Shared Governance Discussion Groups coming soon
During the town hall meeting in September, the university gathered feedback on four strategic priority areas. Priority No. 1 is to advance a culture of shared governance built on trust and integrity.
The university will hold discussion groups from Jan. 31-Feb. 7, to bring faculty, staff, administration and student employees together to discuss how we all can make an impact through shared governance. This will be a guided discussion to share with each other, learn from one another, and generate thoughts about shared governance at the university.
The discussion group will go through a process to:
- Identify the current perception of shared governance at the university.
- Identify how faculty, staff, and administration participate in shared governance.
- Identify who you think makes decisions, who is consulted, and who must approve decisions that are made.
- Vision what shared governance could be at the university.
There will be discussion groups scheduled at varying times as shown below.
Thursday, Jan. 31: 9-10:30 a.m., 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m., 1:30-3 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 1: 2-3:30 p.m.
Monday, Feb. 4: 9-10:30 a.m.
Tuesday, Feb. 5: 9-10:30 a.m., 12-1:30 p.m., 2- 3:30 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 7: 9-10:30 a.m.
Please access myTraining on the my黑洞社区 Faculty / Staff page to register for a session. Student employees access myTraining on the my黑洞社区 myFinances page. You may be asked to change sessions to make sure each session represents a cross-section of the university.
We will consolidate the input from each discussion group, identify consistent themes, and recommend a plan that will be shared at open forums to ensure that it accurately reflects the input from the discussion groups and to provide an opportunity for feedback.
Academic Affairs announces search committee for Graduate School dean
The Office of Academic Affairs announces the search committee for the Dean of the Graduate School and Associate VP for Research and Technology Transfer search. For a full list of the search committee and the job description, go to Graduate School Dean Search.
January HealthQuest upcoming events
It鈥檚 the start of a new plan year, which means a fresh start for HealthQuest points! Employees enrolled in 2019 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! Start by registering in the .
In January, there are four events currently scheduled, worth up to 29 points total! Here are some of the upcoming events in January:
- Wednesday, Jan. 16-Wednesday, Feb. 13, 鈥淧ut Some Pep In Your Step鈥� walking challenge. Sign up for the challenge in the , then log your steps in the portal or by syncing your fitness tracker for automatic logging. (4 points)
- Through Friday, Jan. 18, registration is open for the first Naturally Slim class of 2019. (15 points)
- Tuesday, Jan. 22, on-campus Biometric Screening. Schedule your appointment today in the , or by calling 1-888-275-1205, option 3. (Up to 23 points)
- Tuesday, Jan. 22, on-campus Health Coaching. Schedule your appointment today in the , or call 1-888-275-1205, option 3/ (1 point)
- Wednesday, Jan. 23, 鈥�After the Holidays: Managing That Debt鈥� EAP webinar. . (1 point)
We鈥檒l publish upcoming events each month. Check out all currently scheduled 2019 HealthQuest events.
University Libraries to host open house for faculty
黑洞社区 faculty members are invited to join us for an open house from 2-4 p.m. tomorrow (Wednesday, Jan. 16) in the Learning Commons on the first floor of Ablah Library, for a chance to learn more about our services, collections and facilities. Refreshments will be served. Click for more information.
Upcoming Office of Diversity and Inclusion events
Almost every day of the year, the Office of Diversity and Inclusion hosts opportunities for our students, faculty, staff and community members to meet, experience and engage with people of various cultures, identities, perspectives and experiences. As the work of our office in partnership with programs, units and individuals across campus continues, we are hopeful that you will take time out of your busy schedule to join us at one of our upcoming events. Go to for a full list of events.
黑洞社区 announces Innovation Award recipients
The university community is invited to attend the fourth annual 黑洞社区 Innovation Awards at 3 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 22.
The Innovation Awards, hosted by 黑洞社区 Ventures and 黑洞社区 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 will be held in the Beggs Ballroom. It is free and open to the public.
Recipients of the 2018 黑洞社区 Ventures Innovation Awards include:
- Ambassador Karen Davis
- Community Partner Envision
- Creative Works Gerardo Olivares
- First Dollar Billy Martin
- Innovation Partner Spirit AeroSystems
- Patents Gerardo Olivares, Hyuck Kwon, Jie Yang, Khanh Pham, Vis Madhavan, John Tomblin, Brian Brown, Lamia Salah, Jibo He, Barbara Chaparro, Matthew Hannon, Zhiquan Ren, Ramazan Asmatulu, Heath Misak, Shang-You Yang, Paul Wooley, Vamsidhar Patlolla, Chandana K. K. Jayasooriya, Yang-Ki Hong, Ryan Syslo
- Philanthropy 黑洞社区 Foundation
- Pioneer Vinod Namboodiri
- President鈥檚 Innovation Award Jeremy Patterson, Masters of Innovation Design program and students
- SBIR Brandon Hunt
- Shocker Innovation Corps Breakout Heidi Bell
- Shocker Innovation Corps Fellows Wei Wei, James Steck, Ernie Condon, Joel White, Nicole Stahl, Matt Goertz, Heidi Bell, David Hunsicker, Rui Ni, Bhisham Sharma, Li Yao, Scott Miller, Sergio Salinas, Ali Eslami, Vinod Namboodiri, Darren DeFrain
- Shocker Innovation Corps Guru Gaylen Chandler, Chris Broberg
- Trailblazer David Hunsicker
- Visionary 黑洞社区 Tech
- Bright Future Tyler Levesque, Kyle Kopecky, Holli Steiner, Ryan Becker, Seyed Ali Cheraghi, Amy Lightfoot, Dany Diaz-Sustaita, Jared Goering, Alejandro Arias-Esparza
New Graduate Student Orientation set for Jan. 17
The Graduate School will provide a welcome, an overview of graduate student services for new students, and snacks from 2-5 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 17, in 233 RSC.
Visit the . Graduate Student Association events and University Libraries Savvy Workshops will be added as available.
Graduate 黑洞社区 Student of the Year
Do you know a graduate student that has shown exemplary leadership, involvement and service? The 黑洞社区 Graduate Student of the Year Scholarship is awarded to one outstanding graduate student who exemplify these to both the 黑洞社区 and Wichita communities.
Candidates must meet the following criteria: Must have at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA, Must be a graduate student currently enrolled in at least three credit hours at Wichita State.
Please nominate a student by submitting their information to lead.grad@wichita.edu.
For more information, contact Kennedy Rogers at kennedy.rogers@wichita.edu or call 978-3022.
Call for Fiscal Year 2020 Educational Opportunity and Student Fee funding requests
It's again time to begin the process for submission of funding requests through Student Government for the Educational Opportunity Fund and Student Services Fee for FY 20. Through student fees, these programs provide funding for financial assistance to students (Educational Opportunity Fund) or the funding of programs / activities delivered directly to students (student fees).
If you've submitted requests in the past, the Budget / Review Officer should have received an email from the Budget Office last week to kick-off the submission process. If you have not submitted requests in the past, but are considering submitting a new request, please contact Lauren Smith, Jason Post, or David Miller in the Budget Office at 978-3030 for more information.
Requests are due no later than Friday, Jan. 25.
Nominations are open for 2019 Distinguished Service Awards
Do you know an Unclassified Professional (UP) employee who deserves special recognition for their contributions to University? Nominate them for the 2019 Distinguished Service Awards! These awards recognize the dedication and excellence of UP employees who go above and beyond in exemplifying one or more of 黑洞社区 Strategic Values. Selected honorees are recognized at the annual Shocker Pride Celebration.
Submit a nomination by 5 p.m. Friday, Feb. 1, at Distinguished Service Awards. To view a list of previous award recipients, click here.
If you have any questions, contact the committee chair at kayla.jasso@wichita.edu or call 978-7437.
Five high schoolers to be announced as 黑洞社区 Klose scholars
黑洞社区鈥檚 College of Applied Studies will announce winners of the 2019 Doris and Ralph Klose Endowed Scholarship at 1 p.m. today (Tuesday, Jan. 15) in Room 156A of the Corbin Education Center.
The five winners will each receive up to $20,000 in merit and Klose Scholarships upon entering the teacher education program their junior year.
Staying local: Wichita colleges feeding the local talent pipeline
The following Wichita Business Journal story was written by reporter Daniel McCoy.
Local leaders continually say that keeping Wichita鈥檚 homegrown talent close to home will be a major factor in the city meeting its growing workforce demand.
And on that front, Wichita appears to be ahead of the curve.
According to a recent alumni migration study of more than 440 colleges and universities, labor-market research firm Emsi found that among state university graduates, 40 percent nationally wind up living and working within 50 miles of their alma mater.
While the study鈥檚 data for 黑洞社区 shows pockets of Shockers all across the country 鈥� 500 can be found in Maricopa County, Ariz., for example 鈥� Sedgwick County is far away the top county for alumni residents.
The university has found the same in its own graduate surveys, with respondents pointing to a potentially even higher local retention rate.
According to the 黑洞社区 Career Development Center, 85 percent of graduate respondents in 2018 said they were employed within the state of Kansas.
That included 65.5 percent that said they were working in Wichita.
While only comprehensive of those who responded to the survey, Austin says the results indicate that a majority 黑洞社区 graduates are able and willing to stay close to home for work after college.
Other local institutions are doing the same, as the Emsi study also found Sedgwick County as the residence winner for alumni of both Friends University and Newman University by a wide margin.
And that has very real implications for local employers.
is the head of Cargill Inc.鈥檚 protein and salt business and the leader of the company鈥檚 new protein division headquarters in downtown Wichita.
He says that 黑洞社区 is the top school for alumni at its Wichita facility, with Kansas State University in second, and that the company鈥檚 plans for continued growth makes having a local pipeline of talent vital to its success.
And don鈥檛 underestimate the impact that a single graduate can have.
During a recent tour of Cargill鈥檚 new $70-million building with Sen. Jerry Moran, Sikes recounted that the entire idea for it came from one highly-qualified job candidate from Kansas who years ago questioned whether they wanted to work in the dated buildings that previously housed its local operations.
That opened the company鈥檚 eyes to what it might need to do in the future to retain the talent its leadership knew it would need and was the genesis for the new building.
鈥淲e want to make sure people enjoy coming to work here,鈥� Sikes says.
Part-time job available in Office of Undergraduate Admissions - shuttle driver
The Office of Undergraduate Admissions is in search of a part-time shuttle driver to assist prospective students during their visit to campus. The position aims to work 25-30 hours per week and involves flexible weekday hours from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. The application for the position will close by end of day tomorrow (Wednesday, Jan. 16).
Applicants must:
- Pass an initial drug screening
- Possess a Class B or C commercial driver鈥檚 license (CDL)
- Own at least one mode of electronic communication (phone, computer, etc.)
- Have the ability to lift and carry up to 30 lbs.
- Be friendly, welcoming and a promoter of 黑洞社区
Do you know someone who might be a good fit for this role? The application for the position will close by end of day tomorrow (Wednesday, Jan. 16). Please email Jamie Bredbenner at Jamie.Bredbenner@wichita.edu for more information.
Ulrich Museum of Art spring exhibitions / programs / events
The Ulrich Museum of Art has announced its spring 2019 exhibitions, programs and events.
The exhibitions 鈥淚n the Wake鈥� and 鈥淪olving For X = Sustainability鈥� will run from Thursday, Jan. 24-Sunday, March 31. The Frederick Judd Waugh: 鈥淲aterscapes鈥� will run now through Sunday, March 31.
The spring exhibition party will be held from 5-8 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 24, at the Ulrich Museum.
Ulrich Museum spring exhibitions / programs / events
黑洞社区 places eight student interns in D.C. and Topeka
The Political Science Department has placements for all of its D.C. / Topeka interns this semester.
The eight 黑洞社区 students are working for a mix of legislative and interest group offices:
Ariel Khosravipour 鈥� Sen. Jerry Moran (R-Kansas)
Alexandria Arthur 鈥� Sen. Pat Roberts (R-Kansas)
Kathlynn Short 鈥� Sen. John Thune (R-South Dakota)
Alejandro Arias-Esparza 鈥� Fairvote.org
Adrianna Somerville 鈥� ReflectUS
Franciso Salgado 鈥� National Migrant and Seasonal Headstart Association
Jaiden Soupene 鈥� Agenda Clerk to Kansas Senate Democratic Caucus (Topeka)
Hannah Chegwidden 鈥� State Rep. Brandon Whipple (D-Wichita), (Topeka)
The students are a diverse group by age, race and ethnicity, gender and partisanship. Through the support of our departmental donors, including former Gov. Mark Parkinson, and the Cohen Honors College, the Political Science Department covers housing and transportation costs for all interns.
For more information, contact Neal Allen, chairperson, Political Science Department, at neal.allen@wichita.edu or call 978-7133.