Author: Brea Stafford

Faculty and staff can visit the Faculty/Staff Acute Care Clinic for minor and acute medical issues only. Appointments are required for the clinic.

The clinic is located in the Student Wellness Center within the Steve Clark YMCA. Most appointments are $30 to $50 for an office visit evaluation by a Student Health Services medical provider, dependent on insurance. The office visit cost does not include the costs for laboratory services, medications or radiology services. Call 316-978-4792 to schedule an appointment.

Co-pays or deductibles are the employee’s responsibility and depend on personal health insurance benefits.

Student Health Services and Positive Directions, Inc. hosts monthly free screenings and testing clinics for sexually transmitted illnesses and testing clinics. Schedule your appointment in the myShockerhealth portal to receive your free STI screening and free pizza.

Opportunities to complete your HealthQuest employee physical exam and labwork health insurance points at Student Health have been extended to Dec. 1. Call 316-978-4792 to make an appointment.

As faculty and staff, you may encounter situations where students exhibit concerning behavior or challenges with basic needs. The university Campus Assessment Response and Evaluation (CARE) Team is designed to support you in these instances. Join its training session to:

• Recognize indicators of distress: Learn the signs that a student may need assistance.
• Respond appropriately: Understand the best practices for addressing and supporting students in distress.
• Responsible reporting: Get guidance on how to report concerns effectively and responsibly.

Your participation is crucial in creating a community of care that is supportive and responsive to the holistic success and wellbeing of WSU’s students. Don’t miss the opportunity to enhance your skills and knowledge. Sign up in your myWSU portal under myTraining. For more information, contact Alicia Newell, AVP of Student Services, at alicia.newell@wichita.edu.

As faculty and staff, you may encounter situations where students exhibit concerning behavior or challenges with basic needs. The university Campus Assessment Response and Evaluation (CARE) Team is designed to support you in these instances. Join the training session to:

• Recognize indicators of distress: Learn the signs that a student may need assistance.
• Respond appropriately: Understand the best practices for addressing and supporting students in distress.
• Responsible reporting: Get guidance on how to report concerns effectively and responsibly.

Your participation is crucial in creating a community of care that is supportive and responsive to the holistic success and wellbeing of students. Don’t miss the opportunity to enhance your skills and knowledge. Sign up today in your myWSU portal under myTraining. For more information, contact Alicia Newell, AVP of Student Services, at alicia.newell@wichita.edu.

During the month of March 2024, CARE Teams’ number of CARE reports appropriately reflected the number from previous year, March 2023. Reports that came in from staff and faculty make up the majority of reports for the month of March.

The most common concerns that are reported mid semester include repeated absences due to mental health decline, deterioration in quality of work and students voicing distress. One way CARE Team has been assisting students who report distress is by walking them through a grounding technique of utilizing their five senses. The 54321 senses method is designed to manage acute stress, regain focus and reduce anxiety:

• Five things you can see
• Four things you can touch
• Three things you can hear
• Two things you can smell
• One thing you can taste

By focusing one’s attention to the power of their five senses, it helps redirect the attention away from their state of distress, allowing them to regain control over their thoughts and emotions and be present in the moment.

CARE Team encourages staff and faculty to try the technique out and find a way to apply it in their own wellness routine at work.

Student Government Association (SGA) is the governing body of all students at Wichita State. It represents and advocates for student needs and issues on campus through local, state and federal government officials. SGA is made up of the executive branch, legislative branch, judicial branch, Office of the Student Advocates, association agencies and several other commissions and tasks forces. All of these groups are available to help serve students and their needs.

SGA allocates over $11 million worth of student fees that funds services such as Student Health, Campus Activities, educational scholarships, the Sunflower and more. Other initiatives include:

• Association scholarships
• Individual and organizational funding
• Food for Fines
• Menstrual product program
• Shocker Support Locker

Student Health Services (SHS) has been providing convenient and affordable health care to WSU students for over 80 years. Currently enrolled students have access to all the services available at Student Health, located in the Steve Clark YMCA and Student Wellness Center.

Recently, a new WSU Staff/Faculty Acute Care Clinic was implemented at Student Health, where evaluation and treatment of acute illness and injuries (non-work related) are provided, along with immunization administration and tuberculosis screening and testing. Some laboratory, pharmacy and radiology services are also available.

Student Health files all insurance plans and are in-network with common private insurances. Student Health does not deny service to those who may not have the ability pay for services and offers a Health Equity Discount for students who have out-of-network insurance or are uninsured or underinsured.

Besides healthcare services, Student Health offers:

• Health education and presentations on numerous health and wellness topics
• Applied learning opportunities for many students to meet practicum or clinical requirements or shadow a professional and licensed healthcare worker at SHS. It also has opportunities for students in business operations and HOPE Services.
• Applied learning opportunities that are paid student employees positions in laboratory and clinic areas.

The Office of Diversity and Inclusion aims to cultivate and sustain an inclusive campus. It strives for academic excellence by creating an environment that educates, empowers and mobilizes the students, campus and community. In the community, members view themselves as ambassadors for fundamental freedoms and respect the differences in others.

The office provides dynamic programs, which range from speakers and film showings to award ceremonies, cultural festivities and LGBTQ+ programming, each representing a small piece of the diversity displayed on the WSU campus.

The Strengths, Assessment & Staff Engagement (SASE) Department in Student Affairs focuses on opportunities to equip, empower and engage divisional staff, including student employees and graduate assistants, in a culture of support, growth, investment and belonging. Beyond the staff experience, SASE oversees the ShockerStrengths Initiative and divisional assessment initiatives. SASE also collaborates with departments on first-generation programs and initiatives.

SASE loves to engage with campus partners in various ways, but the most common collaboration exists within the ShockerStrengths Initiative. Designed to connect Shockers with their talents and strengths, SASE offers administration of the CliftonStrengths inventory, individual and team coaching, and workshops for classes, groups and organizations on campus. For more information on requesting a workshop, inventory or general information, visit the SASE webpage.