Author: Caelin Bragg

KSN has published a feature on Wichita State’s Molecular Diagnostics Laboratory, which was initially established for testing COVID-19, and its expansion of services to address gaps in clinical microbiology for rural hospitals in Kansas, offering both training and direct support to improve turnaround time and staffing challenges.

Wichita State’s Information Technology Services (ITS) has recently deployed Jamf Connect for WSU owned Mac devices.

By utilizing this software, Mac users will have the following benefits:

• After logging into Jamf Connect, it will verify that your login password is current. If not, it will ask to sync/update your password.
• Users will have access to a live countdown on the number of days remaining before their myWSU password expires.

Visit the ITS Resources website (wichita.edu/jamfconnect) for more information and instructions on how to log into Jamf Connect.

For questions, contact ITS Help Desk at 316-978-4357, option one or email helpdesk@wichita.edu.

A grant from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) will help the Ulrich Museum of Art celebrate the Martin H. Bush Outdoor Sculpture Collection as part of the museum’s 50th anniversary special programming.

“Fully Dimensional: Artists of the Outdoor Sculpture Collection” is a multimedia exhibition at Wichita State University that celebrates 35 artists of the sculpture collection and explores elements of their larger bodies of work.

It is supported by a $10,000 grant from the NEA Challenge America awards.

WSU Math Circle kicks off its meetings for the spring semester at 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 11 in 372 Jabara Hall with a presentation from Dr. Robert Fraser, assistant professor of math, for middle school students.

Math Circles are education enrichment and outreach groups that bring mathematicians and mathematical scientists into direct contact with pre-college students. These students meet with math professionals in an informal setting, after school or on weekends, to work on interesting problems or topics in mathematics. The goal is to get the students excited and passionate about mathematics.

Middle school students should bring a completed registration and consent form from the Math Circle website.

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.

All Wichita State students are invited to meet Norah O’Donnell, anchor for the CBS Evening News and “60 Minutes” contributor, at 3 p.m. Thursday, March 21 in 262 Rhatigan Student Center, Herrman Room, for an informal Q&A.

The event is exclusively for registered WSU students, and refreshments will be served. Capacity is limited, and reservations will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis at no charge.

O’Donnell is a multiple Emmy Award-winning journalist with nearly three decades of experience covering the biggest stories in the world and conducting impactful, newsmaking interviews and is currently the only woman anchoring an evening news broadcast. During her career, she has covered six presidential elections and interviewed every living president of the United States.

Additionally, students are invited to attend the Craig W. Barton Speaker Series event featuring O’Donnell later that same day at 6 p.m. at Miller Concert Hall in Duerksen Fine Arts Center. Learn more about the event and how to reserve a seat.

The Craig W. Barton Speaker Series is an annual WSU event established to expose students and the community to differing points of view and encourage critical thinking and conversation. Previous speakers include Robert Gates, 22nd United States secretary of defense (2006-2011), and Cody Keenan, former White House director of speechwriting for President Barack Obama.

Jeremy Kohn, ChFC, Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association of America (TIAA) financial consultant, will be available at Wichita State on Tuesday, Feb. 6 and Wednesday, Feb. 7 for in-person KBOR retirement plan consultation meetings.

Kohn can help individuals confirm they are on track for enough income at retirement and provide specific investment recommendations at a fiduciary level of care for their TIAA funds.

To schedule a meeting with Jeremy, visit the TIAA website, login and follow the prompts to schedule an in-person meeting at WSU. Call the TIAA scheduling team at 800-732-8353 for assistance in scheduling a meeting, or email Kohn at jeremy.kohn@tiaa.org to schedule a virtual meeting later in February.

You are cordially invited to join the National Employee Appreciation Day celebration with President Rick Muma and his executive team from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday, March 1 in Woolsey Hall.

Confirm your attendance by submitting an RSVP online by Monday, Feb. 26 to meet the executive team, eat a hamburger or hotdog, and enjoy some yard games.

President Rick Muma and Shirley Lefever, provost and executive vice president, are conducting a town hall for College of Health Professions faculty and staff at 1:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 9 via Teams.

Wichita State University has selected the 2024 recipients of the Harry Gore Memorial Scholarships. Each student will receive a $64,000 scholarship to attend Wichita State University starting in August 2024.

The 2024 Gore Scholars are:

• Karinton Newton, Summit Christian Academy (Missouri)
• Karaline Scott, Goddard High School
• Chloe Strecker, Eureka High School (Missouri)

The students competed in the Distinguished Scholarship Invitational in November, with 544 other students also competing. To be invited to compete in the invitational, students had to have a 27 or higher ACT score, a 3.5 or higher GPA, or rank in the top 10% of their class. Once invited, students completed an application, including essays, and competed in an on-campus leadership competition. Thirteen finalists came back to campus Jan. 18 for final interviews.

As with Gore Scholars before them, the three recipients this year are involved in their schools and communities and plan to do the same at Wichita State University.