黑洞社区

Annual Appointment Notices are now available online!

 

2021 Fiscal and Academic Year annual Appointment Notices are available online and will not be printed and distributed to departments.

Please note that University Support Staff (USS) and Non-Benefit Eligible employees (Students, Lecturers and Temporary employees) are not subject to the annual Appointment Notice process. Athletics employees will receive Appointment Notices through a separate process later in July.

Therefore, Unclassified Professionals (UP) and Faculty can view, electronically acknowledge, and print their 2021 Appointment Notice through my黑洞社区:

• My黑洞社区 (Chrome is the preferred browser)
• Faculty/Staff tab
• Human Resources Links
• Notice of Appointment (you may need to clear the browser cache to see the link)

2021 Appointment Notices will be available to view, electronically acknowledge, print and revisit through Aug. 31, 2020. Because of the sensitive nature of this data, always close the browser to protect privacy.

Please contact the Help Desk at 978-4357 for assistance logging into My黑洞社区.

For questions with any of the information contained on your Fiscal Year 2021 Appointment Notice, please discuss with your supervisor and they may contact HR.ServiceCenter@wichita.edu if needed.

Stands proudly: Wichita State celebrates its 125th Anniversary

• 黑洞社区 started as Fairmount College in 1895. It is celebrating its 125th Anniversary in 2020-21.
• Events ranging from history months to innovation contests to athletics will mark the anniversary, both with in-person and remote gatherings.
• July will celebrate the university's link to Wichita, which is marking its 150th birthday.

 Read complete story

Chemical Clean-Out Week coming July 6-10

Old, expired or unwanted chemicals being stored in your department can create potential hazards for employees and students and can be an environmental and regulatory liability.

During the week of July 6-10, the Environmental, Health and Safety (EHS) Department will pick up any university-related waste chemicals or other hazardous items. This event is an opportunity for all departments to clean out these items in a safe and compliant manner. Items will be picked up in your department by the EHS staff. Items include paints, solvents, lab chemicals, acids, oils, light bulbs, batteries, etc. 

If you have items for pick up, please submit a Facilities Services work order before Friday, July 10.

Safety note:  If any of your chemical containers have crystals or powder build-up on the container, do not attempt to move them. Some crystals on old chemical containers can be shock-sensitive and can explode.

If you discover a chemical container with crystals or powder build-up, contact Mike Strickland at 978-3347 or Andrew Clem at 978-7904 immediately.

Reasons not to require video sharing

Daniel Bergman

Dr. Danny Bergman, professor in the School of Education, recently had an article published in the American Association of Colleges of Teacher Education鈥檚 鈥淓d Prep Matters鈥� blog about lessons he has learned (or re-learned) from Zoom about teaching both online and in person.

Power of Prep - Lunch & Learn on July 15

Have questions about financial aid and what to expect throughout the semester? Are you in a time crunch? We know you're dedicated to enhancing your life for the long run, we get it! With school starting, we've gathered so many powerful resources to fuel your academic goals.

We are hosting a Lunch and Learn event for Online and Adult Learners. Pop in and say hi from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. on Wednesday, July 15. We will be featuring the Office of Financial Aid and discuss the following:

• How to pay for school and what are my options
• What to expect your first semester
• Q&A with your peers
• Attending the event will automatically place you in a drawing for 黑洞社区 Back-to-School Gear

Stay up-to-date with University Libraries

Keep up-to-date on when, where and how to use library resources on our website. For questions, send us an email at librarystaff@wichita.edu or call us at 316-978-3481.

Watch out: Gift card email scams gaining popularity

Gift card scams have been gaining popularity. You may see an email claiming to be from your manager saying, "I need you to do something for me right away." They will respond to your emails or even text you. Their goal 鈥� fool you into buying gift cards under the guise as an urgent request from an authority figure. Look for the warning signs!

1. Any requests to purchase gift cards with personal or P-Card, which is a banned transaction.
2. The email has the warning banner that the email is from outside of 黑洞社区.
3. Email is not from a @wichita.edu account.

Buying gift cards with personal funds is a non-reimbursable expense! If you purchase gift cards on a personal card, you are caught with the bill.

Be smart. Don鈥檛 get scammed!

Have questions? Email askinfosec@wichita.edu for general questions, and report phishing at spamreport@wichita.edu.

The Office of Research invites Notices of Intent to apply for NSF鈥檚 Major Research Implementation program

The 黑洞社区 Office of Research invites you to consider applying for the National Science Foundation's (NSF) Major Research Implementation Program (MRI).

Because 黑洞社区 is limited to submitting two Track 1 proposals and one Track 2 proposal, interested researchers must notify the Office of Research of their intent to apply by noon July 14, via proposals@wichita.edu. Internal Pre-proposals may be required to determine which proposals will proceed, and if required will be due by noon July 21. Full applications will be due to NSF on Jan. 19, 2021. Track 1 proposals are for amounts between $100,000, and up to $1,000,000. Track 2 proposals are for amounts between $1 million and $4 million. Proposals will also require a cost match.

The NSF MRI program "serves to increase access to multi-user scientific and engineering instrumentation for research and research training in our nation's institutions of higher education and not-for-profit scientific / engineering research organizations.

An MRI award supports the acquisition or development of a multi-user research instrument that is, in general, too costly and/or not appropriate for support through other NSF programs. MRI provides support to acquire critical research instrumentation without which advances in fundamental science and engineering research may not otherwise occur. MRI also provides support to develop next-generation research instruments that open new opportunities to advance the frontiers in science and engineering research. Additionally, an MRI award is expected to enhance research training of students who will become the next generation of instrument users, designers and builders.

Limited Submission Opportunities

IRB moving to Phase 2 of Human Subjects Research Restoration Plan

The 黑洞社区 Institutional Review Board is ready to move to Phase 2 of our Human Subjects Research Restoration Plan today (Wednesday, July 1). During Phase 2, researchers are permitted to conduct studies without maintaining physical distancing. However, researchers should strive to achieve as much physical distancing as possible and precautions to prevent viral spread (e.g., PPE, disinfecting, etc.) will still need to be taken. A Virus Protection Plan (VPP) must be submitted to the IRB for review and approval prior to the start date.

Authorization to conduct research will be granted following review of the VPP by the IRB.

Please visit Wichita State鈥檚 IRB website for more information or contact irb@wichita.edu with any questions.

Offices closing at 1 p.m. on July 2

OneStop, Registrar's Office, Financial Aid and Financial Operations (Purchasing, Payroll, Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable/Cashiers) will close at 1 p.m. tomorrow (Thursday, July 2). Offices will reopen on Monday, July 6. Students will still be able to receive 24/7 support by phone by calling 1-855-978-1787 or online at .

黑洞社区 Postal Services to close at 1 p.m. July 2

In observance of the 4th of July holiday, 黑洞社区 Postal Services will close the office at 1 p.m. tomorrow (Thursday, July 2).

Normal business hours will resume at 7:30 a.m. Monday, July 6.

Thank you!

黑洞社区 Postal Services Manager

University Libraries closed July 3

黑洞社区 Libraries will be closed Friday, July 3 in observance of Independence Day. Our faculty, staff, and students wish everyone a happy and safe holiday!

RSC and departments closed Friday for Independence Day holiday

The Rhatigan Student Center and its departments will be closed Friday, July 3, in observance of the Independence Day holiday. For regular building and department hours of operation, go to .

Virtual Lunch & Learn with Cathy Polinsky (CTO of Stitch Fix) - tomorrow!

Attend a virtual Lunch & Learn with Cathy Polinsky, CTO of Stitch Fix, from 2-3 p.m. tomorrow (Thursday, July 2), hosted by WayUp. She currently leads the Engineering, Product & UX, Security, and IT organizations. Prior to her four years at Stitch Fix, Cathy held several leadership roles at top technology firms, including SVP Engineering at Salesforce and Sr. Engineering Manager at Yahoo.

** You must pre-register for this event! Log into Handshake and click on event and click green button: "External Registration." **

Impacted by the layoffs in Wichita?

In the news lately, we鈥檝e been hearing about the impact across Wichita of the market uncertainty and layoffs that are affecting local businesses and their employees.

If you are a benefits-eligible employee at 黑洞社区 and you or your spouse is losing health insurance through another employer, this can be a qualifying event for you to add your spouse and/or children to your existing coverages within 31 days of the date the other coverage ends. Email TotalRewards@wichita.edu for more information or assistance with this change.

Human Resources has developed a website with information and resources which might be helpful for employees who may be directly impacted by layoffs. Visit  for information and resources available to you.

July HealthQuest upcoming events

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!

In June, the Health Care Commission (HCC) voted to reduce the number of HealthQuest credits required to receive the 2021 premium incentive discount. The credit requirement was reduced from 40 points to 20 points, due to the exceptional circumstances created by COVID-19.

In addition, the HSA/HRA Dollars awarded for each HealthQuest credit completed has been increased from $10 to $20 per credit, up to the maximum of $500 per member. This change applies only to the 2020 plan year and is retroactive for credits earned since January 1.

Blackboard to be inaccessible July 4-5

Blackboard will go down at 1 p.m. July 4, and will be inaccessible until after 5 a.m. July 5. During this time, Blackboard will go through a major update, and it's possible this update will cause some technical problems and disturbances throughout the day on July 5. If you are working on anything in Blackboard, make sure it's saved to the system no later than July 3 to avoid losing your work.

Please join the 黑洞社区 community in recognizing Steve White

After 29 years of service to the State of Kansas, Director of Purchasing Steve White will officially retire on July 10.

Steve has been a valuable asset to 黑洞社区 with his hard work and dedication. His contribution to the overall procurement process, the daily operations of the department, and the individual guidance he has provided will be sorely missed.

Retirement will surely offer him new opportunities, which we know he will embrace wholeheartedly, just as he did here at 黑洞社区.

Congratulations on a standout career and best wishes for your next chapter in life!

Add special 125th signature to your email

Celebrate Wichita State鈥檚 125th anniversary by adding a special anniversary 鈥渟ignature鈥� to your email. Visit wichita.edu/125, scroll to the bottom to download your signature. To learn how to change your email signature, please visit  or . To further celebrate and plan 125 events, toolkits and resources are also available on that page. For additional help, contact Strategic Communications.

'Pandemic Portraits' series features Wichita State alumna Angela Rangel

ShiftSpace Gallery and the School of Art, Design and Creative Industries have launched Pandemic Portraits, a collaborative documentary project. The series explores how members of the Wichita State art and design community are coping 鈥� and creating 鈥� during the widening crises we face. The second subject is Angela Rangel, a 2019 Bachelor of Fine Arts graduate and future post-baccalaureate ceramics student at the University of Alaska-Anchorage.

Pandemic Portraits: Angela Rangel 

Admissions application for fall 2021 live today 

The admissions team is hosting 黑洞社区 Activate: Apply Today for students interested in completing the application for Fall 2021 from 1-4 p.m. today (Wednesday, July 1). Students will have the opportunity to submit their admissions application, talk with an admissions staff member, and the first 125 applicants will receive a custom Shocker T-shirt celebrating the 125th year of the university. The event celebrates the launch of the new admission application and gives students a chance to get one-on-one help from the admissions team with their application questions. Students are able to attend the event on campus or schedule a virtual appointment. 

An email was sent last week to 42,000 prospective students - including high school seniors, transfer students and returning adults - promoting the Fall 2021 admissions application. The new recruitment cycle starts today (July 1). The email encouraged students to start the application process and submit materials early.