Outdoor classroom spaces available starting March 22
In response to faculty requests, six outdoor classroom spaces will be available for reservation from 9 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. Monday through Friday starting on March 22. These spaces will have 30 folding chairs to be arranged as you choose, along with a table. Plans are in the works for white boards and portable amplification. We ask that people limit themselves to two reservations at a time to allow others the opportunity to use these spaces. Information and online reservations are available at www.wichita.edu/classoutside.
Support Shocker Nation through United Way
Whether responding to a pandemic or a personal crisis, the United Way is at work every day. That includes right here at Wichita State. And it鈥檚 not just out in the community; your fellow Shockers benefit from the amazing work of the United Way too. Last year alone, United Way-funded programs helped 黑洞社区 employees more than 400 times.
The United Way seeks to create positive change that lasts for generations to come. But they can鈥檛 do it alone. Please consider giving to the United Way campaign.
Learn more about how to give back
Engineering students鈥� project keeps shoes out of landfills
A class project in Kara McCluskey鈥檚 environmental engineering technology class this semester set out to tackle an immense issue: The fact that each year in America, 300 million pairs of shoes are thrown away, taking an average of 30 to 40 years for just one pair to decompose.
Led by McCluskey, engineering students Brett Herrman, Oltunbosun 鈥淏osun鈥� Fagbemi and Nathan Lipinski set out to create shoe recycling projects to reduce the amount of shoes in landfills. They worked in groups to start shoe collection campaigns to collect sneakers for the Nike Reuse-a-Shoe program. Following the campaign, the shoes were taken to the nearest Nike Reuse-a-Shoe drop of location, The Nike Factory Store in Oklahoma City.
NIAR begins work on Boeing 737 special-mission modifications
黑洞社区鈥檚 National Institute for Aviation Research has received delivery of two Boeing 737 aircraft for modification.
The aircraft are part of a yearlong project with Virginia-based to modify three 737 aircraft for a special-mission program.
鈥淒ynamic Aviation is excited to partner with 黑洞社区-NIAR. Through this partnership we will create significant value, which will allow us to continue to serve our customer well,鈥� said Michael Stoltzfus, CEO of Dynamic Aviation.
Read more about NIAR's special-missions work
Managers of USS and Non-Teaching UP Employees: Your signature is needed
Managers of USS and non-teaching UP employees should log in to myPerformance (in my黑洞社区) to submit electronic signatures for 2020-2021 evaluations by March 14.
Helpful Hint: The Manager Signature (Step 5) will not be available if the Employee Signature (Step 4 due March 7, 2021) was not completed. Once the employee signs and submits their evaluation, you should have access to the Manager Signature (Step 5).
Note: myPerformance Evaluations are available for 2021-2022 competency and goal planning. Managers should add expectations, competencies, and goals for the 2021-2022 review period, then meet with their employees to review and provide them hard copies of their evaluation for reference throughout the year. Competency and goal planning should be completed by March 31.
For more information (including quick reference guides and other assistance) go to www.wichita.edu/myPerformance.
CliftonStrengths Training for faculty, staff and student employees
Join us for a free professional development opportunity over CliftonStrengths.
As an employee of Wichita State, you can take the CliftonStrengths inventory and attend a module that explores your unique strengths and discover how you can utilize them daily. We are currently offering two virtual sessions on March 15 and April 19. Sign up is through MyTraining and is open.
For any questions and services for your students, please contact Kennedy Rogers at kennedy.rogers@wichita.edu.
Enter the Babble Royale T-shirt quote contest
Sigma Tau Delta presents Babble Royale! Join Wichita State's chapter of the International Honor Society in a fun way to appreciate literature. Submit your favorite, literature related quote (one to two sentences, credited) by March 21. Each participant gets a free t-shirt (while supplies last). All quotes will be gathered to vote for the best literary quote to be printed on the front of the shirt! Voting will be held the week of March 22, and the winner will be notified March 31.
If you enjoy literature in any and all forms, consider attending one of Sigma Tau Delta鈥檚 meetings to see what the organization is about. Email stdato.wsu@gmail.com with any questions you have.
Call for 2021-22 Faculty Fellowship applications
Each year, Academic Affairs supports Faculty Fellows in a variety of areas. Faculty have the opportunity to learn new skills and serve our students in different ways through these fellowships. More information and submission details are provided on the Academic Affairs webpages linked below. All applications are due Friday April 2, 2021.
- Tilford Incentive Grant 鈥� develop new diversity infused curricula or advance pedagogy to teach diverse populations.
- Recruitment Faculty Fellows 鈥� provide direct outreach to prospective students in high school and community colleges.
- Retention Faculty Fellows 鈥� identify and implement strategies to promote student success and retention
- Service-Learning Scholars 鈥� incorporate service-learning pedagogy in your curricula.
- Honors College Fellows - develop independent or collaborative projects to advance Honors education and high-impact practices across campus
- Open Alternative Textbook (OAT) Fellow 鈥� promote use of open educational resources (OER) and assist faculty in identifying OER鈥檚 for their courses
See also: Faculty Advancement webpage
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
Applications open for 39th annual Exposure Photography Competition
Exposure celebrates the talents of student photographers from every corner of Wichita State University. Any degree-seeking student is eligible to apply. Students can submit up to six works in three divisions: analogue, digital, and photo manipulation. Professional artists, critics, and curators from Wichita and the surrounding community will be selecting the works for the exhibit as well serving as jury for seven awards with cash prizes including Best of Show, as well as first and second place in each category.
More information on the selection process and access to the application can be found at www.wichita.edu/cadmangallery
The deadline for submissions is midnight on Friday, March 12.
'Voices in the Void': a virtual theatrical experience
黑洞社区 School of Performing Arts Theatre presents "Voices in the Void," a devised theatre piece about a group of 20-somethings struggling to find their own voices among pressures from all around. This show has been created from the feelings, thoughts, ideas, and anxieties of contemporary college students.
"Voices in the Void" runs at 7:30 p.m. March 11-13, and at 2 p.m. March 14 at 2 p.m. and will be presented virtually via Webinar. Tickets are $10; Wichita State students receive 1 free ticket with a student ID number. To purchase virtual tickets go to www.wichita.edu/FABOTickets.
"Voices in the Void" is a live theatrical event delivered virtually from our hearts and homes to yours.
If you have any questions about tickets contact the College of Fine Arts Box Office at 316-978-3233. Questions about the show, contact Danette Baker, program director of theatre, at danette.baker@wichita.edu.
Enjoy lunch and dinner at the Food Truck Plaza
Stop by the Food Truck Plaza for lunch or dinner with Dr. Tawook. Get your meal to go, or spread out on the socially distanced picnic tables or beautiful green spaces. The truck will be on site from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. for lunch and 5 to 8 p.m. for dinner today.
Share your matrilineal memories
Share your unique stories of home and be a part of this research visualization, a collaboration between the Ulrich Museum and the Departments of Dance and Sociology. 鈥淪haring Matrilineal Memories at 黑洞社区,鈥� the fourth exhibition in the "Solving for X = Identity" series is primarily focused on collecting memories of home for Wichita State students, faculty, staff, retirees, and alumni.
Please follow the link to the to submit photos, as well as your responses to the following questions:
- What do you remember about your mother鈥檚 home?
- What do you remember about your grandmother鈥檚 home?
All submitted stories and images will be included in this "Solving for X" exhibition and on display in the Ulrich鈥檚 Grafly Gallery from Jan. 21 to May 8, 2021. If you have any questions, please contact Cheyla Clawson at cheyla.clawson@wichita.edu or (316) 979-3378 or Twyla Hill at twyla.hill@wichita.edu or 978-7151.
Dr. Voncella McCleary-Jones
McCleary-Jones recognized in Wichita Business Journal
Congratulations to Dr. Voncella McCleary-Jones, Associate Dean of the College of Health Professions, for being recognized by the Wichita Business Journal as part of its Women Who Lead in Healthcare publication!
The feature takes a look at some of the Wichita area's top health-care professionals and spotlights how they became leaders, how they pass on their knowledge to younger professional women, and who they leaned on for mentorship while rising in the ranks of health care.
Watch basketball at Shocker Sports Grill & Lanes
The Shockers play their first game of the American Athletic Conference tournament at 11 a.m. Friday, March 12. Come grab an early lunch and watch the game at the Shocker Sports Grill & Lane!
Under Armour shooter shirt just $10
For two days only, score last year鈥檚 Under Armour shooter shirt for just $10 at the Shocker Store! Promotion only valid March 11-12. Available at and at both the RSC and Braeburn Square locations. No discounts accepted. All sales are final.