WSU Bike Share is back
The bikes are back! Now, you can use the bike-sharing system from Wichita State University’s campus as far west as the Sedgwick County Park and all throughout the city. There is no limit on travel distance. The service provider for Bike Share ICT changed from Zagster to Tandem Mobility, with upgraded bikes and an improved app provided by Movatic.
Spring OAT deadline is Feb. 12
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.
Faculty who design courses that provide instructional resources at no cost to students 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).
Learn more about Open Education Resources at the Academic Resources Conference (ARC) Jan 11-15, or contact Maria Sclafani or Victoria Koger in the Library for assistance in finding no-cost resources.
Celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with the Office of Diversity
and Inclusion
The Office of Diversity and Inclusion annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commemoration highlights and memorializes the work, accomplishments and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
The virtual event will take place at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 20. This year's keynote speaker is Dr. Michael Waters, founder and lead pastor of the Abundant Life AME Church in Dallas, Texas.
The ODI is excited to announce the 2021 Drum Major Award recipient Counseling and Prevention Services, Dr. Selena Jackson. She will be recognized at the virtual program.
Register for the 13th annual MLK program.
Learn more about all the upcoming MLK programs in Wichita
UP and USS joint senate meeting set for today
The UP and USS Senates joint meeting will be today at 9 a.m. via Zoom. All meetings are open to the campus community. If you are interested in joining the meeting, please email Kayla Jasso at kayla.jasso@wichita.edu for the Zoom link.
View meeting dates, agendas and minutes
RSVP for virtual Strategic Communications seminar
The fifth annual Strategic Communications marketing and communications seminar for WSU faculty and staff will be held from 10 a.m.-noon Thursday, Jan. 21, virtually on Zoom. Attendees may choose three of six sessions. This year's seminar will focus on the 125 years of education and innovation campaign. Gain additional insights, tools and tips to help you improve your marketing and communication efforts.
Ulrich Museum of Art unveils four exciting exhibitions on Thursday
On Thursday, Jan. 21, the Ulrich Museum of Art at WSU will unveil its spring 2021 exhibitions. Although the Ulrich won't have the large public opening party it typically hosts, the exhibitions will be up starting Thursday morning, and the museum will be open for its regular hours. The Ulrich will be following the latest Sedgwick County guidelines that call for gatherings of no more than 25 people at a time, wearing masks and keeping at least 6 feet apart. Before visiting the museum, be sure to read the Safety Protocol on the Ulrich's website, which details all of its safe-distancing requirements.
High-Performance Computing Users Meeting set for Jan. 21
There will be a High-Performance Computing (HPC) Users Meeting 3:30-5 p.m. Jan. 21. The HPC Users Meeting is where users can share their thoughts and opinions.
All students, faculty and staff are welcome to attend the meeting to learn more about HPC at Wichita State. Our Support Team will be available to answer questions.
Video: Introduction to HPC at WSU
Learn about Fairmount College, win prize in scavenger hunt
Have fun learning more about Fairmount College’s role in establishing Wichita State University during a scavenger hunt created by the Department of Anthropology to learn about Fairmount College's 125-year history.
From now through the end of January 2021, faculty, staff and students are encouraged to participate in this fun event that begins on campus and ends at Maple Grove Cemetery at 1000 N. Hillside, where many faculty and staff from the early years of Fairmount College are buried.
Students who complete the scavenger hunt will be entered into a drawing for an iPad
on Feb. 1, 2021. Faculty and staff participants will be entered into a monthly drawing
for a Shocker Store gift card.
Have fun, stay safe and good luck! For more information, go to www.wichita.edu/anthropology.
USS and Non-Teaching UP employees: it’s self-evaluation time
Emails to USS and Non-Teaching UP employees will be sent as a reminder that annual myPerformance Employee Self-Evaluations are due from Jan. 16-31. This allows employees to provide input on job performance and accomplishments. Employees can access their self-evaluation through the myPerformance link found in myWSU. For more information (including quick reference guides and other assistance) go to www.wichita.edu/myPerformance.
President releases process to review and approve remote work arrangements
Attention supervisors:
The sudden onset of COVID-19 forced the university to quickly move a large part of our workforce remote. Given the uncertainty that the pandemic currently presents, we must continue to encourage and/or require (if applicable) remote work for staff. This prioritization of the health and safety of workforce must be balanced with continued timely delivery of services to our students and greater university community. Each supervisor is currently empowered to determine the appropriate staffing model for their department as they deem appropriate and approved by their vice president.
Remote work arrangements raise unique administrative and legal issues. These issues include, but are not limited to, payroll taxes, unemployment and workers compensation benefits, work authorization restrictions, discrimination and retaliation laws, access to and security of University information technology systems, individual and University privacy and security, fulfillment of University grant and contractual obligations, and proper oversight. Accordingly, the University must proactively provide guidance on responsibilities, limitations, and expectations of employees who are working remotely. We must also identify all existing remote work situations and mitigate any administrative, legal, or compliance concerns.
All proposed remote work arrangements outside of the state of Kansas and/or those located in Kansas but intended to last more than thirty consecutive days must be reviewed by Human Resources and the Office of General Counsel prior to any offer of employment (for new employees) and/or granting permission to work remotely (for existing employees). These offices will review each proposed remote work situation and conduct a risk analysis. If necessary, approval may be required by the appropriate Vice President. NOTE: all arrangements for an employee to work outside the United States must be reviewed by the by Human Resources and the Office of General Counsel and approved by appropriate Vice President. Due to heightened security risks and complexity of labor and immigration laws, remote work outside of the United States will only be approved in extraordinary circumstances.
HR has published new guidance for remote work arrangements and established a dedicated web page Remote Work Arrangement Guidance to assist those who supervise staff who may currently be working remotely or who may wish to work remote in the future. The webpage contains remote work arrangement guidance as well as a remote work arrangement acknowledgement form to be utilized when appropriate.
NEXT STEPS FOR SUPERVISORS
Employees Currently Working Remotely In-State: Supervisors are required to ensure that ALL employees who have been working remotely at a location in Kansas for a period longer than 30 consecutive days complete a Remote Work Arrangement Acknowledgement. The completed acknowledgement is to be sent to the assigned HR business partner no later than January 29, 2021.
Employees Currently Working Remotely Out-of-State: Supervisors are required to ensure that ALL employees who have been working remotely at any location outside of Kansas, including internationally, complete a Remote Work Arrangement Acknowledgement. The completed acknowledgement is to be sent to the assigned HR business partner no later than January 29, 2021.
Employees Requesting or Needing Remote Work: Supervisors should follow the guidance posted on the HR website before authorizing remote work either (1) in Kansas for more than 30 consecutive days, or (2) outside of Kansas for any period of time.
Sign up to attend Research Workshop on NIH R15 Grants Program
WSU Office of Research Workshop: NIH R15: 1-2:30 p.m. Jan. 27
Please join the Office of Research at a virtual webinar to hear from WSU researcher experts who will discuss the National Institutes of Health’s R15 funding mechanism and applying to NIH overall. The R15 is now known as a Research Enhancement Award. WSU is eligible to receive Research Enhancement Awards, which support small-scale research projects at institutions that have not received major NIH support.
NIH R15 funding goals include: 1) supporting meritorious research, 2) exposing students to research and 3) strengthening the research environment of the institution. Dr. Moriah Beck, associate professor of chemistry, will discuss her experience in receiving an NIH R15 award at WSU, and her service as a reviewer on three NIH review panels. Dr. George Bousfield, Distinguished Professor of Biological Sciences, will discuss his research success, having received large multi-year, and multi-project PO1 (Research Program Project Grant) grants from NIH. Email proposals@wichita.edu or register through MyTraining.
Student Involvement's 'NEWSIE' is back beginning Jan. 25
Student Involvement has a semester full of fun planned. Subscribe to the free, weekly newsletter and stay up to date on news and upcoming events. For more details and to subscribe, visit wichita.edu/newsie.
Nominate your GTA for the 2021 SGA Graduate Teaching Award of the Year
Started in Spring 2019, the Wichita State University Student Government Association awards the SGA Graduate Teaching Assistant of the Year. The purpose of this award is to acknowledge and recognize outstanding graduate teaching assistants for their contributions to the mission of Wichita State University.
If you know any outstanding GTAs, nominate them today! Nominations for the 2021 SGA Graduate Teaching Assistant of the Year are now open and will close at 5 p.m. March 12, 2021. Click here to nominate your academic advisor today.