Author: Caelin Bragg

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.

Join Wichita State and individual teams/departments as they prepare future Shockers for a lifetime of success. The university is raising money for the United Way’s Champions for Literacy initiative, which puts books and supplies into the hands of USD 259 students.

Wichita State is supporting the Champions for Literacy initiative with the following teams that you can donate through:

• The President’s team
• Shocker Athletics
• Admissions
• Evelyn Hendren Cassat SLH Clinic

Reading helps children build cognitive skills, gain a deeper understanding of the world, improve their concentration and fuel their imagination. As an educational driver for the state of Kansas, Wichita State is committed to helping students of all ages achieve success and become the leaders of tomorrow.

During the 2022-23 school year, 79% of third graders in Wichita were not reading at a proficient level, and students not reading proficiently by the fourth grade are four times more likely to drop out. Donations to the campaign stay local to the Shocker Neighborhood through United Way of the Plains to alleviate illiteracy in the community.

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.

Norah O’Donnell, anchor for the CBS Evening News and “60 Minutes” contributor, will speak at the 2024 Craig W. Barton Speaker Series event at 6 p.m. Thursday, March 21 at Miller Concert Hall in Duerksen Fine Arts Center. Seat reservations are required, and the event is free and open to the public.

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.

The Craig W. Barton Speaker Series is an annual Wichita State 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.

In compliance with state and federal laws, Wichita State University is moving forward with implementing an E-Verify program for all new employees. Beginning Feb. 1, the university will begin utilizing E-Verify, an internet-based system operated by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Social Security Administration (SSA), to check an employee’s authorization to work in the United States. The E-Verify system will be utilized for all new hires at WSU or the Intercollegiate Athletic Association (ICAA), including students, graduate assistants, lecturers, and temporary employees. This will mean that any job offers made starting Feb. 1 will include E-Verify as part of the onboarding process for that candidate.

This change comes after a Kansas House Bill was passed last year requiring all state agencies to enroll in and use E-Verify to verify employment eligibility of all new employees on or before July 1, 2024.

Wichita State is currently using E-Verify in a limited capacity for some of its workforce to ensure compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and contractual requirements.

E-Verify is a web-based system that requires enrolled employers to confirm the eligibility of their employees to work in the United States. E-Verify employers verify the identity and employment eligibility of newly hired employees by electronically matching information provided by employees on the Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, against records available to SSA and DHS.

Human Resources will implement the E-Verify process into the new employee onboarding process. This change will not require the new employee to complete any additional steps during on-boarding. All new WSU and ICAA employees will have E-Verify automatically completed at the time they complete their I-9 document prior to starting work. A new employee must have a Social Security Number to complete the E-Verify process, which is an existing requirement for completing the Form I-9.

For any questions about the process, contact your talent consultant or the Talent Acquisition team at employment@wichita.edu.

President Rick Muma and Shirley Lefever, provost and executive vice president, are conducting a town hall for College of Fine Arts faculty and staff at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 6 via Zoom.

At WSU, we believe in the importance of creating a safe and healthy environment for all of our community members. To that end, we have partnered with Catharsis to provide Title IX & Civil Rights Training. This training is highly interactive and engaging, and is based on research around best practices for healthy communities. As you complete your training, we invite you to reach out to the many referenced resources in order to join the larger discussion of these topics on our campus.

What is the duration of the training?
The duration of the training is approximately 40 minutes for employees, 40 minutes for graduate students and athletes, and approximately 45-60 minutes for undergraduate students.

When is the training deadline?
March 1, 2024

How do I access the training?
You can access the training through the Office of Civil Rights, Title IX & ADA Compliance (CTAC) website (wichita.edu/ctac) under 2023-2024 Annual Title IX & Civil Rights Compliance Training.

Thank you for your participation and for helping us to build the best campus possible.

For more information or if you have any questions or issues accessing the training, please contact CTAC at 316-978-3186 or ctac@wichita.edu.

This week’s Student Success and Persistence spotlight comes from Pamela O’Neal, associate director of student engagement in the Office of Online and Adult Learning.

• What role do you think faculty/staff play in a student’s success and persistence?
  “The potential staff and faculty have in a student’s success and persistence is immeasurable. I’ve heard students time and time again say to not only myself but to other staff and faculty, ‘I couldn’t have done it (meaning graduate) without you.’ Students need to know someone is not only there for them, but also that someone believes and is rooting for them the entire time they are at WSU.”
• What is one small thing any faculty/staff member can do to make a student’s day or let them know they’re cared for?
  “Ask them how their day is going and sincerely listen. Sometimes you’ll have advice or an answer for them, but sometimes they just want to know someone is really listening to them and not just hearing the words they are saying.”
• How do you promote student success through your campus duties?
  “In 2020, our office held the Inaugural Adult Learner Of The Year (ALOTY) Awards Celebration. Now in its fifth year, ALOTY Awards Celebration seeks to highlight adult learners who go above and beyond in the classroom and in the community as well.
  We also recognize a campus partner (a person or organization) at WSU who we work with and a community partner (a person or organization) we work with and highlight them and thank them for their work.
  We also highlight students throughout the year on our Shocker Proud website and during Online and Adult Learner Week at WSU.”

Do you know of a faculty or staff member who promotes student success, or a student who has been helped by a faculty or staff member, that should be highlighted in WSU Today? Email your ideas to Caelin Bragg, newsletter editor with the Office of Strategic Communications, at caelin.bragg@wichita.edu.

This week’s Student Success and Persistence highlight comes from Daniel Ludlow, custodial manager of special events and projects.

Daniel graduated from Wichita State in fall 2022 with his Bachelor of Arts in Education, emphasis in mathematics (secondary), while working full time in custodial services and took on his current role in October 2022.

While he found it difficult to work full time and earn an education at the same time, staff in the now Office of Online and Adult Learning (OAL) supported him every step of the way.

“Every time I hit a bump in my education and thought I needed to step away or couldn’t keep going, they were there to help me find a solution that kept me going,” Daniel said.

The department assisted him in determining the right major for him and shifting to being a part-time student to help him balance work and his education. Thanks to the department’s help, Daniel was able to graduate and further his career to support his family.

“If it wasn’t for a multitude of people in the department, I would not have earned my degree,” Daniel said.

One staff member who contributed to his success during his time as a student was Pamela O’Neal, associate director of student engagement in OAL.

“Daniel was an exemplary adult learner in that he was working full time, raising his family and earning his degree,” O’Neal said. “As an Osher Scholar, Daniel was a great asset to new incoming students, giving advice where he could and always having a great attitude. Wichita State benefited from having him as a student and now benefits from him being an employee.”

Do you know of a faculty or staff member who promotes student success, or a student who has been helped by a faculty or staff member, that should be highlighted in WSU Today? Email your ideas to Caelin Bragg, newsletter editor with the Office of Strategic Communications, at caelin.bragg@wichita.edu.

Wichita State was featured by Inside Higher Ed for its new minor in student organization leadership, highlighting how it will support students in their co-curricular activities and credential their experience.

Wichita State introduced the minor, housed under the College of Applied Studies, last year to provide Shockers the knowledge and skills they need to be effective leaders within their organizations.