Author: Caelin Bragg

Join the Office of Strategic Communications and Marketing for the ninth annual Strategic Communications marketing and communications seminar for faculty and staff from 10 a.m. to noon Thursday, Jan. 29. And if your team is looking to order promo items for your office, visit the Vendor Fair from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

The opening session, breakout sessions and Vendor Fair will all be held on the third floor of the Rhatigan Student Center. Gain additional insights, tools and tips to help you improve your marketing and communication efforts. Attendees may choose to attend two of five sessions.

The Student Wellness Center in the Steve Clark YMCA houses Student Health Services (SHS) and Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), both designed for students’ well-being in mind. You can schedule an appointment for your medical needs with SHS at studenthealth.wichita.edu or schedule counseling with CAPS at wichita.edu/caps.

The Wichita State University Police Department wants to remind Shockers to stay vigilant of scammers. Make sure you’re informed of the telltale signs of scammers:

• The police will never notify an individual over the phone that they have a warrant for their arrest. Additionally, the police or legitimate companies will never demand payment over the phone through cryptocurrency, such as Bitcoin, or through gift cards.
• Do not share personal or financial information over the phone unless you are certain of the caller’s identity. If you are ever concerned a caller may be a scammer, hang up and find a phone number from a trusted source, such as an official website or phonebook, and call back to confirm their identity.
• Make sure to reach out to law enforcement if you have been contacted by a scammers or have fallen victim to them. WSUPD can be contacted at 316-978-3450, and the Wichita Police Department can be contacted by dialing 911. You can also file a police report to the Wichita Police Department by calling 316-268-4221.

And share this information with your friends and family so they know to not engage with potential scammers. WSUPD is here to help the campus community stay safe and hopes that everyone can help keep their peers safe from scammers. If you have questions, email WSUPD at police@wichita.edu.

Are you ready to find a career fit for you and your major? Check out these resources from the Shocker Career Accelerator:

PathwayU is your assessment tool to explore different majors and careers, whether you are currently undecided or looking to change. Go to wichita.pathwayu.com, sign up using your WSU email (first initial, middle initial, last name and maybe a number, @shockers.wichita.edu) and click “Start Assessment.”

What Can I Do With This Major? hosts information on more than 100 different majors and fields, including potential careers, advice on how to get the most out of your major, professional organizations related to your major and more.

Want to get more personalized guidance while getting started? You can schedule an appointment with an SCA career coach through Shocker Central, emailing sca@wichita.edu or calling the office at 316-978-3688.

Join Zach Gearhart, chief of staff and executive director of government relations, for updates on the legislature relevant to Wichita State. The next meeting for the legislative session is scheduled for 2 p.m. Friday, Jan. 30 in 262 Rhatigan Student Center, Herrman Room. The meeting is open to all faculty, staff and students.

Wichita State is proud to announce a transformative $1 million gift from an anonymous 1958 graduate of the University of Wichita to support need-based scholarships in the Barton School of Business.

This gift will directly benefit students who face financial challenges — particularly first-generation students — who make up nearly half of Wichita State’s enrollment. On average, first-generation students receive less financial support from their families and are more likely to rely on private loans to fund their education. Currently, 46% of Wichita State’s undergraduate student population are first-generation college students, highlighting the importance of private financial support.

“Ensuring access and affordability is a promise to our students,” President Rick Muma said. “This gift, alongside the generosity of countless alumni and donors, is a profound reminder that our students’ success goes further with the support of Shocker Nation behind them.”

Watermark’s Course Evaluations & Surveys (CES) tool is Wichita State’s course evaluation tool. Find information throughout the semester in WSU Today about CES.

Today’s focus is on “What Is CES?”

• CES is a course evaluation platform from Watermark. The evaluation portion of the platform is called “Course Evaluations & Surveys” and at WSU is referred to as CES.
• CES is easy to use and is integrated with Blackboard.
• CES results are electronic and will be available at the end of the semester, shortly after official grades are due.
• Using CES should increase response rates.
• There is a dedicated CES website that includes additional information.

For questions, contact Sandra Ranney at evaluations@ces.wichita.edu.

Wichita State University is committed to the safety of its campus community and provides fire safety resources to help Shockers stay safe on and off campus.

Learn more and find resources on how to stay safe on the Fire & Safety Office webpage, including information on:

• Working with open flames, heat or sparks
• Proper use of extension cords
• Restrictions for potentially dangerous decorations
• Proper use of fireworks and other pyrotechnics
• WSU’s commitment to a tobacco free campus
• How to use fire extinguishers in the case of an emergency
• Filling out a permit to host a grilling activity
• The prohibition on the use of portable space heaters
• The potential fire hazards of battery powered mobility devices
• General advice on fire safety off campus
• Keeping corridors free of storage and equipment for emergency evacuations

For more information or questions, contact the Office of Environmental Health and Safety.

Wichita State University will be open Monday, Jan. 26 for normal operations. In-person classes will be in session, and campus operations will continue as normal.

University leadership carefully reviews weather forecasts, transportation conditions, campus safety, essential services and the potential impact on education, research, residential life and applied learning, assessing safety risks and whether they can be mitigated through campus response and individual caution, before deciding to remain open. Because everyone’s circumstances are different, you are encouraged to assess your own situation and use reasonable judgment in deciding if it’s safe for you to travel to campus.

Students with questions or who are unable to safely travel or get around on campus can reach out to their instructor.

Faculty or staff with similar concerns should immediately contact their supervisor or department chair to develop an alternative plan that accommodates your needs and minimizes disruption to operations.

Facilities Services personnel are working hard to clear roadways and sidewalks on campus. Using caution and allowing for extra travel time is always advised.

We understand that weather-related decisions can impact individuals in different ways.

Please know that these decisions are made with the best intentions by university leaders who are working diligently to balance the safety of our community with the need to maintain operations. We appreciate your flexibility.

Join the Office of Strategic Communications and Marketing for the ninth annual Strategic Communications marketing and communications seminar for faculty and staff from 10 a.m. to noon Thursday, Jan. 29. And if your team is looking to order promo items for your office, visit the Vendor Fair from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

The opening session, breakout sessions and Vendor Fair will all be held on the third floor of the Rhatigan Student Center. Gain additional insights, tools and tips to help you improve your marketing and communication efforts. Attendees may choose to attend two of five sessions.