Year: 2024

Shockers viewing the April 8 solar eclipse can do so at a variety of hotspots on campus. Check out the selfie spots tag on the digital campus map for great locations on campus to watch the eclipse from, including:

• The south side of Jabara Hall, where starting at 1 p.m., Dr. Jason Ferguson — professor and director of physics at WSU — will have a special solar telescope set up for Shockers to get an up close look of the eclipse.
• The third floor balcony of the Rhatigan Student Center
• The Promise Bridge south of Woolsey Hall
• The Wichita State sign at 21st and Oliver
• The west lawn of Morrison Hall
• The Shocker Hall courtyard
• The Braeburn Square eating areas (and grab a lunch)
• The seating area north of the RSC
• The west entrance of Ablah Library

The eclipse begins at about 12:30 p.m., and the best viewing, when the eclipse is at its maximum, is around 1:45 p.m.

And don’t forget to follow guidelines on how to have a safe viewing experience.

The Office of Academic Affairs has announced new emeriti members. Help congratulate the following retired emeriti:

• Elizabeth H. King, president emerita of the WSU Foundation and Alumni Engagement
• Craig L. Torbenson, associate professor emeritus of history

Emeritus status is an honorary designation conferred upon retirees in recognition of their contributions and accomplishments over their years of service to the university.

Visit the Emeriti Faculty page for a complete listing of emeritus and emerita faculty.

To help employees plan their time-off and work schedules throughout the year, Wichita State has shared the winter closedown schedule, which has been approved this year to commence at the end of the day on Friday, Dec. 20 and end starting the morning of Monday, Jan. 6, 2025. The closedown is 10 days, two of which are paid holidays. In addition, employees may use Presidential Administrative Days to remain in pay status for the four days between Christmas and New Years Day — thanks to President Rick Muma. Classes will not be in session during this period.

Unclassified professional and university support staff who would normally be scheduled to work these days may use accumulated vacation leave or their 2025 discretionary day* during the winter closedown. Non-exempt employees may also use accumulated compensatory time off during the winter closedown.

If your role requires you to work during the winter closedown it must be approved in advance by your immediate supervisor.

Winter closedown schedule:

• Monday, Dec. 23, 2024
• Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2024
• Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2024 (Paid holiday)
• Thursday, Dec. 26, 2024 (Presidential Administrative Day)
• Friday, Dec. 27, 2024 (Presidential Administrative Day)
• Monday, Dec. 30, 2024 (Presidential Administrative Day)
• Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2024 (Presidential Administrative Day)
• Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025 (Paid holiday)
• Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025
• Friday, Jan. 3, 2025

An employee must be in pay status the entire workday before and the entire workday after state holidays to receive holiday pay. The official state holidays are Christmas Day, Dec. 25, and New Year’s Day, Jan. 1, 2025.

Employees required to work during the winter closedown will be allowed to use their four Presidential Administrative Days anytime from Monday, Dec. 23 through Jan. 31, 2025. WSU appreciates your dedication and service to the university.

*The discretionary day for 2024 must be used on or before Friday, Dec. 20 prior to the beginning of the winter closedown. The discretionary day for 2025 will be available starting Sunday, Dec. 22 and may be used during the 2024 winter closedown.

The WSU Red Cross Student Chapter is hosting a blood drive from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on both Tuesday, April 9 and Wednesday, April 10 in the Heskett Center lobby.

All donors will receive a $10 gift card to a merchant of their choice.

Schedule an appointment online with sponsor code “Wichita State” or call 1-800-733-2767

Bill DeGrado, Toby Herfindal Presidential Professor of Entrepreneurship and Innovation at the University of California San Francisco, will give a public lecture, “Extreme de novo protein design,” at 3:30 p.m. Monday, April 15 in 208 Hubbard Hall. He will also give a technical lecture, “Use of integrin antagonists to disrupt pathological mechanical force-dependent processes in fibrosis and severe asthma,” at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 16 in 224 McKinley Hall.

DeGrado is an early pioneer in the field of protein design, and coined the term de novo protein design, meaning the design of proteins from first principles. His research has led to the discovery of Brilacidin, which is now in Phase 3 clinical trials for drug-resistant Staphylococcal aureus infections, and integrin inhibitors for treating Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis.

The Watkins Visiting Professorship was created in 1974 by the Watkins Foundation. The grant is now provided through the Watkins fund, a part of the Wichita State Foundation and Alumni Engagement’s endowment. For more information about the lecture series, contact Dr. David Eichhorn, associate dean for faculty development and research, at 316-978-6659.

Science-minded teenagers will take over campus this weekend, testing their knowledge and skills for various STEM related events.

The Kansas Science Olympiad state tournament participants will begin arriving Friday, April 5 and will compete in several different STEM events throughout Saturday, April 6.

Faculty, staff and students can help visitors who may not be familiar with the Wichita State campus by showing landmarks and offering directions.

The Fairmount College of Liberal Arts and Sciences sponsors the Kansas Science Olympiad program. Wichita State hosts the state competition in April each year. Area middle and high school students begin preparation as soon as their classes begin in the fall and try out for a place on their school’s team. Teams may participate in more than 20 events, which include building wheeled vehicles, bridges and rubberband-powered aircraft, solving crime scenarios, or working steadily with teammates on written exams.

Join Student Government Association (SGA) for Wellness Week 2024 from April 8 through April 12.

• Monday will have wellness resources tabling from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the first floor of the Rhatigan Student Center.
• Tuesday will have a nutrition and exercise presentation with Andy Sykes from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in 262 RSC, Herrman Room, as well as a presentation for nutrition on a budget from 1 to 2 p.m. in 233 RSC, Santa Fe Trail Room.
• Wednesday is “Waiting to Exhale,” a workshop dedicated to understanding and managing anxiety in college, from 2 to 3 p.m. in 265 RSC, Lucas Room.
• Thursday is tabling for National STI/STD Awareness Week while promoting Pee for Pizza with Student Health on the first floor of the RSC.
• Friday is a dedicated Self Care Day, so make sure you take time for yourself.

For more information, reach out to sga.wellness@wichita.edu.

Are you interested in learning more about the work of an organizational ombudsperson? Curious about the standards of practice employed by ombudpersons? Considering serving as a faculty ombudsperson in the future?  Join professional ombuds trainer, Donna Louden, from 9 a.m. to noon Friday, May 10 via Zoom.

Send an RSVP to Carolyn Shaw at carolyn.shaw@wichita.edu to receive the Zoom link.

Join the Office of Diversity and Inclusion (ODI) for Shocker Eid from 2 to 4 p.m. Monday, April 15 in 233 Rhatigan Student Center, Santa Fe Trail Room, as it brings together people from diverse backgrounds to celebrate the culmination of Ramadan with festivities that honor culture, unity and the spirit of togetherness.

The event is a vibrant gathering welcoming Shockers to revel in the spirit of Eid al-Fitr. Come together and celebrate Eid with open hearts, spreading happiness and solidarity.

From the second floor of his office in Morrison Hall, President Rick Muma can see the Duerksen Fine Arts Center Amphitheater. Three miles to the west, he can see the Beachner Grain Elevator mural “El Sueño Original – The Original Dream,” from his office window.

By May, that view will be connected when Nathalia Gallego (GLeo) completes a new mural, called “Adelante Juntos – Forward Together,” covering the on-campus amphitheater.

“It adds to the cultural vibrancy of the university,” said Muma. “We’re now an emerging Hispanic-Serving Institution. Bringing art focused on the Latino population, of the university, the city and the state demonstrates that we value everybody on campus. That’s what I see this mural doing for the campus.”