Organizational updates and preliminary task force recommendations
You have heard much in the past three months about our efforts to navigate the unprecedented challenges of COVID-19. Today, as we look toward the future, I am pleased to share additional organizational updates and preliminary task force recommendations that are the result of careful consideration, university-wide collaboration and conversation, and examination of our peer institutions.
This process began with my hiring late last year and accelerated in late January with the announcement of several initial organizational updates and the creation of nine university task forces, each charged with examining a number of campus issues. In those seven months, I have had the opportunity and pleasure of hearing from many of you in town halls, Senate meetings, departmental and organizational meetings, and informal discussions about your thoughts and vision for our institution 鈥 all of which generated a number of ideas. In addition, I have regularly been meeting with members or our community and region to listen to their concerns and ideas.
This was a very deliberate process to include as many groups from the campus and community as possible to make the best possible decisions for our university, region and state.
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Second candidate to be interviewed for Health Professions dean position today
The Office of Academic Affairs is virtually interviewing four dean candidates for
the College of Health Professions. Anyone is welcome to participate in virtual public
forums with each candidate, streamed live on YouTube.
Sathees Chandra, Ph.D.; director of the Biomedical Sciences Program; professor of Biomedical Sciences, College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Barry University. Wednesday, June 3, and Thursday, June 4. Faculty and staff are invited to participate in a virtual public forum at 3 p.m. today (Wednesday, June 3).
Gregory Hand and Kimberly McDowall Long will be interviewed June 5 and 9 respectively. Phillip Hand was interviewed earlier this week on June 1-2.
See additional information regarding the candidates on the Academic Affairs website
Sign up now for Academic Resources Conference June 8-12
The first half of the new and improved will take place online via Zoom during the week of June 8. Sign up for trainings now via myTraining.
The Academic Resources Conference is Wichita State's largest instructor training event, and this year is greatly expanded and available fully online. All instructors of any rank, student facing staff, and faculty support staff are likely to benefit from this event. If you are interested, you are invited! Zoom events will run the week of June 8 and the week of Aug. 10, and online / on-demand events will be available all summer through the ARC website.
You can see a full list of June events here or browse by topic here.
The June events include:
1) Best practices for online instruction
2) Protecting your mental health
3) Library services and resources
4) Technical training in Blackboard, Panopto, Zoom, and Respondus
5) Tips for creating instructional video
We miss your face! So, this year we are also offering fun, social events each evening from 6-6:50 p.m. These "Cocktail Hour" events include opportunities to discuss classroom engagement, demonstrations of fun online games (yes, attendees will play), and on Friday night a murder mystery night. Sign up for Cocktail Hour events early as their caps are low. No alcohol required for Cocktail Hour, of course.
Sign up for all events through myTraining found in the my黑洞社区 portal. Know an adjunct or new GTA who doesn't have myTraining access? Encourage them to come, and we will handle their sign-up. Just email IDA@wichita.edu.
Convergence Sciences Initiative proposal deadline extended to June 8
The deadline for submission of Convergence Sciences Initiative (CSI) proposals has been extended to Monday, June 8. Faculty and staff may be a Co-PI on more than one proposal. For more information, visit the CSI webpage.
Wichita State professor uses Minecraft to create virtual field camp
Will Parcell, a 黑洞社区 professor, created a virtual version of geology field camp. The camp will use Minecraft so students can map the terrain. The terrain will be based on actual locations in Montana and Wyoming.
Announcing the next Common Read book!
First-Year Programs in Student Success is pleased to announce the 2020-21 Common Read book, 鈥淪ome Were Paupers, Some Were Kings: Dispatches from Kansas,鈥 by Mark E. McCormick.
We are excited to welcome a new class of students using the themes of this book throughout the year! If you have a program, student organization or course that may be interested in using the book, or have any questions, contact First-Year Programs at 978-5420 or Tahrima Musa at tahrima.musa@wichita.edu. See wichita.edu/commonread for more information.
Distribution and return of mifi devices have changed
ITS Telecommunications front office staff is back on campus full-time from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday to Friday. All mifi distribution and returns will go through our office in 027 Jabara Hall going forward. To return or pick up a requested device, simply visit our office and ring the doorbell. Please remember to wear a mask to keep yourself and our staff as safe as possible.
If you have any questions about this procedure, contact us at 316-978-3535 or telecomservices@wichita.edu. Devices can be mailed to us at 黑洞社区 ITS Telecommunications, 1845 Fairmount, Box 061, Wichita, KS 67260
We would like to thank the staff of the Media Resources Center for helping us in the last two months get these mifi鈥檚 into the hands of students, faculty and staff that needed them.
Summer library hours
University Libraries has been working diligently to create a safe, welcoming experience for our students, staff, and faculty, while maintaining safety protocols found in the Shockers United plan. While we are staffing the Libraries in order to provide service hours to the Shocker community, please note that many Libraries employees will continue working remotely.
Real Talk: Debriefing the recent racial events
The Office of Diversity and Inclusion and 黑洞社区 Counseling and Prevention Services are coming together to host an upcoming Real Talk - Intersection Dialogues from 1-2 p.m. today (Wednesday, June 3), via Zoom (Link will be provided after you RSVP).
As we continue to hear more news about the devastating racial events happening in society, our upcoming topic will be "Debriefing the Recent Racial Events." Engage in meaningful dialogues around various topics that impact identity, diversity, inclusion, equity, and society. We welcome you to lean into discomfort and join in on the discussion.
Register for this event at . You will receive the Zoom session link and password after you RSVP. For more information, contact the Office of Diversity and Inclusion at 316-978-3034.
KMUW's digital event will address how the upcoming elections will continue amid the COVID-19 pandemic
COVID-19 has impacted all aspects of social life, including how we vote. In partnership with the League of Women Voters, KMUW's Engage ICT will bring together local experts to discuss how the upcoming elections will continue amid the pandemic. Join us at 5 p.m. Tuesday, June 9. The live conversation will be streamed from KMUW's Facebook page and at . Email your questions in advance to info@kmuw.org.
Participants sought for undergraduate research, please share with students
I am recruiting study participants for my Experiences with Language and Schooling Research Project. This is undergraduate research. Upon completion of the interview, they will also be able to enter a drawing for a $50 gift card. Please help by sharing the following information with students:
Experiences with Spanish and Schooling Research Project
Would you like the chance to win a $50 gift card?
Participate in our study. Interviews will last about 60 minutes and will be conducted to examine the school experiences of students from Spanish speaking backgrounds in terms of language and identity. To participate you must be 18 years or older and have attended a U.S. public school at some point in your academic career. We are looking for Hispanic participants from Spanish-speaking backgrounds, whether you speak Spanish yourself or were just raised in a Spanish-speaking environment. All responses will be confidential.
If you are interested, contact cizacarias@shockers.wichita.edu or jennifer.pearson@wichita.edu for more information.
2021-22 admissions application opens July 1
Wichita State鈥檚 admissions application becomes available to the high school Class of 2021 on Wednesday, July 1. The Office of Admissions launched a social media campaign on June 1 in order to remind students of when the application opens, and to encourage them to apply early. The campaign will run throughout June and end July 1.
Meet a Shocker: Kayla Deines, communication graduate
Kayla Deines has spent her fair share of time in college but it's allowed her to pursue a path she's passionate about. Skilled in marketing, communications and design, Kayla hopes to land a communication job in higher education.
Kayla is one of more than 2,400 students eligible for spring/summer 2020 graduation. Learn more about her time at Wichita State and what is next for the grad.