Wichita State resumes normal operations today
Wichita State University will resume normal operations on Wednesday, Feb. 17.
Classes will be held in their regular format, whether in-person, remote, hybrid, Zoom or asynchronous. Employees may return to their usual work schedule.
We thank the campus community for your flexibility.
Transition Mentor nominations are open
The Office of First-Year Programs in Student Success is seeking nominations for this year’s Transition Mentor staff. We are looking for exceptional students who are passionate about WSU and want to help welcome new students to our campus. Transition Mentors are responsible for transitioning students to WSU beginning in the summer with orientation and mentoring new freshmen through the fall semester.
Faculty and staff are encouraged to make nominations now through Feb. 26 at wichita.edu/TM or email Shareika Fisher at shareika.fisher@wichita.edu.
Submit your research summary to WSU research newsletter
Do you conduct research at Wichita State? If so, we want to know about it. The Office of Research is gathering information for its Research and Innovation newsletter about all the exciting research being done at WSU. By filling out this form, we can better tell your story. It only takes about 5 minutes.
Capitol Graduate Research Summit begins Thursday
The 18th annual Capitol Graduate Research Summit (CGRS) begins this Thursday, Feb. 18. CGRS is a research competition and showcase for Kansas Board of Regents universities to raise awareness of graduate research that impacts the State of Kansas.
In previous years at the research was showcased at the Capitol in Topeka, but this year's competition will be virtual providing everyone, along with the the Kansas Legislature, the opportunity to see this great work. Online viewing begins Thursday morning. Take a moment to visit and see the excellent research being showcased by Wichita State's graduate students.
Women Faculty Forum set for Feb. 25
All women faculty and their allies are invited to an open forum with Interim President Rick Muma and Interim Provost Shirley Lefever via Zoom. The forum is an opportunity to discuss issues, challenges and questions of particular importance to women faculty on campus. The event is coordinated by the NSF Advance team, whose members will share their work during the event.
When: 2-3:30 p.m. Feb. 25
Where: Virtual via Zoom
If you’d like to ask questions and share comments before the event, you can submit them here.
Senior Wednesday virtual presentation features pictorial history of Nicodemus
The Ulrich Museum of Art on the Wichita State University campus is excited to host the Senior Wednesday series this week with a virtual presentation on Nicodemus, a small, unincorporated town in Graham County, Kansas, which is the only remaining western town established by African Americans during the Reconstruction era following the Civil War. Nicodemus is now a National Historic Site.
Join the Ulrich at 10:30 a.m. today when Angela Bates, executive director and past president of the Nicodemus Historical Society, shares a pictorial history of the town titled "Children of the Promised Land." Her talk will focus on the unique experiences of mothers and their children in Nicodemus, some of whom were the first members of their families born free. This discussion will explore the dynamics of child-rearing during and after slavery, stories of children conceived in slavery but born free, and the contrast of life and decisions based on the simple concept of "choice," which freedom afforded.
Learn about ISME professional organizations
Discover the many opportunities professional organizations have to offer at this week’s Industrial, Systems and Manufacturing Engineering (ISME) Colloquium. In a first-ever joint event, speakers from ASCM, ASQ, IISE, SME, and Alpha Pi Mu will give presentations explaining what their respective organizations do and highlight some of the key advantages of professional membership.
Join us Friday, Feb. 19 from 11 a.m. to noon.
Meeting ID: 949 1119 0690
Password: 700721
Association for Supply Chain Management (ASCM)
- John Danley, Chapter President; Master Scheduling Manager at Spirit AeroSystems
American Society for Quality (ASQ):
- Roger Merriman, ASQ Aviation, Space and Defense Division — Voice of the Customer Chair; Quality Assurance Manager at Textron Aviation
Institute of Industrial & Systems Engineers (IISE)
- Kirsten Jensen, Chapter President; Logistics & Sustainment Specialist at Textron Aviation
- Tate Lampe, Chapter President-Elect; Research & Technology Engineer at Spirit AeroSystems
- Joshua Kempke, Young Professional; Industrial Engineer at Spirit AeroSystems
Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME)
- Katheryn Daniels, Chapter Vice-Chair and Treasurer; Contract Design Engineer, Dept. of Defense
Alpha Pi Mu
- Dr. John Huffman, Senior Member; Senior Technical Fellow at Spirit AeroSystems
Revisions to remote work guidance and review process are now available
Notice of Revised Remote Work Guidance and Review Procedures – February 12, 2021
On Jan. 15, 2021, President Rick Muma announced new guidance and review procedures for remote work. After listening to questions and comments received about the guidance and review procedures, revisions have been made. The revised guidance and Employee Remote Work Request Form can be found on the HR web page Remote Work Guidance.
Although remote work raises unique legal and administrative issues and must be reviewed and approved before remote work begins, HR and Legal colleagues have worked diligently to ensure only those remote work situations with the most risk require review/approval beyond the direct supervisor.
- The revised guidance requires the Employee Remote Work Request Form be submitted prior to the remote work being performed only when:
- Regular Remote Work is performed at an Alternate Work Location outside the state of Kansas;
- Remote Work is being performed internationally; or
- The Employee is on an H1B/VISA and the Alternate Work Location is different than the Assigned Work Site approved on the H1B/VISA application.
The Employee Remote Work Request Form is not required if Regular Remote Work is performed at an Alternate Work Location within the state of Kansas and in the case of an Employee on H1B/VISA, at the location contained on the VISA application. An optional form has been developed for use by leaders if they find it helpful to memorialize discussions with an employee regarding an approved remote work arrangement in which a review beyond the direct supervisor is not required.
The Employee Remote Work Request Form is intended to gather information needed for each of the three above situations so a review may be conducted and little, if any, additional information may be needed from the Employee. For ease of location and use, there is one form but only the sections that are pertinent to the individual request need be completed (i.e. if remote work is not being performed internationally, the international questions do not need to be answered).
All employees who are required to complete the Employee Remote Work Request Form and have not previously submitted the Form should complete and submit this revised Form no later than February 26, 2021. All previously submitted forms are valid and there is no need to complete the revised form.
We appreciate your feedback and patience as we work through the implementation of this Remote Work Guidance and Review process to ensure we have a process that works both in the immediate term as well as into the future. We know remote work will continue to be an important option for some employees to enhance work/life balance, job satisfaction and being an inclusive work environment.
Wichita and COVID-19 in the news in Orléans, France
Dr. Brigitte Roussel, with the department of MCLL, had a new interview published in the Orléans newspaper "La République du Centre" on Feb. 7. The interview concerned the scope and impact of COVID-19 in the United States, including Kansas. Dr. Roussel is a journalistic liaison for Franco-American matters between the city of Orléans, which is Wichita State's partner university and Wichita's sister city, and the Wichita area.
Locksmith position open to Wichita State employees
The Locksmith Shop is looking for a senior lock systems specialist. Applications will be accepted until Feb. 23. To apply, go to Internal Postings and follow the directions there. For questions or assistance, contact the Talent Acquisition Team at 978-3065 or email employment@wichita.edu.
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.
Encourage students to apply for Senior Honors by Feb. 19
Do you know a senior student who embodies the Shocker spirit? This highly competitive honor is awarded to students who demonstrate outstanding scholarship, leadership, involvement at WSU and service to WSU and the surrounding community. The Senior Honor is one of the most prestigious honors a Wichita State University student can receive, with only 10 students selected each year. Applications are due by 5 p.m. Friday, Feb. 19. Students can apply today at wichita.edu/SeniorHonors.
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.