Author: Caelin Bragg

The Shocker women’s golf team and the Women’s Leadership Initiative partnered on Oct. 11 to offer an intro to golf course for women at Wichita State. The course took place at the Wichita State practice facility at Willowbend Golf Course, which brought over 25 participants and taught them the basics of the game. Head Coach Tom McCurdy, Assistant Coach Alejandra Heinen and members of the golf team shared instructions on how to play golf, such as gripping the club, swinging and how to putt.

“The course was a great opportunity for women to learn and play golf in a welcoming and supportive environment,” said Dr. Teri Hall, vice president of Student Affairs. “This was a great way for the Women’s Leadership Initiative to learn from our amazing student athletes and we look forward to doing it again in the future.”

Hosting the intro to golf course was more than just a chance to learn the basics of the game. It was also an opportunity for women to build community through a sport that all individuals can play. This was an opportunity for women to get together, learn a new skill, make new friends and build community.

The Women’s Leadership Initiative is a network of faculty, staff and students who engage in powerful conversations and provide opportunities that build critical skills that can support women, advancing equity and inclusion.

The Shocker women’s golf team is a member of the American Athletic Conference. Eight golfers make up the roster, including five returners and three new players. These student athletes come from all walks of life and elevate the team to new heights. The 2023-24 season kicked off with the Payne Stewart Invitational in Missouri. The team finished fifth in the Big O Classic with a score of 622 and recently tied for ninth in Idaho.

Supporting the Shocker women’s golf team enables Shocker Athletics to recruit top student-athletes and provide them with the resources they need to be successful in their sport, the classroom and in life. Additionally, the support helps recognize outstanding achievements through initiatives like the Natasha Fife Women’s Golf Scholarship, which is awarded to members of the team. Join in shaping the future of women’s golf at WSU by going to the WSU Foundation and Alumni Engagement website.

Join the Department of Geology and the student Geology Club from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 8 in 266 Rhatigan Student Center, Pike Room to connect with companies in environmental sciences showcasing current and future job openings and internships at the Environmental Science Career Expo.

The expo is open to students across the university.

Organizations and companies planning to attend include: Enertech, GSI, Kansas Corporation Commission, Kansas Department of Health and the Environment, Kansas Department of Transportation, Kansas Geological Survey, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, SCS, TerraCon, Textron and US Geological Survey.

The Department of Geology, and certificate programs in environment and sustainability, and Geographic Information Systems will also be in attendance for any students interested in program opportunities.

Wichita State University is home to nearly 5,000 first-generation students, individuals whose caregivers weren’t able to complete a college degree and who lack the firsthand experience to tackle college life. To help with their transition, Wichita State offers a number of resources to first-gen students to support them during their time in college, including F1RST GEN SHOCKERS.

Hear from Bobby Berry, assistant dean for the College of Applied Studies and a current employee at Wichita State who went to college as a first-gen student, about the first-gen experience.

Shocker Nation: Visit the new “Greetings from Wichita State” mural in the Rhatigan Student Center and show off your Shocker Pride.

The mural was designed by Annelise Muret, art director for the Office of Strategic Communications, and is located on the east side of the RSC, near the Shocker Card Center and Campus Credit Union.

Take a selfie with the mural and tag WSU’s social media accounts:

• Instagram
• Facebook
• X
• Threads

President Rick Muma and First Gentleman Rick Case cordially invite you to the Wichita State Winter Party from 2 to 5 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 30 in the Shirley Beggs Ballroom, third floor, Rhatigan Student Center. Attendees will be greeted by the President’s Executive Team and will receive a complimentary holiday glass — the second in a yearly series of vintage WuShock glasses — while supplies last (one per person). The Winter Party is a come and go event. 

A general arrival time is appreciated to assist our catering staff in preparations.

Kindly RSVP for one of the two time slots to let catering know when you are planning to attend by Wednesday, Nov. 22.

Housing and Residence Life staff were recognized as the next recipient of Rick Rewards on Oct. 30. The staff were honored for their round the clock, seven days a week support to all Shockers living on campus and for their work during move-in week helping new Shockers through the heat advisory.

Rick Rewards is awarded each month by President Rick Muma to show his appreciation for the efforts of the campus community.

To help faculty and staff plan their time off and work schedules throughout the year, Wichita State shares the winter closedown period schedule that has been approved for this year.

The closedown will commence at the end of the day on Dec. 18, 2023, and WSU will reopen the morning of Jan. 2, 2024. The closedown is 10 days, two of which are paid holidays and four are paid days so you will not be required to use accrued leave for those six days. Classes will not be in session during this period.

Employees who would normally be scheduled to work the days may use accumulated vacation leave or their 2023 discretionary day* during the winter closedown. Non-exempt employees can 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. For those that are required to work during the winter closedown, we appreciate your dedication and service to the university.

Schedule of winter closedown:

• Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2023
• Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2023
• Thursday, Dec. 21, 2023
• Friday, Dec. 22, 2023
• Monday, Dec. 25, 2023 (Paid Holiday)
• Tuesday, Dec. 26, 2023 (Paid Day)
• Wednesday, Dec. 27, 2023 (Paid Day)
• Thursday, Dec. 28, 2023 (Paid Day)
• Friday, Dec. 29, 2023 (Paid Day)
• Monday Jan. 1, 2024 (Paid Holiday)

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 and New Year’s Day.

Please refer to these frequently asked questions for more information on your leave days and what to do if you work during the winter closedown.

*The discretionary day for 2023 must be used on or before Dec. 23, 2023.

Any faculty or staff who are interested in being involved with the Women’s Leadership Initiative are invited to a planning meeting at 9 a.m. Thursday, Nov 2 in 266 Rhatigan Student Center, Pike Room. 

At the meeting, attendees will break into working groups such as mentoring circles, professional development, conference planning and social/networking opportunities.

As WSU evolves and refines the pay variables utilized in the Market Based Compensation (MBC) Program, collecting and analyzing our employees’ work history for relevance to their current position is necessary. Understanding an employee’s relevant work history will provide additional information to assist in the proper placement of individual employees within the correct pay range quartile and allow the university to analyze the gap in pay for our existing employees. During the recent stakeholder feedback sessions with university leadership, there was overwhelming support from leaders to explore options for collecting this information for the FY25 pay analysis.

We are pleased to share that we have identified a method for collecting related work experience data. In the coming weeks, we will launch a survey process to capture the work history for all benefit eligible, non-teaching employees*. Here is what you can expect of this process:

• Step 1: Employees self-report work experience via a secure, online survey.
• Step 2: Self-reported data is analyzed by Segal Consulting to identify where further review or information may be needed.
• Step 3: Leaders review and make final determination of the total years of experience to be utilized for their respective employees.

The timeline for collecting the data will be tight, and we appreciate your prompt attention and response during the self-reporting phase of the process. More information on how to access the survey will be provided via email closer to the kick-off date, which is anticipated in early November.

*This collection process will include benefit-eligible, staff employees who participate in the MBC program. Employees not included in the data collection include faculty, Division of Industry & Defense Programs employees, coaches, non-benefit eligible employees and students. Faculty are not included in this data collection because faculty rank is used in lieu of prior work history.

CALL TO ACTION: Start gathering your work history so it makes self-reporting your work history easier to complete. Below are links that will assist you in gathering this information. Please note: these systems may not contain your entire related work history, so you may still need to gather additional information.

Click here to learn how to view your WSU job history since January 2006.

Click here to learn how to view your application for employment, if you applied for a job with WSU after March 26, 2014.

Hello, Shocker family!

Even though it’s only October, I’m likely not the only one who is thinking ahead to the upcoming holiday season. Having a break to rest and refresh — as well as spend time with loved ones — is one of the many perks of working at Wichita State.

And on that note, I’m happy to announce that for this year’s winter break — in alignment with other Regents universities — benefits-eligible WSU employees will also be given Dec. 26-29 without having to use accrued leave time, in addition to Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.

The winter break will look like this:

• Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2023 (accrued leave)
• Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2023 (accrued leave)
• Thursday, Dec. 21, 2023 (accrued leave)
• Friday, Dec. 22, 2023 (accrued leave)
• Monday, Dec. 25, 2023 (paid holiday)
• Tuesday, Dec. 26, 2023 (paid day)
• Wednesday, Dec. 27, 2023 (paid day)
• Thursday, Dec. 28, 2023 (paid day)
• Friday, Dec. 29, 2023 (paid day)
• Monday Jan. 1, 2024 (paid holiday)

Please refer to these frequently asked questions for more information on your leave days and what to do if you work during the winter break.

Thank you for all you do to make Shocker Nation what it is. Your efforts, enthusiasm and dedication are truly appreciated.

I hope you enjoy the rest of the semester and are looking forward to an enjoyable and relaxing winter break.

Go Shockers!
President Rick Muma