Shared Governance and the Shocker Circle
As an exercise in shared governance, a series of Shocker Circles were held in September 2019. First, 鈥淲hat is a Circle?鈥� A Shocker Circle is a gathering of Shockers who, while sitting in circle, has the opportunity to speak about a single topic or run of questions of interest without interruption. A Circle facilitator supports the process and allows everyone an opportunity for full participation. A scribe records the responses.
There were three common questions that were asked during each of the 2019 Shocker Circles:
- What is something you value about the current decision-making process at the university?
- What can the university do to demonstrate respect, trust, and transparency in the decision-making process?
- How can the university best solicit input from staff, faculty, students, and administrators?
A summary report is now available.
In a continued effort to shape a culture of community and engaged listening, the trained Shocker Circle Keepers are available to host future circles. Please share your ideas or requests for future Shocker Circle topics or to learn more about how to become a Shocker Circle Keeper. Questions may be submitted to shocker.circle@wichita.edu.
HCEA Cybersecurity Speaker Series presents Brig. Gen. David Weishaar today (Wednesday, Jan. 29)
Join the Hub for Cybersecurity Education and Awareness from 2-3:30 p.m. today (Wednesday, Jan. 29) in 264 John Bardo Center to hear from Brig. Gen. David Weishaar from the Kansas National Guard and learn more about Creating a Cybersecurity Workforce and Cyber Threat Responsibilities for the Kansas National Guard. Find out more and register at wichita.edu/cyberhub.
Need help with HealthQuest?
It鈥檚 the start of a new plan year, which means a fresh start for HealthQuest points! Employees enrolled in 2020 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!
You may have noticed that the has been completely re-designed for 2020 and all employees and spouses must re-register. Click here for registration instructions.
HR Total Rewards is holding two HealthQuest labs in February to help employees get registered, tour the HealthQuest site and get started on activities. Sign up through myTraining.
- 2-3 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 12 in 122 Jabara Hall
- 9-10 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 19 in 124 Jabara Hall
Any questions, please reach out to HR Total Rewards at TotalRewards@wichita.edu.
Recent Effective Teaching Award recipient to make presentation
The Academy for Effective Teaching invites you to a presentation by Katie Cramer, recent winner of the AET Effective Teaching Award. Her presentation "Teaching and Learning: Setting Expectations, Building Relationships, and Designing Effective Instruction" will be presented at 2 p.m. Friday, Jan. 31, in the Media Resources Center. This presentation will be of interest to all teaching faculty.
Last chance to nominate! 2020 Kansas Governor's Exporter of the Year Award - Deadline Jan. 31
Last chance to nominate! 2020 Kansas Governor's Exporter of the Year Award - Deadline Jan. 31
As a member of the Governor's Trade Coordinating Council, Usha Haley is requesting that you consider nominating a small, medium or large company for the 2020 Kansas Governor's Exporter of the Year Award. The deadline for nominations is Friday, Jan. 31. The nomination process is fairly simple, and the publicity and networking opportunities for companies are large.
For more, quick information, go to kansascommerce.gov/exporter. Concerns or questions? Contact Usha Haley, director, Center for International Business Advancement / Barton Distinguished Chair in International Business, at usha.haley@wichita.edu.
It鈥檚 here! myTraining has a new look!
Out with the old, in with the new. myTraining has a new look! myTraining now has a sleek new design to help you customize your subjects and find free training sessions, presented by Wichita State subject-matter-experts, available to all 黑洞社区 faculty, staff, and student employees.
Worried about the training sessions you had previously registered for? What about your myTraining Transcript? Never fear. All previous content should have rolled over to the new layout. Same content, new look.
More details about this myTraining and much more can be found at or by contacting the myTraining Team at myTraining@wichita.edu.
Important changes for Verizon and EC500 users
Verizon has rolled out a new application that is intended to block robo calls and ensure their end users deal with them less. Unfortunately, it appears to also be blocking campus calls to cellular phones when the EC500 feature is activated to make calls to your university number ring your cellular phone also.
We have a configuration change we can make on the phone system to fix this, but we need to make it only for cellular phones that are configured with EC500 on the desk phone and using Verizon as the carrier. Because not all of the cellular phones using EC500 are university-issued, we don't know the carriers for all of the cellular phones involved.
If you have Verizon as a carrier for your university or personal cellular phone and use EC500 on your desk phone, please submit a request at . Choose 鈥淭elephone Request鈥� as the requested service, then choose 鈥淧rogramming鈥� as the telephone service. In the description, please enter "Robocall change for EC500 and Verizon" and your desk phone extension.
Requests received via this method are the fastest way to complete this. Please email telecomservices@wichita.edu or call 978-3535 if you have any questions or need any assistance with this.
黑洞社区 Weekly Briefing to feature Public Policy Management Center
The 黑洞社区 Weekly Briefing will begin at 10 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 30, in 233 Rhatigan Student Center. The featured speaker will be Misty Bruckner, director, Public Policy Management Center.
Bobby Berry, clinical educator, coordinator, Workforce Leadership and Applied Learning, and director of The FUSE, will give the overall university update.
The briefing will be livestreamed and available later that day at 黑洞社区 . There will be time for questions following the briefing.
Schedule Building open labs available
Need help with Schedule Building or just a quiet space to work on the upcoming Fall Schedule? ITS Applications Training has plenty of opportunities available in myTraining under Banner Schedule Building Open Lab.
You can also sign up for one of the ITS open labs offered every other Thursday afternoon from 2-3 p.m. in 122 Jabara Hall.The ITS training team will be on site to assist you with any training-related questions you have, including Schedule Building.
If these options don鈥檛 work with your schedule, contact ITS training by phone at 978-5800 or email ITS_training@wichita.edu to schedule a time that works best.
Please note that the fall 2021(10) schedule will be due Friday, Jan. 31.
Gearhart to give legislative update on Friday, Jan. 31
Zach Gearhart, director of Government Relations, will provide a legislative update from 9-9:30 a.m. Friday, Jan. 31, in the Morrison Hall boardroom. Interested faculty, staff and students are welcome to attend.
Resume Workshop
Students are invited to a Resume Workshop, hosted by the Career Development Center, from 10:30-11:30 a.m. Friday, Jan. 31, in 261 RSC.
In this workshop students will learn how to organize experiences, talents and skills together 鈥� and most importantly 鈥� what employers are looking for in a resume. You never have a second chance to make a first impression. Let us help you make sure you are putting your best foot forward!
Chances of SBIR / STTR Success Webinar on Tuesday, Feb. 4
You'll spend many hours writing your SBIR or STTR proposal, so you鈥檒l want to give yourself every chance of winning the prize. The proposal review is a critical determinant of success, so give yourself every advantage by writing to those reviewers.
In this webinar from 11 a.m.-noon Tuesday, Feb. 4, learn about how the various federal agencies review SBIR/STTR proposals, what reviewers look for in a proposal, and how to write to 鈥渟ell鈥� your technology. The webinar will also provide formatting tips to make the reviewers鈥� job easier, who makes up a review team, the criteria they use to evaluate proposals, scoring and review and award timing.
Build your skills to supervise people
A Certificate in Supervision is being offered this spring. The Supervisor Certificate has been designed specifically to strengthen and develop the skills you need to do your job right. Each session of the Supervisor Certificate focuses on the unique challenges you face every day and offers solutions to help you achieve your goal of being a successful supervisor. Nobody in your organization has a more immediate impact on productivity and performance than you.
* Transitioning to Supervisor, Communication, Delegation, Legal Issues
* Listening Skills, Solving Problems & Decision Making
* Evaluating performance, Dealing with Conflict, Legal Issues
Sessions run from 4:30-7:30 p.m. on Thursday鈥檚 beginning Feb. 27, and concluding on May 7. The cost is $1,495.
The instructors for the Certificate in Supervision have more than 300 years of management experience working in a variety of industries. They bring their expertise and experiences into the classroom to give you the exposure and practice with real life examples. You will have the chance to practice supervisory skills in a safe environment, with expert help so that you can apply the techniques in your daily routine.
A 10% discount is available for 黑洞社区 faculty, staff and students. Some restrictions apply.
For more information, go to or register at 978-3118.
Call for presentations for Gender & Sexuality in Kansas Conference
Save the date and help spread the news that the call for presentations for the 7th Annual Gender & Sexuality in Kansas Conference on Friday, March 13. Find more information and the CFP link at /genderconference.
We invite submissions of original research and scholarship from any discipline.
Submit a 200-300-word summary of your proposed presentation including topic and/or research questions, methodology and a summary of findings or main themes to be addressed in the presentation.
Presentation formats include traditional presentations are oral with a length of 15-20 minutes, and include a visual aid of some sort (power point, video, poster). Workshops may be longer and usually include an interactive component. Presenters may be individuals or groups.
The deadline for submissions is Sunday, Feb. 16.
This year鈥檚 keynote will be Sarah Deer, citizen of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation of Oklahoma, professor at KU in the School of Public Affairs and Administration and 2019 National Women鈥檚 Hall of Fame inductee.
We hope that you will consider submitting a proposal and share information about the conference with your fellow students, colleagues and others across campus or the Wichita community who may be interested.
Contact Shocker Sociology at 978-3280 or email Jodie Hertzog at jodie.hertzog@wichita.edu with any questions.
Nine music faculty members present Stravinsky's 鈥楾he Soldier鈥檚 Tale鈥�
The School of Music invites you to experience one of Stravinsky's early theatrical works, L'Histoire du soldat, and 鈥淭he Devil's Tale,鈥� a sequel to the piece written by James M. Stephenson at 3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 2, in Miller Concert Hall, Duerksen Fine Arts Center. Performed in English and featuring nine School of Music faculty members, the afternoon concert promises to be an electrifying start to your Super Bowl Sunday.
Admission is free for a student with a 黑洞社区 ID.
Click here for tickets.
First-generation college students take great pride in succeeding and graduating
Attend a brown-bag lunch and learn on 鈥淏ecoming an Individual & Institutional Advocate for First-generation College Students.鈥� Join the First Gen Coordinating Council at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 12, in 233 RSC for a brown bag lunch webinar and brief Q&A session.
Colleges and universities have an opportunity to shift the paradigm of support for first-generation college students from a deficit approach. First-generation college students take great pride in succeeding and graduating (Gibbons & Woodside, 2014). However, first-generation students 鈥渨ho dropped out of college believed they needed to figure out how to do college on their own鈥� (Lightweis, 2014, p. 466). Instead, when higher education institutions shift this paradigm, they have an opportunity to not only improve retention rates, but also provide a holistic support system for student success.
This live briefing will focus on opportunities for students and academic affairs professionals of all functional areas and levels to become individual and institutional advocates for first-generation student success.
Attendees are invited to bring their lunch and join in. Contact Lydia.Santiago@wichita.edu with any questions.
NPR host David Greene to be featured guest at KMUW鈥檚 Third Annual Media Circus Fundraising Gala
KMUW 89.1-FM will welcome NPR鈥檚 David Greene to Wichita, Kansas on Saturday, June 20, as the featured guest of KMUW鈥檚 third annual Media Circus.
KMUW鈥檚 Media Circus is an annual fundraising gala which benefits student internships and helps to ensure the future of public radio and support KMUW鈥檚 mission of providing in-depth and quality news coverage. The event will take place from 6-10 p.m. Saturday, June 20, at The Cotillion, 11120 W. Kellogg Dr.
Greene is an award-winning journalist and New York Times best-selling author. KMUW listeners know him best as host of NPR鈥檚&苍产蝉辫;鈥�Morning Edition.鈥� His time as an NPR foreign correspondent in Moscow led to a best-selling book,&苍产蝉辫;鈥�Midnight in Siberia,鈥� and an Edward R. Murrow Award.
Tickets go on sale May 1 at KMUW.org. Contact Jessica Treadwell, KMUW鈥檚 director of major and planned gifts, at treadwell@kmuw.org to reserve a table of 10 and to learn about business sponsorship opportunities.
More information can be found at .
Join CAPS this semester for Keep Calm & Breathe On
Join Counseling and Prevention Services (CAPS) again this semester for Keep Calm & Breathe On!
Drop in to build structured relaxation time into your life and learn techniques to do relaxation on your own. You will be led in meditation, mindfulness and relaxation practices. The meetings are every Wednesday from 12:15-12:45 p.m. in 257 RSC.
RSC Unplugged presents Miguel Antonio
Stop by the Rhatigan Student Center every Wednesday for the live music series, RSC Unplugged. RSC Unplugged for today (Wednesday, Jan. 29) features Miguel Antonio from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. in the RSC鈥檚 Starbucks Lounge. Grab a cup of coffee and relax with some great music!
Black and Yellow Days coming this spring
On Monday, Feb. 17, the Office of Admissions will host the first of two Black and Yellow Days this spring. 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 spring, students can choose to attend Monday, Feb. 17 or Friday, April 17. Interested students can register at wichita.edu/visit and click on "Admissions Events."
Questions? Contact Sarah Brill, event coordinator and SAS advisor, at sarah.brill@wichita.edu.
LaunchPrep applications now open!
LaunchPrep provides your early stage startup with access to a select group of Wichita鈥檚 most successful entrepreneurs. These mentors, along with round table topics brought to you by industry leaders, creates a winning combination for all participants.
Go to for more information.
Heating and cooling, personal space heaters, and sustainability
We need your help.
Facilities Services staff continue their work to ensure our campus is in compliance with Policy 11.27/HVAC Systems Standards, which went into effect on Dec. 10, 2018. Please review this policy here.
Based upon standards of the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) and OSHA recommendations, Policy 11.27 aligns with the best practices used at many colleges and universities. Focused on energy efficiency and comfort, these standards recommend buildings, when occupied, be heated to 68 degrees in the winter, and cooled to 76 degrees in the summer. Studies have determined these temperatures are comfortable for most people who are dressed appropriately for the season.
Many universities suggest students, faculty and staff partner in sustainability efforts by dressing for the season and in layers to help moderate their own personal temperature. Others suggest keeping a blanket or throw at your desk for those particularly cold days. They also suggest considering how office furniture can be rearranged to provide faculty and staff with optimal heating and cooling comfort. (Facilities Services will help rearrange most offices at no charge.)
An important component of the HVAC Systems Standards policy states that space heaters are not allowed on our campus due to their excessive energy consumption, the safety hazards they can create, and their negative impact on the efficiency of HVAC systems. As winter is upon us, we are again asking that faculty and staff remove personal space heaters from our campus. 黑洞社区鈥檚 Space Heater Policy can be viewed here.
Regarding energy consumption, space heaters typically use more energy than your computer, lights, and all your office equipment combined. During the summer of 2014, Stanford鈥檚 Office of Sustainability conducted a plug load equipment inventory which revealed that there were approximately 1,000 space heaters on their campus, creating $150,000 of additional electrical cost annually. Given our approximately $6,000,000 annual utility costs, with just a 5% reduction in consumption we can achieve significant savings.
If you believe a learning or working space on our campus is too hot or cold, it is essential that a work order request be submitted here.
Upon receipt of the work order request, Facilities Services staff will respond and investigate in a timely manner. Should Facilities Services staff determine the space cannot be maintained in compliance with Policy 11.27, temporary use of space heaters will be approved by Facilities Services Fire and Safety staff while repairs are in progress.
Thank you for continuing to work with Facilities Services staff to ensure campuswide compliance with Policy 11.27/HVAC Systems Standards. As partners, we can enhance the success of 黑洞社区鈥檚 sustainability efforts by reducing our energy consumption, lowering our utility costs, and reducing our carbon footprint.
Shocker Innovation Corps applications are due Feb. 12
The Shocker Innovation Corps nurtures and supports Wichita State entrepreneurial teams interested in accelerating their STEM ideas, research and product commercialization. Ideas / projects can originate from student or faculty work, research and institutional / industrial projects.
Applications for the Shocker I-Corps program for the spring 2020 cohort are due on Wednesday, Feb. 12. Applicants who are accepted will receive up to $2,150 in seed funding, as well as mentoring from local experts, access to entrepreneurial resources, networking with the local innovation ecosystem, and customer validation training.
Undergraduate Research Day at the Capitol
The Kansas Undergraduate Research Day at the Capitol event is an opportunity for students to present their research experiences to state lawmakers in Topeka on Wednesday, March 4. Up to 40 students participate each year, representing each of the state鈥檚 eight public four-year institutions. Students should follow the link here for more information and to apply. Applications are due by Friday, Jan. 31.
Did you know that Student Health Services has medical providers here on campus?
Did you know that Student Health Services has medical care providers right here on campus? Dr. Keller is here regularly, and Dr. Lopez and Dr. Hawley are here on a monthly basis. Get to know your on-campus physicians today!
Wednesdays in Wiedemann with Lynne Davis
Please join us for the first of the Wednesdays in Wiedemann organ recital in Wiedemann Hall with Lynne Davis at 5:15 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 5. Enjoy free admission to hear the great Marcussen organ in a listener-friendly atmosphere in a short, half-hour recital. Come and bring a friend!
Official pink tee for Breast Cancer Awareness basketball games
The Shocker Store is home to the official pink tee for the Breast Cancer Awareness games for the men鈥檚 and women鈥檚 basketball teams. The shirt is just $12, and is available in the RSC, Braeburn Square and Koch Arena Shocker Store locations, as well as online at shockerstore.com. The women鈥檚 game is Saturday, Feb. 1, and the men鈥檚 game is Thursday, Feb. 20. Grab your tee and wear pink for the cause!