Wichita State creates task force to ensure supportive environment for student-athletes
Wichita State UniversityandWSU Athleticshaveformedthe Task Force on Athletics Policy and Culturetoreview and provide recommendations onthe culture and policies withinthe athletic department,with the goal of ensuring WSU provides a supportive environment for all student-athletes.The Task Force, comprised of across section of coaches, athletics support staff, student-athletes,facultyand alumni, will carry out a comprehensive review of the culture and existing WSU Intercollegiate Athletic Association (ICAA) policies, procedures and practices.
The task force will do the following:
- Reviewexisting ICAA policies, procedures and practices governing the reporting, investigation and response to allegations of coaching misconduct, student-athlete welfare, policy or regulatory violations and compliance violations (e.g., NCAA or AAC),and identify strengths and gaps in howthese policies, procedures and practicesensure the Athletics Department identifies, investigates and responds to such concerns.
- Review relevant ICAA policies and procedures and:
- Compare those to the policies, procedures and practices of other comparable D-1 AAC and non-AAC schools (i.e.does not have a football program, size of school, etc.) andprovide thatcomparison;and
- Identify strengths and areas for improvement and make recommendations for any changes.
- Build on recently acquired environmental assessment and survey information and continue to assess and report on the current environment among the student-athletes and athletics staff, specifically whetherthey feel properly supported andwhetherthere is an understood mechanism for reporting allegations of abuse or other policy violations.
- Based on the assessment and policy review, identify any initiatives, structural improvements or efforts that the Athletics Department could adopt to promote asupportiveenvironment and foster a culture where student-athletes and athletics staff feel comfortable reporting allegations of abuse or other policy violations.
Learn more about the task force
Faculty and Staff Virtual Town Hall on Dec. 11
A live YouTube virtual staff and faculty town hall will be held from 3-4 p.m. Friday, Dec. 11. This is an opportunity to hear and interact with Interim President Rick Muma and Interim Provost Shirley Lefever. The event will be moderated by presidents of the UP, USS and Faculty Senates.
Faculty and staff wanting to participate are encouraged to do so during the live YouTube stream. If you don’t currently have a YouTube account,click herefor more information on how to create one.
You can watch the town hall live and recorded after the event atVirtual Town Hall.
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 toExcellence Awardsfor the nomination form and instructions.
'Walk with Wu' celebrates 125 years of Wichita State
In honor of Wichita State University's 125th anniversary, three Wichita State faculty members have teamed up with an alumna artist to create "A Walk with Wu," a graphic novel that chronicles the university's rich history through the eyes of our beloved mascot: WuShock.
“We hope that readers will appreciate the different phases of Wichita State’s story and how we have changed while maintaining the core of who we are," said Dr. Jay Price, professor of history and one of the book's authors.
It's the perfect gift for all Shockers. The books, which sell for $12, are available in the Rhatigan Student Center Shocker Stores beginning Dec. 2.
Purchase your “Walk with Wu” graphic novel.
Hiring deadlines prior to the 2020 Holiday Shutdown
The following deadlines will be implemented related to hiring to provide a more positive experience for candidates, while ensuring positions are posted and employees are hired successfully prior to the 2020 Holiday Shutdown.
Benefit Eligible Positions:
- Position descriptions must be approved in PeopleAdmin by noon on 12/16/2020, to be posted prior to the shutdown
- Hiring requests pending on 12/16/2020 will be handled after the shutdown
- To attend the first 2021 New Hire Orientation (NEO) on 01/11/2021:
o Verbal job offers must be accepted by 01/05/2021
o The hire process must be completed by noon on 01/08/2021
Non-Benefit Eligible Positions (i.e. Student/Grad, Lecturer, Temp):
- Hire Request forms must be submitted to employment@wichita.edu by Wednesday, Dec. 16 to be processed prior to the shutdown
- ePAFs must be approved by noon Friday, Dec. 18, to be processed prior to the shutdown; others will be returned to the department to be resubmitted for the next payroll period
*Reminder – Employees are not able to work if the ePAF has not been approved.
Please email Human Resources at employment@wichita.edu with any questions.
Join ADCI for Ronda Bruce's retirement reception
Ronda Bruce
Please join the School of Art, Design and Creative Industries (ADCI) for a retirement reception for Ronda Bruce from 12:30–2 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 3, in the atrium of McKnight Art Center. Cupcakes will be available to grab and go.
Ronda has served ADCI as the senior administrative assistant for the past 15 years. Prior to that, she worked in many university departments, including NIAR, computing services, purchasing, the controller’s office, and financial operations. If you are not able to join us in person, you may send Ronda a note at ronda.bruce@wichita.edu.
Human Resource Office closure
The Human Resource Office will close at 11:30 a.m. Friday Dec. 4, so staff can participate in a virtual holiday celebration. The office will reopen at 8 a.m. Monday Dec. 7.
Generation Lead Podcast Series featuring Tajahnae Stocker
Current graduate student Alexus Scott and Student Involvement have partnered together to conduct and produce a podcast series focusing on the development of our next generation's leaders. The podcast series is called Generation Lead and features voices from current WSU students, staff, faculty, and community partners.
Due to the recent virtual change in in-person programming, the podcast series provides high impact dialogue that empowers, challenges, and motivates a generation to lead and take space in their personal capacities with great measure. You can check out previous and upcoming episodes via streaming platforms like Anchor, Spotify, Breaker, and Google Podcasts.
The Creator of Change, we’re going to learn and discuss more about the ICT Community Fridge Project. The ICT Community Fridge Project has launched and received an abundance of support from the local Wichita community. This initiative and movement have been giving back in the form of providing mutual aid. The fridge serves as a resource to reduce food insecurity in targeted areas across the city.
Tajahnae Stocker has developed a program that precisely acknowledges the disparities and provides relief to the barriers and challenges that folks are faced with daily. Being a current student, we will explore the creation of her recent idea and discuss what leadership capabilities it’s taken to develop such a viable resource in such a short amount of time
Generation Lead Podcast Series
Save the date for the Academic Resources Conference (ARC) January sessions
The ARC is back with live online trainings, panels, and workshops during the week of Jan. 11-15.
In addition to our regular Blackboard, Panopto, and Zoom trainings, January will offer sessions on academic integrity, using simple statistics to run course-level action research, and using Microsoft Teams to teach.
For a full list of our topics, including information about the ARC Big Read and the many sessions offered offices around campus, please check out our January webpage.
Call for Fiscal Year 2022 Educational Opportunity and Student Services Funding requests
It’s again time to begin the process for submission of funding requests through Student Government Association for the Educational Opportunity Fund and Student Services Fee for FY ‘22. Through the student services fee, these programs provide financial support to facilitate students’ academic pursuits (Educational Opportunity Fund) or the funding of programs / activities delivered directly to students (Student Services).
If you’ve submitted requests in the past, the Budget Review Officer should receive an email from the Budget Office to kick-off the submission process. If you have not submitted requests in the past, but are considering submitting a new request, please contact Lauren Smith, Jason Post, or David Miller in the Budget Office at 978-3030 for more information.
Requests are due no later than Friday, Jan. 29.
Dr. Abigail Rymer to give Physics Seminar talk today
Our last speaker of the fall semester will present a talk at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 2, via Zoom. The talk features Dr. Abigail Rymer, John Hopkins University, MD, and the title of this talk will be “Neptune-Odyssey: Flagship Mission Concept Study for the Neptune-Triton System.” Visit our website for the Zoom details.
Holiday grab-and-go reception; RSVP by Dec. 7
Interim President Rick Muma and the executive team cordially invite you to a come-and-go reception for an afternoon grab-and-go treat from 2-3 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 10. Please wear your face covering and respect social distancing.
PleaseRSVPand select a pick-up location that works best for you by Monday, Dec. 7.
Attend the UP and USS Senates fall general meeting
All university staff members are invited to attend the UP and USS Senates fall general meeting from 10-11:30 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 9, on Zoom. We have several speakers lined up to cover a variety of topics.
- Interim President Rick Muma – University update and looking ahead
- VP of Finance and Administration Werner Golling – Budget overview
- Director of Student Health Services Camille Childers – COVID update and plans moving forward
- UP and USS Senate Presidents Trish Gandu and Randy Session – Fall semester highlights and what’s next for the staff senates
We will also discuss the proposed senate merger and constitutions of the WSU Staff Senate and allow time for questions.
If you are interested in joining the meeting, please email Kayla Jasso at kayla.jasso@wichita.edu for the Zoom link.
Free Dental Screenings event on Dec. 4 is canceled
The AEGD Program's free dental screening event at SHS scheduled for Friday, Dec. 4 has been canceled.
Billingham appointed to prestigious journal editorial board
Chase Billingham
Chase Billingham, Associate Professor of Sociology, has been appointed to the editorial board of Sociology of Education, the official peer-reviewed journal of the American Sociological Association for research on educational issues in contemporary society.
This is one of the most prestigious and selective journals in American sociology, and it consistently publishes cutting-edge research on educational structures and inequalities.
Billingham’s 2016 article in this journal, “School Racial Composition and Parental Choice: New Evidence on the Preferences of White Parents in the United States,” has been cited over 100 times and profiled in many national media outlets, and it has been influential in shaping our understanding of current trends in school choice and racial segregation. Billingham’s three-year term on the editorial board will begin in January.
Earn Wu Bucks from the Shocker Store
Shop the Shocker Store for the holidays and earn Wu Bucks towards more Shocker gear! For every $50 spent now through Dec. 24, in our RSC location or Braeburn Square location only, earn a $5 coupon to be used in January and February on any in-store purchase. Some exclusions apply, see store for details.
Happy Hours Apps Rewards Special
Members of the Shocker Sports Grill & Lanes Eat.Drink.Play. Rewards program can enjoy happy hour apps during the month of December! From 2-4 p.m. Monday-Friday, rewards members can take 25% off all starter menu items. Not a rewards member? Joining is free and easy, simply visit today!
Applied Learning Highlight of the Week - Chad RoseBerger!
The Shocker Career Accelerator thanks Chad RoseBerger for assisting in the Wichita State University Molecular Diagnostic Lab to help slow the spread of COVID-19. You make a difference in the community!
Read more about the Molecular Diagnostic Lab.
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