Author: Sara Ornelas

In 2020, Wichita State University faculty, staff, administrators, student, and community leaders were asked to serve on presidential task forces as part of a commitment to shared governance and transparency. The findings from these efforts have helped shape and refine the priorities and strategy of the university.

The work of these task forces is complete. Their insight may inspire further initiatives that serve Wichita State’s vision and mission.

Dr. Charles Burdsal, community psychology Ph.D. coordinator and professor of psychology, passed away on Sept. 10, 2021, in Wichita. He was 77 years old and still actively teaching classes at Wichita State University. Burdsal was born in 1944 in Kansas City, Missouri, and moved to Texas in the 1950s. He earned a bachelor of arts and doctorate from Texas Tech University.

He began teaching at Wichita State in 1972. During the almost 50 years of service to the university, Burdsal worked as department chair in psychology and helped establish the doctoral programs for the department. He was also in charge of the Social Science Research Lab. He loved gardening, traveling, and photography.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Charles and Thaddie Burdsal. Charlie is survived by his wife of 41 years, Jeanne Burdsal; stepdaughter, Kristin Morgan (Craig); granddaughter, Kaitlyn Watson.

In this month’s issue of Forward Together, President Rick Muma writes about Digital Transformation and how it’s driving Wichita State University’s research and applied learning initiatives, as well as helping to diversity the Kansas economy. Other topics discussed include the following:

• WSU-NIAR WERX receives 777 aircraft for Kansas Modification Center passenger-to-freighter conversion
• Shocker Promise will cover tuition and fees for eligible Sedgwick County freshmen
• Long-lost sundial finds new home on WSU campus
• T-Mobile internship led to career options for WSU student
• Scholarship aimed at underrepresented students welcomes inaugural class
• NIAR helps South Kansas earn Defense Manufacturing Community designation
• WSU researcher awarded $100K NEH grant for accessibility app
• Wu Crew Reads promotes literacy at Wichita school
• $125K grant will assist WSU in boosting businesses in underserved communities

A precious piece of Wichita State University’s story was almost lost to the dusty shelves of history — if not for the historical instincts of a faculty member.

In 1934, the class of 175 graduating seniors purchased and dedicated a sundial to Wichita State, which was then known as the Municipal University of Wichita; and it was placed at the southwest corner of Jardine Hall.

According to the Sunflower student newspaper, “The dial was made of white granite and is about 3 feet in height. Brass comprises the material of the top, which is approximately 16 inches in diameter.” 

Wichita State University is expanding two programs to incentivize students to get vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus. Participation in both incentive programs is completely voluntary.

• Prize incentives: Join your fellow Shocker students and fight the spread of COVID-19. WSU students can visit myShockerHealth portal to submit verification of COVID-19 vaccinations. Once you have submitted your vaccination verification, your name will be entered in a daily prize drawing from Aug. 27 to Sept. 3. Prizes include an iPad, an Apple Watch, airpods, a Keurig coffeemaker, a laptop, and an air fryer. The deadline to submit records for this incentive program is Friday, Aug. 27.
  
• Financial incentives: The newest vaccine incentive program includes a $250 award for fall 2021 for current students who can show proof of vaccination. Participating students may also be eligible to receive one of 20 scholarships worth $5,000 each for the spring 2022 semester, which will be awarded through a random drawing. Students with questions after reading the link abovecan ask them via the myShockerHealth portal. The deadline to submit records for this incentive program is Friday, Oct. 8.

If you have already received your COVID-19 vaccine through Student Health OR have already submitted your vaccination records to Student Health, you do not need to submit them again. You can check the myShockerHealth portal under “Immunizations” to verify if your COVID-19 vaccinations are on file.

Students with questions can ask them via the myShockerHealth portal.

Vaccinations continue to be the best weapon against COVID-19 as we work together to move past this pandemic. We encourage anyone who can to get vaccinated from Student Health or anywhere else where it’s offered.

As a reminder, masks are required in all indoor classrooms and labs at Wichita State and are strongly recommended indoors elsewhere.

“Throughout my medical career as a physician assistant, I’ve never seen a vaccine like the ones we have for COVID-19, which are extremely effective in preventing serious illness or death,” says WSU President Dr. Rick Muma. “By encouraging our students and the rest of our campus community to get vaccinated, it gives us the best odds at keeping our classrooms and campus open — and eventually ending this pandemic.”

Wichita State University is expanding its COVID-19 vaccine incentive program to include a $250 award for fall 2021 for current students who can show proof of vaccination. Participating students may also be eligible to receive one of 20 scholarships worth $5,000 each for the spring 2022 semester, which will be awarded through a random drawing.  

• Who is eligible? All degree-bound students enrolled for fall 2021 who provide proof of being fully vaccinated through WSU Student Health Services or any other location. Students must submit documentation of both shots of either Pfizer or Moderna, or the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine.  
• How to provide proof: Students may submit proof of vaccination through the myShockerHealth portal. If you have not yet submitted proof, please log in to the portal to do so. Instructions on how to upload documents are at wichita.edu/uploadhealthdocs. If you have already received your COVID-19 vaccine through Student Health OR have already submitted your vaccination records to Student Health, you do not need to submit them again. You can check the myShockerHealth portal under “Immunizations” to verify if your COVID-19 vaccinations are on file.  Students with questions can ask them via the myShockerHealth portal.
• Deadline: Proof of full vaccination (either one dose of Johnson & Johnson or both doses of either Pfizer or Moderna) must be provided by Oct. 8. Please note: To meet that deadline, students who have not started the COVID-19 vaccine series will need to receive their first dose of Pfizer by Sept. 17, or the first dose of Moderna by Sept. 10, to allow enough time to receive the second doses and submit records before Oct. 8.  
• How the awards work: The $250 award will be applied to the student’s account and will be refunded per the student’s refund profile in mid-October. The $250 will not be applied to account balances. The $5,000 scholarships (non-refundable) will be drawn, awarded and applied to spring 2022 tuition and fees, up to an amount of $5,000. Winning students will be notified via email or phone call.
• How to get vaccinated: Free vaccines are available through Student Health Services for all students. You can also schedule vaccine appointments at any one of Sedgwick County’s vaccine locations or other local vaccine providers, found at www.vaccinefinder.org.  

Vaccinations continue to be the best weapon against COVID-19 as we work together to move past this pandemic. We encourage anyone who can to get vaccinated from Student Health or anywhere else where it’s offered. 

As a reminder, masks are required in all indoor classrooms and labs at Wichita State and are strongly recommended indoors elsewhere. 

“Throughout my medical career as a physician assistant, I’ve never seen a vaccine like the ones we have for COVID-19, which are extremely effective in preventing serious illness or death,” says WSU President Dr. Rick Muma. “By encouraging our students and the rest of our campus community to get vaccinated, it gives us the best odds at keeping our classrooms and campus open — and eventually ending this pandemic.” 

As the fall 2021 semester begins, the 21 students in the inaugural class of Adelante Scholars have begun their careers as Wichita State University students.

The Adelante Scholarship was established in 2020 through a gift from Gene and Yolanda Camarena. It’s geared toward incoming freshmen and new transfer students. Preference is given to students who are of Black, Hispanic and Latino heritage with a minimum 3.0 grade point average and demonstrated financial need.

Starting fall 2022, any qualified high school senior who is a resident of Sedgwick County will be eligible to receive a scholarship covering unmet tuition and fee costs of attending Wichita State University.

That’s thanks to a new scholarship created by Wichita State called the Shocker Promise. Previously available to qualified students who live in the Shocker Neighborhood, this scholarship has now been extended to all eligible incoming first-time freshmen living in Sedgwick County.

At Wichita State, opportunities to learn and grow happen everywhere. Shocker 360 is an app that lets you log your beyond-the-classroom experiences, use them to earn points, and share them with potential employers. Now students can win prizes for the points they earn on Shocker 360.

• First 500 students to 100 points get a bound journal
• First 300 students to 150 points get a water flask  
• First 200 students to 200 points get Shocker Dining Dollars  
• First 100 to 250 get $50 in Shocker Store credit  
• First 10 to 300 get a party for six in Shocker Grill and Lanes
• Top 5 scores for the semester get JBL earbuds
• Top score for the semester gets an iPad

If you were unable to attend or watch live the 2021 Faculty and Staff Fall Address, you can watch a recording of the entire program.

President Richard Muma, with the assistance of several university representatives, outlined key focus areas for the coming year:

• Access and affordability
• Applied learning and digital transformation
• Interdisciplinary research