Join Dr. Muma for donuts on March 5
Employee Appreciation Day is right around the corner on Friday, March 5. To start the day off, President Muma and other university leaders will be at the Rhatigan Student Center with donuts between 8 and 9 a.m. for those who are able to swing by.
Employee appreciation tips for supervisors
We know leaders are probably looking for ways to show appreciation for faculty and staff on tighter budgets and modified for the remote work environment. While the usual catered lunch or in-person recognitions may not be in the plan (or in the budget) this year, it’s still important for leaders to show their employees that they are valued both as people and for the work they contribute to the University.
Below are a few no-cost, creative ways to celebrate Employee Appreciation Day modified for your remote workforce.
- Host a virtual Employee Appreciation Day for your remote team. Choose a fun theme, ask everyone to dress up (optional) and find virtual backgrounds that go along with your theme. You can ask your leader (next up the chain) to share an encouraging message or to facilitate a fun game for employees.
- Write a handwritten note to your staff and personalize it with recognizing something they have done that has made a positive impact on your team.
- Have a drawing to give away prizes during a Zoom call. Prizes can be university swag already on hand, and you can use wheelofnames.com to pick winners.
- Create a Kudo Board to celebrate employees with an online group card filled with messages, GIFs, photos and videos.
- Share praise received from customers. This shows employees that their work matters and may give them a needed boost.
- Create a Hall of Fame where leaders can recognize someone in their division or college who made an extraordinary contribution to the institution’s ability to manage during the pandemic.
USS and Non-Teaching UP Employees: Signatures are Due This Week
Employee Signatures for 2020-2021 myPerformance Evaluations are due this week! USS and non-teaching UP Employees should log in to myPerformance in myWSU to submit electronic signatures by 11:59 PM on March 7.
Your evaluation will be available for the employee signature once your manager has submitted your evaluation with ratings.
For more information (including quick reference guides and other assistance) go to www.wichita.edu/myPerformance.
Service-Learning Showcase seeks submissions
The Service-Learning Showcase is a unique opportunity for students who participate in service-learning through applied learning opportunities to showcase their experience through a research or reflective poster about the application of their course work to current community issues. This year the showcase will be held in a digital format and judged by a team of community partner leaders.
The showcase is an open forum for students to interact with faculty/staff, community partners and other students to engage in conversation about Wichita State University's commitment to the public good. Awards are presented in the following categories:
- Outstanding Overall Service-Learning Project — $150 scholarship to winning entry
- Innovation and Creativity in Problem Solving — $100 scholarship to winning entry
- Community Impact/ Community Choice — $100 scholarship to winning entry
- Collaboration and Leadership in Service-Learning — $100 scholarship to winning entry
Submissions are due on April 1.
More information about the Service-Learning Showcase
Sunflower Espresso, Dr. Tawook food trucks on campus today
Two food trucks to be at the Food Truck Plaza today.
Sunflower Espresso with be serving tasty coffees and other beverages between 8 a.m. to noon.
Dr. Tawook is a new authentic Mediterranean food truck that uses locally grown ingredients. Dr. Tawook will be here between 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
Order faculty commencement regalia
The Shocker Store is taking regalia rental orders from faculty and staff members who are planning on attending the spring 2021 commencement. The deadline to place your rental order is 4 p.m. Friday, April 9. If you would like to purchase custom academic regalia, the deadline is 4 p.m. Friday, March 12. Payment is due when order is placed. To order or ask a question, please email shockerstore@wichita.edu or call 316-978-7021.
Encourage students to apply for TRIO DSS
TRIO Disability Support Services assists students with disabilities in obtaining academic success through free services such as academic advising, tutoring, study skill development, financial literacy, and more. Students benefit from any additional help available during this time, so encourage students to apply to TRIO DSS. Online and in-person services are being provided.
Encourage students who might be in need of TRIO DSS assistance to apply at www.wichita.edu/dss or in person in Grace Wilkie Annex, room 158, between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Get ready for the Shocker New Venture Competition
You or your team will have the opportunity to pitch an idea in two 25-minute sessions, and you'll receive valuable feedback on how you might improve your idea, strategy, and presentation.
Learn more and register for a session at wichita.edu/snvc-bootcamp.
Environmental Finance Center wins $35K grant
Wichita State's Environmental Finance Center (EFC) received a $35,000 grant from EPA Region 7 to capture and study the types, quantities and sources of trash in three in St. Louis-area streams. The data collected by the EFC will provide a foundation for learning the characteristics of trash entering St. Louis streams to recommend further litter reduction actions that can be replicated in other parts of the city, state, and throughout communities in Missouri, Kansas, Iowa and Nebraska.
“Our hope for this project is that our analysis will inform the community, including businesses and government leaders, about how trash is impacting St. Louis waterways,” said Tonya Bronleewe, director of the EFC. “The quantitative data we collect will serve as a tool to help us identify opportunities to reduce trash and protect the Missouri and Mississippi rivers, all the way to the Gulf of Mexico.”
University Libraries Undergraduate Research Award
Attention, Wichita State faculty and staff: Do you know an undergraduate entering URCAF who has made good use of University Libraries resources? Encourage them to apply for the inaugural University Libraries Undergraduate Research Award competition. Prizes will be awarded: $250 for first place, $200 for second place, and $150 for third place.
Ceramic media scholars featured in today's Ulrich talks
Join the Ulrich Museum of Art virtually at 11 a.m. today for the latest in the series of talks with faculty artists featured in the 23rd Faculty Biennial exhibition. This time around, the Department of Art, Design and Creative Industries' Ted Adler, associate professor of ceramic media and Gary Lincoln, lecturer in ceramic media will share their thoughts on process.
The virtual program is free and open to all, but registration is required to get the Zoom link.
The Faculty Biennial exhibition is on display at the Ulrich Museum of Art on the Wichita State University campus until May 8. The museum is open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday, closed Sundays and university and major holidays. Safe self-distancing practices are observed. Admission is always free.
Speaker presents 'Is Capitalism in Crisis?'
"Economics Bites on the Go" invites economist Dr. Vlad Tarko from University of Arizona to have a conversation with Wichita State faculty and students to discuss the legitimacy of the market economy at noon on Friday, March 5. Zoom meeting ID: 379 883 4810; passcode: 200.
SGA scholarships now open
The Student Government Association is excited to open its annual scholarships for the 2021-2022 academic year. Each year SGA awards about $80,000 to students on campus through four scholarships:
- James J. Rhatigan Leadership Scholarship
- International Student Scholarship
- SGA Endowed Scholarship
- SGA Summer Scholarship
Please let students know to apply at wichita.edu/sgascholarships. The deadline is Friday, March 5.