas, Director of Purchasing Steve White will officially retire on July 10.

Steve has been a valuable asset to WSU with his hard work and dedication. His contribution to the overall procurement process, the daily operations of the department, and the individual guidance he has provided will be sorely missed.

Retirement will surely offer him new opportunities, which we know he will embrace wholeheartedly, just as he did here at WSU.

Congratulations on a standout career and best wishes for your next chapter in life!

Please send best wishes to Steve at purchasing.office@wichita.edu. 

Wichita State University face masks in the Shocker Store

The Shocker Store is now selling Wichita State University face masks in the RSC store and online at shockerstore.com. Be safe and responsible only in the best Shocker fashion!

Try the Pizza Burger in July

Stop by the Shocker Sports Grill & Lanes in July to try their Burger of the Month, the Pizza Burger! The burger is topped with pepperoni, pepper jack cheese and marinara sauce.