A special gift of time for employees
In times of great change and challenge, organizations often have to ask for one of the most precious things an employee has, more of their time. In appreciation for all the extra time and effort devoted on behalf of WSU during these ever-changing and challenging times, WSU wants to provide back a bit of what it has had to ask of our employees.
WSU is providing benefit-eligible employees three personal days away from work during the upcoming campus shutdown. Employees will not have to use accrued leave on Monday–Wednesday, Dec. 21-23, 2020. If an employee is unable to take personal days away from work on those dates, they may substitute the dates of Monday– Wednesday, Dec. 28–30, 2020.
We wish you and your family a safe and restful Holiday. Please take with you our gratitude for all you do.
For more information about who is eligible for the personal days away from work during the campus shut down, instructions on recording time and information on what to do if you are unable to take a personal day(s) away from work on Monday–Wednesday, Dec. 21–23, click here.
Blackboard will be down several days starting the evening of Dec. 17
In an effort to improve Blackboard's performance and stability, and to set the foundation for further improvements in the Blackboard Learn system throughout 2021, WSU will be bringing Blackboard down for several days in December.
Our system will go down at 11 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 17, and be down for several days. Our current estimate for the system to be restored and fully functional is Tuesday, Dec. 22, although it's possible this down time could extend to Christmas Day.
To prepare for this down time, instructors should:
1) Plan to have all fall 2020 final grades submitted
2) Have any January term classes set up before Dec. 17, or make plans to do so after Dec. 22
3) Notify any students who are working on incompletes or late submissions that Blackboard will not be available during this window.
Once Blackboard service is restored, Instructional Design and Access will run extensive testing on the system. If you notice any technical problems after service is restored, please report those problems through a OneStop Blackboard Help ticket and not by direct emails to IDA staff. It is very important that technical problems can be addressed in a systematic way to ensure a quick resolution.
WSU Foundation 2020 Requisition Holiday Schedule
Christmas:
WSU Foundation will be closed Thursday, Dec. 24 and Friday, Dec. 25. Please have all requisitions submitted by noon Monday, Dec. 21. Requisitions will be processed on Wednesday, Dec. 23.
New Year’s:
WSU Foundation will be closed Friday, Jan. 1, 2021. Please have all requisitions submitted by noon Tuesday, Dec. 29. Requisitions will be processed on Thursday, Dec. 31.
Happy Holidays from the National Institute for Aviation Research
Along with its challenges, 2020 also brought ample opportunities for Wichita State University’s National Institute for Aviation Research. It was a record year in many ways, and we have our dedicated, steadfast, quick-on-their-feet staff to thank. Take a look at some of the accomplishments and programs that will go down in university history – thanks to the innovation and perseverance of NIAR researchers, engineers, technicians and administration. Thank you for doing business with us in 2020. We hope you have a joyous holiday season!
Adult Learning to join Online Learning
With Dr. Susan Norton retiring at the end of December as director of the Office of Adult Learning, Pamela O’Neal will begin serving as the associate director in January. Also, with this change, the Office of Adult Learning will join the Office of Online Learning to help better serve students. Although all personnel will remain housed in their current locations, and no name change is planned at this time, the structure will allow for easier collaboration between the two offices.
Collaborating with others around campus, the two offices will be hosting several virtual events for adult and online learners to improve retention. The first event will be held at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 16, to help busy students with time management. Other events will be held March 16 and April 20.
Please remind students the Office of Online Learning and the Office of Adult Learning are resources specifically for them to help with their academic journey. For more information about the Office of Adult Learning, call 316-978-8325 or email adultlearning@wichita.edu. For more information about the Office of Online Learning, please email online@wichita.edu or call 316-978-7757.
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.
Faculty Advancement Webpage is updated
As an institution, Wichita State University aims to support all faculty in their roles as teachers, researchers, and citizens of the university. Multiple units across campus offer services and resources to facilitate faculty as engaged scholars. Sometimes it's hard to locate the faculty development resources on the webpage, however. We've pulled these all together on the newly updated Faculty Advancement webpage.
The page includes links to:
frequently used forms (FAR and T & P), syllabus template, academic integrity reports, first year seminar materials, IRB forms, various grant opportunities, faculty awards, and faculty in the news among others. Bookmark the page or find a link on the main webpage for the Office of Academic Affairs.
RSC closed for winter break
The Rhatigan Student Center and its departments will be closed Saturday, Dec. 19-Sunday, Jan. 3 for winter break. The building will reopen on Monday, Jan. 4. For regular hours of operation, visit wichita.edu/rschours.
Toner replenishment program update
The toner replenishment program is now fully in place. All printers with a DEX MPS tag on the printer will receive an auto-replenishment of toner when your printer gets down to 30% toner life. If your printer was below 30% when the program went into effect, it will not auto-replenish. If this is the case for your printer, please call the phone number on the tag and tell the operator that you need toner; this will be a one-time process, all future orders will be automatic. The operator will need the Equipment ID # on the label.
The program also covers service and parts such as drum kits, fuser kits and toner collection units. When your printer notifies you that you need one of these parts, call the number on the label and order the part. At the end of each monthly cycle, you will receive an invoice from Central Services detailing your toner use for the month. You are only billed for toner use, nothing else. The detailed usage and rate per printer will give you the data you need to determine which printers should be replaced or taken out of service.
Please contact Ellen Abbey if you have any questions regarding this program or if you need assistance in ordering supplies, ellen.abbey@wichita.edu.
Congratulations Bender of Twigs Class of 2020!
Bender of Twigs was conceived in 1951 by then University of Wichita President Harry Corbin (1949-1963), his assistant Kathryn Griffith, and English Professor Bill Nelson. This unique designation is bestowed upon employees who have served 25 years of service to Wichita State University.
The name "Bender of Twigs" is a reference to the similarity between the way a young sapling bends toward the light as it grows and how faculty and staff help lead the student in their search for knowledge.
Go to wichita.edu/BenderOfTwigs2020 to learn more about the Bender of Twigs Class of 2020 (recently inducted during Service Recognition on Nov. 19), and to read their induction remarks online!
Deadline for WSU Today this week
The last edition of WSU Today in 2020 will be Friday, Dec. 18. The deadline to submit information for that edition is noon Thursday, Dec. 17.
Radio broadcast of Christmas Organ Concert
You are invited to listen to the radio broadcast of the Wednesdays in Wiedemann with Lynne Davis Annual Christmas Organ Concert performed on Nov. 24, on Radio Kansas at 9 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 20, during “Sunday Best” on Radio Kansas at 90.1, 89.5, 90.9 FM or streamed from the radiokansas.com website.
December HealthQuest upcoming events
Employees enrolled in 2020 coverage through the State Employee Health Plan can earn a premium discount worth $480 annually and HSA/HRA rewards dollars up to $500 per year for each employee and covered spouse, just by participating and logging healthy activities throughout the year!
In June the Health Care Commission (HCC) voted to reduce the number of HealthQuest credits required to receive the 2021 premium incentive discount. The credit requirement was reduced from 40 points to 20 points, due to the exceptional circumstances created by COVID-19.
In addition, the HSA/HRA Dollars awarded for each HealthQuest credit completed has been increased from $10 to $20 per credit, up to the maximum of $500 per member. This change applies only to the 2020 plan year and is retroactive for credits earned since Jan. 1.
In December, there is one event currently scheduled. There are also a variety of On-Demand or online options with up to 46 points available!
- Thursday, Dec. 17, 3-4 p.m., “Managing Holiday Stress” EAP webinar. Register online (1 point)
Now is good time to take advantage of some of the on-demand and online options to earn HealthQuest points.
- Virtual Health Coaching Sessions: You can earn up to 15 points (max 1 health coaching per day, 1 point each) by scheduling Health Coaching Sessions. You can choose a health coach who is a nurse (RN), a dietitian or a trainer when scheduling sessions.
- Learning Modules: You can earn up to 5 points by completing on-demand learning modules in the HealthQuest portal. There are 18 different topics to choose from.
- EAP On-Demand Trainings: You can earn up to 8 points (max 1 point per day) by completing EAP On-Demand trainings and webinars that you can access through the HealthQuest portal. There are 32 different topics to choose from.
- HealthQuest Financial Wellness Learning Module: You can earn 5 points by completing this four-week learning module.
- Online Wellness Assessment: You can earn 10 points for completing this assessment.
- 2020 HealthQuest Program Overview Video & Quiz: You can earn 3 points for watching this video and completing the short quiz.
We’ll publish upcoming events each month, but if you’d like to plan in advance, check out all currently scheduled HealthQuest events.
Remember the deadline to earn points towards HSA/HRA Reward Dollars was Nov. 18, 2020, and the deadline to earn points toward your 2021 Premium Discount is Dec. 31, 2020.
Bergman has three works published in 2020
Daniel Bergman
Daniel Bergman, professor and Science Education Program Chair in the School of Education, had three works published this year.
-Bergman, D.J. (2020). Toying with the periodic table: Using everyday items to investigate classification and properties of matter. Science Activities. Available here.
-Bergman, D.J. (2020). What Zoom reminded me about effective teaching. Ed Prep Matters, American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (AACTE). Available here.
-Bergman, D.J. (2020). Secret invasions, lost technology, and 21st Century Learning Skills:
How Black Panther saved Wakanda using the “Four Cs.”
In J. Darowski (Ed.), The Ages of the Black Panther (166-181).
Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Co., Inc.
Great prices on last minute gift ideas
Didn’t get a chance to make the Shocker Store’s Shock the Halls Sale? Don’t worry, because they still have some of those great deals available! Items are available in the RSC store and online at shockerstore.com. Choose free in-store pickup or free shipping over $75. Happy Holidays, Shockers!
Stocking stuffer special at the Heskett Center. Buy 2 get 1 FREE!
Need a stocking stuffer? What about a WSU face mask? Right now you can buy 2 get 1 FREE at the Heskett Center. Visit us at the guest services desk to get yours today! For more information call 316-978-3082.
Holiday greetings from Cohen Honors College
The Cohen Honors College wishes you and your loved ones a wonderful and safe Holiday Season!