Teaching This Fall: Day 7 Questions about Technology
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 #7: Questions about Technology
- I am having problems learning the technology for online and hybrid class delivery. What can I do?There are many options available to you, including online and on-demand trainings through myTraining (login to myTraining through MyWSU), “real time” training presentations through Zoom August 10-14, and one-on-one help from IDA during their online lab times. More info here.
- Will the university purchase a device to support my teaching, research, or scholarship
(computer, webcam, hotspot, etc.)? If so, how do I order it?
If you do not have access to a computer or the Internet at home, contact Information Technology Services (ITS). Additional information is available.
Additional FAQs about teaching this fall can be found on the COVID-19 university webpage.
Banner 9 Scheduling Building Training – July 21 & 22
New Banner Schedule Builders and Department Chairs are invited to attend the upcoming Spring 2021 Schedule Building Training sessions presented by the University Registrar’s Office and Applications Training on Tuesday, July 21 and Wednesday, July 22. Both Sections 1 and 2 are required for new schedule builders. Attendees will learn to enter the course schedule and view information using Banner 9, Self Service and WSU Reporting. Registration is required, sessions are posted on myWSU > myTraining.
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the need for social distancing, spaces are limited and restricted to new schedule builders only. Please contact Applications Training if you have questions at 978-5800 or ITS_training@wichita.edu
**Please note: Current Schedule Builders are welcome to attend the Schedule Building Overview Session posted in myTraining on Tuesday, July 14.
Badges transitioning from Credly to Acclaim
To improve our badge service, Wichita State has transitioned all badges from the Credly.com platform to Acclaim, Credly’s improved platform. If you have earned any Credly badges in the past, you should have already received an email about this transition. All you need to do is follow the information in the email from Acclaim and accept the new version of your badge. All badges going forward will come directly from Acclaim.
Ulrich billboard project update
Our UIrich + Artists + You Community Billboard Project is off to a great start with five stunning billboards placed throughout the city (308 N West St; 481 N I-135; 957 W 29th St; 5218 E 21st St; 1219 E Douglas). Perhaps you saw the wonderful coverage in The Wichita Eagle? Or maybe you've already been around to see them? The next wave of billboards is just around the corner; we'll unveil billboards at the following sites on August 3: 1619 N Rock Rd; 5455 E Central; 1101 N West St; 2518 E Douglas. And on August 10: 1400 N Hillside.
Be sure to check out these amazing works of public art, and feel free to share your photos with us on social media (using the hashtag #ulrichbillboards). We'd love to see them! And, don't forget to download the free Smartify app to your phone in order to get the most complete information on the billboards while you're visiting them!
Tuesday Talks with Student Health Services will return to Facebook Live today
For new Shockers this fall, join Nurse Heather and WSU students to discuss what international students need to know about starting classes at Wichita State. Tune into Facebook Live at 2 p.m. today (Tuesday, July 14), and ask any questions you have about managing your health on campus!
Attend the Virtual Part-Time Student Employment Fair – July 17
Current and incoming students – attend the Virtual Part-Time Student Employment Fair – from 1-3 p.m. Friday, July 17.
As a Wichita State Shocker, you will be in Wichita quite a bit this fall - why not earn a paycheck and gain experience too? You will create fun, convenient and useful connections with fellow Shockers and Wichitans.
If you are interested in working part-time during school, attend the Virtual Part-Time Student Employment Fair with on-campus and off-campus employers.
Register and sign-up for 5-minute interviews now to Tuesday, 14. Learn more and register at wichita.edu/jobfair.
Changes to your HSA/HRA/FSA for 2020 due to CARES Act
Due to the recent CARES Act legislation, there have been some updates about how you can use your HSA, HRA and/or Healthcare FSA funds. Updates include the ability to use funds for over-the-counter (OTC) medications without a prescription, and for menstrual care products. These changes are retroactively effective to Jan. 1, 2020.
Your NueSynergy debit card may not immediately work for purchases of these items as merchants are in the process of updating their systems to accommodate these changes, but you are able to pay out-of-pocket and submit reimbursement requests through the NueSynergy online portal.
You can find more information from NueSynergy here: NueSynergy 2020 CARES Act Update. If you have more specific questions about eligible purchases, you can reach NueSynergy directly at 1-855-750-9440 for further assistance. When calling, identify yourself as a State of Kansas employee, and be prepared to provide your SHaRP ID (found by logging in to myWSU and hovering the mouse over the white box in the “SHaRP ID” channel).
State Employee Health Plan updates in response to COVID-19
Governor Laura Kelly announced four (4) provisions on March 13, 2020 that have been extended through July 31, 2020 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.
Read more
- 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. In addition to telehealth services provided by Teledoc or Amwell, the member cost share will also be waived for services from your in-network physician that are billed as telehealth services.
Blue Cross Blue Shield members - Amwell
- For plan participants that 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.
For all up-to-date information regarding COVID-19 and the WSU campus, visit www.wichita.edu/covid19.
2020 issue of Kansas English features several works by CAS faculty, students, and graduates
Since March 2017, Dr. Katie Cramer has served as editor of Kansas English, the peer-reviewed journal of the Kansas Association of Teachers of English (KATE). As editor, Dr. Cramer recruits and mentors a diverse editorial review board from across the state, leads authors through a double-blind peer review process, and collaborates with Dr. Susan Matveyeva of WSU Libraries to publish each issue of Kansas English fully and exclusively online through WSU’s digital publication platform Open Journal Systems.
The 2020 issue of Kansas English was published in July and features the work of several WSU-affiliated faculty, students, and graduates.
- School of Education Assistant Professor Dr. Michelle Adler coauthored an article with her graduate student Jennifer Gingerich entitled “The Importance of Reading Across Genres.”
- 2020 English Education graduate Blake Overman published a creative piece entitled “Shaping Rainbows.”
- 2020 English Education graduate Alexis Bean published two creative pieces entitled “Scenes from my Playbook” and “Blank Pages.”
- Several WSU English Education candidates and recent graduates collaborated with YA Book Review Editor Dr. John Franklin (Pittsburg State) to publish their young adult literature book reviews:
o Spencer Arndt reviewed For Every One by Jason Reynolds
o Alexis Bean reviewed Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi
o Caroline Erickson reviewed A Heart in a Body in the World by Deb Caletti
o Blake Overman reviewed Darius the Great is Not Okay by Adib Khorram
o Rhiley Wall reviewed The Strange Fascinations of Noah Hypnotik by David Arnold
- Finally, the 2020 editorial review board includes several WSU faculty: Dr. Michelle Adler, Cathy Durano, Krystal Iseminger, Sally Kimball, Victoria Opalewski, Nancy Sturm, and Elizabeth Roberts.
If you’re interested in submitting your work to Kansas English, please review the call for manuscripts, as well as the submission procedures and deadline.
Student and graduate assistant positions open at University Libraries
University Libraries has two positions open! WSU students can apply for our opening here and graduates can apply here. Questions? Send us a message at librarystaff@wichita.edu.
Join us at the Heskett Center
Not sure when to visit the Heskett Center? Are you worried about social distancing? Download the FitDegree app today to keep track of facility occupancy.
RH: Series features three games in Wichita
Five meetings and four regular-season games give Wichita State and Kansas State a
chance to start on a rivalry and give each school a non-conference event to savor.
It is both perfectly timed and overdue.
The series starts with a proposed benefit exhibition (we hope) on Oct. 24 at Intrust
Bank Arena. Proceeds will benefit Kansans affected by COVID-19. In 2021-22, the four-season
series starts at Intrust (Dec. 5, 2021), followed by games at Bramlage Coliseum (Dec.
3, 2022), Kansas City's Sprint Center (Dec. 22, 2023) and Charles Koch Arena (Dec.
7, 2024).
"It makes a lot of sense," Wichita State athletic director Darron Boatright said.
"With an extended series, hopefully it can develop its own tradition."