Excellence in Research nominations
Nominations for faculty excellence awards in creative activity, research and community research are due to the Office of Research by Friday, Dec. 4. Please go to Excellence Awards for the nomination form and instructions.
Deadline for OAT course designations is approaching
The Open / Alternative Textbook (OAT) initiative is designed to promote, incentivize, and grow the use of freely available resources in WSU classes to reduce the economic impact of textbook costs for students. Applications for Fall '21 courses are due by Nov. 15 (in preparation for fall schedule building in January).
Faculty who design courses that provide instructional resources at no cost to student are eligible for an OAT course designation. Students pay a flat $10 course fee, with these funds being split between the department offering the course and the Open / Alternative Textbook grant program (which funds faculty to develop more OAT courses / materials).
The OAT Initiative is managed by Academic Affairs. OAT Course Designations are reviewed by a committee composed of: Two faculty members (appointed by Faculty Senate), a representative from University Libraries , a representative from Instructional Design and Access, at least one student (appointed by SGA), and the Associate Vice President for Strategic Enrollment Management (ex officio).
Toner program coming Nov. 16
More than a year ago, the offices of Financial Operations and Admissions participated in a pilot program where Staples (now DEX Imaging) put software on our network to monitor toner usage of network printers and automatically send toner when printers were low. The pilot was a huge success - it eliminated the need for toner inventory, reduced costs and eliminated the order process.
The President’s Executive Team approved expansion of the program, and beginning Nov. 16 Central Services will escort DEX Imaging technicians through each building to label network printers for this program.
Average toner spend for the university is around $14,220.40 per month. Under the new DEX contract, the average spend will be reduced to about $9,212.07 per month. This is a 35% savings. There will be additional savings once we take older printers out of service and use newer networked printers instead.
Someone from Central Services will contact your office to make arrangements to get your printers labeled. If you do not hear from us by today, Wednesday, Nov. 11, please contact Ellen Abbey at 978-5864.
Thanksgiving Holiday Box Lunch on Tuesday, Nov. 24; RSVP by Nov. 18
Interim President Rick Muma and the executive team cordially invite you to a grab-and-go box lunch from noon-1 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 24. Please wear your face covering and respect social distancing. Please select your meal choice by Wednesday, Nov. 18, along with the location you will pick up your meal, by going to the RSVP link.
Celebrate Veterans Day with Military and Veteran Services
Military and Veteran Services will be celebrating Veterans Day with a reception from 10 a.m.-noon today (Wednesday, Nov. 11) in 105 Grace Wilkie Hall. It will be a come-and-go format with social distancing. This day we honor all veterans for their service to our nation.
Remember, America is home of the free, because of the brave!
Enjoy listening to Joyce DiDonato sing ‘This Land is Your Land’
Wichita State University College of Fine Arts alumna Joyce DiDonato is the preeminent mezzo-soprano in the world, according to Rodney Miller, dean of the College of Fine Arts. Prior to the pandemic, she was routinely performing major roles in almost every major opera house in the world.
DiDonato was born and raised in Kansas City and still considers Kansas City her home.
A few years ago, she sang the National Anthem at a Kansas City Royals baseball game during the World Series.
She recently sang a beautiful version of Woody Guthrie’s popular folk song “This Land is Your Land,” and you can watch and listen to it above.
Kansas NASA EPSCoR Program is requesting proposals for a Partnership Development 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.
Seed Research Initiation (SRI) grants are designed to assist investigators in starting research projects having a high probability for sustained growth and value to NASA and Kansas. A successful Seed Research Initiation (SRI) award leads to productive collaborations, joint publications, and additional grant awards. A direct impact on state economic development is also extremely desirable.
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.
Call for graduate student abstracts for CGRS 2021
Do you have a student working on research that benefits the State of Kansas? Encourage them to submit an abstract to represent Wichita State University at the 18th Annual Capitol Graduate Research Summit (CGRS).
Abstract submission for WSU consideration closes Nov. 20. The Capitol Graduate Research Summit is a research competition and showcase for Kansas Board of Regents universities to raise awareness of graduate students conducting research impacting Kansas and provide an opportunity to share their work with graduate students and faculty from other Kansas universities, the Kansas Legislature, and the general public.
This year’s summit will take place online with video presentations going live on Feb. 18.
Capitol Graduate Research Summit
Professor Don Lamb, Ludwig Maximillian University, to give Physics Seminar Talk today
Please join us for our next Physics Seminar at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 11, via Zoom. This talk will feature Professor Don Lamb, Ludwig Maximillian University, Munich, Germany, and the title of the talk will be “Using Florescence to Unravel the Secrets of Life”.
No-cost entrepreneurship webinars to help your small business succeed
Give yourself and your business the opportunities to succeed with our no-cost small business webinars.
Register at www.wichita.edu/ksbdcworkshops
Startup and Start Right
Noon-1 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 11
This workshop will cover the Small Business Administration's 10 steps to start your business. Learn about licenses and permits, federal and state tax IDs, business structure, funding, marketing, and other essentials.
Competing for Government Contracts: Basic Training
1:30-4 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 17
Federal, state, and local governments spend more than $800 billion per year buying goods and services. This webinar offers an overview of the critical first steps to becoming a government contractor. Learn to identify opportunities, understand the contracting process, and know the services available to help you.
Event listing: Part three
This month is full of fun for everyone! Join us for events like Virtual Drag Show, Catalyst, Wichita Clean Streams, Five Days of DIYs and more. Be sure to check out our event listing for all our upcoming programs.
Celebrate International Education Week from Nov. 16 to Nov. 20!
International Education Week is Nov. 16-20! Our events are virtual this year, so be sure to check out our list of events at www.wichita.edu/ieweek to find what interests you. Events offered this year include virtual international trivia, career workshops and an immigration information session. Follow our Facebook page @WichitaStateInternationalAdmissions during International Education week for some facts about international students at Wichita State and much more.
International Admissions on Facebook
Meeting to explore a possible Wichita State University Amateur Radio Club
A Zoom meeting will be held from 7-8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 19, about starting a Wichita State University Amateur Radio Club. Students, faculty and staff are welcome.
Amateur radio is a relevant and important way to communicate over very large distances, even many foreign countries or in local emergencies. The Wichita State University Amateur Radio Club will help you get your FCC license through short training sessions, and with the help of the Wichita Amateur Radio Club conduct an FCC examination.
The club will also participate in long-distance radio communications with other clubs, to the International Space Station, and get involved with upcoming projects such as Cube-Sat communications.
All are welcome to attend at the Zoom room 938 6695 1797 password HAMRadio.
If you have questions, contact nick.solomey@wichita.edu.
Congratulations to our FAFSA FUN Book Scholarship recipient!
On behalf of the Offices of Financial Aid and Diversity and Inclusion, we would like to thank the students who attended our FAFSA FUN! Financial Aid Workshops last month.
We would also like to congratulate Oscar Maturino for receiving the FAFSA FUN Book Scholarship! Thank you again to everyone who participated.
As a reminder, FAFSA's priority completion date for Wichita State University is Dec. 1, 2020. Please make sure to complete it as early as possible for priority consideration for financial assistance!
Learn more about the Office of Financial Aid at wichita.edu/financialaid.
Parking lot will be closed to all traffic Nov. 11-13
Parking lot 8, the small administration lot behind Morrison Hall, is scheduled for repairs Wednesday, Nov. 11 to Friday, Nov. 13, and will be closed to all traffic. Parking Services will temporarily cone off stalls for you and others in lot 16N west of Duerksen Fine Arts Center for those three days.
If another lot would work better for you or if you will not need a temporary spot, just let Laura Ryman know at laura.ryman@wichita.edu.
Discount at Shocker Store for veterans
The Shocker Store appreciates the service and sacrifices of our veterans and active duty military! In honor of Veterans Day, on Wednesday, Nov. 11 at our Rhatigan Student Center and Braeburn Square locations, veterans and active duty military can take 20% off one regular priced WSU imprinted item with military ID. Some exclusions apply. Thank you for your service!
Free bowling for veterans, active duty military and their families
The Shocker Sports Grill & Lanes thanks our veterans and active duty military! In honor of Veterans Day, from 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 11, veterans and active duty military in the community and their families, can enjoy free bowling! Must show military ID. Thank you for your service!
Thanksgiving Massage Special at the Heskett Center
Don’t miss the Thanksgiving Massage Special! While celebrating the spirit of thanksgiving, make sure to also give thanks to your body.
For the month of November, you can schedule a 90-minute massage for only $50. Gift certificates are available for purchase.
For more information, visit the Heskett Center Guest Services desk or call 316-978-3082.
Save the date- $14 sweatpants from the Shocker Store
Mark your calendars for the Shocker Store’s next one-day-only sale!
On Wednesday, Nov. 18 starting at 8 a.m., the Shocker Store will have two styles of sweatpants for $14 each, while supplies last. Sale is in store at the RSC location and online at shockerstore.com.
You can order online and pick up whenever you're on campus! Limit five sweatpants per person. Offer not valid with other discounts or promotions and all sales are final.
Stay up-to-date on the Facebook event page.
TRIO DSS supports students with disabilities - applications open!
WSU's TRIO Disability Support Services (DSS) Program is excited to enroll students with disabilities for this academic school year. They offer numerous free services such as academic advising, career development, study skills assistance, financial literacy assistance, tutoring, and more. Many DSS graduates cite DSS as a critical program on campus that provided the support, university connections, and resources necessary for their success.
Quotes from DSS graduates and more information
I will apply what I have learned through TRIO DSS to the next chapter of my life - completing a Master's Degree! I am really thankful for the relationships that I have formed through TRIO DSS and look forward to what new challenges there are to conquer in my near future.
-Tiffany H.
My advisor believed in me when everyone wrote me off. That kind of belief and caring is so strong, it turned a college dropout into a student with a WSU GPA of 3.8 who is going to graduate in a month. I was able to get my first all “A” semester last fall because of their encouragement. Without my advisor’s support, I do not think I would be graduating at all.
-Ben L.
For more information, or to apply, go to www.wichita.edu/dss or call 978-5949. TRIO DSS is located in 158 Grace Wilkie Annex.
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.
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.
Applied Learning Highlight of the Week!
Congratulations to Wichita State University Electrical Engineering Ph.D. student Nimanthi Nandasiri on your Operational Research Support position with Deloitte Consulting! Looking forward to seeing your future career success.
Share her posts on social media:
Earn credit for solving national security issues!
Hacking for Defense™ (H4D), is a new course designed for ALL undergraduate and graduate students from all disciplines and programs. It takes an entrepreneurial and interdisciplinary approach to America’s hardest national security challenges. You will be part of an interdisciplinary team to research, design, and propose a solution for a real national security challenge.
Undergraduate STEM majors are encouraged to apply for the Goldwater Scholarship
Sophomores and juniors with a strong commitment to a research career in the sciences, mathematics and/or engineering are encouraged to apply to the competitive and prestigious Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship. Visit the Goldwater Scholarship website for more information about the application and who is eligible to apply.
Students interested in applying must notify Dean Coleen Pugh by Monday, Nov. 23. Questions? Email coleen.pugh@wichita.edu.