Hiring process changes and reminders for August
August is a time of high volume hiring for students and lecturers. To ensure we are providing effective customer service, are compliant and are achieving social distancing, please read the following information as some processes have changed.
- Requests to hire a non-benefit eligible 鈥淭emp鈥� employee must be approved by the position review committee before it can proceed through the hiring process. The only exception is if the position is funded by external or grant dollars. The position exception request form and instructions can be found on the Forms Index of the Human Resources webpages.
- All student/grad and lecturer hiring requests must be submitted on the following form. The form and hiring instructions can be found on the Forms Index of the Human Resources webpages. It is important that you use the form on the website to ensure you have the most up-to-date document. An outdated document can cause a delay in the hiring process.
- All employees (including student and Graduate Assistantship positions) must provide valid work authorization (Form I9) prior to beginning working at Wichita State.
- Employees are required to make an appointment with Human Resources to provide the necessary work authorization
- Employees are given the option to provide the work authorization virtually or in-person. If they choose to provide it in-person, they are required to follow the safety procedures in effect on campus.
- In-person appointments will be held in RSC240 鈥� not in the HR Office on campus.
- After an employee鈥檚 job in Banner has been inactive (鈥渢erminated鈥�) in Banner for 60 days, their employment will be terminated. This is a process change that was made in May 2020, and decided upon by the university to ensure effective system security. If an employee is terminated, they must go through the entire new hire process, including completion of new hire paperwork, providing work authorization, and completing a background check if required. To prevent this from happening, an add job ePAF for a future appointment must be submitted and completely approved prior to the expiration of the 60-day limit.
Wichita State Athletics introduces mobile ticketing
Wichita State Athletics will introduce mobile ticketing for the 2020-21 season for the sports of volleyball, men's and women's basketball, baseball and softball.
The move to mobile ticketing will provide greater convenience and a safer environment for fans. It will offer a contactless entry into athletic venues and the ability to transfer tickets electronically, eliminating physical touching concerns prevalent during this time. Mobile ticketing will also provide an added layer of security, guarding against the production of fraudulent and counterfeit tickets.
Teaching This Fall: Day 2 Info on Hybrid Instruction
To support instructors who are prepping their classes for fall, the Faculty Curricular Design Working Group has created 10 sets of featured questions related to our new teaching environment. Each day we will post one set of frequently asked questions to respond to issues that faculty have raised about how to be prepared.
FAQs Set #2: Questions about Hybrid Teaching
- Who decides what in-person contact is required for my class?
All instructors must follow the public health mandates established by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE). In-person instruction should prioritize applied and experiential activities that cannot be delivered effectively online. - Can I charge my students for test kits, proctored exams, etc.?
We try to keep costs of instruction as low as possible for students but recognize that some additional costs may be necessary for class. These costs should be clearly communicated to students in the course syllabus. No additional costs should be passed on to students mid-semester. Instructors are encouraged to consider Open Alternative Textbooks (OAT) to reduce costs for students. Additional Info.
Additional FAQs about teaching this fall can be found on the COVID-19 university webpage.
New syllabus template available
The newest course syllabus template is now available. Language regarding university policies and available student resources has been provided in a hyperlink instead of inserted into the body of the document. This will allow this content to be update regularly without faculty having to change their syllabus or search for the newest template. If you would like to remove these additional pages from your template, just insert the following link instead: .
Faculty sabbaticals approved for 2020-21 academic year
The following faculty sabbaticals were approved for the 2020-21 academic year:
Rebecca Bechtold, Associate Professor, English
Daniel Bergman, Professor, Curriculum & Instruction
Chase Billingham, Associate Professor, Sociology
Michael Birzer, Professor, Criminal Justice
Susan Castro, Associate Professor, Philosophy
Mary Jameson, Associate Professor, Biological Sciences
Charles Koeber, Associate Professor, Sociology
Chunsheng Ma, Professor, Mathematics & Statistics
Robert Manske, Professor, Physical Therapy
Catherine Searle, Professor, Mathematics & Statistics
Trisha Self, Associate Professor, Communication Sciences & Disorders
Road closure today
The south part of Innovation Boulevard will be closed temporarily from 7 a.m. to noon today (Tuesday, Aug. 4), for the installation of the Alice Aycock sculpture 鈥淭wister Grande鈥� at the roundabout. All access to the roundabout will be blocked during this time, including the entrance off of 17th Street. The parking lots east of Airbus and the John Bardo Center will still be accessible through the northeast entrance of lot 37.
Scholarships now available for 黑洞社区 Badge Courses!
Badges are academic short courses of one credit hour or less that are designed for working, non-degree seeking professionals. They are online and self-paced. Badges allow students to demonstrate to employers their knowledge, skills and competencies in a subject area. Students who successfully complete a badge will receive a digital recognition of their accomplishment that they can share on social media and link to a digital resume.
Enrollment is open now! You can begin the badge course between Aug. 17-Nov. 9. All coursework must be complete by Dec. 3.
To enroll and view the badge course catalog, visit . For questions, please contact workforce@wichita.edu or call 316-978-7579.
The Kansas primaries are today! Are you ready to vote?
KMUW has the election coverage you need to inform your decisions. Visit our 2020 Election Blueprint page to find out more. You have until 7 p.m. today (Tuesday, Aug. 4), to cast your vote in the Kansas primaries or return your advance ballot in person. If you're returning your ballot by mail, make sure the envelope is signed and postmarked by today (Aug. 4)!
New tax-exempt certificate available
The tax-exempt certificate has been updated and the new form expires 10/1/2024.
The new form is available in either of the following locations on the Purchasing website at
.
--> In This Section-->Accounts Payable -->Tax Exempt Certificate
--> In This Section -->Business Procurement Card Program -->BPC Forms -->Tax Exempt Certificate
If you need further assistance, please feel free to reach out to us at purchasing.office@wichita.edu.
Purchasing Office new contact information
Due to the recent changes in the Purchasing Office, for the fastest most efficient response, please use the following emails when contacting us:
Purchasing Staff: purchasing.office@wichita.edu
P-Card Administrator: PCardAdmin@wichita.edu
Thank you for your cooperation, and we look forward to serving you in the future.
2019-20 Annual Report: Admissions processing stats
Each summer, the admissions team takes time to reflect on the previous academic year - noting successes and areas for improvement. A full annual report will be released in August, but over the next several weeks the newsletter will include information on each area of the Admissions office. Below is information on business operations and processing numbers.
Each summer, the admissions team takes time to reflect on the previous academic year - noting successes and areas for improvement. A full annual report will be released in August, but over the next several weeks the newsletter will include information on each area of the Admissions office. Below is information on business operations and processing numbers.
Find out more.
- Reviewed 17,889 applications throughout the year
- Added over 62,000 prospects to our CRM database
- Received 12,608 transcripts - high school and college
- 17,017 ACT/SAT scores were loaded into our system
- More than $65,000 in application fee waivers were granted to low-income students
- Processed 3,320 applications for special populations, including
- 394 Badge applications
- 330 Project Lead the Way high school guest applications
- 451 applications for concurrent enrollment
- 1,784 lifelong learner applications
- 330 Shocker Pathway applications
- 4,172 Blackboard tickets were submitted to Undergraduate Admissions with 801 escalated tickets answered by an Admissions Officer
- Completed the first full cycle with online update forms - processing 5,115 file updates
Installation of Aycock sculpture on Innovation Campus today delayed until after 10 a.m.
The Ulrich Museum of Art's installation of the sculpture "Twister Grande (tall)", originally scheduled for 8 a.m. today on the 黑洞社区 Innovation Campus, has been delayed until after 10 a.m. Check the Ulrich's social media platforms for the latest updates.
The installation is open to the public. Safe social-distancing practices will be observed (wearing face masks and standing at least 6 feet apart).
Once installed, it will be the 81st piece in the Ulrich's world-class outdoor sculpture collection, and its first placement on the Innovation campus.
Ulrich Director Leslie Brothers, who acquired the piece, said the work was selected for the site because it captures the spirit of the dramatic changes that have taken place at the university in the last decade. It will, moreover, be a fitting and lasting tribute to the contributions of President John Bardo, who initiated and oversaw those changes prior to his passing in 2019.
鈥淭his sculpture is a perfect fit for us on so many levels,鈥� Brothers said. 鈥淚t evokes the spirits of invention, innovation, and change that we are accustomed to here in Wichita and at 黑洞社区, and it comes from a world-renowned sculptor. It is definitely a major addition not just to our collection or the 黑洞社区 campus, but for the greater city of Wichita as well.鈥�
Indeed, Aycock is a force of nature in her own right, heralded as one of the most important artists in contemporary sculpture; in 2018, she received a Lifetime Achievement Award in Contemporary Sculpture from The International Sculpture Center. She has blazed a unique path working within the art world at the intersection of sculpture, architecture, technology, and science. Her addition to the Ulrich鈥檚 outdoor sculpture collection will help boost its representation of key female artists. The collection currently contains a handful of key works by major women sculptors, including Louise Nevelson, Barbara Hepworth, Ursula Von Rydingsvard, and, most recently, Elyn Zimmerman, but, overall, women are still underrepresented in the collection. Adding Aycock鈥檚 piece will help remedy that.
In conjunction with installing Twister Grande (tall), the Ulrich is also currently featuring the exhibition Alice Aycock in the Studio, which is an installation of drawings and ephemera that seeks to illuminate the artist's creative process and contextualize her sculpture as part of the larger artistic practice that has unfolded over the course of 50 years. That exhibition is currently on view by appointment only. To schedule an appointment call the Museum at 316-978-3664.
Image caption: Rendition of Alice Aycock sculpture Twister Grande (tall). Image courtesy of the Ulrich Museum of Art.
To read more about the installation event, including directions for parking, click on .
Incoming graduate students can ask questions about SHS on today's Tuesday Talk
For new Shockers this fall, join Nurse Heather and 黑洞社区 students to discuss what graduate students need to know about staying healthy at Wichita State. Tune in to Facebook Live at 2 p.m. today (Tuesday, Aug. 4), and ask questions about managing your health on campus.
Get your team together for trivia night on Aug. 10
The Media Resources Center is hosting a trivia night in Zoom at 6 p.m. Monday, Aug. 10. Get some friends together and play as a team, or jump on as a solo player. We will start the evening at 6 p.m. with rules and figuring out teams, and plan to begin game play around 6:15 p.m.
Winners will receive prizes, and everyone will have an opportunity for social time and fun with friends. There is no entry fee or pre-registration required, but we would like to have an idea who is coming, so give us a heads-up by sending an email to IDA@wichita.edu, and in return, we will send you instructions about how to join. All instructors, GTAs, and staff are welcome!
Updates to New Employee Orientation
As Human Resources continue to transition our processes in response to COVID-19, we are pleased to announce a change to New Employee Orientation (NEO) for new benefit-eligible hires when they begin working at Wichita State. As a new hire, NEO gives them the opportunity to interact with a cohort group while receiving vital information about being a new member of Wichita State.
During the fall semester, benefit-eligible new employees will participate in a hybrid NEO format. The hybrid NEO includes the virtual live portion via Zoom on the first Tuesday of each pay period**. This will provide an opportunity for the hiring department to complete a specific department orientation on the employee鈥檚 first day to acclimate them to the department and set-up their new workspace.
Following the live virtual NEO welcome on Tuesday, new employees will have additional online modules to complete. The modules provide information including policies, procedures and emergency preparedness, institutional equity and compliance, leave administration, and benefits. New employees will be able to view these modules at their own pace, and go back to review the information at any time by going to .
There will also be a virtual Q&A meeting time on the Wednesday following NEO that will be optional for new employees to attend if they have questions.
**New faculty starting the fall semester will participate in the live virtual NEO on their first day of employment, Monday, Aug. 10.
View the revised 2020 NEO schedule and find more information about 黑洞社区 New Employee Orientation at .
Changes to your HSA/HRA/FSA for 2020 due to CARES Act
Due to the recent CARES Act legislation, there have been some updates to how you can use your HSA, HRA and/or Healthcare FSA funds. Updates include the ability to use funds for over the counter (OTC) medications without a prescription, and for menstrual care products. These changes are retroactively effective to Jan. 1, 2020.
Your NueSynergy debit card may not immediately work for purchases of these items as merchants are in the process of updating their systems to accommodate these changes, but you are able to pay out-of-pocket and submit reimbursement requests through the NueSynergy .
You can find more information from NueSynergy here: . If you have more specific questions about eligible purchases, you can reach NueSynergy directly at 1-855-750-9440 for further assistance. When calling, identify yourself as a State of Kansas employee, and be prepared to provide your SHaRP ID (found by logging in to my黑洞社区 and hovering the mouse over the white box in the 鈥淪HaRP ID鈥� channel).
State Employee Health Plan updates in response to COVID-19
Gov. Laura Kelly announced four (4) provisions on March 13, 2020 that have been extended through Aug. 31, 2020 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. In addition to telehealth services provided by Teledoc or Amwell, the member cost share will also be waived for services from your in-network physician that are billed as telehealth services.
- For plan participants that 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.
For all up to date information regarding COVID-19 and the 黑洞社区 campus please visit .
黑洞社区 Microsoft Office Power User Credential: Remote sessions available!
Did you know you can become a 黑洞社区 Microsoft Office Power User without leaving your own desk? ITS Applications Training is offering all Microsoft Office training sessions in an online format!
Now is the perfect time to finish up your Power User requirements and show off a new digital credential 鈥� or just take a session or two to brush up on your Microsoft Office Skills. Sign up for sessions in myTraining; link in the Employee Training channel in my黑洞社区.
Read more about the Power User program, requirements, and see a list of 150 of your friends and colleagues who have obtained this credential at wichita.edu/poweruser.
Questions? Contact Ali Levine: ali.levine@wichita.edu.
Try the taco burger in August
Stop by the Shocker Sports Grill & Lanes in August to try their Burger of the Month, the Taco Burger! It features seasoned ground beef, shredded cheddar cheese, lettuce and tomato on a toasted bun.
Required fire drills to be held on campus through Friday, Aug. 7
State fire regulations require that fire drills be held annually for all campus buildings. The 2020 fire drills will be conducted now to Friday, Aug. 7.
Fire Safety personnel will conduct the drill some time during each scheduled day. When the alarm sounds in your building, evacuate the building in an orderly fashion to your designated assembly point(s), at least 50 feet from the building. Emergency Building Coordinators will assist with the evacuation. Environmental, Health and Safety staff will evaluate each drill.
Tuesday, Aug. 4:
McKinley Hall, Jardine Hall, HR Building, Rhatigan Student Center, Morrison Hall, Wiedemann Hall, Duerksen Fine Arts Center, Jabara Hall, Clinton Hall, Neff Hall
Geology Building, Engineering Building
Wednesday, Aug. 5:
Koch Arena, Hubbard Hall, Devlin Hall, Corbin Hall, Eck office, AEGD, Metro Complex, Marcus Welcome Center, Woodman Alumni Center, LETC
Thursday, Aug. 6:
Heskett Center, Lindquist Hall, Grace Wilkie/Annex, Ablah Library, Media Resources Center, Wallace Hall, Beggs Hall, Aviation Testing Lab, NIAR building, NIAR Atlas,
John Bardo Center, NIAR Crash Lab
Friday, Aug. 7:
213 N. Mead, 238 N. Mead, West Campus, Central Power Plant