WSU Today: Friday, Nov. 18, 2022

Kansas Board of Regents

Feedback opportunity for rpk/KBOR academic program review

It’s not too late to ask questions or provide early feedback on the workload and academic program review work being done by the rpk Group, the consulting firm hired by the Kansas Board of Regents (KBOR) to evaluate our system.

Slides and summaries from steering committee meetings and other information are available on the KBOR website.

A brief update on the process can be found on the Nov. 16 KBOR agenda, (page 69 of the document).

Submit your feedback concerning the methods, metrics and data being used to evaluate your department, discipline or program in this phase of the project.

Important dates:

Dec. 1 – First presentation of the rpk analysis and recommendations to the steering committee, data team, and faculty advisory committee
Dec. 14 – Presentation to KBOR
Jan. 6 – Final written reports will be shared with faculty and staff, as well as the WSU provost and Faculty Senate president
Jan. 6-Feb. 17 – Feedback period
March 22 – KBOR will discuss actions to be taken

Foundation and Alumni Engagement

WSUFAE updates its fundraising priorities

In addition to ongoing fundraising priorities for academic colleges and campus units, the WSU Foundation and Alumni Engagement (WSUFAE) is making progress on fundraising goals for the year and continues to work toward advancing the university’s top priorities.

Shocker Success Center

Fundraising for the Shocker Success Center has reached $5 million, and it will remain a priority for the remainder of the fiscal year. As the project bids are within the original estimate, additional funds may be directed toward finishing the basement and creating a technology and program enhancement fund.

Need-based aid and athletics

Supporting need-based scholarships will remain a fundraising priority as well, with a goal of $10 million to help ease financial burdens for students. Additionally, the WSUFAE is partnering with the athletics department to raise funds for a comprehensive softball team operations center and enhancements for the Charles Koch Arena weight room.

Learn more about the ongoing work of the WSU Foundation and Alumni Engagement

Health and Safety Updates

Flu season has begun — get vaccinated at SHS

Currently enrolled Wichita State students, staff and faculty can get flu shots from Student Health Services (SHS) at a low cost at the Student Wellness Center inside the Steve Clark YMCA on campus.

Hours Nov. 14-18: 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

Hours Nov. 21-25: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday and Tuesday (Nov. 21 and 22); 9-11 a.m. Wednesday (Nov. 23). Closed Thursday and Friday (Nov. 24 and 25).

The cost of the vaccine is $25 for students and $35 for faculty and staff.

If the patient has insurance, the card must be presented while checking in. Flu shot coverage depends on type of health insurance.

No appointment is required to receive the shot.

For more information, contact 316-978-4792 or go to the SHS website.

Campus Safety

Guardian app helps keep campus community safe

Wichita State University and the WSU Police Department are committed to the safety and security of our students, staff and faculty. With this in mind, everyone in the campus community is encouraged to download the Rave Guardian Mobile Safety app.

This app is available for both iPhones and Android devices and can be downloaded from the Apple Store or Google Play.

Guardian sends alerts when there is a safety concern on or near campus. It also provides users access to safety resources to report tips and contact information for various campus offices. The app also includes a feature that allows user-designated, virtual guardians to follow you as you walk on campus, send tips to the WSU Police Department to report information, and connect to the ShockerAlert system.

Learn more about the Rave Guardian app

Kudos

Winners of 3MT competition announced

Winners of the annual 3MT competition at Wichita State were announced Nov. 11. They include:

First place: Sangar Shanthanam, a doctoral candidate in electrical and computer engineering, working with Dr. Visvakumar Aravinthan. The winning presentation was “Low Cost Wave Energy Converter.” Shanthanam will go on to represent WSU at the Midwestern Association of Graduate School’s 3MT competition this spring.
Runner up: Sarangan Rajendran, a doctoral candidate in electrical and computer engineering, working with Aravinthan. The presentation was “Valuing Distributed Energy Resources.”

3MT, which stands for three-minute thesis, is an academic competition that challenges doctoral and master’s students in the Graduate School to describe their research within three minutes to a general audience.