Phone scam to watch out for
It has been reported to ITS Telecommunications that employees are contacting Human Resources in regards to strange phone calls received. The phone calls are saying the person’s social security information has been compromised. What makes these a little different than a normal spam calls is that the calls appear to come from a campus number (316-978-XXXX). This leads people to think this call is coming from the university and is, therefore, a legitimate call. Luckily, we are not aware of anyone that has followed through with the scam.
Please be cautious with your personal information and do not provide it to anyone on a call. Scammers are more clever every day and would love to get your personal and financial information. The Kansas Attorney General’s office has an entire site dedicated to scam calls and how to protect yourself at https://ag.ks.gov/in-your-corner-kansas/. The Federal Trade Commission also has some suggestions on how to recognize a scam, examples of scams, how to stop these calls and what to do if you already paid at https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0208-phone-scams. This site will also allow you to report phones scams.
Unfortunately, there is nothing WSU can do to stop these calls. The Federal Communications Commission has identified blocking illegal robocalls and spoofed caller ID as top priorities; but until all telecommunications providers prevent their customers from spoofing caller IDs, the practice will continue.
The best way to combat calls like this is to be attentive. Do not give out personal, professional or financial information to these callers. If the calls are legitimate, the caller would happily wait on hold while you verify the identity or let you call them back later.
In this time of remote learning and remote work, it is more important than ever to be vigilant with our information.
SEM Update: Goal 3
Carolyn Shaw, Associate Vice President for Strategic Enrollment Management
Goal 3: Increase retention rates of degree seeking underserved student populations
- In recent years we have seen a gradual increase in retention rates for First Time
in College (FTIC) students (see blue line in graph), while the retention rate of underserved
FTICs has remained relatively flat with a noted decline this year. Our five-year goal
is to reach 75% with even greater improvement as a long-term goal, so there is still
work to be done in this area. With over 35% of our student body being first generation
college students, there are significant opportunities around focusing and redesigning
our student services and curriculum to be inclusive and supportive of this population.
Recruitment and Retention Tips:
- Develop First Year Seminar (FYS) courses that will help students personally connect with faculty and their peers and build a foundation for academic success moving forward. https://www.wichita.edu/services/studentsuccess/FY_Seminar.php
- Coordinate freshmen socials/activities to build cohort connectedness.
- Create peer mentoring partnerships among majors with upperclassmen and new majors
- Organize faculty to collectively attend events sponsored by your majors or by your student organizations.
SEM Shout Outs:
- To Ana Lazarin, Engineering Advisor, who coordinates the Shocker Engineering Academy which is funded by the National Science Foundation to diversify the workforce entering STEM fields.
- To the First Gen Coordinating Council for creating a proud culture among faculty, staff and students around the first-generation college identity. wichita.edu/firstgen
- Success Coaches for actively using the At-Risk Report to identify students in danger of not graduating and developing outreach and appointment campaigns to meet with students who have downward trending GPAs and multiple at-risk flags
- To Academic Advisors who are strategically using Navigate to craft outreach campaigns for proactive advising.
Today in Black History...
On Feb. 10, 1964, the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was passed. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex or national origin. Provisions of this Civil Rights Cct forbade discrimination on the basis of sex, as well as, race in hiring, promoting and firing. The act prohibited discrimination in public accommodations and federally funded programs. It also strengthened the enforcement of voting rights and the desegregation of schools.
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 is the nation's benchmark civil rights legislation, and it continues to resonate in America. Passage of the act ended the application of "Jim Crow" laws, which had been upheld by the Supreme Court in the 1896 case Plessy v. Ferguson, in which the court held that racial segregation purported to be "separate but equal" was constitutional.
Video celebrates 125 years of Shocker spirit
The Office of Strategic Communications invites you to view a video to celebrate Wichita State University’s first 125 years of innovation and education. To stay up-to-date on all the university’s videos, subscribe Wichita State’s YouTube channel.
COVID-19 course content gives students opportunities for real-life applications
Amidst the chaos, confusion and grief of the coronavirus pandemic, Fairmount College of Liberal Arts and Sciences faculty are stretching their teaching skills and using the experience for teachable moments.
Read more about COVID-19 classes in LAS
WSU faculty and staff Study Abroad spotlight
Learn more from WSU faculty and staff as they share about their study abroad experiences in college. Faculty and staff will be featured each week through the month of March.
This week, read about Dr. John Perry’s study abroad experience
Faculty nominations sought for president's distinguished service award
Do you know a faculty member who is deeply engaged in service? Do you know A faculty member who exemplifies any of the following?
- Distinguished service to the university
- Distinguished service to the community
- Notable outreach efforts and/or forging of connections between WSU and the community.
- Long-term commitment to WSU through extensive committee service
Consider nominating them for the Presidential Service Award. Please send your nominations to leeann.birdwell@wichita.edu. Complete a nomination form and attach a CV that includes the nominee’s service activities. Previous recipients of this award are not eligible for nomination. The deadline is 5 p.m. Feb. 24.
Tune in to Shock Talk podcast for stories about innovation and entrepreneurship in Wichita
From the Office of Tech Transfer and Commercialization (TTC), Shock Talk is a podcast highlighting innovation and entrepreneurship in Wichita. In each episode, Jacob O’Connor – a current Wichita State student – sits down with a Wichita local to hear their unique and innovative story.
Episodes are 10-15 minutes long and, starting the week of Feb. 15, are released at 7 a.m. every Friday. Listen on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast app.
In the latest episode of Shock Talk, Jacob talked with Wichita State alumna Christina Long. Christina is active in the local ecosystem through her business CML Collective LLC, as well as the non-profit Create Campaign Inc. that she helped found. Jacob and Christina discuss taking the "jump" from a steady job to the world of entrepreneurship. Christina also touches on the importance of having an ecosystem that helps all people
Physics Spring 2021 Seminar Series begins this week
Join us for the first Spring 2021 Physics Seminar Series, featuring Dr. Oleg Kamaev, Canadian Nuclear Laboratories, at 2 p.m. today via Zoom.
One year later: Student Wellness Center proves critical in providing essential campus services
When the new Wichita State University Student Wellness Center opened on campus a year ago in January, Student Health Services (SHS) and Counseling and Prevention Services (CAPS) staff couldn’t have known how important having a bigger and improved facility would be for providing essential physical and mental health services in the midst of a pandemic.
Read more about the Student Wellness Center
Virtual workshops aim to strengthen Shocker research with library help
Are you always looking for reading recommendations? Do you have trouble finding the type of book you want to read? This fun no-cost webinar in conjunction with the Wichita Public Library will introduce participants to useful online resources for finding book recommendations and tools for keeping track of what you’ve read or want to read. No registration required.
Celebrate Lunar New Year at Wichita State
The Lunar New Year is a celebration that starts with the first new moon of the lunisolar calendar and continues until the first full moon. For many Asian cultures, Lunar New Year is a celebration of change, a moment to renew oneself and a time to welcome in the coming year with family and friends. This year’s celebration will start on Feb. 12 and is considered the Year of the Ox. Join Ambassadors for Diversity and Inclusion and the Office of Diversity and Inclusion for an upcoming virtual panel discussion with individuals who celebrate this tradition. Hear from panelists about why they celebrate Lunar New Year and how traditions are passed on to the next generations.
There is a great lineup of panelists who will be part of this virtual panel. Jesse Methman, Henry Tran, Richy Thach and Jingdi Zhang
Register for this virtual program at wichita.edu/odievents.
Upcoming event to discuss how to be a change agent for diversity, equity and inclusion
Dr. Robert Sellers
Dr. Robert Sellers, vice provost for Equity and Inclusion and chief diversity officer, and Charles D. Moody collegiate professor of psychology at the University of Michigan, will speak on the topic "How Faculty and Administrators Can Be Change Agents for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Academy" from 11 a.m.-noon Friday, Feb. 12. Please email sxmalone@shockers.wichita.edu to receive a Zoom link.
Ulrich Museum's Faculty Biennial talks kick off with ADCI's Megan Ewert and Tanna
Burchinal
Celebrate the 23rd Faculty Biennial exhibition, currently on display at the Ulrich Museum of Art on the Wichita State University campus, with Department of Art, Design and Creative Industries faculty as they pair up to talk about their process. The first in this series of virtual talks takes place at 10 a.m. today (Wednesday, Feb. 10), and features Megan Ewert, administrative assistant and adjunct instructor, and Tanna Burchinal, art studio manager. The programs is free but registration is required to get the Zoom link. To register -- and to see the complete listing of Faculty Biennial talks -- visit ulrich.wichita.edu/programs.
SGA elections: Encourage students to take part
Do you have a student in mind to run for a position in the Student Government Association? Encourage them to make their mark on history. The Association Election Commission is excited to formally announce the kick-off of the 2021 General Election season.
It is now finally time for your students to take action and declare themself a candidate
in the 2021 elections. This is a great opportunity to give back to campus and allow
their leadership skills to shine.
Students can visit www.wichita.edu/sgaelections to declare as a candidate. They can send questions to sga.elections@wichita.edu.
TRIO Student Support Services is now accepting applications
Student Support Services is funded by the U.S. Department of Education to provide free academic services to students from first-generation and limited-income backgrounds, as well as students with disabilities.
The free services include: individualized tutoring, academic advising, textbook loans, assistance completing financial aid application, and scholarships exclusively for student participants.
Please refer currently enrolled students to our program, located on the third floor of Grace Wilkie Hall in Suite 309. For more information, visit Student Support Services or call 978-3715.
Nominate students for Student Ambassador Society
Save on popular Uscape Shocker apparel
Save this week on the popular Uscape brand of Wichita State merchandise. Through Saturday, take 20% off Uscape gear in the RSC store, Braeburn Square store and online at shockerstore.com. Not valid with other discounts or promotions.
Office of Student Money Management spring 2021 tax support available
Do you need help filing taxes? While we can't do it for you, we can guide you through the process. The Office for Student Money Management in Student Success partners with Best Coalition from the United Way to offer this free service to support faculty, staff and students.
We are currently only taking virtual appointments. Schedule an appointment with our Peer Financial Coaches at https://bit.ly/osmmappt before the tax deadline on April 15, 2021.
Read more on the tax filing process
Heskett Center Valentine's Day massage specials
This Valentine's Day treat a loved one or yourself to a relaxing massage. It's the perfect gift for your perfect person. You can buy a 90-minute massage at the Heskett Center for only $50. Gift certificates are available. Purchase available until Feb. 14. For more information or to schedule your appointment call 978-3082.