Register for the Engaging a Multigenerational Workforce Training coming June 13
This Diversity in Action interactive training will highlight the different generations and their workstyles, while providing a space for participants to learn more about their own work culture. Participants will learn the differences and similarities between the generations, while dispelling stereotypes and celebrating the importance of having a multigenerational workforce. Click on for more information.
This professional development opportunity will be held in from 9-11 a.m. Thursday, June 13, in 266 RSC. It is free and available to all 黑洞社区 employees (faculty and staff). Log in to my黑洞社区 and register through myTraining. For questions, contact myTraining@wichita.edu.
Tuition increase request is Wichita State鈥檚 lowest in 30 years
黑洞社区 is requesting approval for a 1% tuition increase, which would be 黑洞社区鈥檚 lowest tuition percentage increase in at least 30 years. The increase amounts to $34 more a semester for an undergraduate taking 15 hours of courses, paying in-state tuition.
Wichita State鈥檚 historically low increase request is based on increased funding from the Kansas Legislature to help hold down student costs.
All public university requests were shared today (Wednesday, May 15) with the Kansas Board of Regents, which will make the final decision in mid-June. Increases approved by the Regents will go into effect for fall semester.
Among the Kansas research universities, the comparable fee increase requests were 3.1% ($145 more a semester) by Kansas State University and 1% ($50 more a semester) by the University of Kansas.
This year鈥檚 1% 黑洞社区 tuition increase request compares to a 2.5% percent increase for 2019, 2.5% for 2018, 5% for 2017 and 3.6% for 2016.
Student fees proposal
Seventeen key fees remained unchanged in 黑洞社区鈥檚 proposal. These include fees charged by colleges and special programs, those involving laboratory fees and the fee to support student health and wellness programs.
There are only four increased fees recommended, for student services, intercollegiate athletics, online courses and the Honors College.
A detailed list of tuition and fee increase requests is available on the .
President John W. Bardo Celebration of Life - live stream
The recent Celebration of Life live stream is available for viewing above.
黑洞社区's FirePoint Innovations Center supporting U.S. Army modernization priorities
Teamed with the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command (CCDC) Aviation & Missile Center, 黑洞社区鈥檚 FirePoint Innovations Center is collaborating with industry, educational institutions and Department of Defense partners to help Army researchers develop technologies and deliver new capabilities to Army warfighters.
FirePoint鈥檚 efforts enlist innovation and cutting edge technologies from across the nation to help accelerate Army technology development efforts. Recently FirePoint coordinated a productive multi-core processor qualification solutions workshop, held April 30-May 1 at the Air Force Research Laboratory in Dayton, Ohio. The workshop was a follow-on to a successful first workshop held in late 2018.
Partnering with the CCDC Aviation & Missile Center鈥檚 Systems Simulation, Software & Integration Directorate (S3I), the goal of the workshops was to gather bright minds to discuss safety-critical applications.
鈥淚dentifying and mitigating numerous risk elements associated with the introduction of (multi-core processors) into Army aviation systems is a significant challenge,鈥 said Josh McNeil, software airworthiness division chief for S3I.
鈥淭he MCP solutions workshop was a success as it brought together stakeholders from industry, academia, the Army and other DoD organizations from across the country to discuss the risk areas and solutions to the challenge. An emerging outcome of this workshop is the formation of a new community of interest focused on certification requirements, standards development, and implementation guidance for MCPs used in safety-critical applications.鈥
鈥淔irePoint is pleased to partner with the CCDC Aviation & Missile Center on bringing together a community of interest to work on this important issue,鈥 said Peter Perna, FirePoint executive director. 鈥淎irworthiness qualification of multi-core processors is a challenge shared not just by our military, but by general and commercial aviation as well. We鈥檙e looking forward to continuing our work to support the center鈥檚 leadership in this area.鈥
FirePoint was established in September 2017 through a partnership with CCDC Aviation & Missile Center headquartered at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama. The partnership is part of a broader commitment by Wichita State to help the new Army Futures Command address its modernization priorities, including future vertical lift, long-range precision fires, air and missile defense, and next generation tactical ground vehicle.
About FirePoint
FirePoint Innovations Center at 黑洞社区 is a partner of the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command, Aviation and Missile Center. National in scope, FirePoint investigates, collaborates and produces courses of action to solve technology development and transition challenges faced by the Army. FirePoint accelerates the delivery of innovative capabilities to the warfighter through partnerships and engagement with small and large business, universities, and other government organizations.
About the Army CCDC Aviation & Missile Center
The U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command (CCDC) Aviation & Missile Center, formerly known as the Aviation & Missile Research, Development and Engineering Center (AMRDEC), conducts research, development and life cycle engineering to deliver the aviation and missile capabilities the Army depends on to ensure victory on and off the battlefield today and tomorrow. Through collaboration across the command's core technical competencies, CCDC leads in the discovery, development and delivery of a broad range of technology-based capabilities. CCDC is a major subordinate command of the U.S. Army Futures Command.
Participants needed for website evaluation
Participants age 18+ who have experience using websites for renting apartments are needed to help evaluate the usability of a website. If you are interested, please take a few minutes to take the .
If you qualify, you will be contacted to schedule a time to participate. This study takes place on the 黑洞社区 main campus and lasts about 60-90 minutes. Participants in the study will earn $25 for their time.
Questions can be directed to Traci Hart at Traci.Hart@wichita.edu or 978-3807.
黑洞社区 Summer Choir rehearsals start June 3
If you would like to be part of Summer Choir, read on!
The 黑洞社区 Summer choir rehearses in June. We practice Monday and Wednesday from 5-6:50 p.m. Our first rehearsal is Monday, June 3, and the concert will be on Tuesday, June 25. Choir rehearsals are in C-107 Duerksen Fine Arts building. Hope you can join us for singing and fellowship! It is always a great time and some pretty good music as well.
Contact director Tom Wine with questions at 978-6125. Please pass along the invitation to sing. The more the merrier.
More information and a link to register is available below.
The most important information includes:
- Rehearsals begin on Monday, June 3 in room C-107 Duerksen Fine Arts Center
- Rehearsals are Mondays and Wednesdays from 5-6:50 p.m.
- The concert date is Tuesday, June 25 at 黑洞社区.
- Teachers may enroll for college graduate credit, but it is not required for participation.
- Registration is $50 with discounts: $25 for Students, $35 for 黑洞社区 faculty and staff.
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- There are no auditions. Come and sing!
See you in June!
IDEA will not be available next year for course evaluations
Faculty have had two options when choosing a teaching evaluation instrument for the classes they teach, SPTE and IDEA. Last year 89% of classes used SPTE and 11% used IDEA.
We were notified earlier this year by the vendor for IDEA that their platform was changing and that our institutional cost would increase from $5,400 annually to $55,000 annually (with a 4% annual increase) starting in June of this year. Due to budgetary restraints, our IDEA contract will not be renewed for next fiscal year. The Faculty Senate has appointed a committee to provide feedback on different teaching assessment systems and enhancements to accommodate faculty needs in the future.
Retirement reception for Rick Pappas today (Thursday, May 16)
Rick Pappas
The Department of Human Performance Studies will host a retirement reception for Rick Pappas from 4-6 p.m. today (Thursday, May 16), in the Heskett Center lobby. Pappas is retiring from the physical education profession after 40-plus years of service, including the past 10 years teaching physical education at Wichita State.
Pappas enjoyed a successful career of over three decades with Wichita Public Schools before coming to 黑洞社区. He has been a mentor and educator to many students who went on to become successful physical educators, coaches, and administrators.
Join us to show Pappas our appreciation of his outstanding accomplishments and service to our department, the college, and 黑洞社区.
Learn how to become a FUN presenter
We look forward to continuing FUN: Future Now at the Ulrich Museum of Art next year. For more information and to learn how you can become a FUN presenter, please contact Jana Durfee at jana.durfee@wichita.edu.
Kouri Parcourse dedication to be held Tuesday, May 21
The 黑洞社区 community is invited to join Sam and Jacque Kouri in honoring their son, Sammy Kouri Jr., at a dedication of the new Kouri Parcourse near the Heskett Center entrance at 3 p.m. Tuesday, May 21, with a reception following.
A parcourse is an outdoor gym with exercise stations, open to the public. The new facility replaces a parcourse near Heskett funded by the Kouris three decades ago. Weather and age contributed to its decline over the years. The new parcourse, also funded through contributions from the Kouris, has eight fitness stations, three of which are accessible to both disabled and able-bodied individuals. It is built on a rubberized foundation.
Sam and Jacque Kouri have a long record of supporting 黑洞社区, primarily in the arts and athletics. Although Sam Kouri is an alumnus of the University of Oklahoma, he and Jacque have committed themselves to helping Wichita State remain strong and responsive to students.
Sam Kouri, a retired surgeon, and Jacque, a community volunteer, are life members of the Fairmount Society, the 黑洞社区 Foundation鈥檚 top giving club. He has served on the SASO board of directors, and she has served on the 黑洞社区 Foundation's National Advisory Council, College of Fine Arts Advisory Board, and the Ulrich Museum Advisory Board.
Longtime successful bowling coach to retire
Gordon Vadakin
黑洞社区 head bowling coach Gordon Vadakin announced his retirement effective June 13.
Vadakin, who has been the head coach since 1978, said 鈥淚t鈥檚 just time. I鈥檓 ready to spend time with my wife, Cindy, who has been retired for a few years now. My daughter Andrea and her husband Raja live in Seattle with our grandchildren, Ryan (2) and Elora (8 mos.). We want to go spend some extended time with them. My son Kenny married his best friend Cara in a beautiful ceremony last weekend and they will probably start a family here soon. I鈥檓 retiring so I can spend time with my family.鈥
Vadakin鈥檚 career at 黑洞社区 is nothing short of amazing.
Vadakin became the first Gold level college bowling coach in 1985. Over his 40-plus years at Wichita State, he鈥檚 coached 18 national championship teams and nine individual national champions, along with 15 professional bowlers who have gone on to win 59 professional titles. He鈥檚 coached 145 All-Americans, 25 Bowlers of the Year and 239 Academic All-American鈥檚 (3.5 cumulative GPA or higher).
鈥淚鈥檒l miss watching kids come in and grow into young adults,鈥 Vadakin said. 鈥淚鈥檝e always believed that you have to coach the entire person, not just the athlete. Because of that, the coaching staff here gets very involved in their personal lives. I get to watch these student-athletes grow up and mature into adults, graduate with their degrees, and enter their careers. I鈥檒l miss being a part of that, the most.鈥
By the numbers: Gordon Vadakin鈥檚 career
18 鈥 National championship teams under his direction
9 鈥 National championship individuals
369 鈥 Tournament wins
45% - Percentage of tournaments won
25 鈥 Bowlers of the Year and MVPs
145 鈥 NCBCA All-Americans
239 鈥 Academic All-Americans
22 鈥 Academic All-Americans in fall 2018
37 鈥 USBC Eagles won by players he鈥檚 coached
59 鈥 Professional titles won by players he鈥檚 coached
96 鈥 Number of national team members the program has produced under his direction
鈥淭his career and experience has been nothing short of amazing,鈥 said Vadakin. 鈥淚鈥檓 lucky to have spent my life doing what I love. This could not have happened without some key people. I鈥檝e worked with some of the best directors in the world 鈥 Bill Glenn, Bill Smith, Jim Herrman and currently Kevin Konda. I鈥檝e had great leaders to work under, and I鈥檝e been extremely lucky to always have the support of my family. I truly can鈥檛 tell you how excited I am for the program to make this leap and how excited I am to spend some time with my family.鈥
Celebration of life service for professor emeritus Don Malzahn today (Thursday, May 16)
Don Malzahn
Don Malzahn, 73, passed away Saturday, May 11, with his family at his side. A celebration of his life will take place at 3 p.m. Thursday, May 16, Eastminster Presbyterian Church, 1958 N. Webb Road, Wichita.
Malzahn devoted his career to teaching engineering students at Wichita State for 46 years, retiring in fall 2017. Even as a professor emeritus, Malzahn continued to assist in teaching the senior design class (IME 590/690) until fall 2018. He also mentored new faculty who were teaching the course.
黑洞社区AA offers a toast
The 黑洞社区 Alumni Association and Division of Student Affairs will raise a glass to new alums at The Toast, a graduation celebration from 4-5 p.m. Friday, May 17 outside the Rhatigan Student Center. Attending graduates will receive a commemorative 黑洞社区 champagne flute following a brief program presented by The Alumni Association and Vice President of Student Affairs. Cheers!
Meet a Shocker: Devin Martin, math major
Devin Martin began his journey at Wichita State after transferring from Highland Community College in Kansas City. He says his struggles have only built character.
Devin is one of more than 2,400 students eligible for spring 2019 graduation. Learn more about Devin's time at Wichita State and what's next for the senior.
Celebrate graduation night with the Wichita Force
Celebrate with men鈥檚 basketball seniors Markis McDuffie and Samajae Haynes-Jones, and cheer on The Wichita Force as they take on at 7:05 p.m. Saturday, May 18, inside .
Join us for the Largest Graduation party in Wichita! 馃帗馃帗
Purchase $5 end zone or balcony tickets with Promo Code 黑洞社区19 or purchase tickets for $5 and show your 黑洞社区 ID.
Get your tickets today at , the INTRUST Bank Arena box office, or call 755-SEAT.
Outdoor Adventures announces Royals baseball game trip on June 22
Join Campus Recreation鈥檚 Outdoor Adventures team as we watch the Royals take on the Minnesota Twins on Saturday, June 22 at Kauffman Stadium. The first 10,000 fans will receive a KC Royals Hawaiian shirt.
We will eat a light breakfast on the ride up to Kansas City and should arrive at the stadium by 11:30 a.m. After the game we will return to Wichita.