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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.
Study Abroad Spotlight: Dr. Andrew Hippisley
Learn more from Wichita State faculty and staff as they share their study abroad experiences in college. Faculty and staff will be featured each week through the month of March. This week, read about Dean Hippisley's study abroad experience.
Read more study-abroad experiences from faculty and staff
SEM Update: Goal 7
Carolyn Shaw, Associate Vice President for Strategic Enrollment Management
Increase enrollment of new fall students in online programs
We saw an increase in students taking online classes due to the pandemic, but this is distinct from the students who are enrolled in online degree programs. We saw an increase of 10% in students enrolled in online major programs this fall, resembling similar strong growth over the past four years. We have 12 undergraduate programs, 11 graduate programs, and 9 fully online certificates. Online degree programs are particularly appealing to returning students who may have taken some courses in the past, and are hoping to complete their degree, but need the flexibility of an online program.
Recruitment and Retention Tips:
- As students 鈥淭hink 30鈥� (30 credit hours per year to finish their degree in four years), providing flexible course scheduling through online, hybrid, 8 week, and pre-session classes helps them stay on track.
- Establish a one-on-one connection with your online students from day one. It will help them stay engaged in the course. Use their names each time you correspond with them to reinforce these connections.
- Help create community in an online course by connection students with their peers through wikis, discussion boards, and other 鈥榗loud community鈥� options.
SEM Shout Outs:
- To John Sandlin, Online Learning/College of Health Professions, for his dedicated service to our healthcare students who are working and returning to school. He works hard to connect with them at a time that is convenient for them, and is a tireless advocate on their behalf.
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
Managers of USS and Non-Teaching UP Employees: It鈥檚 Goal Planning Time
myPerformance Evaluations for USS and Non-Teaching UP employees are available for 2021-2022 goal planning. Managers should add expectations, competencies, and goals for the 2021-2022 review period, then meet with their employees to review. Don鈥檛 forget to provide them a hard copy of their evaluation for reference throughout the year! Goal planning should be completed by March 31, 2021 at 11:59 PM.
For more information (including quick reference guides and other assistance) go to www.wichita.edu/myPerformance
Helpful Hints:
- Your direct reports will not be able to access their 2021-2022 myPerformance evaluation until the Employee Self-Evaluation step beginning Jan. 16, 2022, which is why you should provide a hard copy of their 2021-2022 review and review it with them!
- Managers have access to update and edit their direct reports myPerformance evaluations as many times as they would like until Employee Self-Evaluation time beginning January 16, 2022!
- Save then SUBMIT! Make sure to SUBMIT after saving every time you update a myPerformance evaluation! Your direct reports will not be able to see the information and you will still have access to their evaluation until January 16, 2022 even after selecting SUBMIT.
- Need a copy of a past performance evaluation? Check the box that says, 鈥淪how completed and expired tasks鈥�, then 鈥淪earch鈥�! Save it as a PDF or print as needed.
Tuition assistance applications open for summer 2021
Tuition assistance applications for summer 2021 are now being accepted through the . The online application will be available through April 15, 2021 and will close at the end of this application period.
The fillable PDF form will no longer be accepted. Due to the volume of applications received each semester, requests to submit late applications will be automatically denied. There will be no exceptions.
Full program details can be found at www.wichita.edu/tuitionassistance.
Questions may be directed to TuitionAssistance@wichita.edu.
Headshot appointments available for March
鈥ㄢ�═he Office of Strategic Communications offers headshots for Wichita State faculty and staff at no charge. For the 2021 spring semester, headshot events will be scheduled once a month over two days in the Rhatigan Student Center.
Due to social distancing, you must reserve your spot with an appointment. Appointments for March are now open:
- 3-5 p.m. Wednesday, March 24鈥� @ Rhatigan Student Center, Room 266 (Pike)鈥�
- 8-10 a.m. Thursday, March 25 @ Rhatigan Student Center, Room 266 (Pike)鈥�
Learn more and make an appointment at .
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
Presenters sought for Sport Club Lead Training
Campus Recreation invites university faculty and staff to be a part of Sport Club Lead Training during the first two weeks of April. This is the first time Sports Club Lead Training will be virtual.
The plan is to discuss Sport Club- and Student Org-specific topics and then expand to career readiness topics: critical thinking/problem solving, communication, teamwork and collaboration, leadership, professionalism, diversity and inclusion.
There are multiple options:
- Pre-recorded presentation: Campus Recreation will ask the Sport Club leaders to complete a form about the points of emphasis and how they relate to their club and personal professional development.
- Live-presentation and discussion.
- Pre-recorded presentation that the Sport Club leaders will watch. About a week later a virtual discussion will take place about the points of emphasis and how they relate to their club and personal professional development.
Those are just a few presentation options. We welcome any idea of how to present each topic virtually.
If you are interested in assisting, please contact sports programs coordinator Austin Sanderson at austin.sanderson@wichita.edu.
Submit nominations for advising awards
Have you received great advising or encouragement? Do you know of an advisor who goes above and beyond for students? Nominate a faculty or staff advisor for the third annual Excellence in Academic Advising Award.
The Advising Network (TAN) is proud to support student success by recognizing advisors at 黑洞社区. Anyone who provides advising services in any role (faculty or staff) is eligible for nomination. Applications will be accepted until April 10.
Celebrate Women's History Month with ODI
Every year, March is designated as Women's History Month to celebrate and honor women's contributions to history, culture and society. The Office of Diversity and Inclusion proudly celebrates Women's History Month every year. Learn more about the programs at .
Women's History Month derived from a week-long celebration of women's contributions to culture, history and society organized by the school district of Sonoma, California in 1978. Several years later, the idea was caught on within communities, school districts and organizations across the country. By 1980, President Jimmy Carter issued the first presidential proclamation declaring the week of March 8 as National Women's History Week. Thereafter, the U.S. Congress passed a resolution establishing a national celebration. Approximately six years later, the National Women's History Project petitioned Congress to expand the event to the entire month of March.
University Libraries Undergraduate Research Award
Attention, Wichita State faculty and staff: Do you know an undergraduate entering URCAF who has made good use of University Libraries resources? Encourage them to apply for the inaugural University Libraries Undergraduate Research Award competition. Prizes will be awarded: $250 for first place, $200 for second place, and $150 for third place.
2021 LEAD Conference call for proposals
Student Involvement in partnership with the Student Government Association are seeking presentation proposals for our 2021 LEAD Conference taking place on Friday, May 28, in the Rhatigan Student Center. Virtual options available pending university and CDC guidelines.
This year, we are offering four different conference tracks featuring various speakers and topics.
Please feel free to submit any of those suggestions or include your own.
Civic, Campus, & Community Leadership (Activism)
- Global Leadership
- Service-Learning
Student Organization Leadership
- Mentorship & Coaching
- Recruiting & Engagement
Diversity & Inclusion
- Inclusive Leadership
- Women & Leadership
Leadership & Self-Discovery
- Leading Your Wellness
- Leadership in the Workforce
- Adaptive Leadership
- Leading through a Pandemic & Moving Forward
We will be selecting up to four presentations per track.
Please submit your presentation proposal no later than April 1.
For more information or questions, please reach out to Kennedy Rogers at kennedy.rogers@wichita.edu or Gabriel Fonseca at gabriel.fonseca@wichita.edu.
Wichita State: Engagement conversations
The Office of Engagement will be hosting a five-part series of conversations to hear from students, faculty, staff and neighbors on ways Wichita State is engaging to collectively address challenges, create solutions, and foster environments to drive prosperity. The first part of the series will be from noon to 12:45 p.m. on Thursday, March 18 via Zoom. A Zoom link will be provided after you RSVP with the yellow button below. The conversation will also be streamed live on Facebook:
Creating this dialogue highlights and elevates campus culture, inclusion and partnerships at Wichita State. The Office of Strategic Engagement and Planning hopes to support, connect, enhance and celebrate engagement activities and prosperity initiatives for our University and neighbors.
Bren茅 Brown's: The Power of Vulnerability
Lean into discomfort and join us to watch and review the speech that Bren茅 Brown presented on Ted Talk at 11:30a.m. today. Register for this virtual event at . For more information, call 316-978 - 3034 or diversity@wichita.edu.
The PPMC CHATS: Negotiating Chaos
The Public Policy and Management Center invites you to join us for the latest event in the PPMC CHATS series on at 1 p.m. Thursday, March 18.
This month we will be discussing Negotiating Chaos: Managing Emotions and Staying Curious to Build Stronger Agreements
In an encore performance, hostage negotiator Dan Oblinger dives into the risky nature of chaos, confusion, and crisis all around us! Discover how a habit of negotiation and listening can make sense of the madness and build stronger connections with people and stronger agreements with your stakeholders
Oblinger is the co-founder of the Oblinger & Tsang alliance of negotiation consultants and coaches and the founder of Leadercraft. He provides corporate training, executive coaching, and keynote speaking designed to create a listening and leadership revolution inside and between companies. He is also an Adjunct Instructor at 黑洞社区Tech.
Modern web GIS and its relevance to 21st century
As a part of the Disaster Resilience Analytics Seminar invited series, please join geographer and educator Joseph Kerski as we examine what modern web GIS is, why it is relevant to the 21st Century, what trends and forces are shaping it, and how you can engage in these exciting developments in your own future. at 11 a.m. Friday, March 19. Password: 816827.
Custodial manager position open to Wichita State employees only
The Custodial Maintenance Department is looking for a Custodial Manager. Applications will be accepted until Tuesday, March 23. To apply, go to Internal Postings and follow the directions there. For questions or assistance, contact the Talent Acquisition Team at 978-3065 or emailing employment@wichita.edu.
Learn about wellness services available to students
This week might be Wellness Week, but there are many wellness services available to students all semester. That includes CARE Team, Counseling and Prevention Services, Student Health Services and Campus Recreation.
CARE Team:
Wrap-around services and campus support Self-Care Sundays and other wellness-related
programming
The CARE Team Coordinators who are here to help are:
- Ashlyn Riley 鈥� Serves colleges of Liberal Arts & Sciences, Engineering and Honors
- Vaughn Sweet 鈥� Serves colleges of Fine Arts, Business, Health Professions and Applied Studies
- Tara Hanna 鈥� Serves students living in on-campus housing
- Alicia Newell 鈥� CARE Team chair, serves student athletes
Learn more at wichita.edu/CARE
Counseling and Prevention Services:
- Individual and couples therapy at an affordable rate
- Group therapy for particular areas of concern, including Understanding Self and Others, Healing from Trauma, and Graduate Student Support Group
- Online programming, such as Keep Calm & Breathe Online, Mental Health Toolbox and FAQ Friday.
- Learn more at
Student Health Services:
- Treatment for illness and injuries
- Preventative health management and immunizations
- Health screenings and laboratory services
- Family planning services and men鈥檚/women鈥檚 health exams
- Prescription and over-the-counter medications
- Health education video series on social media
- Learn more at
Campus Recreation:
- Intramural sports and sport clubs, including volleyball, softball, tennis, soccer, badminton, judo, eSports, and more
- Shocker Fit classes such as F45
- Massage therapy
- Special events, such as F45 Playoffs, Pumpkin Run & RecFest
- Nutrition discussions on Facebook Live
- Learn more at
Chartwells Catering cookie special: Shamrocks
Get a dozen shamrock cookies for $12.99 in March. To place your order, call 316-978-5863 or email wsucatering@compass-usa.com.