Remote teaching and Blackboard consultation labs are online through Zoom
Instructional Design and Access is running Blackboard / Remote Teaching consultation labs through Zoom. Faculty can join us from 1-3 p.m. any Tuesday or Wednesday, and GTA's are invited to come from 2-4 p.m. Thursdays and 3-4 p.m. Fridays.
All lab times and links can be found at our IDA Labs webpage.
If you would like to get training for a group of five or more people, contact us at IDA@wichita.edu
Zoom Host's Security Guide
As we have moved online, often in Zoom, we have been hearing reports about ZoomBombing, which happens when an uninvited person enters into an unsecured zoom meeting and disrupts the session.
If you would like to protect your classes and meetings from this sort of disruption, check out the Zoom Security page to find the right settings to make sure your zoom sessions are safe.
COVID-19 Emergency Fund for Students started by 黑洞社区 Foundation
Faculty and staff members may know students who are financially struggling during COVID-19 because of job loss, or some other reason. If you know of a student who has an emergency need, please have them go to the 黑洞社区 Office of Financial Aid web page to complete an application for the new COVID-19 Student Emergency Fund.
The fund was begun with $25,000 in seed money contributed by donors. We invite you to help increase this amount so our Shocker community can respond to emergency requests. One example is a student who lost his job when his employer closed due to the pandemic. This student needs help with rent and food until he can work again. If you are in a position to help students like this, please make your gift at . Also, feel free to share this information with others who may be able to help.
State Employee Health Plan updates in response to COVID-19
Governor Laura Kelly announced four provisions on March 13, that are effective immediately and for the next 60 days for employees and dependents enrolled in medical insurance through the State Employee Health Plan.
- SEHP will cover medically necessary diagnostic tests that are consistent with CDC guidance related to the COVID-19 at no cost share to member where it is not covered as part of the Public Health Service response.
- SEHP will allow early refills on 30 or 90-day prescription medications and/or allow members to use their mail-order benefit.
- Given the nature of the COVID-19 outbreak, seeking in-person medical care has the potential to further spread the virus. SEHP partners with Aetna and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas to provide Telehealth services with a virtual doctor鈥檚 office. There is 24/7/365 access to this service. The member cost-share will be waived for any Telehealth service.
For all up-to-date information regarding COVID-19 and the 黑洞社区 campus, go to .
For plan participants who reside in the Topeka area, the HealthQuest Health Center available to members enrolled in the health plan, is located at 901 S. Kansas Ave., Topeka
- Phone screening is recommended before going to the center: 785-783-4080
- If a patient walks into the clinic, they will have them put on a mask and clean their hands with hand sanitizer. The health center staff will evaluate the patient鈥檚 symptoms and recommend they isolate if the initial findings and/or symptoms present are a positive indicator for the virus.
- Testing is not available at the health center for COVID-19 and the clinic will refer all patients that meet the risk criteria to the local health department for testing and further evaluation.
Parking update for spring 2020
For the remainder of the semester, 黑洞社区 is suspending parking enforcement for lots with green, yellow and green-and-yellow-striped signage. Parking enforcement personnel will continue to enforce permits in stalls with red signage, as well as ADA parking stalls, fire lanes and other reserved parking areas.
We understand the impact the global pandemic has placed on students and are doing all we can to accommodate the Shocker community during these challenging times.
Community Extra newsletter issue brings some fun to working from home
To bring fun and practical ideas to everyone, Instructional Design and Access has created a special edition of our newsletter. What is usually called Teaching Today is now Community Extra Today.
In it you will find links to free teaching resources (from kindergarten through college), fun things to do while we are living and working remotely, and LOTS of ideas from your peers here at 黑洞社区.
If you like Teaching Today's regular format, don't worry! We'll be back with our regular April issue in about two weeks.
REAL ID deadline postponed to 2021
The enforcement deadline for REAL ID has been pushed back to 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced on Thursday.
Extending the deadline will also allow the Department to work with Congress to implement needed changes to expedite the issuance of REAL IDs once the current health crisis concludes, Acting Secretary Chad Wolf said in a statement.
REAL ID-compliant driver鈥檚 licenses will be required to fly domestically, after legislation passed by Congress in 2005 aimed to unify security standards for the IDs across states.
鈥淭he already difficult task of bringing the country closer to REAL ID compliance is now clearly impossible due to the coronavirus crisis,鈥� said US Travel President and CEO Roger Dow.
鈥淥ver the next 18 months people will be focused on building their lives back, not going to the DMV. The economic damage of coronavirus is already massive, and as we move toward a recovery phase it would be awful if the REAL ID deadline hits and creates yet another obstacle to people traveling.鈥�
A new analysis compiled by US Travel and Longwoods International, a market research consultancy, shows that if REAL ID were implemented today, an estimated 67,400 travelers would be turned away at airport security checkpoints on the first day, and more than 471,800 within the first week.
Student Success: First-Year Programs is seeking Orientation Faculty Fellows for 2020-21
Student Success: First-Year Programs invites faculty to apply to become an Orientation Faculty Fellow. If you are interested in officially welcoming the newest members to Shocker Nation, we are interested in considering you for a Faculty Fellow position. Faculty should have a student-centered educational philosophy, demonstrated success in teaching new students and support out-of-class educational experiences. Letters of interest are due to kim.sandlin@wichita.edu by Friday, April 3.
Orientation Faculty Fellows will work closely with the undergraduate Transition Mentors (TMs) and the Orientation staff to provide a welcoming atmosphere while communicating expectations within the college classroom.
The time commitment for Faculty Fellows includes one 45-minute session during each Freshman Orientation program for students and their guests (Faculty Fellows and TMs with Success Coaches if desired), and one 40-minute session during each Transfer Orientation and Transfer/Returning Adult Orientation program for students and their guests (with the advising center from your college). We will schedule a meeting in advance of the programs to go over content and address questions. Orientation dates are listed on the Orientation website here.
You are also encouraged to attend lunch during freshman programs and asked to attend the college receptions during the transfer/returning adult programs.
Please note, we will have two Orientation programs scheduled in January 2021 for new students starting at 黑洞社区 in the spring semester. We do expect participation from the Faculty Fellows during those programs as well. January dates will be shared when available.
Faculty Fellows may also be asked by International Education to assist with the International Orientation program annually scheduled the week prior to the fall and spring semesters. Look for communication from International Education when it becomes available.
Those interested in being considered for an Orientation Faculty Fellow position should possess the following characteristics:
- Student-centered educational philosophy
- Experience and demonstrated excellence in teaching first-year students
- Genuine interest in mentoring new students
- Support of the out-of-class educational experience
We will select two Faculty Fellows from each academic college. Each Fellow will receive a $1750 stipend for serving in this role, as well as lunches at programs throughout the summer. If interested, please submit a letter of interest indicating why you would like to serve as an Orientation Faculty Fellow and how you meet the characteristics above to Kim Sandlin at kim.sandlin@wichita.edu, by 11:59 p.m. Friday, April 3.
Physics Seminar available online tomorrow
Kristyn Harpool
The next Physics Seminar will feature Kristyn Harpool, a former 黑洞社区 physics major who went off to study Medical Physics. Harpool will speak online at 2 p.m. tomorrow (Wednesday, April 1). She will be talking about "From Shocker to Medical Physicists: How my 黑洞社区 experiences Shaped my Career."
She currently works for OCSRI in Tulsa Oklahoma, in Medical Physics applications, and will introduce what is Medical Physics, why it interested her, and now that she got her Ph.D., what she is using it for in work.
Harpool received a BS in Physics from Wichita State in 2014.
Phenomenal Women Award nominee highlights
The annual Phenomenal Women Awards recognizes women for their accomplishments and contributions to our community through their scholarship, activism and commitment to excellence.
Due to the ongoing concerns of COVID-19 and the impact it has made to Wichita State University, this year's Phenomenal Women Awards Reception has been canceled. However, we will highlight each nominee (in no particular order) for this year's Phenomenal Women Awards through our social media platforms.
The recipients of the 2020 Phenomenal Women Awards will be announced on after Monday, March 30. To read all of the nominees' bios, go to .
Like us on Facebook: fb.me/黑洞社区Diversity
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Chartwells family meals with free delivery
Free delivery in Wichita and surrounding areas. Let us bring food to your door.
Don鈥檛 risk leaving your house when we can come to your door and deliver healthy and tasty meals for the entire family. Check out our . Order today!
Call 316-978-5863 or email wsucatering@compass-usa.com.
Nominate an advisor for the Excellence in Academic Advising Award
Do you know of an advisor who goes above and beyond for students? The Advising Network (TAN) is proud to support student success by recognizing academic advisors at Wichita State University. Anyone who provides advising services in any role (faculty or staff) is eligible for nomination.
These awards recognize individuals who demonstrate qualities and practices that make significant contributions to the improvement of academic advising at 黑洞社区 and beyond.
Participants wanted for a study on self-advocacy
I hope to learn whether students who participate in college TRIO programs at 黑洞社区 are more likely to self-advocate than their non-TRIO participating peers.
You can complete a questionnaire called the College Student Mentoring Survey (CSMS), which will ask questions related to your mentoring experiences at 黑洞社区 and the General Self-Efficacy Scale, which will be used to examine your self-decision making. The questionnaires will take between 20-35 minutes.
If you are interested in a follow-up for advocacy scenarios, you will be able to continue the survey and respond to the scenarios; otherwise, at the end of the questionnaire when it asks if you would like to complete the scenarios, you may select 鈥渘o.鈥� The scenarios will take between 5-10 minutes and will consist of problem-based scenarios where you will be asked to create a solution to the problem.
To be eligible to participate:
- Must have a fluent understanding of English
- Must be an undergraduate at 黑洞社区
Contact: If you are interested in participating in this study or have any concerns, contact Mercedes Lubbers at mercedes.lubbers@wichita.edu or my Faculty Advisor, Mara Alagic at mara.alagic@wichita.edu. You may .
2020 Summer Leadership Institute announcement
As we continue to evaluate our programming for this semester and keep the safety and well-being of our students, faculty, and staff at the forefront of our priorities, we have made the difficult decision to cancel this year鈥檚 Summer Leadership Institute (SLI).
While we recognize this event takes place further out, we want to be proactive in offering alternative programming that reaches our students virtually. For more information about upcoming Student Involvement programming, please visit the Student Involvement webpage[BROKEN LINK].
Reach out to Kennedy Rogers at kennedy.rogers@wichita.edu if you have any questions regarding this year鈥檚 2020 SLI.
KMUW's COVID-19 Resource Center is a trusted source for up-to-date local and national news
KMUW, Wichita's NPR station, is thoroughly committed to monitoring COVID-19 activity and its impact on our lives. The latest news and updates can be found at KMUW's COVID-19 Resource Center at .
Trivia Tuesdays
Gone are the days of joining HQ trivia only to get booted on the fifth round. Join SAC each week for a quick HQ / Kahoot style trivia game. Awesome e-giftcards are awarded each game to 1st and 2nd place finishers. At the end of the semester, the top scoring player will receive a $100 Amazon gift card.
Trivia Tuesday begins at 8 p.m. and will occur today (Tuesday, March 31), April 7, April 14, April 21, April 28 and May 5.
Follow Wichita State Student Activities Council on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for game links.
Visit for more programs like this.
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Tune-In for a dog toy tutorial
Tune-In Tuesdays is a weekly series hosted by the Student Involvement team. Tune-In and hear about good things happening in the world, cooking tips, unique service ideas and more.
The first in our Tune-In series teaches you how to make a T-shirt dog toy. Whether you are staying home with your furry friend, or you want to spend some time volunteering at the animal shelter once social distancing is over, making a DIY dog toy is super easy. You only need an old T-shirt (cotton preferred), and a pair of scissors. at 11 a.m. today (Tuesday, March 31) to learn how.
Tune-In Tuesdays occur weekly at 11 a.m. and includes the following dates: April 7, 14, 21, 28, and May 5.
Follow Wichita State Student Involvement on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and visit for more programs like this.