Holiday closedown for 2019
The holiday closedown period has been approved this year to commence at the end of the day on Friday, Dec. 20, and reopen on Thursday morning, Jan. 2, 2020. We are communicating the schedule at this time to ensure all employees can manage their time off appropriately. The closedown is eight (8) days, two of which are paid holidays.
Join an Activation Team now!
We invite you to join other faculty, staff, students and community members at the Strategic Planning Activation Team (AcT) meetings that will be held tomorrow (Tuesday, Jan. 29) in the Rhatigan Student Center.
2-3:30 p.m. Activation Team meetings
Applied Learning, 238 RSC 238 Meeker Room
Interdisciplinary, 240 RSC Mayfield Room
Community and Industry Partnerships, 245 RSC, CUW Room
Innovation, 256 RSC Edmiston Room
Campus Culture, 257 RSC Ashton / Bridges Room
Inclusion, 258 RSC Smoky Hills Room
Assessment / Incentives / Awards, 313 RSC, Prairie Room
Activation Teams (AcT) are the foundation of the strategic planning process at Wichita State University. Each AcT is has been assigned one of the on-goals to critically review.
Teams will conduct a SWOT analysis, complete an asset map and host critical conversations related to their assigned goal. Teams will ultimately report their findings to the Strategic Planning Committee for review and consideration.
When possible, ideas will be shared with responsible campus partners in hopes of informing university practice and activities.
Activation Teams will meet monthly throughout the academic year. To join a team, complete the activation team form.
Resources are available to learn more about budgets and compensation
University officials have received media inquiries lately regarding administrators鈥� compensation. There are several good sources available to everyone regarding budget and compensation.
- -- This page is maintained by the Office of Strategic Communications and provides the university budget and other public information, records and data.
- -- This page is maintained by the Office of the General Counsel and allows the public to view all Kansas Open Records Act requests to 黑洞社区, as well as their responses.
-- KanView is maintained by the Kansas Department of Administration. It鈥檚 an online solution that brings better visibility, openness and accountability to Kansas state government. KanView contains data related to government spending and income, allowing Kansas taxpayers an inside look at government financial activity.
Hugo Wall School of Public Affairs to bring in two faculty candidates
The Hugo Wall School of Public Affairs is bringing two candidates for its local and state government faculty position to campus.
The first candidate, Ruowen Shen, will give a public presentation from 3-4 p.m. today (Monday, Jan. 28) in 207 Lindquist Hall.
The second candidate, Vaswati Chatterjee, will give a public presentation from 3-4 p.m. Monday, Feb. 4, in 207 Lindquist Hall.
Details about the presentations and the candidates are available at the link below.
Ruowen Shen
Doctoral Candidate, Askew School of Public Administration and Policy, Florida State University
Presentation: 3-4 p.m. Monday, Jan. 28, in 207 Lindquist Hall
Ruowen Shen is a doctoral candidate at Florida State University in Tallahassee. Her research interests include how policy influences collaboration in local government and regional governance. For her dissertation she is using GIS to conduct a spatial analysis of residential adoption of solar PV. She was the lead investigator in a study of resident health when cities expand bike paths. This is the study she will discuss in her presentation.
Vaswati Chatterjee
Doctoral Candidate, University of North Texas, Department of Public Administration
Presentation: 3-4 p.m. Monday, Feb. 4, in 207 Lindquist Hall
Vaswati Chatterjee is a doctoral candidate at the University of North Texas in Denton. Her dissertation is entitled 鈥淪mart Growth Policies, Disasters and Economic Resilience: Do Disasters Build Better Communities?鈥� She is interested in how extreme weather events influence policy; e.g. changes in land use and water use policy. She is also working as a research assistant on three different projects funded by the National Science Foundation: 1.) Disaster Preparedness in Native American Communities; 2.) Ebola Response in Dallas-Ft. Worth; and 3.) Response to Flash Floods in Uttarakhand, India.
Health Professions to host Shock the Future Town Hall meeting
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鈥檙e invited to attend the Town Hall at noon today (Monday, Jan. 28) in 200 Ahlberg, Hall.
This is your opportunity to listen to students鈥� thoughts on 黑洞社区鈥檚 future and find out more about the potential changes coming to our campus.
Volunteers needed to help sustain success
As a follow up to the Oct. 25 Strategic Plan Town Hall, and as a next step to the Shared Governance Forums held late last year and early this spring, the Office of Academic Affairs and Strategic Planning Steering Committee are inviting interested university personnel to volunteer their service to sustain progress. Six volunteers are needed to work with the to design an engagement process intended to yield campus-wide involvement in building a trustworthy process for decision-making and responsible transparency.
This reference team, comprised of a diverse representation of 黑洞社区 faculty, staff and students will meet no more than four times in February and March to assist in the design and implementation of 1-3 large group engagements for the 黑洞社区 community. These activities will be aimed at developing shared goals for specific ways that individuals, teams and departments will collaboratively contribute to a cohesive community culture.
Interested persons should email Kaye Monk-Morgan at kaye.monk@wichita.edu with a brief explanation of their desire to serve. Every goal will be made to create a team that reflects the diversity of thought and experience that enriches the 黑洞社区 community.
The deadline for identification of interest is Friday, Feb. 1.
Veterans Administration plans campus visit to provide help with healthcare
Let the VA (Veterans Administration) help you gain access to your VA healthcare and the service that you deserve. VA representatives will visit campus from 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 31, in the Rhatigan Student Center.
Social work, human resources, patient benefits, volunteer services, veteran experience office, public affairs and business development personnel will be on hand to answer your questions.
This event is open to all veterans, dependents, family members using GI benefits and individuals who would like to learn more about veteran benefits, get assistance with enrolling, discuss volunteer opportunities at the VA, and how to apply for federal positions on USA Jobs.
Annual self-employee evaluations are due for USS and non-teaching UP employees
Emails to USS and Non-Teaching UP employees will be sent as a reminder that annual Employee Self-Evaluations are due between Wednesday, Jan. 16-Wednesday, Jan. 30. This allows employees to provide input on job performance and accomplishments. Employees can access their self-evaluation through the myPerformance link found in my黑洞社区. For more information, including quick reference guides, training available, and open labs, go to www.wichita.edu/myPerformance.
2018 W-2 information is available online
W-2 forms for calendar year 2018 are now available. You can find step-by-step instructions here.
Faculty and Staff online W-2 instructions
Emergency need for blood!
Right now, there is less than a three-day supply of most blood types. More than 27,000 pints of blood and platelets have gone uncollected this month because of winter weather and illness. Do your part to help replenish the blood supply by donating next week at the 黑洞社区 Blood Drive from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 30, and Thursday, Jan. 31, in the Heskett Center lobby. A free T-shirt will be given to presenting donors.
Make your appointment at and enter sponsor code: Wichita State, or call 1-800-Red-Cross.
Doctoral students need participants for their research projects
Two 黑洞社区 graduate students (Doctor of Audiology and Doctor of Philosophy) need participants for their research projects. They are studying an existing and a newly developed clinical technique for evaluating function of the middle ear.
Participants must be between the ages of 18 and 35, have normal hearing, have not had an ear infection in the past three months, nor had a cold or flu in the past two weeks. Participants will receive a free comprehensive hearing evaluation and ear examination prior to testing. The testing will take about an hour.
If you are interested in volunteering, contact Devon Holt at deholt2@shockers.wichita.edu or 586-747-3774 or Dr. Sun at Xiao-Ming.Sun@wichita.edu.
Awareness of early deadlines is important for this and future semesters
We are only few days into the new semester which brings excitement but also urgency in relation to early deadlines that can contribute to student persistence. Encourage students to visit the academic calendar to find deadlines related to schedule changes, payment arrangements and refunds.
If students are planning on applying for scholarships to cover costs next year, they should visit the Financial Aid鈥檚 scholarship page to find opportunities. Some scholarship deadlines may have already passed, so let students know now is the time to submit the required information.
LinkedIn: Craft a stellar profile and build a valuable network
For many, LinkedIn is the social media equivalent of an awkward networking event. However, 98 percent of recruiters and 85 percent of hiring managers use LinkedIn to find candidates.
Come to this workshop, co-sponsored by the Career Development Center, from 5-6:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 31, in 266 RSC, where you'll learn how to craft a stellar profile, build a valuable network and leverage both to your best advantage. The presenter will be Christina Unrein, Possibility Lab. Snacks will be provided.
Let us know if you are coming by logging into Handshake with your 黑洞社区ID and password and click 鈥淛oin Event.鈥� An email confirmation will be sent to your "shockers.wichita.edu" email address. Be sure to bring your laptop!
Upcoming events at University Libraries
Upcoming events at the University Libraries include a 鈥淟ibrary Scavenger Hunt,鈥� 鈥淣avigating University Libraries: A Welcomefest Event,鈥� 鈥淟ibrary Tips and Tools for Grad Students,鈥� 鈥淎 Call for Papers! How Do I Publish or Present at Conferences?鈥� and 鈥淰isuals: How Do I Create Effective Research Posters?鈥� Students, faculty, and staff are welcome to attend.
鈥淟ibrary Scavenger Hunt鈥� from 7:30 a.m. Monday, Jan. 28 through 2 p.m. Friday, Feb. 1. Pick up materials in the main corridor of Ablah Library. .
- 鈥淣avigating University Libraries: A Welcomefest Event鈥� from 4-5 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 30 and noon-1 p.m. Friday, Feb. 1. Meet at the Circulation Desk in Ablah Library. See event details at and
- 鈥淟ibrary Tips and Tools for Grad Students鈥� from 1-2 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 5, in 217 Ablah Library, and 5-6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 7, in 217, Ablah Library. See workshop details at
- 鈥淭rademark Tuesday鈥� from 2-3:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 5, in 204, Ablah Library. See workshop details at
- 鈥淎 Call for Papers! How Do I Publish or Present at Conferences?鈥� from 4-5 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 6, in 217 Ablah Library. See workshop details at
- 鈥淰isuals: How Do I Create Effective Research Posters?鈥� from noon-1 p.m. Friday, Feb. 8, in 217 Ablah Library. See workshop details at
For more information and event registration, go to . Students, faculty, and staff are welcome to attend.
Attention faculty! Sign-up now for CourseLeaf Curriculum (CIM) training
CourseLeaf Curriculum (CIM) is the new online curriculum change system replacing the current paper curriculum change forms. It is the complementary system to our existing online catalog (CAT).
黑洞社区鈥檚 CIM go-live kicks off with training for faculty and staff involved in the curriculum change process, submitting and approving curriculum change forms, etc.
Two levels of training will be offered in various sessions Wednesday and Thursday, Feb. 6-7. Go to myTraining on the Faculty / Staff tab in my黑洞社区 to review the details of each session and register for the one applicable to your role in the curriculum change process.
Volunteers sought for upcoming conference at Wichita State
Wichita State is the host of the 27th annual MBLGTACC conference Friday to Sunday, Feb. 15-17. The Midwest Bisexual Lesbian Gay Transgender Asexual College Conference (MBLGTACC) is an annual conference held to connect, educate and empower queer and trans+ college students, faculty and staff around the Midwest and beyond.
The event will be held at the Hyatt Regency Hotel and Century II Conference Center. This year鈥檚 event is expected to draw more than 1,200 students from around the Midwest, and feature speakers and entertainers including Nyle DiMarco, Janaya Khan, Pidgeon Pigonas, and Penny Tration from Ru Paul鈥檚 Drag Race Season 10.
To make this event a success, we need your help! You can choose a volunteer opportunity that fits . Any person who signs up for three or more volunteer spots is eligible for free registration. This is the conference鈥檚 first time in Kansas, so let鈥檚 show them some great Shocker hospitality!
Call for submissions with examples of diversity!
All students, faculty, staff, student organizations and departments are invited to submit entries that are examples of diversity or highlight successes related to diversity. We are looking for all kinds of diversity entries from individual/group projects, workshops, events, mixed media, photography or artwork. The deadline for submission is 5 p.m. Friday, March 15.
For more information and to submit your entry, go to .
Shock Doc: Blane Steckline, eSports at Wichita State
Do you know students interested in taking their passion for video games to a collegiate
level? Through Shocker eSports, whether they want to play casually or competitively,
Wichita State has them covered! The eSports program provides students with access
to computer labs with gaming rigs that are built to handle the game of their choice,
as well as the opportunity to try out for competitive teams playing Overwatch and
Rocket League. As the program grows, additional competitive teams are expected to
be added for games such as Fortnite, League of Legends, Hearthstone, and Counterstrike.
Blane 鈥淒eadly鈥� Steckline is a current Shocker who is competing through the Shocker
eSports Club.
Blane is the Damage Per Second player for the Overwatch team, a Grandmaster-tier player
who has reached rank #64 on the North American server and has competitive gaming experience
at a semi-professional level.
Listen to what Blane says about participating in the eSports program and how it鈥檚
benefited his time in college by connecting him with people who share similar interests
and allowed him to build friendships along the way.
Welcomefest Deals at the Shocker Sports Grill & Lanes
From now through Friday, Feb. 1 the Shocker Sports Grill & Lanes is offering $1.50 bowling games, $3 per hour billiards rentals, and $1.50 hot dogs!
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 today (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.