Join the work of the First Gen Coordinating Council
Become a part of the network that serves as a hub for collaboration with campus resources and networking for opportunities that provide services geared toward first-gen Shocker students.
Join the important work of the First Gen Coordinating Council by signing on as a subcommittee member.
The following committees are looking for membership:
- Marketing
- Faculty & Staff Engagement
- Faculty & Staff Affinity Group
- Data & Assessment
- Graduate School
Learn more about first-gen Shockers and joining a subcommittee at wichita.edu/firstgen or email fgshockers@wichita.edu.
Deadline extended to Feb. 5 for staff nominations for Distinguished Service Awards
The deadline to nominate staff for the 2021 Distinguished Service Awards has been extended to 5 p.m. Friday, Feb.
Do you know an Unclassified Professional (UP) or University Support Staff (USS) employee who deserves special recognition for their contributions to the University? Nominate them for the 2021 Distinguished Service Awards. These awards recognize the dedication and excellence of UP/USS employees who have provided exemplary, dedicated and caring service to the WSU community that is beyond the expectations of the duties and responsibilities of their position. Selected honorees are recognized at the annual Shocker Pride Celebration.
For more information on award eligibility and nomination process, please visit wichita.edu/staffawards. If you have questions, please contact UP/USS Senate Awards Committee Chair, Amy Belden at amy.belden@wichita.edu.
Nominate an adult learner for Adult Learner of the Year Award
In March 2021, the Office of Adult Learning will host the 2nd Annual Adult Learner of the Year (ALOTY) awards ceremony. In this ceremony, we will not only celebrate six years as an office, but we will also name an ALOTY, two finalists, a community partner and a WSU partner. We are calling on the WSU community to help us find an adult learner at Wichita State deserving of the title, Adult Learner of the Year. The deadline to nominate an adult learner is Friday, Jan. 29.
A student is considered an adult learner at Wichita State if they are a current undergraduate earning their first bachelor’s degree and is either: 24 years or older; a military or veteran student; or independent status.
ALOTY criteria:
- 3.00 GPA at WSU (extenuating circumstances can be reviewed)
- Displays perseverance in obtaining a degree
- Demonstrates Shocker Pride
- Possesses leadership qualities
If you know of a student who meets the following criteria, please click here and submit their name.
RSC, Shocker Dining opening soon
The Rhatigan Student Center will be back open for full dining starting Jan. 28. Shocker Dining opens back up Jan. 30.
See more information and hours
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, or contact Maria Sclafani or Victoria Koger in the Library for assistance in finding no-cost resources.
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 (see clarifying FAQs)
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.
Learn patent strategies at this no-cost webinar
Hear from patent expert Jessica Pierpoint (Torres) at a no-cost virtual seminar, "Patent Basics" from 3-4:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 28. This webinar will introduce new inventors to types of patents and applications, patent eligibility, parts of a patent, how to find free legal assistance, patent searching, and more.
See virtual comedian LeClerc Andre
When times are tough, laughter is the best medicine. Help SAC kick off the semester with its virtual comedian LeClerc Andre. LeClerc made his network television debut on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon and has since been featured on NBC’s Bring the Funny. Register to watch the Feb. 5 event or learn more about SAC events at wichita.edu/SAC.
Shocker Volleyball season openers postponed
Wichita State Shocker Volleyball has postponed its season openers, initally set for Jan. 28 and 29. More info on the new schedule will be communicated in future editions of WSU Today.
Let students know to apply for an Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity Grant
The Undergraduate Student Research and Creative Activity Grants Program is accepting applications for grants of up to $1,000 for undergraduate students pursing research or creative projects.
Students who are sophomores, juniors or seniors with a GPA of at least 2.5 and at least two semesters remaining at WSU (including the semester in which you apply), are full time and have a faculty research mentor are eligible. Preference is given to projects not otherwise funded, and previous awardees are not eligible.
Students can visit wichita.edu/undergradresearch for more information. Deadlines to apply in spring are Feb. 3 and March 16.
Sign up to attend Research Workshop on NIH R15 Grants Program
WSU Office of Research Workshop: NIH R15: 1-2:30 p.m. today
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.
Nominate your student employee for SGA's 2021 Student Employee of the Year Award
The Wichita State University Student Employee of the Year Award is sponsored by the Student Government Association and recognizes the contributions of student employees to the university community and honors their efforts. University employees may nominate a Wichita State student employee who is enrolled in a Wichita State University degree program at least half time and has completed or expects to complete, at least three months full time or six months part time employment during this academic year, July 1, 2020 to June 30, 2021. Hourly, work-study and salaried student employees are eligible. To nominate a student employee (undergraduate or graduate, non-teaching), please visit wichita.edu/SGAawards.
Episode 5 of the 'Let's Talk About It' podcast launches Friday
Episode 5 of "Let's Talk About It" launches Friday, Jan. 29, and breaks down the applied learning model at Wichita State. One of our guests is Shocker student Jordan Brown. He is a senior in the Workforce Leadership and Applied Learning degree program. Hear a clip of just how impactful this method of instruction can be in this sound bite where Jordan talks about his "why." And stay tuned for the full episode launch on Friday.
"Let’s Talk About It," is a podcast sponsored by The Fuse and hosted by Bobby Berry (College of Applied Studies) and Jessica Newman (Elliott School of Communication). We strive to create a safe, comfortable and casual environment that will foster connection with diverse people in an effort to create meaning, ask questions and start honest conversations about the topics that matter most to college students today.
Nominate a student for Shocker Pathway Student of the Year
In March 2021, the Office of Adult Learning will host the second annual Adult Learner of the Year awards ceremony. In addition to other awards, will honor a Shocker Pathway Student of the Year (SPSY). Adult Learning is calling on the WSU community to help find a Shocker Pathway Student either at Wichita State or WSU Tech deserving of the title.
The deadline to nominate a Shocker Pathway Student of the Year is Friday, Jan. 29.
- Currently enrolled Shocker Pathway student at WSU Tech or Wichita State University
- Seeking first associate’s degree or first bachelor’s degree.
- 3.00 WSU Tech/WSU Cumulative GPA (Extenuating circumstances can be reviewed)
- Displays perseverance in obtaining a degree
- Demonstrates Shocker Pride
- Possesses leadership qualities