Shock the Future Town Hall today (Friday, Jan. 25)
Sandra Bibb, dean of the College of Health Professions, will host a College of Health Professions Town Hall meeting to answer questions and spark discussion on the Shock the Future Referendum, a student-led campaign that identifies a list of academic and student success infrastructure needs.
You’re invited to attend the Town Hall at noon today (Friday, Jan. 25), in 200 Ahlberg Hall.
This is your opportunity to listen to students’ thoughts on ڶ’s future and find out more about the potential changes coming to our campus.
College of Engineering dean to hold Shock the Future Town Hall
Dennis R. Livesay, dean of the College of Engineering, will host a College of Engineering Town Hall meeting to answer questions and spark discussion on the Shock the Future Referendum, a student-led campaign that identifies a list of academic and student success infrastructure needs.
You’re invited to attend the Town Hall at 1 p.m. today (Friday, Jan. 25), in 123 Wallace Hall.
This is your opportunity to listen to students’ thoughts on ڶ’s future and find out more about the potential changes coming to our campus.
Two awards given for the Interdisciplinary Program Competition
Darren Defrain / Aaron Rodriguez
The Program Award committee is pleased to announce the winners of the Interdisciplinary Program award competition. Of the 24 original submissions, four were selected for campus presentations in November. After reviewing the final proposals, the committee decided to make two awards: the BS in Facilities Management and the Certificate in Graphic Narrative Coding and Accessibility. Both proposals fully capture our institutional vision to be recognized as the model for applied learning, and focus on making the world a better place to live.
The Facilities Management proposal, submitted by Kara McCluskey, Stan Longhofer, Steven Farmer, and Gary Brooking is designed to meet a clear industry need, combining courses in the Barton School of Business, the College of Engineering and the Fairmount College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. It is designed to train students for increasingly complex careers with smarter buildings and challenging management demands. The degree plan includes applied learning experiences with local industry professionals and corporations.
The Graphic Narrative Coding and Accessibility certificate, submitted by Darren Defrain and Aaron Rodriguez, is highly interdisciplinary (drawing on courses from four different colleges), has the potential to attract students from a variety of majors, and seeks to meet accessibility needs across the nation. The courses in the certificate are focused on hands-on learning to produce graphic novel content that is accessible to those with disabilities. There is a clear growing demand for this content and the skills needed to produce it.
These proposals will now go through the curriculum change process on campus with a hopeful fall implementation.
The committee was inspired by all of the quality submissions for the competition, and had a very difficult timing choosing the final award recipients. The engaging conversations that occurred across campus during this competition were energizing to see, and the committee hopes that these conversations continue in the future. Plans are being made to hold a second competition next fall.
‘There’s No Place Like Shocker Nation’
There's No Place Like Shocker Nation is ڶ's Homecoming 2019 celebration, taking place Monday, Jan. 28 through Saturday, Feb 2. With events taking place all week, it's a great opportunity for all to show their Shocker Spirit.
There's friendly competition, fundraising, royalty voting, and, of course, Shocker basketball. Details about Homecoming and all event sign-ups can be found at . Follow @shockerhoco on Twitter and like @ShockerSTAT on Facebook to keep up with all things Homecoming!
Apply by Feb. 1 for the John A. See Innovation Award
Applications for the John A. See Innovation Award will be accepted until Friday, Feb. 1. 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 Innovation Award. For more information and access to the online application options go to John A. See Innovation Award.
Gearhart to give legislative update today (Friday, Jan. 25)
Zach Gearhart, director of Government Relations, will provide a legislative update at 10 a.m. today (Friday, Jan. 25), in the Morrison Hall boardroom. Interested faculty and staff are welcome to attend.
Academic Affairs announces new emeriti faculty
The Office of Academic Affairs announces new emeriti faculty:
Louis J. Medvene, Professor Emeritus, Department of Psychology
Russell D. Widener, Professor Emeritus, Department of Music
ISME Colloquium today (Friday, Jan. 25)
Wujun Si
Wujun Si, assistant professor in the Department of Industrial, Systems, and Manufacturing Engineering, will present “Reliability Analysis of Advanced High Strength Steel by utilizing Material Microstructures” from 11 a.m.-noon today (Friday, Jan. 25) in 211 Engineering Building.
What training do you need?
Instructional Design and Access has a faculty training day planned in March, and we would like to hear from faculty before we finalize our schedule.
What training topics would you find useful? IDA typically provides training in Blackboard, online pedagogy, accessibility. We can also offer training in manipulating images for your class, using social media, and other related topics, and we regularly partner with ITS for faculty versions of Microsoft trainings.
If you have an idea about what you would find useful for our March trainings, please email us at IDA@wichita.edu. Thank you.
Applications are due today (Friday, Jan. 25) for Shocker Innovation Corps
Build your innovation team. Secure seed funding. Develop your idea. Maintain your IP rights.
Applications are due today (Friday, Jan. 25) for the Shocker Innovation Corps. . Contact us at strategicinitiatives@wichita.edu or call 978-5363.
Weekly Briefing update from Thursday, Jan. 24
In case you missed it, here’s the university update from yesterday’s (Thursday, Jan. 24) Weekly Briefing.
Campus safety
In light of Wednesday's reported robbery, we want to start today’s briefing by reminding every student, faculty, staff and visitor that campus safety is our number-one priority.
The University Police Department is a round-the-clock presence on campus. They can be reached by dialing 911 from any campus phone or by calling (316) 978-3450 from any other phone.
As the semester begins, we’ll continue taking the necessary steps to provide a safe environment where every Shocker can learn, work, live and play.
All-students town hall – noon Jan. 30 in Beggs Ballroom
We want to invite all students to attend the Shock the Future town hall, hosted by Provost Rick Muma, at noon on Jan. 30 in the RSC Beggs Ballroom. This is a great opportunity for students to get their questions answered about the referendum, the proposed campus-wide projects and the ways they will benefit current and future Shockers.
For a full list of upcoming town halls, and to learn more about Shock the Future, visit wichita.edu/shockthefuture.
Esports convention
If you like Esports, you’ll be happy to know that the Wichita Esports Convention will be held Feb. 1-3 in the Experiential Engineering Building. There’ll be vendors, seminars, tournaments featuring games such as Fortnite and League of Legends, a cosplay contest and more. For a full schedule of events, and to purchase tickets, visit .
Hosting this convention is just one way the university is embracing the rising popularity of Esports. Earlier this month, the university also hired a full-time employee to be its Esports coordinator.
Also, this spring, ڶ will have varsity Esports teams and will compete in intercollegiate play through the National Association of Collegiate Esports, a nonprofit membership association comprised of more than 100 schools from across the country.
Students wanting to participate in the Esports program can visit to find out more.
ڶ grad wins national RAISE award
As the university continues to gain national attention for its innovation, so do our outstanding students and graduates.
Last week we were pleased to announce that 2018 ڶ graduate Brock Milford won the prestigious FAA Centers of Excellence DOT Secretary of Transportation Student RAISE Award. He received this award for developing a test to help prevent fuel from catching fire on airplanes while he was an electrical engineering student.
Milford now works full time in the Environmental Test Lab at ڶ’s National Institute for Aviation Research—and we’re excited to see what he accomplishes next.
Innovation Awards
We also want to congratulate all of the honorees at Wednesday's fourth annual Innovation Awards hosted by ڶ Ventures and ڶ Strategic Initiatives.
The Innovation Awards recognize students, faculty, staff and partners who execute programs and initiatives that greatly impact achievements of the university’s mission and vision.
Two highlights from the event include the Bright Future Award, which was awarded to nine outstanding students, and the award for patents, which was presented to 20 recipients for their filing of 11 patents this year—up from two the year before.
For a list of honorees, visit .
University Libraries to hold scavenger hunt
How easily can you find an article? Locate online library services? Test yourself with the Library Scavenger Hunt! There are two parts to this scavenger hunt, which is held in Ablah Library during all library hours from 7:30 a.m. (opening) Monday, Jan. 28 to 2 p.m. Friday, Feb. 1.
Locate library sources online, and visit library customer service areas in person during office hours. Play for prizes! Get started online at or pick up play sheets in Ablah Library.
Cosmosphere CEO to present talk at Wichita State
Join the Wichita Space Initiative's Space Exploration Lecture Series as we welcome Jim Remar, Cosmosphere CEO, who will give a talk titled "SpaceWorks and NASA's 50th Anniversary of Apollo 11 Restoration Project," at 3:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 31, in 100 Lindquist Hall. Remar's talk will describe the restoration work that the Cosmosphere is performing on Apollo-era mission control panels in preparation for NASA’s celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 lunar landing. It is free and open to the public.
Remar is a recognized expert in the areas of museum administration, strategic planning and space artifact preservation and exhibition He joined the Cosmosphere as curator in 2000. After eight years at the Cosmosphere, Remar joined the team at Gregory Inc. as Vice President of Operations.
In 2012, Remar returned to the Cosmosphere as President / COO where he was responsible for all operations of the organization, including SpaceWorks, the department of the Cosmosphere responsible for the restoration of artifacts, as well as the fabrication of exhibitry and high fidelity replicas. The Cosmosphere’s governing board named Remar CEO of the organization January 2018.
For more information about the Wichita Space Initiative and the Space Exploration Lecture Series, go to .
Midwest eSports is back with the Wichita eSports Convention!
Get ready for more eSports tournaments with great prize pools to watch or play, epic vendors, virtual reality, cosplayers and so much more from Friday, Feb. 1 to Sunday, Feb. 3, at the Experiential Engineering Building.
Tickets are $20 for the weekend and can be purchased through the links below.
To see what games are featured and the cost to enter into the tournaments, go to .
RH: Basketball Flashback - 2013 NCAA vs. No. 1 Gonzaga
The Roundhouse podcast continues its men's basketball flashback series with in the NCAA Tournament in Salt Lake City.
Mike Kennedy, and Bob Hull discuss that 76-70 win that advanced the Shockers to the Sweet 16 for
the first time since 2006.
The Shockers made a season-high 14 three-pointers, including five straight to finish
the game, to knock off the tournament's top seed. Ron Baker and Cleanthony Early each
scored 16 points for the Shockers.
Navigating University Libraries: A Welcomefest event on Jan. 30 and Feb. 1
Want to learn more about what University Libraries have to offer? Attend one of our two library tours!
The tours will begin by the Circulation Desk at 4 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 30, and noon Friday, Feb. 1. Both will be followed by an orientation to online services and collections in 217 Ablah.
Library services and collections include 3D scanning and printing, One-Button Studio, VR Zone, interlibrary loan, and digital books, articles, music and movies. Learn about finding free scholarly articles and off-campus access.
Library tips and tools for Grad Students
University Libraries (UL) can make your life easier, especially when it comes to doing library research. Come to this workshop from 1-2 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 5, or 5-6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 7, in 217 Ablah Library, to learn about library resources that help you avoid article charges, the EndNote software program provided by the UL that reduces the effort required to format research papers and citations, technology equipment such as iPads and portable projectors that you can borrow, subject librarians who are available for individual and group consultations, and much more.
Besides brief demonstrations, there will be time for questions and answers. The University Libraries invites all graduate students, especially new ones, to attend. Registration appreciated, but not required.
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