Author: Sara Ornelas

Wichita State University and all of Shocker Nation will celebrate the inauguration of our 15th president, Dr. Rick Muma, at 2:30 p.m. today in the Lowe Auditorium of the Hughes Metropolitan Complex.

Muma has been a member of Wichita State’s family for 25 years as a professor, department chair, and provost. The Kansas Board of Regents appointed him to the presidency on May 6.

Shocker family,

I know many of you are aware of President Biden’s recent executive order regarding COVID practices and protocols relating to vaccines, masking and social distancing for federal contractors, and have had questions as to if – and how – this order might apply to WSU. After a thorough internal review of the order and its implementing guidance – and in consultation with state and federal partners, our fellow Kansas research institutions, and the president of the Kansas Board of Regents – we have determined that the order applies to the entire WSU workforce.

What does this mean for you?

In accordance with the executive order, there are several COVID safety protocol requirements that will impact our community:  vaccines, masks and physical distancing. All employees (including part-time, full-time and student employees) will be required to be fully vaccinated by December 8, 2021, unless eligible for a medical or religious exemption. The mandatory vaccination obligations apply even to those covered employees who are working remotely (as long as they are working on or in connection with a covered contract). Given the short timeframe for implementation and the length of vaccination protocols (in some cases, taking up to six weeks), unvaccinated employees should seek their first vaccine dose immediately. Get more information on vaccination schedules. Compliance with the vaccine requirement is a condition of employment. Employees who are not fully vaccinated or do not receive approval for a medical or religious exemption will be prohibited from engaging in work after December 8, 2021. Further failure to comply will be addressed consistent with university policies and procedures, which may include corrective action up to and including separation.

Additionally, absent an exemption, all individuals on campus – employees, students and visitors – regardless of vaccination status, will be required to wear masks and physically distance (to the extent required in the order). This includes indoor and outdoor spaces, classrooms, labs and social events. This masking and physical distancing requirement is effective Monday, October 25, 2021. 

What are the next steps in complying with this order?

We are asking all employees to please not submit your vaccination card (or other proof of your vaccination status) to your supervisor or Human Resources at this time. Employees will be able to upload proof of their vaccination status through a secure online portal shortly; more details are coming on how to do that.  Also, please do not submit requests for vaccine exemptions to your supervisor or HR at this time. More information will be forthcoming regarding the exemption request process.

We have put together the FAQ below to help answer some of your immediate questions. More information will be distributed as it becomes available.

As I have said before, vaccines remain the most effective way for us to combat this virus. Our top priority has been and remains the health, safety and well-being of our entire campus community. I call upon each of you – as a critical and valuable part of our Shocker family – to do your part in this fight not only for yourself, but also for your family, your friends, your neighbors and your colleagues. Vaccination of our campus not only ensures compliance with our federal obligations, thereby continuing to secure millions of dollars in federal funding that support and fund research, employment and educational efforts, it also gives us the best chance at keeping our classrooms and campus open.

As a reminder, all WSU students, faculty and staff can receive the vaccine, free of charge, through Student Health Services. Additionally, in partnership with the Sedgwick County Health Department, WSU is hosting two weekly public walk-in vaccination clinics.See the vaccination schedule.

If you have additional questions, email HR.ServiceCenter@wichita.edu.

Thank you for all you have done and continue to do for our university!

Sincerely,

Rick Muma, President

All WSU and WSU Tech students and employees (18 or older) who are eligible for the Pfizer vaccine third dose or booster can receive a free COVID-19 vaccination through Student Health Services. 

To be eligible for the third dose or booster Pfizer vaccine, all three of the following criteria must be met:

• Received two doses of Pfizer vaccine: A COVID vaccination card or other documentation is required to show proof of first two doses. It is not allowed or approved to receive a Pfizer booster if your first two vaccinations were Moderna or Johnson & Johnson.
• Received the second Pfizer dose six months before the booster.
• Fall into one or more of the following groups: 
  • Age 65 years and older
  • Age 18 years and older with one or more underlying conditions
  • Age 18 years and older with increased risk of COVID-19 because of workplace or institutional setting

For more information on booster eligibility requirements, visit the Sedgwick County website.

On-campus third dose or booster vaccination clinics are in WSU Student Health Services, which is located inside the YMCA on the WSU campus. Check-in for vaccination appointments will be located inside the WSU Student Wellness Center.

On-campus first and second dose Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson COVID vaccinations can be received through the Sedgwick County Health Department vaccine clinics on the WSU main campus. There are two walk-in vaccination clinics available: noon to 4 p.m. Wednesdays at the Wichita State YMCA and 1-4 p.m. Thursdays at Koch Arena. 

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 “Schedule Your COVID Vaccine Appointment” link on the left-hand side under “COVID-19 Toolkit.”

For anyone receiving vaccination through SHS, please follow these directions to save you time and to help SHS conserve our limited supply of vaccines: 

• You are required to bring your Covid vaccination card to prove documentation of your first and secibd Pfizer COVID-19 vaccinations.
• You will receive an email confirmation with your appointment date and time. Please keep your scheduled appointment.
• If you cannot keep your appointment, please cancel in a timely fashion so the appointment time is available for others. The option to cancel your appointment is in the confirmation email. 
• Bring the completed Dispense Assist form and your WSU ID, or other form of ID, with you for the appointment. 
• DO NOT arrive earlier than 10 minutes prior to your appointment time. 
• All individuals will be required to complete a 15- to 30-minute observation period after receiving the vaccine.

Other vaccine options

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

Please review Frequently Asked Questions 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.  

Please join the Psychology Department in celebration of the life of Dr. Charles Burdsal, who passed away on Sept. 10. The memorial is scheduled for 4 p.m. Friday, Oct. 15 at the Hughes Metropolitan Complex, room 180.

Burdsal, the community psychology Ph.D. coordinator and professor of psychology, began working at Wichita State University in 1972. At 77 years old, he was still actively teaching classes at Wichita State University at the time of his death.

If you’d like to attend the memorial via Zoom, contact Rhonda Lewis at rhonda.lewis@wichita.edu.

The Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders has received a gift to create the Audiology Simulation Lab at Wichita State University. The lab contains five state-of-the-art Canadian Audiology simulators for Research and Learning (CARL) manikins and auxiliary equipment — four adult heads and one infant head. Dr. William McCormick donated $25,000 in memory of his wife, Deanne, to start the Audiology Simulation Lab located on the lower level of Hubbard Hall.

The manufacturer of CARL, AHead Simulations, developed the units to decrease the risk associated with students practicing on each other or real patients. The CARL manikins provide Doctor of Audiology (AuD) students the autonomy to practice important procedures such as making earmold impressions and placing behind-the-ear hearing aids. Manikin use standardizes student learning and testing and allows students to gain practical hours through simulation. It also allows students to continue their education if clinics shut down, as they did during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Wichita State University is seeking student recommendations for future campus speakers. The intended purpose of an upcoming lecture series is to expose our campus community to diverse points of view, provoke critical thinking, and encourage civil discourse and discussion.

Some examples of speakers might include politicians, writers, athletes, reporters, newsmakers, educators, economists, or business leaders.

Submissions are due by Friday, Oct. 8. Click the button below to enter the names of speakers you’d like to see come to Wichita State. 

The School of Nursing has revamped the former Early Admission Option program and launched the new Guaranteed Placement Program for high school seniors. Key changes to the program include an increased number of accepted prerequisite hours, a new, streamlined online application, and the requirement for students to work one-on-one with a College of Health Professions advisor for guidance throughout the professional program.

High school students who are accepted into the program and start their college career at Wichita State are guaranteed entry into the competitive traditional BSN nursing program – so long as they continue to meet eligibility requirements. This popular program appeals to many students because securing a spot in the highly competitive nursing program establishes their higher education path.

“We are very pleased to implement these changes to the program,” said Brandy Jackson, undergraduate director of the School of Nursing. “The updated requirements and processes will provide students with more support and simplify their path as they transition to our program.”

Dr. Masud Chand, professor of international business, was recently featured in WalletHub. Chand was asked to share advice credit card balance transfers.

Wichita State University has formed a provost search committee and requested bids for an executive search firm to lead the process.

Werner Golling, vice president of finance and administration, and Whitney Bailey, of Faculty Senate executive committee, are co-chairs of the committee. Wichita State issued the request for proposal for the position on Sept. 24. Closing date for the bids is Oct. 8, and the firm will be selected shortly after that date.

President Rick Muma, in Friday’s virtual town hall for faculty and staff, said the position could be filled as quickly as Jan. 1. The latest date, Muma said, is July 1.

Shirley Lefever, interim executive vice president and provost, will serve until a new provost is hired. The executive vice president and provost serves as the head of WSU’s academic programs.

Wichita State is also forming a search committee to conduct a national search to select a University Police Department chief of police. Captain Guy Schroeder is the interim chief.

On Friday, Muma said a new chief could be hired by the end of the semester.

Wichita State is partnering with Gov. Laura Kelly and the Kansas Department of Health and Environment in an initiative to increase COVID-19 vaccinations to underrepresented communities across Kansas.

Last week, the governor announced that WSU’s Community Engagement Institute (CEI) will work together on the Increase the Reach initiative, which provides an additional opportunity for community-based organizations to receive funding to continue their vital work in promoting health equity through vaccinations. The program specifically aims to reach socially vulnerable populations and those experiencing low vaccination rates, including racial and ethnic minority populations and rural communities.

“Events over the last few years have brought health disparities into a sharper focus,” said Dr. Lee Norman, secretary of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, in a press release from the governor’s office. “These grants will support the work of community-based organizations in ensuring equitable access to the COVID-19 vaccine.”