Author: Caelin Bragg

Community members are invited to learn more and ask questions about the next Wichita State master plan from 6 to 7 p.m. March 4 virtually via YouTube livestream. President Rick Muma and Shirley Lefever, provost and executive vice president — along with representatives from Gensler, a global architecture, design and planning firm that helped develop the plan — will discuss the future of WSU.

As a member of the Kansas Board of Regents, Wichita State is required to provide a master plan every 10 years to guide the vision of the future of the university, and the session is a chance for members of the community to learn more from university leadership on what the next 10 years of Wichita State will look like.

For more information or questions, contact Emily Patterson, executive director of Facilities Planning, at 316-978-5829.

Join Zach Gearhart, chief of staff and executive director of government relations, for updates on the Kansas legislature relevant to Wichita State. The next meeting is scheduled for 1 p.m. Monday, Feb. 26 in 101 Morrison Hall.

The meeting is open to all faculty, staff and students and is held every other week in Morrison Hall following each legislative session.

To conclude National Engineers Week, the College of Engineering is hosting a public 5k run/walk that is open to students, staff, faculty and community members from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 24. Due to the 5k route, some parking lot and road closures are expected Saturday between about 8:30 and 10:30 a.m.

The WSU Faculty Ombuds program offers assistance and informal dispute settlement processes to all faculty members. Ombuds are members of the International Ombuds Association and receive professional training on coaching and conflict resolution.

Ombuds serve four-year, staggered terms. It currently has a vacancy and are looking for people interested in receiving training and serving in the Ombuds capacity. WSU tries to provide Ombuds with a variety of backgrounds to respond to the diverse faculty needs. Contact Dr. Carolyn Shaw, Ombuds coordinator, at Carolyn.shaw@wichita.edu if you are interested or would like more information.

Proposals are due to the Office of Research for University Research/Creative Award (URCA) projects no later than 5 p.m. Friday, April 5. 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 an endorsement from the chair and dean. Incomplete or late applications will not be reviewed or considered.

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

Celebrate National Margarita Day with at Fuzzy’s Taco Shop in Braeburn Square. Choose a chill with frozen or on the rocks $5 House Margs all day Thursday, Feb. 22.

Must be 21+ to order alcohol. Price and participation may vary. Offers only available as dine-in only and are not available through third-party delivery partners.

Join Zach Gearhart, chief of staff and executive director of government relations, for updates on the Kansas legislature relevant to Wichita State. The next meeting is scheduled for 1 p.m. Monday, Feb. 26 in 101 Morrison Hall.

The meeting is open to all faculty, staff and students and is held every other week in Morrison Hall following each legislative session.

Staff from the WSU CARE Team were recognized as the next recipient of Rick Rewards Feb. 21. The staff were honored for their commitment to helping members of the campus community overcome difficult situations and ensuring all students, faculty and staff can achieve their full potential.

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

President Rick Muma and Shirley Lefever, provost and executive vice president, are conducting a town hall for Honors College and College of Innovation and Design faculty and staff at 10 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 29 via Zoom.

Yolanda and Gene Camarena — the dynamic Entrepreneurs-in-Residence duo at the Barton School of Business for the spring 2024 semester — will provide a keynote presentation as part of the James Schwartz Lecture Series, “Unlocking Success: Key Insights from Visionary Entrepreneurs on Building, Innovating, and Transforming Futures.”

Gene is the president and CEO of La Raza Pizza, Inc., and Yolanda is a dedicated leader in social justice and equity advocacy in education, bringing unparalleled expertise and insights to our academic and entrepreneurial community.

The keynote event is at 9:30 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 22 in the Woolsey Hall Auditorium.

Doors open at 9 a.m. All are welcome and encouraged to attend this free event.