Title IX Virtual Town Hall meeting is today
The Office of Institutional Equity and Compliance will host a virtual Title IX Town Hall meeting at 11 a.m. today (Tuesday, Oct. 6), to discuss the new Title IX regulations and the changes to university policy on sexual harassment and discrimination.
Faculty Senate President Aleksander Sternfeld-Dunn and Student Body President Rija Khan will moderate the discussion with Sara Zafar, Title IX Coordinator. The event will be livestreamed on the WSU YouTube channel.
To submit questions ahead of time, please email oiec@wichita.edu.
Two renowned speakers selected for the annual Breeding Lecture
Academic Affairs is pleased to announce that there will be two events sponsored by the Benjamin J. and Bettie M. Gibson Breeding Lectureship Fund this year.
The Fairmount College of Liberal Arts and Sciences will host Ambassador Blackwill, the Henry A. Kissinger senior fellow for US foreign policy at the Council on Foreign Relations, who will speak on the U.S.-China relationship.
The W. Frank Barton School of Business will host Adam Thierer, Senior Research Fellow at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University, who will speak on “Promoting Innovation and Entrepreneurship Through Technology Freedom.”
More information will be shared when these events are scheduled.
Video files need to be hosted in Panopto or YouTube before being linked in to Blackboard
If you are creating videos or PowerPoint presentations with audio and/or video for your remote classes, please be aware that those files are very large and need to be hosted in a video hosting platform like Panopto or YouTube before they are linked into your Blackboard class.
If you upload MP4/MOV files and large PowerPoint files directly to Blackboard, your students will have many more technical issues, and your class will take up a great deal of space in our Blackboard environment.
If you are not sure how to get your videos hosted, a good first step is to download the Panopto recorder and learn about how that system works. You can learn about Panopto at https://wichita.edu/Panopto and you can get your questions answered at IDA's labs on Tuesdays and Wednesdays in Zoom from 1-3 p.m. You can also send questions to IDA at IDA@wichita.edu.
Annual SEM gathering: Save the date
For all of those across campus engaged in Strategic Enrollment Management, we won’t be gathering in the ballroom to report on and celebrate our SEM accomplishments this year, but we will have a special SEM event that we want you to join!
Mark your calendar for 3-4:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct 28. More details to come soon!
Strategic Enrollment Management
Virtual panel series seeks to identify critical conversations surrounding the pandemic
How are "expert" perspectives formed in relation to the pandemic? How is research done and what resources are needed?
In this series, library and departmental faculties will explore approaches and methodologies for researching the impacts of COVID-19, as well as issues relating to the disruption and potentials of academic research during a pandemic.
Go to Researching the Pandemic for a full list of expert panelists, event descriptions, and direct Zoom links for this virtual series.
Questions? Message meghann.kuhlmann@wichita.edu.
Rise of the Rest 2020 Virtual Tour
The Rise of the Rest 2020 Virtual Tour: Equity Edition program is scheduled for early December and will feature a pitch competition for companies led by Black founders who are headquartered in any city outside of San Francisco, New York City, or Boston.
If you are a Black-led startup; consider applying. To learn more about our motivations and goals for launching this new initiative, please visit the Virtual Tour website or read this letter co-authored by Steve Case and Rodney Sampson.
There are several opportunities for venture funds and ESOs to get involved (scroll down the website to learn more).
Free tutoring and academic mentoring for diverse Shockers!
The Office of Diversity and Inclusion is offering free tutoring and academic mentoring!
Our tutors help students develop a deeper understanding of class material and gain successful skills that can improve their overall GPA.
Our academic mentors offer biweekly meetings to help you with academic success skills, such as time management, effective studying and note-taking, test preparation and more!
You can drop in any of the listed times or schedule an appointment. See when we are open, what classes are offered, and how to request appointments at wichita.edu/pass!
ShiftSpace, Wichita Festivals to light up downtown Wichita
Downtown will glow from the light of illuminated art works from 6–9 p.m. Friday, Nov. 6, during the First Friday gallery crawl.
“Get Lit: A Night of Light” is a collaboration between Wichita State’s ShiftSpace Gallery and Wichita Festivals Inc. The event will take place near the gallery’s location at Groover Labs, 334 St. Francis Ave.
ShiftSpace invites WSU students and community members to build an inflatable bubble using simple materials and step-by-step instructions provided by guest artist Kylie Brown, creator of the MULTIBUBBLE project.
“When we started to think about ways of safely coming together as a community, building literal bubbles made a lot of sense,” said Kristin Beal, ShiftSpace gallery manager. “The pandemic has changed our typical patterns of behavior, but we can still celebrate the power of art, which is open to everyone.”
Up to 20 free MULTIBUBBLE kits are available to WSU students. They include plastic sheeting, tape, velcro, and a loaner fan courtesy of Vornado. Community members may also join but will have to purchase their own materials at a cost of about $60. All participants can register and find more information at wichita.edu/multibubble .
“Depth of Field: A Wichita Photo Album,” a collaboration between WFI and the Wichita chapter of AIGA, will also debut during the November First Friday event. The illuminated art installation salutes the citizens who have shaped Wichita history. It will be installed in windows in the downtown area from Nov. 6-16.
Are you a parent of a teenager?
Are you a parent of a teenager? If so, this may be a great opportunity for your child to experience what it is like being a part of an online research study.
The INSPYRE Research lab at Wichita State University is conducting a study to explore what makes relationships healthy or unhealthy in teens. The survey will only take about 20 minutes to complete, and a small prize will be given for participation.
Teens must be between the ages of 13-19 and be fluent in English. For easy access, teens can complete this study online, but they need their parent’s permission first.
For more information, click the following link to find the Parent Permission (Consent) Form.
If you have any questions, email Dr. Samantha Gregus, director of the INSPYRE lab at inspyre@wichita.edu, or give them a call at 316-978-6180.
Funding available for Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity
The Undergraduate Student Research and Creative Activity Grants Program is now accepting applications for grants of up to $1,000 for undergraduate students pursing research or creative projects.
Students who are sophomores, juniors, or seniors with a GPA of at least 2.5 and at least two semesters remaining at WSU (including the semester in which you apply), are full time and have a faculty research mentor are eligible. Preference is given to projects not otherwise funded and previous awardees are not eligible.
Please visit www.wichita.edu/undergradresearch or email undergraduateresearch@wichita.edu for more information. Deadlines to apply in fall 2020 are Oct. 7 and Nov. 11.
LASI 170 course to equip students with resource knowledge
University Libraries is always seeking to strengthen Shocker research. Check out the LASI 170 course starting Thursday, Oct. 8! This eight-week class is designed to equip students with the knowledge of resources that will be used throughout their academic career and beyond. Online and hybrid courses available. Contact angela.paul@wichita.edu for more information.
KMUW and KWCH Channel 12 are partnering to present two Kansas candidate debates
The 4th Congressional District Debate between Republican Rep. Ron Estes and Democratic candidate Laura Lombard is at 6:30 p.m. today (Tuesday, Oct. 6).
The US Senate Debate with Republican U.S. Rep. Roger Marshall and Democratic Kansas state Sen. Barbara Bollier will take place at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 22.
Live coverage of both debates will be broadcast on KMUW and KWCH. An analysis will follow at 7 p.m. after each debate, as part of KMUW's Digital Democracy on Tap. The conversation will be streamed live on KMUW's Facebook page and at engageict.org.
Trivia Tuesday is today
Gone are the days of joining HQ trivia only to get booted on the fifth round. Join SAC on the first Tuesday of every month for a quick HQ/Kahoot style trivia game for the chance to win some awesome e-gift cards to places like Amazon, Walmart, and event Visa gift cards! $100 and $50 prizes will be given out each game to first- and second-place finishers, respectively.
Log in from a smart device at 8 p.m. today (Tuesday, Oct. 6), by going to bkquiz.com/wsutriv. Anyone can play, but only WSU students are eligible to win.
University Town Hall set for Oct. 12
A live YouTube virtual staff and faculty town hall will be held from 8-9 a.m. Monday, Oct. 12. This is an opportunity to hear and interact with Acting President Rick Muma. The event will be moderated by presidents of the UP, USS and Faculty Senates.
You can watch the town hall live and recorded after the event at Virtual Town Hall.
WSU’s International Student Union announces INTERFEST
The International Student Union announces Fall 2020 INTERFEST: International Food Festival from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 14, on the lawn of Neff Hall.
Each semester, WSU students prepare and sell dishes from their native countries for this event. The festival provides a platform for intercultural sharing where the WSU community and visitors can try out diverse cuisine and learn about the origins and cultural significance of a particular dish. It also serves as a fundraiser for international student associations, although small groups of students also participate to have as many diverse dishes as possible.
The format has changed from previous semesters - diners will need to preorder and then pick up their food. Click here.
Ulrich Virtual program with indigenous artist Jaune Quick-to-See Smith moved to Thursday, Oct. 22
The Jaune Quick-to-See Smith Ulrich virtual program originally scheduled for today at 6 p.m. has been moved to 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 22. Jaune Quick-to-See Smith, a member of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Nation in Montana, conveys both humorous and poignant socio-political. The billboard with Smith’s work is currently on view at 703 N. West Street.
The talk is free and open to all, but you have to register in order to get the Zoom link.
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 October 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.
More information
- 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.
- COVID-19 testing is available at the HealthQuest Health Center for State of Kansas employees. Curbside testing will be available at the center by appointment only.
For all up to date information regarding COVID-19 and the WSU campus please visit www.wichita.edu/covid19.
Changes to your HSA/HRA/FSA for 2020 due to CARES Act
Due to the recent CARES Act legislation, there have been some updates to 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).
Changes to logging in to WSU Reporting
Win.wichita.edu now has additional information on how to login, and if you have questions please reach out to helpdesk@wichita.edu.
Shock the World celebration recap
A Shock the World celebration recently featured a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new Student-Athlete Center and Charles Koch Arena Renovation. Guests toured the 36,000-square-foot Student-Athlete Center, which will impact the academic experience of all student-athletes during their careers at Wichita State.
Although attendance at the event was limited due to COVID concerns, we hope all Shockers will celebrate these new facilities as a win for Wichita State. #ShocktheWorld #Watchus
Wichita State alumni in the running to win $1 million in XPrize mask challenge
Three Wichita State University alumni are in the running to win $1 million as part the Next-Gen Mask Challenge sponsored by XPrize. They were chosen one of only 25 finalists from a field of 1,000 teams from 30 countries.
Spencer Steinert, Jared Goering and Maggie Koops — all recent graduates of Wichita State’s Master of Innovation Design program — teamed up to for the Cyfive apparel company to address a challenge created by XPrize: to craft a face mask addressing the obstacles that deter people from wearing them and promote positive mask-wearing behavior.
Pictured above: Wichita State alum Jared Goering models a mask that he and his team created for the XPrize Next Generation Mask Challenge.
Save on Alumni Merchandise at the Shocker Store
This week take 20% off alumni merchandise at the Shocker Store! Sale is valid at both the RSC and Braeburn Square locations.
Kids’ masks available at the Shocker Store, plus a new gaiter style
The Shocker Store now has two kids’ masks available for just $6.99 each, as well as a new gaiter for $14.99, available in RSC and Braeburn Square stores and online at shockerstore.com.
Sign up today for the Pumpkin Run
Hello runners and walkers from around the world!
The race this year is different – we are going virtual! With the hopes to reunite in person next year.
What are the positive outcomes of running with us virtually? You pick the day that you feel the best to run between Saturday, Oct. 10-24. No worrying about parking, weather, or if you brought your headphones. No matter where you are, US, Asia, Canada, Australia, you can still participate in our race.
As a Pumpkin Run participant, you will receive a customized T-shirt, special edition face mask (pick from three designs), and a finisher medal.
NEW this year: We have launched a referral program. Invite friends to run with you using your personalized link/code. When five or more friends have registered with your code, you will get $15 off your registration. That means that your registration is just $10! We will reward you with a fabulous registration price and maybe even something special in your packet.
Sign up today at bit.ly/pumpkinrun5k.
Your WSU Police Department wants to hear from you
In these challenging times throughout the country we have seen a division among some police agencies and the communities they serve. The WSU Police Department wants to take this as an opportunity for growth and outreach. They would like to hear from you about the questions, concerns, and thoughts you have.
You are invited to an open discussion with the WSU Police Department at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 8, in the Shirley Beggs Ballroom, third floor, Rhatigan Student Center. Come and share your experiences and thoughts. The best way to grow and to move forward is together.
Join Acting President and Provost Dr. Muma in supporting KMUW
The need for quality reporting and insight about the world we live in is more essential than ever. KMUW's fall pledge drive is underway, and we need your help in fueling the future of trusted local journalism.
Acting President and Provost Dr. Richard Muma will join us on-air via Zoom from 7:20-8 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 7. We encourage all Shockers to tune in and make their donations by calling 316-978-6700 or going to KMUW.org.
All call for The Wheat Shock Leadership Society judges
The Wheat Shock Leadership Society is formerly known as WSU Student of the Year. Student Involvement has rebranded this scholarship competition to become a society in order to increase the prestige and will continue to be a competitive and prestigious opportunity for students who have proven exemplary leadership, involvement, and service both to the WSU and Wichita communities.
Applications and nominations for both graduate and undergraduate students are open for students who wish to participate. We are calling for judges to serve throughout the selection process. The dates and details for each round are below. We are looking for three different sets of judges, so upon indicating interest, please include which round you would be most interested in serving, as well as your second choice.
Round 1: Application Review – Completed by Jan. 11, 2021
- This process would be going through the qualified applicants and meeting to decide on which students move to the next round. We have seen an increase, so we could be sifting through 80-90 applications depending on how many students apply.
Round 2: Interviews – Feb. 4-5, 2021
- Our judges' panel will sit through a series of interviews of those selected to move on through the application round. Deliberation and decision on the final court of 10 undergraduate students and five graduate students and will follow the interviews.
Round 3: Presentations – Feb. 18-19, 2021
- This panel will serve as an audience to our 15 finalists as they present and showcase why they should be a part of The Wheat Shock Leadership Society and receive a scholarship, in addition to induction into the Society. There will be two overall winners this year, one in graduate and one at the undergraduate level.
Please send which round you would like to serve on or any questions to Maggi Hole at lead.grad@wichita.edu or 316-978-3022.
Master of Social Work Informational Sessions - All students invited!
The School of Social Work is hosting three MSW Info Sessions to help prospective students discover more about the Master of Social Work program at Wichita State University. This is geared to both social work majors and for those with majors outside of social work. We encourage you to share this with your students and recent graduates of all majors!
Attendees will have this virtual opportunity to discover more about the field, meet faculty, and learn how to apply as a regular program or advanced standing student. The priority deadline to apply is Jan. 8, 2021 for those who wish to enter in the 2021-22 school year.
If students have questions or would prefer to speak one-on-one, please direct them to Shaunna Millar, MSW Program Director and Clinical Professor, at shaunna.millar@wichita.edu. The Zoom log in information for the noon Thursday, Oct. 15 session is here - password: socialwork