WSU Today: July 21, 2020

 

 

FEATURED STORIES

Rising to the Challenge Workshop

Join the Community Engagement Institute (CEI) in our Rising to the Challenge Virtual Workshop Series

In recent months, everyone has been challenged to approach work and life with new priorities, tools, and energy.

CEI invites you to join us for a series of interactive, virtual workshops centered on navigating challenges with resilience and intention. These complimentary, 60-minute sessions are open to everyone. Join us over the lunch hour (noon-1 p.m.) to discover practical frameworks and techniques to help you rise to the challenges you are facing today!

Register for today's workshop. 

NEWS

 

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.


Boats and Bikes Summer 2020

Join us this summer at Boats & Bikes!

Enjoy the summer at Boats & Bikes this summer! We are open from 9 a.m.-9:30 p.m. every day. We have kayaks, stand up paddleboards, pedal boats, and trikke available for rental. For more information visit wichita.edu/boatsandbikes or call us at 316-265-9359. Follow us on social media for any updates. 

EVENTS

Joint Senate meeting

USS & UP joint senate meeting set for today

The USS and UP Senates joint meeting will be held via Zoom at 9 a.m. today (Tuesday, July 21). All meetings are open to the campus community. If you are interested in joining the meeting, please email Trish Gandu at trish.gandu@wichita.edu for details on how to attend.

Unclassified Professional Senate


Tuesday Talk July 21, 2020

Today's Tuesday Talk with SHS will discuss health management on campus for new US citizen students

For new Shockers this fall, join Nurse Heather and WSU students to discuss what Kansas and out-of-state students need to know about staying healthy at Wichita State. Tune into Facebook Live at 2 p.m. today (Tuesday, July 21), and ask any questions you have about managing your health on campus!

Student Health Facebook Live 


Engage ICT July 21, 2020

Dr. Muma will join KMUW to discuss back-to-school preparedness at the next Digital Democracy on Tap

KMUW's Engage ICT: Democracy on Tap presents a digital community conversation at 5 p.m. (today) Tuesday, July 21. The topic of this discussion is Back-to-School Preparedness. We will talk with representatives from USD 259 and Wichita State University, including Executive Vice President and Provost Dr. Richard Muma, about the practices, policies and suggestions for returning to school safely this fall.

The conversation will be streamed live from KMUW's Facebook page and at engageict.org. Submit your questions for our panelists by emailing info@kmuw.org or commenting on the live Facebook video. More information can be found at engageict.org.

HR, BENEFITS AND TRAINING

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).


Health Insurance update

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.

  1. 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. 
  2. SEHP will allow early refills on 30 or 90-day prescription medications and/or allow members to use their mail order benefit.
    Read more
    1. 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.

    Aetna members - Teledoc

    Blue Cross Blue Shield members - Amwell

    1. 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.

KUDOS, PUBLICATIONS AND PRESENTATIONS

Wilson publishes book chapter

 
Kimberly Wilson

Kimberly Wilson

Kimberly Wilson, professor in the School of Education, has published a chapter in "Professional and Ethical Considerations for Early Childhood Leaders."

Book information

 

 

SPECIAL OFFERS

Adult Learning summer giveawayOffice of Adult Learning Summer 2020 Giveaway

Enter to win a laptop bag filled with Wichita State University gear! Prizes will be shipped to winners free of charge. You have three chances to win! One laptop bag will be drawn on July 21-23. The first 50 people to enter will receive a WSU 125th anniversary pen and Office of Adult Learning magnet.

Click here for the Adult Learning Summer Giveaway.

Office of Adult Learning


WuShock Bobbleheads

WuShock bobbleheads now available at the Shocker Store

The Shocker Store is now carrying new WuShock bobbleheads! Available in the RSC store.

UNIVERSITY LIFE

Career Closet

Wichita State Career Closet funding

Help us make sure our students are sharp-dressed Shockers as we prepare them for future career opportunities.

Wichita State students are constantly in need of professional clothing for career fairs, interviews, and professional development opportunities. The WSU Career Closet gives students free access to just the right clothes they need. We started with 48 students two years ago, and have grown to help nearly 200 students last fall. Our goal is always to serve as many students as we possibly can, but unfortunately, our clothing supply is becoming severely depleted.

We are able to serve a significant number of students with the clothing donations we receive, but that limits us solely to whatever people give us. Our goal with this campaign is to raise money for the Wichita State Career Closet to meet the rising needs of our students by providing funds to purchase clothing to fill in the gaps between what clothes are donated and what clothes are needed.

To help kick off our campaign, one generous alum has offered to match the first $500 raised, meaning all we need to do to meet our $1,000 goal is simply raise the other $500. Of course, we won’t stop there, because everything we raise will benefit the students now and hopefully into the future.

First things first, though … please help us unlock the full $500 match so we can meet our goal!

Thank you for considering a gift of any size to help us keep our Shockers looking great!

Donate to the Career Closet

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

Commencement volunteers

We need your help!

Please consider volunteering for the October 2020 Commencement Ceremony on Saturday, Oct. 10. This time-honored tradition provides our very own Wichita State graduates with well-deserved congratulations and a formal celebration of their accomplishments!

As a volunteer, you'll work with a group of fun people who will feed you well. You'll play an important role in helping us make sure that everyone is welcomed and that things are running smoothly.

If you are interested in participating, please fill out the Volunteer Form located on our volunteer page. More details about the types of volunteer positions are also listed on that page.

Further questions may be directed to the Commencement Office at commencement@wichita.edu.

Thank you for your consideration! - Commencement Team

Commencement Volunteers

STUDENT NEWS

Track Team academic honors

Shocker Track and Field Earns 10 All-Academic Honors

The Wichita State track and field team earned a total of 10 academic honors from the United States Track and Field and Cross County Coaches Association, the organization announced last Thursday.
 
Both the men's and women's team were honored as All-Academic teams by the USTFCCCA. The men's team earned a 3.34 GPA over the 2019-20 academic year and the women's team earned a 3.44 to claim the award.
 
The Shockers also had eight individuals earn All-Academic awards for their performance in the classroom. Three Shocker men and five Shocker women added the accolade to their resume Thursday.

Read complete story.