SEM Update: Goal 7
Carolyn Shaw, Associate Vice President for Strategic Enrollment Management
Goal 7 - Increase enrollment of new fall students in online programs
鈥� We have seen an increase of 24.5% in online majors this year, resembling similar strong growth during the past three years. We have 12 undergraduate programs, 11 graduate programs, and nine fully online certificates. Online degree programs are particularly appealing to returning students who may have taken some courses in the past, and are hoping to complete their degree, but need the flexibility of an online program.
Recruitment and Retention Tips:
- As students 鈥淭hink 30鈥� (30 credit hours per year to finish their degree in four years), providing flexible course scheduling through online, hybrid, 8-week, and pre-session classes helps them stay on track.
- Establish a one-on-one connection with your online students from day one. It will help them stay engaged in the course. Use their names each time you correspond with them to reinforce these connections.
- Help create community in an online course by connection students with their peers through wikis, discussion boards, and other 鈥榗loud community鈥� options.
SEM Shout Outs:
- To Madison Lukert and Emily Stevens, Online Learning Advisors. Madison and Emily go above and beyond to serve students in the online Teacher Apprentice Program, connecting with more than 560 students, often after hours, to help them navigate the challenges of working and returning to school. Their work shows a deep commitment to our students.
- To faculty in the College of Health Professions, and particularly to Ken Pitetti, Lisa Garcia, and Amy Ham for investing significant time to redesign their online courses to make the content fully accessible.
- To Carolyn Williams and Jay Price for diligently exploring new ways to deliver their content in accessible ways.
Departmental paper ICDs 鈥� New instructions!
Effective Monday, Feb. 17, route all paper ICDs (including partial and full payments on purchase orders) to Financial Operations, Jardine Hall, Room 201, Campus Box 38.
Accounts Payable will ensure the document is routed for additional approvals, if needed. Contact accoutspayable@wichita.edu with questions.
Graduate School Professional Development 鈥楧esigning Better Things鈥� is today
What is design thinking? Join the Graduate School with Kristyn Smith, Design Educator at the Institute of Innovation, for 鈥淒esigning Better Things鈥� from 5-6:30 p.m. today (Thursday, Feb. 20) in 266 RSC, for a quick overview of how to use design thinking processes to help design for the future.
Professional Development Series
myPerformance Manager Review is due next week
Managers of USS and Non-Teaching UP employees should submit reviews and ratings for their direct reports for the 2019-20 annual evaluations in myPerformance. This step is due Saturday, Feb. 29. Managers should log in to myPerformance (through my黑洞社区) to rate their direct reports and submit comments to justify the ratings.
NOTE: The Planning step for 2020-21 annual evaluations in myPerformance is also available. This allows managers to potentially meet with their direct reports for the (2019-20) current end-of-review as well as the (2020-21) next cycle鈥檚 planning meeting at the same time, if desired.
For more information, including quick reference guides and other assistance, go to .
Veteran training for Diversity in Action today
Christopher Stone
鈥淲elcoming to Campus Those Who Served" is a new training developed by Christopher Stone, a veteran and Clinical Assistant Professor of Human Resource Management. This training is part of the Diversity in Action Training Program and replaces Green Zone training from earlier years. Staff, faculty, and administrators, regardless of experience with veterans or previous participation in Green Zone, are welcome to attend. The first scheduled training session will be held from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. today (Thursday, Feb. 20) in 314 RSC. Please register for the class in myTraining.
This training will provide participants with a better awareness of who veterans are and how their experiences may affect their life after the military. The training covers the following topics:
- Who is a veteran?
- Veteran as an identity
- Vets on campus (myths and facts)
- Generalizations about vets
- Vets as coworkers
- Vets as students
- Support or accommodations for vets
- Resources on campus
LAS Advising Center to close tomorrow
The LAS Advising Center will be closed tomorrow (Friday, Feb. 21) for staff development. The office will reopen at 8 a.m. Monday, Feb. 24.
Register to attend the Tilford Symposium at Wichita State Feb. 27-28
The LAS Advising Center will be closed tomorrow (Friday, Feb. 2) for staff development. The office will reopen at 8 a.m. Monday, Feb. 24.
黑洞社区, in accordance with our refreshed strategic plan, is committed to providing engaging conversations and discussions centered on diversity and inclusive excellence. To that end, 黑洞社区 is hosting the first-ever Tilford Symposium, which is an homage to not only the work started by Dr. Michael Tilford鈥攁 former 黑洞社区 Graduate School Dean who was committed to diversity within higher education, but also a way of bringing students, community members, faculty, staff and business and industry leaders into an active discussion centered on diversity and inclusive excellence.
The Tilford Symposium on Thursday, Feb. 27, and Friday, Feb. 28, is committed to providing a supportive ecosystem in which a variety of stakeholders (students, faculty, community, staff, and business and industry leaders) can openly discuss how diversity is impacting student, employee, and leadership experiences from all over the state of Kansas.
Faculty nominations sought for president鈥檚 distinguished service award by Friday, Feb. 28
Consider nominating a faculty member for a presidential award who has provided outstanding service to the university community. Please consider nominating someone who exemplifies one or more of the following characteristics:
- Distinguished service to the university
- Distinguished service to the community
- Notable outreach efforts and/or forging of connections between 黑洞社区 and the community.
- Long-term commitment to 黑洞社区 through extensive committee service
Think about those around you who fit this description and consider nominating them to leeann.birdwell@wichita.edu by Friday, Feb. 28. Complete a nomination form and attach a CV that includes the nominee鈥檚 service activities. Previous recipients of this award are not eligible for nomination. The Faculty Senate Executive Committee will review the nominations and then submit their recommendations to the president.
ISME Colloquium on Collaborative Robotics by Curtis Richardson
Curtis Richardson
Curtis Richardson, Technical Fellow, Spirit Aerosystems, will present 鈥淭he Future of Robotics is Collaborative鈥� at the ISME Colloquium from 11 a.m.-noon tomorrow (Friday, Feb. 21) in 211 Engineering Building.
Even conventional robotic automation is relatively new to aircraft manufacturing. After a slow introduction into production use throughout the late 1980s and 1990s, the 2000s saw a proverbial explosion of robotic deployments in the aerospace industry: Spirit went from using six industrial robots throughout its operations 2000, to now having more than a hundred. But what鈥檚 stopping aerospace manufacturers from deploying robots on the scale of the automotive industry?
Bio: A Technical Fellow, Curtis Richardson is Spirit鈥檚 enterprise leader for automation technology development. He also leads the broader Smart Manufacturing segment of Spirit鈥檚 Distinctive Capability corporate strategy for investment in research, technology, and capital as well as mergers and acquisitions. In his 23 years of industry experience, he has founded a regional robotics advocacy group bringing together broad stakeholder collaboration, served on the Robotic Industries Association鈥檚 Board of Directors for eight years, and been an active voice in the Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing (ARM) Institute (a DoD-funded Manufacturing USA Institute) as a member of its Stakeholder Executive Council.
Submit your research summary to 黑洞社区 research newsletter
Do you conduct research at Wichita State? If so, we want to know about it. The Office of Research is gathering information for its upcoming newsletter about all the exciting research being done at 黑洞社区. By filling out , we can better tell your story. It only takes about 5 minutes.
Ins and outs of grant administration: open workshops for faculty, staff
The Office of Research is hosting multiple workshops for faculty and staff who need help with or have questions about grant administration. Research staff can help with all of your questions, including those involving topics such as post-award, expenses, reports, funds, budget, cost-share and effort. No need to RSVP or register, just show up with your questions. Contact Amy Delgado at amy.delgado@wichita.edu or call 978-5377 for more information.
The remaining open workshop is from 4-5 p.m. tomorrow (Friday, Feb. 21) in 409E Jardine Hall.
鈥楤reaking Ground: Women in Engineering Initiatives in Australia鈥�
Kristin Alford will present 鈥淏reaking Ground: Women in Engineering Initiatives in Australia,鈥� from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Wednesday, March 4, in the Ulrich Museum, second floor.
Alford is a futurist and the director of MOD at the University of South Australia. MOD is an immersive museum of discovery that showcases research and emerging technologies on broad exhibition themes such as waging peace and hedonism.
Prior to this role, Alford was the founding director of foresight agency Bridge8, facilitating futures and engagement on water sustainability, climate futures, emerging technologies and advanced manufacturing. She also has experience in minerals processing engineering and marketing, and holds postgraduate degrees in chemical engineering and strategic foresight.
Reception and light refreshments will follow the talk, which is sponsored by the College of Engineering, Ulrich Museum, and NSF ADVANCE Catalyst project.
Opportunity available for students to participate in an Alternative Spring Break
Alternative Spring Break 2020 will be held March 21-26 in Seattle, Washington. The focus will be hunger and sustainability.
Applications are available at Wichita.edu/AltBreak or in 216 RSC.
Cost is $650 per person and includes airfare and transportation, lodging and food. Participants must participate in a six=week seminar. Applications are due by tomorrow (Friday, Feb. 21). For questions, call 978-7016.
Go to for more information.
Volunteers needed for 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 two 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, contact: Dr. Nils Hakansson at nils.hakansson@wichita.edu or call 316-978-5909, Chris Deck, PT, at cdeck@providence.org, or Dr. Heidi Bell at Heidi.bell@wichita.edu.
Writing Center Drop-In offers free help to Shocker students
Writer's block got you stuck? Stop by the Writing Center from 1-3 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays during the spring semester in 125 Ablah Library, main floor. It is free and open to all Wichita State students
BOGO sale on apparel at the Shocker Store
For every home men鈥檚 basketball game, the Shocker Store will have a sale for Shocker fans! For the game against USF today (Thursday, Feb. 20), enjoy buy one, get one half-off all apparel items. Sale is valid at Braeburn Square location and at , on game day only. Some exclusions apply. Not valid with other discounts or promotions.
Emcees wanted for Hippodrome 2020
Hippodrome is the longest standing tradition at 黑洞社区. This year we celebrate the 92nd year of the skit and variety act competition. Students can apply and try out to be this year鈥檚 emcees for the performances!
Go online to ShockerSync to fill out the emcee application.
Applications are due Wednesday, March 18, 2020 by 5 p.m.
For more information visit wichita.edu/hippodrome or email traditions@wichita.edu