Author: Abigail Klein

If you know of any students who may be interested in the following opportunity, please pass the information along:

Student Health Services (SHS) is looking for students to work on-campus at the Student Wellness Center to help with COVID testing. To apply, please send your resume and class schedule to heather.stafford@wichita.edu.

Student Health Services (SHS) is looking for students to work on-campus at the Student Wellness Center to help with COVID testing. To apply, please send your resume and class schedule to heather.stafford@wichita.edu.

Wichita State University Police Capt. Guy Schroeder has been named as the new police chief, effective Jan. 12. Schroeder had been serving as the interim police chief since Sept. 5, 2021, after replacing Police Chief Rodney Clark.

Schroeder began his law enforcement career at WSU in 2014 after serving as a police officer for the City of Wichita for 33 years. During that time, he served in many different positions of responsibility, including patrol officer, drug enforcement administration, detective work, SWAT team commander and undercover operations.

In announcing Schroeder’s promotion, Finance and Administration Vice President Werner Golling offered his congratulations and discussed the university’s decision to select Schroeder.

“During his time serving as interim chief of police, Schroeder has stepped up to the challenge, performed admirably and proven himself worthy of the position,” said Golling. “He cares deeply about WSU and our students, faculty and staff. I am very confident in his ability to lead our police department’s outstanding officers and team members to serve the WSU campus community.” 

Wichita State’s Molecular Diagnostics Lab (MDL) is open and continues to process thousands of COVID tests with 24-hour results. Along with everyone in our region, MDL staff and their families are affected by COVID. Because of recent staff shortages, the lab must focus its staff on test processing and has temporarily suspended its COVID test collection service.  

Tonya Witherspoon, executive director of the MDL, says she is unsure when test collection will reopen but hopes it will be soon. The MDL website will be updated with that information when available.

The live stream of the Jan. 9 funeral service for Dr. Prem Bajaj is available online. Bajaj, who taught Mathematics at Wichita State for more than 30 years, passed away on Dec. 30.

Among his accomplishments, Bajaj was a recipient of the Presidents Distinguished Service Award in 1997. He was very involved in the WSU academic community, and he founded the India Association of Greater Wichita, the Indian Students Association, and the Association of Hindu Students in America.

Ulrich Museum of Art Director Leslie Brothers has announced her resignation, effective Feb. 15.

Brothers has been the museum’s director since June 2018.

Her initiatives at the museum have been focused on connecting the museum more profoundly to the university’s strategic goals. She refreshed the marketing of the museum to promote the unification of all the communities it serves. More recently she worked with the university and the WSU Foundation to realize a vision for the creation of the Dr. Sam and Jacque Kouri Collection Study Center and Student Lounge located in the public space of the museum.

“I have enjoyed my time at the museum and the university. It has been a pleasure working with many wonderful colleagues across campus. The Ulrich will celebrate 50 years in 2024, and I, like so many before me, am honored to have been a part of former President Ahlberg and Dr. Martin H. Bush’s visionary legacy.”

“We are grateful to Leslie for her service to the university and visionary leadership while serving as director of the Ulrich Museum,” said Dr. Shirley Lefever, interim executive vice president and provost at Wichita State.

Brothers will join the Museum Campus in her hometown of Kenosha, Wisconsin, as executive director.

The Ulrich Museum will soon begin a search for a new director.

Dr. Bobby Berry has been named assistant dean for diversity and outreach for the College of Applied Studies at Wichita State University.

In the newly created position, Berry will provide leadership for diversity and inclusion initiatives, oversee diversity and inclusion educational programs, and serve as a resource for students, faculty, staff, administration, and the community regarding diversity and inclusion matters. He will also provide leadership for the college’s recruitment and retention efforts.

Bricktown Brewery will offer Wichita State faculty and staff who dine in 20% percent off their meals 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Monday-Friday at both locations as part of Shock Stop. To receive the discount at Bricktown Brewery, faculty and staff members must present their Shocker ID.

To get a table set up before arrival, contact Bricktown Brewery 21st Street and Rock Road at 316-440-3438 or the 21st Street and Tyler Road location at 316-613-2719.

Shock Stop is a partnership between Wichita State and local businesses. Other merchants offering discounts to WSU students, faculty, staff and innovation partners will display the Shock Stop window cling at their storefront. To receive the discount, students faculty, staff and innovation partners must present their Shocker ID at the time of purchase.

Due to the extreme cold today, Wichita State’s Molecular Diagnostics Lab (4174 S. Oliver, Building 174H) is temporarily halting COVID-19 specimen collection for the public.

The MDL drive-thru specimen collection will be closed for drive-thru specimen collection today, Jan. 6, reopening specimen collection from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, Jan. 7. MDL will remain open for Community Collection Partner specimen drop-offs both days, 6 a.m.-6 p.m. All tests results will come back in 24 hours.

The decision was made in order to protect the safety of individuals with the specimen collection team, who spend hours each day outside collecting tests from community members.

As we return back to campus following the winter break, it’s important to remember COVID-19 safety practices to protect you and your classmates.

• Masks continue to be required for the entire campus, which includes students, faculty, staff and visitors.
• Vaccines and boosters are highly recommended as the best tool to fight COVID-19. You can get vaccinated through the weekly Wednesday mobile clinic at Charles Koch Arena or at any other vaccination site. See the Sedgwick County vaccine page for additional locations. Student Health Services has temporarily halted vaccines for the WSU community to prioritize medical care for the ill and reduce the risk of exposure to COVID-19.

If you’re interested in getting tested for COVID, there are multiple options.

Students, faculty and staff can schedule a free COVID-19 testing appointment in Student Health Services through the myShockerHealth portal. Login with your Shocker ID and select “Appointments” from the menu.

Wichita State’s Molecular Diagnostics Lab, as well as multiple other locations throughout Sedgwick County, also offer free testing to the entire community.

Please note that wait times to be tested have increased because of growing demand. 

The Hughes Metropolitan Complex Testing Site (5015 E. 29th St. North) no longer offers COVID-19 testing.

Thank you for your continued flexibility as we work together during this pandemic.