WSU Today: Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2026

Human Resources

4 boxes across & 3 down. Text on each is Wuhire. Moving Applicants, Acknowledge form, Approver Training, Job Requisition Activity. Offer Training Activity, Create offer, Create Job Requisition, Total Hiring Process Steps

WuHire on-demand training goes live

HR is launching new training for WuHire, which is the official hiring system for the university, and this training is now available on demand online.

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Faculty and Staff Resources

Join TIAA estate planning 101 session Sept. 9

Life is full of uncertainties, but your financial future doesn't have to be. Join Justin Eslick, VP, wealth management advisor with TIAA from noon to 1 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 9 in 262 Rhatigan Student Center, Herrman Room, for an insightful session on common estate planning strategies, as he walks you through the essential building blocks of a solid estate plan.

Read more of Join TIAA estate planning 101 session Sept. 9

RSVP by Friday, Sept. 4

TIAA financial consultant, Paul Eiting, on campus for one-on-one meetings Sept. 15/16

TIAA financial consultant, Paul Eiting, will be on campus Sept. 15 and 16 to meet with employees in the Rhatigan Student Center. These one-on-one sessions are by appointment only. You can schedule to meet with Paul through tiaa.org/schedulenow or by calling 800-842-2252.

Research

URCA proposals are due by Oct. 2 to the Office of Research

Proposals are due to the Office of Research for University Research/Creative Award (URCA) projects no later than 5 p.m. Oct. 2.

The URCA opportunity provides funding of up to $4,500 for faculty to retool or reestablish productive research/creative projects or as seed money to develop pilot data where external funding is available. Proposers must work with a grant specialist in the Office of Research prior to submission and all complete applications require endorsements from the chair and dean.

Incomplete or late applications will not be reviewed or considered.

Email proposals@wichita.edu today to get started or visit the website for additional information.

MURPA proposals are due by Oct. 2 to the Office of Research

Proposals are due to the Office of Research for Multidisciplinary Research Project Awards (MURPA) no later than 5 p.m. Oct. 2.

The MURPA opportunity provides funding of up to $7,500 for faculty projects that involve two or more investigators from different disciplines that focus different perspectives and capabilities on complex problems that intersect established areas of study. Proposers must work with a grant specialist in the Office of Research prior to submission and all complete applications require endorsements from the chair and dean.

Incomplete or late applications will not be reviewed or considered.

Email proposals@wichita.edu today to get started or visit our website for additional information.

News

Call for mentors: FYRE in STEM

Faculty are invited to apply for the 2027 FYRE in STEM program. You can go directly to the FYRE in STEM Mentor application or at wichita.edu/fyre for full information and links for both the mentor and mentee applications.

Applications are due by Oct. 20 so organizers can make mentor-mentee matches by early November. Feel free to forward this information to any STEM colleagues you think might be interested in mentoring FYRE students in spring 2027. For any questions, contact Moriah Beck, Talaty Endowed Research Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry, at moriah.beck@wichita.edu.

Spark Society Wichita State next to a yellow and orange stylized star, all over an image of the student center.

Join the WSU Spark Society

Membership in the Spark Society, a social and philanthropic group, is open to all WSU employees, WSU affiliated and auxiliary corporation employees, and their spouses.

Annual dues are $12 and membership runs the fiscal year of July-June. Social events are typically monthly and may be held as a lunch activity or in the evenings.

Spark Members may join or start a new interest group. Current interest groups are Book Club (meets at 7 p.m. on the first Thursday each month), Friends & Food (meets for Sunday evening dinners once per month), Lunch Bunch (meets on fourth Monday each month) and New Members (evening and weekend events).

Find your new friends at the Membership Drive and Vendor Fair from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 15 in 141 Woolsey Hall, Fidelity Bank Ballroom.

Contact the Spark Society at spark@wichita.edu with questions. Membership may be retained after retirement or leaving WSU employment.

Complete the Spark membership form

Professional Development

Attend CourseLeaf CIM (curriculum management software) fall training session

All faculty and staff are invited to attend the fall training session for CIM (Curriculum Management software). This 1.5 hour virtual training session will be held from 1 to 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 16.

Attend CourseLeaf CAT (catalog software) fall training session

All faculty and staff involved with the annual catalog update and review are invited to attend the fall training session for CAT (catalog software). This 45-minute virtual training session will be held from 1 to 1:45 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 24.

Registration open for Fall Savvy Scholar Sessions hosted by University Libraries

Looking to strengthen your research skills? The Savvy Scholar Workshop Series is a collection of workshops designed to help students (plus faculty and staff) navigate multiple stages of the research process. Whether you're just getting started or preparing for advanced projects, these sessions introduce practical tools and strategies for finding, evaluating, organizing and presenting information effectively.