Reminders
* The deadline to apply for faculty grants through VentureWell (formerly NCIIA) is Friday, Nov. 7. VentureWell faculty grants support the creation of new courses and programs in which students develop ideas and gain the skills to bring them to market. Funding of up to $50,000 is available to fund new (or help modify existing) courses and programs in tech entrepreneurship. More information is available at http://venturewell.org/facultygrants/ or contact Becky Hundley at 978-5199 or becky.hundley@wichita.edu.
* Nominations for Excellence Awards in Research, Creativity and Community Research are now being accepted by the Office of Research and Technology Transfer (RTT). All full-time faculty, including distinguished professors and endowed chairs, who have served at WSU for at least three years are eligible. Faculty who hold an administrative position above that of chair are not eligible. Go to http://www.wichita.edu/j/?3355 for details and nomination forms. Nominations must be received by Friday, Dec. 5, in order to be considered. All nominations should be submitted either electronically to proposals@wichita.edu or delivered to Campus Box 7.
* Health insurance open enrollment ends Friday, Oct. 31. Until then, all benefits-eligible employees are allowed to select new benefits options for Plan Year 2015. There are many changes, so review them and see how they will affect your 2015 benefits. Human Resources and the state will present these changes; you are encouraged to attend one of the available information sessions. Remember, all changes will be effective Jan. 1, 2015. For more information, click the Benefits Open Enrollment link on the bottom left at http://www.wichita.edu/hr. To complete your open enrollment election, visit https://sehp.member.hrissuite.com/
* Minnesota Life's open enrollment for optional group life insurance (OGLI) runs now through Friday, Oct. 31. Visit the member's new OGLI enrollment page for detailed information. Go to http://www.kpers.org/employers/ogli.html for more information.
* It's almost November and that means Thanksgiving and basketball season are just around the corner. Shocker Athletics is combining a bit of both at the Shocker Tip-off Luncheon at noon Wednesday, Nov. 12, in the Aetna Multi-Purpose Center at Charles Koch Arena (formerly the Preferred Health Systems Multi-Purpose Center). Go to http://www.wichita.edu/j/?3416 for details.
* Shocker Blast is the twice weekly email newsletter for WSU students. Go to http://www.wichita.edu/shockerblast to see the current edition.