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.
- Monday, Dec. 21, 2020
- Tuesday, Dec. 22, 2020
- Wednesday, Dec. 23, 2020
- Thursday, Dec. 24, 2020 (State Paid Holiday)
- Friday, Dec. 25, 2020 (State Paid Holiday)
- Monday, Dec. 28, 2020
- Tuesday, Dec. 29, 2020
- Wednesday, Dec. 30, 2020
- Thursday Dec. 31, 2020
- Friday, January 1, 2021 (State Paid Holiday)
An employee must be in pay status the entire workday before and the entire workday after state holidays in order to receive holiday pay. The official state holidays (bolded and italicized are Christmas Eve Day, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.
Changes coming to Password Management today!
A new version of password management launched at 6 a.m. today (Tuesday, Nov. 3). Wichita State’s new Password Management application will add several new features and adopt the new State of Kansas security requirements. Here are the enhancements you will see:
- Passwords will now need to be a minimum length of 12 characters.
- Passwords can be up to 30 characters.
- Passwords are now able to start with a number.
- Passwords can now contain one or more special characters
- Passwords will only be required to be changed every 180 days, expanded from 90 days.
- The new Password Application is mobile responsive.
Your current password will still work until its expiration date. However, to take advantage of the new enhancements, you can log in at any time and change your password.
If you have any questions about, or need assistance changing your password, please contact the Help Desk at helpdesk@wichita.edu or 316-978-HELP, Option 1.
Fairmount College celebrates 125 years of first-generation students
Join Andrew Hippisley, dean of Fairmount College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, in celebrating 125 years of successful first-generation students from 3:30-5 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 3, in 142 RSC.
Of the entering class in 1895,12 of the 13 were first generation college students: Ella Miller, Alle Miller, Ernest Kramer, Eva Hall, Fred B. Isely, George W. Jackson, Henry Huttmann, Ada Belle Guthrie, Mabel Millison, Sadie Ellis, Clara Bowers and Matile Roulet.
In 2020, 26% of Fairmount College undergrads are first-generation students.
All 20 Ulrich billboards now up around Wichita
Every month since July, the Ulrich Museum of Art has been sharing some of the most compelling artworks from its permanent collection with the public on billboards located throughout Wichita. Now, with the start of November, the final two billboards are up, making it possible for people to view all 20 Ulrich + Artists + You Community Billboards in their collective glory.
Ulrich Director Leslie Brothers, who created the concept for the unique public art project, said it was a way to overcome the challenges imposed by the coronavirus, which, for the time being, requires the museum building to stay closed to public gatherings and open to gallery viewers by appointment only.
Pictured above: The two latest Ulrich billboards to go up feature the works of Robert Indiana (left) at 5500 W. Central, and Louise Nevelson at 4950 S. Broadway in Wichita.
“We started this project with the intention of letting people know that they matter and that this art experience is for everyone,” Brothers said. “Now that you can see all twenty billboards on display across town, it feels great to know we have shared some amazing art with people during these otherwise difficult times.”
The two latest billboards, featuring the art of Robert Indiana and Louise Nevelson, are located at 5500 W. Central and 4950 S. Broadway respectively in Wichita. You can find a map of all twenty billboards on the Ulrich website. The billboards feature works from the Museum’s collection in one of three categories: Wichita or Kansas artists (examples include photographer Larry Schwarm and painter Patrick Duegaw); living and deceased artists with strong Wichita or Kansas ties (photographers Gordon Parks and Terry Evans); and works by a culturally- and racially-diverse array of both American and international artists (Chinese artist Zhang Huan and Indigenous Artist Jaune Quick-to-See Smith). Visit the Ulrich website to find detailed information on the artists and their works.
Along with displaying the billboards, the exhibition also includes virtual programming with artists featured in the project, and curricular content for K-12 and college students. The next Ulrich Virtual program takes place at 6 p.m. CST on Tuesday, November 17, when photographer and historian John Edwin Mason discusses the friendship between photographer Gordon Parks and boxer Muhammad Ali. The Gordon Parks billboard featuring two photos of Ali is currently on display at 5218 E. 21stStreet. Ulrich Virtual programming is free and open to all, but you must register first in order to get the Zoom link: ulrich.wichita.edu/programs.
“With all 20 billboards installed across the city, we can appreciate and celebrate the positive uplifting impact that public art projects have had and continue to have here in Wichita. As a civilization, we count on artists today as we have for centuries, to embrace with empathy and brilliance the challenges of our shared humanity.”
About the Ulrich Museum of Art
The Edwin A. Ulrich Museum of Art is the university art museum of Wichita State University. Open since 1974, it holds a nationally significant collection of approximately 6,700 works of modern and contemporary art that span the 20th and 21st centuries and include the nationally recognized Martin H. Bush Outdoor Sculpture Collection. The Ulrich is a vital community resource that supports intellectual inquiry, teaching, and lifelong learning on the WSU campus and in the community.
The Elliott School of Communication presents a Live Election Day Special - Tune in at 1 p.m. today!
The Comm 304: Studio Video Production class in the Elliott School of Communication is presenting a live Election Day commentary show today at 1 p.m. Under the direction of ESC faculty Jessica Newman and Kevin Hager, the class will welcome the following guests: Dr. Jeff Jarman - Director of the Elliott School; Dr. Neal Allen - Department Chair of Political Science; Grant Clopine - President of the WSU College Republicans; and Ella Perkins - President of the WSU College Democrats.
This is an election unlike anything we've seen before and our students are answering the call to cover this historical event. Join us on the Elliott School Facebook page or Youtube channel at 1 p.m. today.
Neal Allen to be subject-matter expert this evening during election night coverage
Neal Allen
Wichita State political scientist Neal Allen will be live on KAKE-TV 10 from 7 p.m. through election night Tuesday, Nov. 3. Allen will also do a morning show with KWCH-TV 12 Wednesday morning Nov. 4.
Allen also was interviewed by KWCH-TV 12 and KAKE-TV 10 involving news about Michael O’Donnell the past couple of days.
Join us for our upcoming Real Talk! Debriefing the 2020 Elections
Upcoming Topic: Debriefing the 2020 Elections
Engage in meaningful dialogues around various topics that impact identity, diversity, inclusion, equity and society. We welcome you to lean into discomfort and join in on the discussion.
We will host multiple sessions on the following dates:
Session 1: 1-2:15 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 4
Session 2: 4-5 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 4
Session 3: 8-9 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 5
Session 4: Noon-1 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 5
Session 5: 4-5 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 5
Session 6: 8-9 a.m. Friday, Nov. 6
Session 7: 1-2 p.m. Friday, Nov. 6
Session 8: 9-10 a.m. Monday, Nov. 9
Register for any of these sessions at wichita.edu/odievents!
Real Talk – Intersection Dialogues
The Graduate School's 3rd Annual Three Minute Thesis Competition is Nov. 6
Celebrate the third-annual WSU Graduate School Three Minute Thesis (3MT) Competition at 3 p.m. Friday, Nov. 6 on Zoom. This competition will feature finalists' video where a panel of judges will select the WSU winner.
The first-place winner of the competition will represent Wichita State at the Midwest Association of Graduate Schools 3MT Competition in the spring. Graduate School 2020-21 award winners will also be recognized at the award ceremony.
To learn more about 3MT or request the Zoom link, please visit the website.
Institutional ACT Exam Nov. 14
The Office of Admissions is partnering with the Wichita State Testing Center to offer
an institutional ACT Exam. Students can register now for this on-campus exam at 2
p.m. Saturday, Nov. 14 at 2 p.m. Scores from this exam can only be used at Wichita
State for admissions and scholarships; scores will be available to be used toward
the December 1 priority deadline.
Space is limited and first-come first-served. Students interested in this ACT Exam
can register at registerblast.com/wsu!
For more information, contact the Office of Admissions at 316-978-3085 or admissions@wichita.edu.
Kansas NASA EPSCoR Program is requesting proposals for a Seed Research Initiation Grant opportunity
A jurisdiction of the NASA Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) program, the Kansas NASA EPSCoR Program (KNEP) is managed through the NASA in Kansas office. The goal of NASA EPSCoR is to provide seed funding that will enable jurisdictions to develop an academic research enterprise directed toward long-term, self-sustaining, nationally competitive capabilities in aerospace and aerospace-related research. This capability will, in turn, contribute to the jurisdiction’s economic viability and expand the nation’s base for aerospace research and development.
The Partnership Development Grant (PDG) opportunity recipient is expected to initiate, develop, and formalize a meaningful professional relationship with a NASA researcher. Given this expectation, it is vital investigators and students travel to a NASA center if selected for an award.
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.
November workshops are here to strengthen Shocker research
Savvy Scholar Workshops continue into November! Visit Savvy Scholar Workshops for the full schedule and event information. These workshops are designed to strengthen Shocker research strategies.
Psychology researchers want to learn how your child is coping with COVID-19
Researchers at Wichita State University, Johns Hopkins University, and the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley are doing an online research study to see what 10-17 year-old children think about COVID-19, and what they think about their parents’ beliefs and behaviors during this time.
When children complete the survey, their family will be entered into a raffle for a $10 gift card. We hope about 250 children complete our survey, and we will raffle 50 of the gift cards. If you have a child living in your home who is 10-17 years old, your child might be eligible for this study.
If you are interested in learning more about being in this study, please click the link below.
If you have any questions, contact Samantha Gregus, Ph.D., at samantha.gregus@wichita.edu.
Master of Social Work Informational Sessions - all students invited
The School of Social Work is hosting the last of three fall “MSW Info Sessions” to help prospective students discover more about the Master of Social Work program at Wichita State University at 4 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 11. 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. Click here for the Zoom log in information for the Nov. 11 session, password: socialwork.
Physics Seminar Series presents Francesco Brizioli on Nov. 4
Join us for our next Physics Seminar at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 4 via Zoom.
You can find all the details here.
Attention first-generation students! Want to maximize your potential for success?
Are you a first-generation student (which means neither of your parents earned a four-year degree) and looking for an opportunity to maximize your potential for personal success? If so, plan to attend the 2020 Ad Astra Mini-Conference from 1-4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 8. This event is designed for first-generation Shockers and can be attended in person or virtually.
Join us as we come together for National First-Generation Celebration Day!
To find the mini-conference schedule and to RSVP, go to www.wichita.edu/adastra. Space is limited!
SAC Disney Trivia Night on Nov. 3
Join for this special edition of Trivia night. How much do you know about Disney? Consider yourself an expert? Well, test your knowledge today (Tuesday, Nov. 3).
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.
The highest point scorer across all four games, Oct. 6, Oct. 20, Nov. 3, and Nov. 10, will receive a $200 Amazon gift card. For more information about SAC-sponsored events, go to wichita.edu/SAC or contact us at SAC@wichita.edu.
Join Wellness Services in this week's virtual and in person events
A lot is happening this week in Wellness Services. Join us Tuesday for a talk on making doctor's appointments. On Wednesday, get a free STI test and receive a slice of pizza (only 40 slots, call 978-4792). In the afternoon, Keep Calm and Breathe. Thursday, learn more about effective warm-ups. On Friday, join us for a Lifting Clinic in person at the Heskett Center or on Facebook Live. Need a quick dental screening? Sign up for one on Friday by calling 978-4792.
Flu shots available on campus Nov. 4
WSU HR Total Rewards team is once again hosting on-site flu shots, available to State of Kansas employees and their spouses who are currently enrolled in SEHP medical insurance.
WSU will have one on-site flu clinic this year from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 4, in 266 RSC. Click here to schedule an appointment online for the WSU on-site flu clinic.
Due to COVID-19 precautions, please arrive promptly at your scheduled time to limit quantity of participants waiting or in the room at one time. Flu shots are by appointment only; walk-ins will not be accepted.
Please view the CDC Vaccine Information Statement here. You will need to print and complete the KDHE consent form to take with you to your appointment (look for a word document at the bottom of the page after clicking the link). This form requires your State Employee ID which you can locate in myWSU in the center of the page by hovering over the white box in the SHaRP ID channel.
Not able to make this clinic? You can also get your no-cost flu shot at your in-network primary care provider or most pharmacy and drug stores. More information can be found here.
Purchase your cardboard cutout for the 2020-21 sport seasons at Koch Arena
Now's your chance to celebrate the 2020-21 season, by bringing your face into Charles Koch Arena in a "big" way. We're filling Charles Koch Arena with two-and-a-half-foot high fan faces sponsored by Patterson Legal Group.
Fans can purchase a two-and-a-half-foot high (32 in. x 16 in.) likeness of their face to be featured in the lower-level at Charles Koch Arena for all home games for men's and women's basketball and volleyball for the 2020-21 season. Each individual "big head" will be authenticated and returned to fans after the season as a keepsake.
Each cutout is $125 for the premium lower bowl and $50 for a non-guaranteed prime location with proceeds from the program aiding the Shocker Pride Fund. Purchase your cutout here.
The F45 Playoffs are back!
F45 Playoffs are here from 6-8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 20, (56 timeslots available) at the F45 Studio in the Heskett Center.
Form a team or compete individually and make your way through 10 F45 stations. Complete the most reps to be crowned the champion. Registration is free this semester for all participants. Please register with any instructor in our studio. Scores are based on the maximum total number of reps completed.
Shocker Sports Grill & Lanes November Rewards Special
Members of the Shocker Sports Grill & Lanes Eat.Drink.Play. Rewards program can enjoy Bonus Discount Fridays in November! Each Friday add 5% to your current rewards discount. Not a rewards member? Joining is free and easy, just ask us on your next visit!
Try the Angry Bird Burger
Visit the Shocker Sports Grill & Lanes in November to try their newest Burger of the Month, the Angry Bird! The burger patty is topped with American or pepper jack cheese and three grilled slices of turkey.
Service Recognition 2020 at Wichita State
Wichita State University employees who reached a service milestone between the dates of Sept. 2, 2019 and Sept. 1, 2020 will be honored at an event hosted by the university on Thursday, Nov. 19. This service recognition will honor those with milestone service of 5 to 50 years with the State of Kansas, those achieving the Bender of Twigs distinction (25 years specifically to Wichita State), and those having recently retired from the university.
2020 Service Recognition will be held at Charles Koch Arena to accommodate adequate guest seating from the stands and abide by social-distancing protocol. The event will be broadcast live online, the media link will be available on the service recognition website at wichita.edu/ServiceRecognition.
In accordance with new WSU guidance for mass gatherings we are unable to offer food and beverage service this year and have therefore recently changed the time of the evening event to begin at 3:30 p.m. for 25-50 years of service, Bender of Twigs, and retirees. (The morning event for honorees celebrating 5-20 years of service will still begin at 9:30 a.m.)
While we are unable to provide the seated meal and beverage services we have enjoyed in past years, each honoree attending the event will receive a gourmet basket to take with them at the conclusion of the recognition event.
For more information, and to see a list of 2020 honorees, go to wichita.edu/ServiceRecognition2020.
The American Red Cross Club of Wichita State is hosting an upcoming blood drive!
Red Cross blood donors have the opportunity to help patients fighting COVID-19! If your regular donation tests positive for COVID-19 antibodies, plasma from that donation may now help coronavirus patients in need of plasma transfusions.
*Free COVID-19 antibody testing with blood donation!
Wichita State University Blood Drive: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 18 and Thursday, Nov. 19 in the Heskett Center lobby
To schedule your life-saving appointment, visit RedCrossBlood.org; Sponsor Code: Wichita State or Call 1-800-Red-Cross.
Please help less fortunate children this Christmas
Our Toys for Tots toy drive is happening now until Dec. 16! We had fantastic support last year ending with a box brimming over with toys. We helped so many underprivileged children in Wichita. Let's shoot to double it this year!
You can stop by the Campus Credit Union lobby between 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday, and 9 a.m.-noon Saturday, to donate.