2020 benefits Open Enrollment events
All benefits-eligible state employees must participate in Open Enrollment! Log in to the Member Administration Portal at to make your elections.
Events occurring this week:
Wednesday, Oct. 9: The Standard Presentation on Optional Life Insurance Open Enrollment at 9 a.m. in 233 RSC. If you are interested in newly enrolling in optional life insurance or need to make changes to your elections for open enrollment this is the presentation for you!
Wednesday, Oct. 9: Open Enrollment Open Lab 2:30-4:30 122 Jabara Hall
Employees can drop in anytime during the open enrollment lab for assistance registering and entering enrollment elections. You can RSVP at . Open Enrollment Labs do not include a presentation of plans or changes.
Due to the high volume of work during the open enrollment period, the HR Total Rewards Team will not be available for walk-in traffic or to make individual appointments regarding open enrollment. Please take advantage of the scheduled presentations, on-demand webinar and open lab sessions. For a full listing of Open Enrollment events visit the . Any questions should be directed to TotalRewards@wichita.edu.
黑洞社区 F1RST-Gen forerunners and supporters
Are you a first-generation college faculty or staff member, and / or an advocate and ally of first-generation students?
Be recognized for your unique accomplishment as an academic doer and let our first-generation college students know that they are not alone here at 黑洞社区.
The F1RST-Gen Coordinating Council would love to include you in the 黑洞社区 F1RST-Gen forerunners and supporters list designed to heighten visibility and awareness of the presence of F1RST-Gen Shockers within the 黑洞社区 community.
A list of 黑洞社区-F1RST Gen forerunners and supporters will be shared in time to celebrate First-Gen Week that begins Monday, Nov. 4.
F1RST-Gen forerunners and supporters
Learn how to properly link articles in Blackboard
Learn how to properly link articles in Blackboard. Many professors download PDF versions of University Libraries鈥� resources and upload them as files to Blackboard classes, but doing so invites many problems. Linking articles helps ensure the most accessible version is always showing in your course, and helps with technical issues in Blackboard classes, while ensuring professors are not accidentally violating copyright problems.
- Resources from the Libraries鈥� databases can be linked in Blackboard if you use the 鈥減ermanent鈥� URL (not the URL in the 鈥渁ddress bar.鈥�) Permanent URL鈥檚 are also called 鈥渟table,鈥� 鈥渄urable鈥�, 鈥減ermalink鈥�, or a similar term. For more on how to link articles can be found at the .
- Remember that all links in Blackboard should be named something descriptive, and should not be presented as a 鈥渞aw鈥� URL.
Do you need help learning to use these tools? Stop by IDA鈥檚 Blackboard and Accessibility Lab any time between 1-3 p.m. on Tuesdays or Wednesdays in Ablah Library鈥檚 C-Space.
Engage ICT and 1A Across America present Women in Politics & The GOP
KMUW's Engage ICT and 1A Across America present Women in Politics & The GOP. Joshua Johnson, host of the national radio program 1A, will guest host this conversation at Crown Uptown Theatre at 6 p.m. today (Tuesday, Oct. 8).
Things have changed a lot for women over the last hundred years, from winning the right to vote to holding more seats in Congress than ever before. Democratic women swept the 2018 midterms, and now a record number of Republican women are planning to run for office in 2020.
We鈥檒l hear from two women on why they ran, how they serve, and why they chose the party they did. We鈥檙e taking your questions, too. What do you want to know about how 2020 is shaping up for women in politics? This event is free to attend and open to all. Visit to learn more.
Office of Strategic Communications will be closed Wednesday morning
The Office of Strategic Communications will be closed from 8 a.m.-noon tomorrow (Wednesday, Oct. 9) because of the seminar it is conducting that day on campus.
There鈥檚 still time to create a First-Year Seminar!
There is still time for faculty who are interested in creating a First-Year Seminar for fall 2020! We encourage a submission soon in order for courses to be fully approved by the time schedule-building begins in January.
Aaron Rife (aaron.rife@wichita.edu) is happy to help you through the process of creating your dream class. Contact him or visit for more information and resources.
Joint senate meeting set for Oct. 15
Join the USS and UP Senates at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 15, in 233 RSC for their joint meeting. All meetings are open to the campus community.
Cargill will be on-campus tomorrow (Wednesday, Oct. 9) to talk with students about employment opportunities
The 黑洞社区 Career Development Center is excited to host Cargill on-campus from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. tomorrow (Wednesday, Oct. 9) on the first floor, RSC. Encourage students to come grab a slice of pizza and discuss internship and career opportunities with Cargill.
Son of Gordon Parks returns to Kansas for 50th anniversary of The Learning Tree
David Parks, an American photographer, film director and author, will be a guest on the 黑洞社区 campus Wednesday, Oct. 9 and Thursday, Oct. 10. He is the son of the late photographer, filmmaker, director, composer and author Gordon Parks.
Parks will discuss the 50th anniversary of "The Learning Tree" in two of Dr. Marche' Fleming-Randle's classes in Lindquist Hall. He will then do a meet and greet with student veterans at the Capt. Riley Leroy Pitts Military and Veterans Student Center in Grace Wilkie.
鈥淭he Learning Tree鈥� is a 1969 American drama film written and directed by Gordon Parks, a native of Fort Scott, Kansas, who became prominent in U.S. documentary photojournalism in the 1940s through the 1970s. He was the first African American to produce and director major motion pictures in the U.S. The film is based on Gordon Parks鈥� semi-autobiographical novel of the same name.
David Parks returns to Kansas annually to participate in activities honoring his late father. He will participate in the Gordon Parks Celebration Days Oct. 3-5 at Fort Scott Community College and at schools named after Gordon Parks in Wichita and Kansas City.
Born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, David Parks now lives in Austin, Texas. In 1965, he began a two-year tour in the U.S. Army, including eight months in combat in the Vietnam War, where he received two Purple Hearts. His book, 鈥淕I Diary,鈥� is a collection of writings and photographs documenting his experience as an African American soldier in the war. Published in 1968 by Harper & Row, it became one of the top-10 best-selling books of that year.
The Fourth Annual Ad Astra Conference for first-generation students is scheduled for Oct. 25-26
This conference is a two-day event where first-generation college students across the state meet each other, share common challenges and opportunities and get information about how to better understand the college experience and society.
This year's conference will focus on topics such as imposter syndrome, using your strengths for success, developing soft skills, and the importance of the advising relationship, among others. It will include a game night, fashion show and other interactive networking sessions.
Ulrich Museum of Art seeks presenters for PechaKucha style presentations highlighting campuswide research
FUN / Future Now at the Ulrich is a series of PeckaKucha-style presentations featuring campuswide research - three Fridays, four presentations, seven minutes each.
There are spots available for the following dates:
4-5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 25, with reception. Deadline for submission Friday, Oct. 11
4-5 p.m. Friday, Nov. 22, with reception. Deadline for submission Friday, Nov. 1
We are simply asking that an email proposal be sent to jana.erwin@wichita.edu with the following info:
Name / Title / Department / Research Topic / Preferred Date
This program is an extension Solving for X 鈥� a series of exhibitions organized by the Ulrich Museum of Art in collaboration with university scholars across campus. The objective is to explore the potential for the museum, as a 黑洞社区 public access point, to make accessible the fascinating and essential research taking place on campus.
LGBTQ+ research volunteers needed!
Volunteers are needed for a research study. Students from the 黑洞社区 Physician Assistant Program want to identify health care barriers faced by the LGBTQ+ community so we can educate providers on how to address and overcome these barriers.
This will be an anonymous online survey that should take approximately 15-20 minutes.
Participants must be 18 years or older and identify as LGBTQ+.
If you have any questions about the survey, please contact PA Faculty Research Advisor Ronda Hanneman at 316-978-3011.
Volunteers needed for a research study
Study name: Effects of Lower Extremity Blood Flow Restriction Exercise on Strength Generation and Interleukin 6 Levels in the Elderly
Research Topic/Purpose of the study: To determine whether Blood Flow Restriction therapy during moderate exercise by people 55 years of age or older results in improved functional activity and health outcomes. Such findings may provide a new approach to promoting health through moderate exercise.
Procedures: Participants will pedal an exercise bike with or without Blood Flow Restriction therapy for approximately 30-minutes, three times per week over a 12-week period. At the beginning of the study and every three weeks, blood samples will be collected and tested for proteins related to exercise and a 30 second sit-to-stand activity will be performed to assess exercise functional outcomes.
Time: Participation is expected to last about 45 minutes. Inclusion/Exclusion Criteria:
- Participants must be age 55 or older
- No known muscular disorders
- No known neurological disorders
- No known cardiopulmonary disorders
- No use of nicotine products
- Not have diabetes
- Not be in an active exercise program
Location: 黑洞社区 Heskett Center Cycling Studio
Contact: If you are interested in participating in this study please contact Nils Hakansson at nils.hakansson@wichita.edu or call 316-978-5909 Chris Deck, PT, at cdeck@providence.org or Heidi Bell at Heidi.bell@wichita.edu.
Admissions welcomes your input for two Black and Yellow Days in October
On Friday, Oct. 11, the Office of Admissions will host the first of two Black and Yellow Days this fall. Each semester, we invite high school juniors, seniors and college transfer students to this all-day event on campus where they have the chance to participate in sessions hosted by each academic college, tour campus and explore the hands-on learning opportunities available at 黑洞社区.
The event is $15 per student and $5 per guest and includes lunch in Shocker Hall Dining. This fall, students can choose to attend Friday, Oct. 11, or Friday, Oct. 25.
If you know any students who should attend this event, they can register at and click on "Admissions Events." For questions, contact Sarah Brill at 978-3638 or Sarah.Brill@wichita.edu.
黑洞社区 Women鈥檚 Basketball in need of graduate assistant
Wichita State Women's Basketball is in need of a graduate assistant with emphasis in graphic design and video coordination.
Duties will include, but are not limited to: (1) Support the digital, graphic design and photography needs of women鈥檚 basketball. (2) Collaborate with women鈥檚 basketball staff and team managers on practice and game film. (3) Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned. A scholarship will be offered to the candidate chosen.
- Bachelor鈥檚 degree required.
- Adaptive design eye and skill.
- Proficient in the use of Adobe Creative Suite (i.e. Photoshop) and Microsoft Office products
- Ability to design marketing skills.
- Preferred skills in graphic design, videography and photography.
- Exceptional teamwork and communication skills to collaborate daily with women鈥檚 basketball staff and team managers.
- Creative, self-motivated individual who takes initiative and has strong determination to work through difficult challenges.
- Ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously.
- Capable of working a flexible schedule and extended hours including but not limited to working early mornings, nights, weekends, and holidays.
- Must be admitted to a graduate program at 黑洞社区.
Please send cover letter, resume and samples to Erica Yancey at eyancey@goshockers.com.
Volunteers needed for the Pumpkin Run
The 24th annual Pumpkin Run 5K and 1K is less than four weeks away! Each year Campus Recreation hosts 黑洞社区's largest 5K bringing about 1,000 students, staff, and community members to campus promoting fun, fitness, and fundraising.
This year's proceeds will help support ICT SOS, a Wichita-based organization that fights against human sex trafficking.
Events of this size simply can't succeed without the help and support of volunteers, so if you have a free schedule please use the link below to sign up. Duties range from fruit cutting to pumpkin painting, result tables to cheer groups. All volunteers will be supplied with free breakfast on the morning of the race.
This year's race will start at 9 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 19. Volunteers are asked to be available from 8-11 a.m. Sign up at .
Host a trunk at Trunk or Treat!
Trunk or Treat is a family-orientated event welcoming Shockers of all ages to campus for a safe alternative to traditional trick-or-treating. Student Activities Council wants your department or student organization to host a trunk!
Register your department to host a festively decorated trunk at the event and provide candy and/or interactive activities for the families of 黑洞社区 students, faculty, and staff, as well as kids from the local USD 259 school system. Register your trunk here! Registration closes Friday, Oct. 18.
Contact Randi Beggs at randi.beggs@wichita.edu with any questions about the event.