University schedule for the Holiday Closedown 2020
The holiday closedown period has been approved this year to commence at the end of the day on Friday Dec. 18, 2020 and reopen on Monday morning Jan. 4, 2021. We are communicating the schedule at this time to ensure all employees can manage their time off appropriately. The closedown is 10 days, three of which are paid holidays. Classes will not be in session during this period.
Unclassified Professional and University Support Staff who would normally be scheduled to work the days may use accumulated vacation leave or their *2020 discretionary day during the holiday closedown. Non-exempt employees can also use accumulated compensatory time off during the holiday closedown.
If your role requires you to work during the holiday closedown it must be approved in advance by your immediate supervisor.
DATES:
- Monday, Dec. 21, 2020
- Tuesday, Dec. 22, 2020
- Wednesday, Dec. 23, 2020
- Thursday, Dec. 24, 2020 (State Paid Holiday)
- Friday, Dec. 25, 2020 (State Paid Holiday)
- Monday, Dec. 28, 2020
- Tuesday, Dec. 29, 2020
- Wednesday, Dec. 30, 2020
- Thursday Dec. 31, 2020
- Friday, January 1, 2021 (State Paid Holiday)
University community invited to attend Innovation Awards on Jan. 23
The university community is invited to attend the fifth annual WSU Innovation Awards at 3 p.m. Thursday Jan. 23, in Shirley Beggs Ballroom. The Innovation Awards, hosted by WSU Ventures and WSU Strategic Initiatives, recognize students, faculty, staff and partners who execute programs and initiatives that greatly impact achievement of the university mission and vision. The event is free and open to the public. Please RSVP at Innovation Awards.
President’s Innovation Award: School of Digital Arts
Visionary: Senator Jerry Moran
Innovation Partner: Textron Aviation
Community Partner: Wichita Police Dept. & Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Dept.
Philanthropy: Woolsey Family
Ambassador: Tom Aldag, Director of R&D, National Institute for Aviation Research, WSU
Catalyst: FirePoint Innovations Center, WSU
Creative Works: Darren DeFrain, Associate Professor/Director of Writing Program, WSU
First Dollar: Rapid Setting Composite Article
Patents:
- Protective antigen complexes with increased stability and uses thereof, James Bann, associate professor of chemistry, WSU; Masaru Miyagi, Case Western Reserve University
- Rapid setting composite article, John Tomblin, Tom Aldag, Kim Reuter, WSU-NIAR; Andrea Meyer, Spirit AeroSystems; Will McCarvill, Commercial Chemistries
- Non-invasive biofeedback system, Jibo He, associate professor of psychology; Jeremy Patterson, dean, Institute of Interdisciplinary Innovation, WSU
Shocker Innovation Corps Fellows: Sue Abdinnour, professor of Business, WSU; Jason Flanders, Scene Shop Manager, School of Performing Arts, WSU; Barry Badgett, associate professor of Fine Arts, WSU; Richard Sack, Engineering Technology Lab Manager, WSU; Enksaikhan Boldsaikhan, assistant professor of Industrial & Manufacturing Engineering, WSU
Shocker Innovation Corps Breakout: Tammy Dorsey, CEO Prenatal Hope
SBIR Award: Waruna Seneviratne, Director, Advanced Laboratory for Aerospace Structures (ATLAS), National Institute for Aviation Research, WSU
Newsmaker: NIAR ATLAS
Trailblazer: Tyler Levesque, WSU ESports
Bright Future: Aliyah Funschelle, Abby Warkentine, additional awardees TBD
Classroom Technology Training Schedule for spring 2020
Classrooms across campus are equipped with uniform technology and media equipment. Access is available to faculty and staff with consistent keys for most classrooms that are issued during a short training session. We encourage you to bring your personal laptop to test in the room during training. If there are additional needs or questions, please call 978-3588.
Faculty are encouraged to verify that their assigned rooms have the technology they need prior to the start of the semester.
Spring 2020 Classroom Technology Training Schedule
Need help with HealthQuest?
It’s the start of a new plan year, which means a fresh start for HealthQuest points! 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!
You may have noticed that the HealthQuest portal has been completely redesigned for 2020 and all employees and spouses must re-register. Click here for registration instructions.
HR Total Rewards is holding three HealthQuest labs in January to help employees get registered, tour the HealthQuest site and get started on activities. Sign up through myTraining.
- 3-4 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 14, in 122 Jabara Hall
- 9-10 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 22, in 122 Jabara Hall
- 1-2 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 28, in 122 Jabara Hall
Any questions please reach out to HR Total Rewards at TotalRewards@wichita.edu.
Best practices in accessibility and accommodations
Join the Office of Academic Affairs from 2:30-3:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 15, in 142 RSC, for a discussion of best practices in accessibility and accommodations in higher education.
Presenters are Eric M. Wilson, associate educator in the Elliott School of Communication and Trends in Higher Education Fellow, and John Jones, director of the WSU Media Resources Center.
They will provide insights and takeaways from Accessing Higher Ground, a national higher education accessibility conference that they attended in November 2019. Tips and strategies will be discussed that can be used for implementation right away as all make final preparations for spring semester classes.
Discussion topics include simple, easy-to-incorporate strategies you can use now to begin improving the accessibility of your courses, a look at how WSU’s ongoing accessibility efforts compare to those of peer institutions regionally and nationally, and the latest best practices and trends for accessibility and Universal Design.
Registration is requested by Monday, Jan. 13. An afternoon of desserts and refreshments will be served; please advise of any dietary restrictions.
Trends in Higher Education Fellow
Learn proven communication techniques
“Communication Skills for Supervisors” will be presented by Don Hackett, DBA, from 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 22. The cost is $299, and a 40% discount is available for WSU faculty, staff and students. Some restrictions apply.
Understanding your communication style and reflecting on perceptions gives you the ability to eliminate the barriers that keep you from being successful. The techniques in this class have helped participants in the workplace and at home!
The class will address:
- How to improve your communications
- How to give constructive feedback
- Special situations in communications
For more information, go to cmd.wichita.edu or register at 978-3118.
Legislative Update
WSU Government Relations has provided its first Legislative Update of the spring.
The Legislative session will begin Monday, Jan. 13, with legislators traveling to Topeka for largely ceremonial functions waiting for the Governor to deliver her State of the State Address on Tuesday. The Governor’s speech is usually a series of broad themes addressing a combination of her priorities, as well as challenges and opportunities the State faces. It is possible there will be some details surrounding her anticipated priorities: Medicaid Expansion and Early Childhood Development.
Read complete legislative update
Wichita State University honors the life and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr.
Wichita State University will celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. with a series of events on campus and throughout Wichita.
This celebration begins Friday, Jan. 17 and will last until Wednesday, Jan. 22 through citywide collaboration with organizations like Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., The Kansas African American Museum, and the Greater Wichita Ministerial League.
On Saturday, Jan. 18, the university will participate in the citywide Martin Luther King Parade, which begins at 10 a.m. The celebration continues on Monday, Jan. 20. Wichita State will cosponsor with the Greater Wichita Ministerial League to host the 2020 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day Worship Celebration at noon in the Eugene M. Hughes Metropolitan Complex.
Later that week, the Office of Diversity and Inclusion will host its 12th annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commemoration at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 22, in the Rhatigan Student Center Shirley Beggs Ballroom.
A majority of events are free and open to the public. A compiled guide of celebrations for this year’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day can be accessed at wichita.edu/MLK.
For more information, contact the Office of Diversity and Inclusion at 978-3034 or diversity@wichita.edu.
Apply now for the 2020 John A. See Innovation Award
Applications for the 2020 John A. See Innovation Award will be accepted now to Friday, Jan. 31. The award was established in December 2013 by John A. See to support prototype development, which may include development of products in engineering and science, development of life-enhancing therapeutic products, creation of application of new knowledge and artistic ventures.
Faculty and students are eligible to apply for the proof of concept award. For more information and access to the online application options go to www.wichita.edu/innovationaward.
Blackboard and Accessibility Open Lab time
Instructional Design and the MRC Web Team will host a Blackboard and Accessibility lab in the morning and afternoon of Wednesday, Jan. 15, in 261 RSC. The lab will open at 9 a.m. and run to noon, and reopen at 1 p.m. and continue to 3:45 pm.
Bring Blackboard and general accessibility questions any time throughout the day. If you have questions about PDF accessibility for your Wichita.edu webpages, help will be available during the 1-3:45 p.m. session. This is a come-and-go lab, and is open to all WSU instructors and staff; there is no need to sign up. Anyone who comes to the lab will receive a fresh dry erase marker and mini dry eraser.
Nominations are open for outstanding adult learner
In March of 2020, the Office of Adult Learning will host the inaugural Adult Learner of the Year (ALOTY) awards ceremony. In this awards ceremony, the Office of Adult Learning will celebrate five years as an office and name an ALOTY.
The Office of Adult Learning needs the WSU community to help find an adult learning deserving of the title. The criteria for ALOTY is below.
- 3.25 GPA at WSU
- Displays perseverance in obtaining a degree
- Demonstrates Shocker pride
- Possesses leadership qualities
If you know anyone who meets the criteria, nominate them using the link below. If you have any questions, contant Pamela O'Neal at 978-8313 or email pamela.oneal@wichita.edu
Submit nominations for the Adult Learner of the Year
A celebration of life to honor Joyce Cavarozzi, Professor Emeritus
A celebration of life to honor Joyce Cavarozzi, Professor Emeritus, will be held from 3-5 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 12, at the Crown Uptown Theatre. Joyce passed away on Sept. 29, 2019. Friends and family invite those from the WSU community who knew and worked with Joyce to join us in remembrance and celebration of this phenomenal artist, teacher, civic activist, mother, and friend.
Joyce was a moving force in the performing arts in Wichita for five decades. In her long professional career she directed more than 110 productions, designed costumes for more than 150, performed on stage, on television, and in several movies.
In 2017 Joyce was inducted into the College of Fine Arts Hall of Fame, and the Mary Jane Teall Theatre Awards Hall of Fame in 1996. She was a past president of the WSU Faculty Senate, a member of the WSU Foundation Society of 1895, has been honored with a brick in the Plaza of Heroines, and received the WSU President's Award for Distinguished Service.
We look forward to celebrating Joyce with those who knew and loved her. RSVP and comment on the FaceBook invitation, or contact Jessie Gray with responses or questions.
Graduate School staff returns to Jardine Hall
The Graduate School will return to 107 Jardine Hall beginning today (Wednesday, Jan. 8). It may take staff a bit longer than usual to respond to calls and emails during the move, which is slated to be finished by the end of the day on Thursday, Jan. 9.
The Graduate School expects to be fully operational again in their permanent location of 107 Jardine Hall on Friday, Jan. 10. We apologize for any inconvenience.
Tilford Symposium will be held on campus Feb. 27 and 28
The Tilford Symposium engages the WSU campus, private industry and nonprofit organizations to promote the legacy of equity, diversity and inclusion in our community.
The theme will be Education and Learning in a World of Differences.
Learner differences cross dimensions that are material (social class, geographical locale, and family), corporeal (age, race, sex and sexuality, physical and mental capacities) and symbolic (culture or ethnicity, language, gender, affinity, and persona). In this thematic area, we explore strategies for negotiating these differences, from the microdynamics of pedagogy to the agendas of curriculum, the nuances of assessment, the organizational structures of the educational institution and its relations with the communities it services.
We invite all faculty, staff, students, industry partners, and community members to be a part of these crucial conversations!
WSU Men's Basketball home game tomorrow (Thursday, Jan. 9)! Prepare for certain parking lot closures
Prepare for certain parking lot closures three hours prior to game time tomorrow (Thursday, Jan. 9). Unauthorized vehicles must vacate the lots prior to the scheduled closure time in order to avoid receiving a parking citation.
Look at the map above to make alternative parking arrangements if necessary.
Arrive on campus earlier than usual. Buy yourself some time in case you need to park farther away from your desired destination than normal.
Dress for the weather in case you need to walk a little farther than usual, or need to wait a few minutes for a shuttle to take you to your desired destination.
Consider carpooling. Not only does this reduce our carbon footprint, but it also reduces traffic and parking congestion.
Take advantage of the many routes and inexpensive fares Wichita Transit has to offer.
Should you need accommodations because of a disability, call Disability Services at 978-3309.
For parking questions, call OneStop at 978-4775.
Heating and cooling, personal space heaters, and sustainability
We need your help.
Facilities Services staff continue their work to ensure our campus is in compliance with Policy 11.27/HVAC Systems Standards, which went into effect on Dec. 10, 2018. Please review this policy here.
Based upon standards of the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) and OSHA recommendations, Policy 11.27 aligns with the best practices used at many colleges and universities. Focused on energy efficiency and comfort, these standards recommend buildings, when occupied, be heated to 68 degrees in the winter, and cooled to 76 degrees in the summer. Studies have determined these temperatures are comfortable for most people who are dressed appropriately for the season.
Many universities suggest students, faculty and staff partner in sustainability efforts by dressing for the season and in layers to help moderate their own personal temperature. Others suggest keeping a blanket or throw at your desk for those particularly cold days. They also suggest considering how office furniture can be rearranged to provide faculty and staff with optimal heating and cooling comfort. (Facilities Services will help rearrange most offices at no charge.)
An important component of the HVAC Systems Standards policy states that space heaters are not allowed on our campus due to their excessive energy consumption, the safety hazards they can create, and their negative impact on the efficiency of HVAC systems. As winter is upon us, we are again asking that faculty and staff remove personal space heaters from our campus. WSU’s Space Heater Policy can be viewed here.
Regarding energy consumption, space heaters typically use more energy than your computer, lights, and all your office equipment combined. During the summer of 2014, Stanford’s Office of Sustainability conducted a plug load equipment inventory which revealed that there were approximately 1,000 space heaters on their campus, creating $150,000 of additional electrical cost annually. Given our approximately $6,000,000 annual utility costs, with just a 5% reduction in consumption we can achieve significant savings.
If you believe a learning or working space on our campus is too hot or cold, it is essential that a work order request be submitted here.
Upon receipt of the work order request, Facilities Services staff will respond and investigate in a timely manner. Should Facilities Services staff determine the space cannot be maintained in compliance with Policy 11.27, temporary use of space heaters will be approved by Facilities Services Fire and Safety staff while repairs are in progress.
Thank you for continuing to work with Facilities Services staff to ensure campuswide compliance with Policy 11.27/HVAC Systems Standards. As partners, we can enhance the success of WSU’s sustainability efforts by reducing our energy consumption, lowering our utility costs, and reducing our carbon footprint.
Submit your applications for Senior Honor awards
Applications are being sought for Wichita State’s 2020 Senior Honor awards. This is considered one of the most prestigious honors a student can receive at WSU. Up to 10 students are chosen for this honor each year. Application deadline is 5 p.m. Friday, Feb. 14, 2020. To review the eligibility requirements and application process, go to www.wichita.edu/seniorhonor.
Save on apparel for Blackout Game
The Shocker Store is having a sale to support the Blackout Game against Memphis this week! Today (Wednesday, Jan. 8), take 20% off all black apparel to make sure you are ready for the game the next day. Sale is valid at both the Shocker Store Braeburn Square location and RSC location. Not valid with other discounts or promotions. Go Shockers!
Free pool for rewards members
Members of the Shocker Sports Grill & Lanes Eat.Drink.Play. Rewards Program can enjoy free pool from 4-7 p.m. Monday-Friday during the month of January! Availability may vary due to group reservations or special events. Not a rewards member? Joining is free and easy, simply stop by the counter.