Author: Abigail Klein

Michael Irvin has been named interim executive director of WSU’s Office of Institutional Equity and Compliance (OIEC) effective Dec. 3. Irvin, who currently serves as the OIEC’s equal opportunity coordinator, will assume the role from Christine Taylor, who has accepted a position at another university. A national search will be conducted for a permanent position. 

The Office of Institutional Equity and Compliance is committed to preventing and eliminating discrimination or harassment based on race color, national origin, pregnancy, sex age, disability, creed, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, veteran status, political affiliation or political philosophy.

President Muma’s ‘Forward Together’ podcast launches today

A new podcast about all things Shocker Nation has launched. 

“Forward Together” will be hosted each month during the fall and spring semesters by President Rick Muma. 

The “Forward Together” podcast celebrates the vision and mission of Wichita State University. In each episode, President Muma will talk with guests from throughout Shocker Nation to highlight the people and priorities that guide WSU on its road to becoming an essential educational, cultural and economic driver for Kansas and the greater good. 

The podcast borrows its name from the monthly campus/community newsletter, “Forward Together,” which you should have received yesterday. The podcast is an opportunity to hear about similar university topics first-hand from President Muma and his guests. There is also a video version of the podcast available. 

November’s episode: 
In this inaugural edition, we focus on digital transformation in the arts. We’re joined by Shocker alum Dean Hargrove — writer, director and producer, whose credits include “Columbo” and “Matlock” — and Wichita State’s dean of the College of Fine Arts, Dr. Rodney Miller.

How to listen:
“Forward Together” is available at Spotify, Amazon Podcasts, Apple Podcasts (iTunes), and www.wichita.edu/ftpodcast, Coming soon, it will also be available wherever you get your podcasts. When you subscribe, you’ll be notified when new episodes drop.

Building on a 20-year history of collaboration, Lockheed Martin recently named Wichita State University and WSU Tech as a tier one collegiate partner institution, emphasizing collaboration with the institution as an Aeronautics Sector Emerging School to bolster the pipeline for future Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematical (STEM) careers. 

Lucretia Taylor will be joining the Wichita State University Office of Institutional Equity and Compliance as its new Title IX coordinator. 

In this role, she is responsible for investigating complaints of sexual misconduct, discrimination and harassment. Prior to joining WSU, Taylor worked at Kansas State University’s Office of Institutional Equity at Kansas State University as an investigator. She investigated complaints under Title IX, VII and VI.

Archaeology fieldwork can be arduous and painstaking, but it’s a vital part of preserving the heritage and history of indigenous people.

Wichita State University’s Dr. Crystal Dozier recently led a team of students in a cultural resource management project for the city of Wichita, ensuring that modern infrastructure wouldn’t destroy or damage ancient artifacts.

The following COVID-19 vaccination options are available at WSU:

On-campus COVID-19 Vaccines at WSU Student Health Services by appointment

• All WSU and WSU Tech students and employees, Innovation Campus employees and immediate family members (18 years of age or older) who are eligible can receive a free COVID-19 first, second or third/booster vaccination through Student Health Services.
• To schedule an appointment, sign in to myWSU and go to the Home tab under the WSU logo in the top left corner. Then go to the “Schedule Your COVID Vaccine Appointment” link on the left-hand side under “COVID-19 Toolkit.”
• Student Health is currently administering Pfizer first, second, third or booster doses only.
• Booster doses can be interchangeable. You do not have to receive the same booster vaccine as your first dose.
• To see if you are eligible for a booster vaccine, check out the Sedgwick County additional COVID-19 dose information website.

On-campus COVID-19 Vaccine Walk-In Mobile Clinic by Sedgwick County Health Department

• 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesdays at Koch Arena– no appointment required
• Anyone who is eligible, including the general public, can receive a free COVID-19 vaccination through Sedgwick County Health Department mobile clinics.
• Sedgwick County is currently administering:
  • Pfizer first, second, third and booster doses
  • J & J first and booster doses
  • For information on Moderna vaccine availability, visit the Sedgwick County Moderna availability website.
• Booster doses can be interchangeable. You do not have to receive the same booster vaccine as your first dose.
• To see if you are eligible for a booster vaccine, visit the Sedgwick County additional dose information website.
• Pfizer pediatric doses are in low supply. Covid-19 vaccines for children ages 5-11 may not be available at SCHD mobile clinics. For questions, please contact schdcovidvaccine@sedgwick.gov
  
  Other COVID-19 Vaccine options

• To schedule an appointment at a county site, go the Sedgwick County page or vaccinefinder.org.

Please review Frequently Asked Questions below for additional information. If your question is not covered in the FAQ list, please email student.health@wichita.edu. Watch WSU Today and the WSU COVID-19 vaccine website for updated information. 

Wichita State University will never send you a request to fill out a survey about your COVID-19 vaccination status or to provide any other personal private information via email. COVID-19 phishing emails are often more successful because of the focus and concern that many share over the pandemic or changes in regulations. 

If you have received an email that you are concerned about, send it to spamreport@wichita.edu. 

Other tips for email safety: 

• Never provide personal information to sources that you do not recognize and/or that you cannot validate. 
• We will never ask you for your password. 
• Never send credit card or social security numbers over email.  
• Never purchase gift cards from email requests. 
• Phishing emails often want to text you: This is to get around protections our email system provides. Be careful texting people from email 
• The yellow banner does not indicate the message is untrusted, only that it came from outside of WSU. This information helps you to provide context if a message is a concern or not.  

Cyber security takes all of us. If you have questions, please contact askinfosec@wichita.edu.

A $2 million grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce will help Wichita State University’s National Institute for Aviation Research (NIAR) purchase tools and supplies to support Flight Test Research Center and Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul facility at NIAR WERX.

Supervisors: Strategic Communications has an updated signage toolkit for office and building use. Visit wsu.news/signage to download and print a variety of signs related to COVID operations and safety. Please remember that all signs should be hung up with painter’s tape only.

Is there a sign you think is needed in the toolkit? Let us know by emailing annelise.muret@wichita.edu.

If you need assistance printing these signs, including outdoor signage needs, please reach out to shockerprinting@wichita.edu. (Additional fees may apply).

Reaching for the stars and beyond, a CubeSat Mission Patch contest sponsored by Wichita State University and the Ad Astra Foundation aims to highlight WSU’s science and research programs to prospective students.