黑洞社区

Wichita State to hold panel discussion on freedom of expression

Free expression is a fundamental value for an institution such as 黑洞社区, Neal Allen, associate professor of political science, maintains.

鈥淲e owe all of our students, and all Kansas citizens that we serve, our best effort to include all points of view,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 believe that democratic government depends on having both involved citizens and trained professionals.鈥�

The open exchange of ideas may not produce a tidy ending.

That exchange, however, is crucial to our nation鈥檚 discourse, no matter how difficult the conversation. 黑洞社区 recognizes the important role universities play and will present a virtual panel on Freedom of Expression from 3-4:15 p.m. Wednesday, March 31.

Join Dr. Muma for donuts on March 5

is right around the corner on Friday, March 5. To start the day off, President Muma and other university leaders will be at the Rhatigan Student Center with donuts between 8 and 9 a.m. for those who are able to swing by.

Employee appreciation tips for supervisors

We know leaders are probably looking for ways to show appreciation for faculty and staff on tighter budgets and modified for the remote work environment. While the usual catered lunch or in-person recognitions may not be in the plan (or in the budget) this year, it鈥檚 still important for leaders to show their employees that they are valued both as people and for the work they contribute to the University.

Below are a few no-cost, creative ways to celebrate Employee Appreciation Day modified for your remote workforce.

• Host a virtual Employee Appreciation Day for your remote team. Choose a fun theme, ask everyone to dress up (optional) and find virtual backgrounds that go along with your theme. You can ask your leader (next up the chain) to share an encouraging message or to facilitate a fun game for employees.
• Write a handwritten note to your staff and personalize it with recognizing something they have done that has made a positive impact on your team.
• Have a drawing to give away prizes during a Zoom call. Prizes can be university swag already on hand, and you can use  to pick winners.
• Create a  to celebrate employees with an online group card filled with messages, GIFs, photos and videos.
• Share praise received from customers. This shows employees that their work matters and may give them a needed boost.
• Create a Hall of Fame where leaders can recognize someone in their division or college who made an extraordinary contribution to the institution鈥檚 ability to manage during the pandemic.

Kansas Severe Weather Awareness Week

In conjunction with the National Weather Service, the State of Kansas will participate in ,  March 1-5.   

At 10 a.m. on Tuesday, March 2, Sedgwick County Emergency Management Services will sound the severe weather sirens throughout the county. In past years, Wichita State has used this annual drill to have all employees, students and visitors report to their severe weather shelter area. However, this year, due to social distancing restrictions, we will not report to the designated severe weather shelter areas.

Instead, use this opportunity to review where your severe weather shelter area is in your building.  

If you have any questions, please contact Mike Strickland, Director, Environmental, Health & Safety department.  He can be reached at mike.strickland@wichita.edu or 978-3347.

March HealthQuest upcoming events

Trade food, supplies to pay off parking fines

It's time for Food for Fines! Donate food or supplies to the Shocker Support Locker March 2-4 to help pay off any outstanding parking citations. 

Food for Fines is an initiative that is offered monthly to support the Shocker Support Locker, while providing a cheaper opportunity to pay parking citations. This semester we are also offering Supplies For Fines, which is an addition to Food for Fines.

This is an effort to help address the current needs of our students during this global pandemic. It works exactly the same as Food for Fines, but with a slight change to the number of items needed to be donated. Special thanks to the Fairmount College Student Advisory Council and Parking Services for being so helpful and supportive in implementing this addition to the program. 

If you have any questions or concerns please reach out to the Student Advocate via email at student.advocate@wichita.edu

Learn more about Food/Supplies for Fines

Order faculty commencement regalia

Understanding course codes in a nutshell

With so many changes in instruction this past year, we thought it might be helpful to provide some reminders:

• Fully in-person courses (TCI): Same time, same place, on campus [not currently being offered]
• Hybrid courses (HYB): Combination of in-person and online content (in real time or on demand) 
• Hybrid Online (HYO): Online instruction with no assigned meeting day or time, but with in-person tests
• Online Synchronous courses (IIS): Offered in real time at an assigned day and time
• Online Asynchronous courses (IIE): Content is 鈥榦n demand鈥� with no assigned meeting day or time

Click here for more details

Register for the 2021 virtual Gender & Sexuality in Kansas Conference

Registration is now open for the eighth annual Gender & Sexuality in Kansas Conference, which will be held virtually on from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Friday, March 12.

Whether you plan to drop in and out to attend conference sessions or keynotes, or if you plan to the full day, attendees must you pre-register in order to receive conference Zoom links. (Note: Zoom authentication will be required, so you must create a free Zoom account if you don't yet have one). Pre-registration will be open until midnight on Monday, March 8. Conference links will be sent to those who register by Thursday, March 11.

As always, the conference is free and open to the public. To register, visit:

Environmental Finance Center celebrates 10th anniversary in 2020 annual report

Wichita State's Environmental Finance Center is proud to release tis 2020 Annual Report. The year 2020 was a difficult one. However, the Environmental Finance Center has so many things to celebrate, including its 10th anniversary.

Report Highlights:

• The EFC received more than $790,000 in new grants and contracts in 2020. The EFC will continue to work on these diverse projects over the next few years.
• The switch to online platforms resulted in broader regional participation at EFC professional development events, helping us reach more than 1400 participants.
• The EFC developed an online cost comparison tool to help decision makers compare costs and benefits of installing various nature-based treatments on vacant lots in the Middle Blue River Watershed in Missouri.

More About the 黑洞社区 Environmental Finance Center

The 黑洞社区 Environmental Finance Center (黑洞社区 EFC) was established in 2010, to build on the Hugo Wall School of Public Affairs' 50-year history of providing quality financial and managerial support to local governments. The EFC expanded the school鈥檚 reach outside the boundaries of Kansas while concentrating services on environmental issues of importance in the region. The 黑洞社区 EFC is part of the nationwide Environmental Finance Center Network established by EPA to help address funding challenges communities face as they implement environmental improvements. www.wichita.edu/efc

David Perez, to perform at Wednesdays in Wiedemann

Please join us for a special Wednesdays in Wiedemann in Wiedemann Hall on the Marcussen organ as we welcome master's degree candidate in organ performance, David Perez, in a recital of music by Franz Liszt and Maurice Durufle. It's the name game with each of the two pieces written on the names of well-known composers: B-A-C-H and A-L-A-I-N. The half-hour recital begins at 5:15 p.m. March 3, and admission is free. You can watch it on the live-stream through the , or attend in person (social distancing and masks are required). This is part of the Rie Bloomfield Organ Series.