Category: COVID-19 Updates

Dear Shockers:

I hope this finds you and your families well and enjoying this last little bit of summer. It’s hard to believe that it is already August. We are eagerly awaiting your arrival on campus and ready to welcome you back. There are already countless plans in the works for campus activities, and I encourage each of you to take advantage of all Wichita State has to offer this fall.  

In early June, given the positive decreasing trend of reported COVID-19 cases in our community along with the ready availability of vaccines, the university transitioned back to in-person operations. However, as we have said since the beginning of our pandemic-management efforts, our top priority has always been the health and safety of our entire campus community. This is no less true today than it was a year ago. The university has been monitoring the rapid spread of the Delta variant across the country and in our own community. Given this increasing positivity rate and the dangers associated with the Delta variant, the university is taking proactive steps to mitigate spread of this variant on our campus.  

Therefore, effective immediately, all students, faculty, staff, and visitors — regardless of vaccination status — will be required to wear a mask in all campus classrooms and laboratories. Additionally, we encourage all members of our campus community to wear masks in all other indoor campus locations.  

We believe this small step will greatly increase our chances of keeping our campus open for in-person business and keeping our students in the classroom.  

As we continue to weather this public health crisis, we are counting on everyone in Shocker Nation to continue to take measures to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus.  

Vaccination remains our strongest tool against community transmission and spread. The university encourages all on our campus to get vaccinated if they are able. Vaccines are widely available and are free to students, employees, campus partners, and their families from Wichita State Student Health Services. Go to www.wichita.edu/covidvaccine to learn more.   

The Eugene M. Hughes Metropolitan Complex, at the corner of 29th and Oliver, offers free walk-in testing for everyone. For more information, call 316-978-3734. Students and employees can also get tested through Student Health Services.  

This is a complex, challenging, and fluid situation that continues to evolve rapidly. We will communicate further updates as they become available.  

Sincerely,  

President Rick Muma, Wichita State University 

Wichita State continues to review its campus health and safety measures in light of the increasing community spread of the COVID-19 Delta variant. Our top priority has always been – and remains – the health and safety of our campus community. We appreciate your patience as we work to keep our campus open, continue meeting in person, and keep students in the classroom. Additional information will be available soon.

As we work to return to a more normal campus environment for fall, the COVID Operations group would like to highlight some FAQs related to classroom instruction. Additional questions can be directed to Carolyn.shaw@wichita.edu to be addressed by this operational group.

FAQs Set #6:  Questions about health

• Can instructors ask students if they have been vaccinated?
  • We cannot ask questions that violate people’s privacy.

• Can instructors require students to be vaccinated if they want to be in-person?
  • We can encourage people to take advantage of getting a vaccine but cannot require it.
• How can instructors manage a situation where a student doesn’t feel safe to attend in-person classes?
  • Instructors have been asked to provide information in advance regarding their in-person expectations for classes next semester in order for students to make informed decisions about enrolling. Students can be encouraged to visit with their advisor to see if an online option is available for them. Instructors may consider replicating in-person learning experiences in a remote or online format when their program provides only one section of a course.
  • The emotional, financial and social disruptions caused by COVID-19 uncertainty have created serious challenges for many of our students. It is important that instructors refer students who might need assistance to the WSU CARE Team to learn options for addressing mental health and wellness during COVID-19.
  • If a student believes they have a condition which requires accommodation where they cannot attend in person, they should contact the Office of Disability Services. Instructors will work with ODS to meet these identified accommodations.
  • There may be some classroom management options that will help a student feel more comfortable. For example, suggest that they arrive early and leave last so they do not have to get too close to others as they enter the room.

Additional FAQs about teaching this fall can be found on the COVID-19 university webpage.

As we work to return to a more normal campus environment for fall, the COVID-19 Operations group would like to highlight some FAQs related to classroom instruction. Additional questions can be directed to Carolyn.shaw@wichita.edu to be addressed by this operational group.

FAQs Set #8:  Questions about the Classroom and Campus

• Can I require in-person attendance?
  • Students are expected to meet the stated requirements for their courses. Students should use the wichita.edu/fall2021webpage to identify courses that work best for their needs. If a student believes they have a condition which requires accommodation where they cannot attend in person, they should contact the Office of Disability Services. Faculty will work with ODS to meet these identified accommodations.
  • However, instructors are encouraged consider ways other than in-person attendance to assess participation and/or engagement. These alternative approaches can help ensure we do not disincentivize people to stay home or quarantine when sick. Instructors should ask students to monitor themselves for COVID-19 symptoms and instruct students who feel ill to not attend in-person meetings.
• Is there standard syllabus language we can use?
  • Yes. The policies that should be linked to all syllabi include a COVID statement.  These can be found here: https://www.wichita.edu/faculty/development/syllabuspolicies.php
  • Instructors should provide a clear statement of expectations on the first day of class promoting campus health and safety.

As we work to return to a more normal campus environment for fall, the COVID-19 Operations group would like to highlight some FAQs related to classroom instruction. Additional questions can be directed to Carolyn.shaw@wichita.edu to be addressed by this operational group.

FAQs Set #7:  Questions about the Classroom and Campus

• What are the classroom capacities for the fall?
  • Regular classroom capacities will be resumed with no more distancing limitations in the classroom. Instructors may choose, however, to divide their classes as they have previously in order to have fewer students in a classroom at a time to maintain distancing. Our hybrid class codes will allow for flexibility in these course designs.

• Can instructors request a new classroom based on changed class capacities?
  • The Registrar’s Office has ensured that all courses are in rooms that can hold the quota of the course. Special requests will be considered if they are needed to allow for additional enrollment, to address medical concerns or to accommodate a specific mode of teaching. The department chair or department schedule builder can contact schedulebuilding@wichita.edu with these select requests.

As we work to return to a more normal campus environment for fall, the COVID-19 Operations group would like to highlight some FAQs related to classroom instruction. Additional questions can be directed to Carolyn.shaw@wichita.edu to be addressed by this operational group.

FAQs Set #5:  Questions about health

• Can instructors still wear a mask while providing instruction?
  • Yes. Everyone in classrooms and lab spaces should wear a mask.
• Can instructors be compelled to take off their mask to teach?
  • If students have trouble with hearing or comprehension, a microphone might be advisable or use of a face shield instead of a mask. If an accommodation need exists, the instructor needs to consult with ODS.

• Can instructors require masks in the classroom, or when students visit their office?
  • We are following state and county guidelines. We will continue to encourage COVID-healthy behaviors, including getting vaccinated, masking, and distancing as space allows. Updates based on Gov Kelly’s July 28 announcement will be found on the Shockers United news page.
  • You may choose to meet students in a larger conference room if that is more comfortable than a smaller office; or arrange for a virtual meeting instead.

• If an instructor has students who want to socially distance and students who don’t, can they designate part of their classroom for distancing?
  • Instructors can manage seating in their classroom as they choose. We encourage instructors to spread students out in the classroom to the best extent possible.

As we work to return to a more normal campus environment for fall, the COVID Operations group would like to highlight some FAQs related to classroom instruction. Additional questions can be directed to Carolyn.shaw@wichita.edu to be addressed by this operational group.

FAQs Set #1:  Questions about the Classroom and Campus

• What are the classroom capacities for the fall?
  • Regular classroom capacities will be resumed with no more distancing limitations in the classroom. Instructors may choose, however, to divide their classes as they have previously in order to have fewer students in a classroom at a time to maintain distancing. Our hybrid class codes will allow for flexibility in these course designs.
• Will classrooms still be sanitized next semester?
  • All classrooms will be cleaned as they have been. We will also continue to have sanitizing spray and paper towels for anyone who wants to disinfect their area in the classroom. See additional Health and Safety information.

As we work to return to a more normal campus environment for fall, the COVID-19 Operations group would like to highlight some FAQs related to classroom instruction. Additional questions can be directed to Carolyn.shaw@wichita.edu to be addressed by this operational group.

FAQs Set #4:  Questions about the Classroom and Campus

• Do Instructors have to provide alternative, online content for students without asking if the request is COVID-19 related?
  • No. But Instructors need to accommodate students who have registered with the Office of Disability Services (ODS). Instructors should be flexible as they would be with any student who is ill. Instructors should not request documentation of health conditions.

• Can I require in-person attendance?
  • Students are expected to meet the stated requirements for their courses. Students should use the wichita.edu/fall2021webpage to identify courses that work best for their needs. If a student believes they have a condition which requires accommodation where they cannot attend in person, they should contact the Office of Disability Services. Faculty will work with ODS to meet these identified accommodations.
  • However, instructors are encouraged consider ways other than in-person attendance to assess participation and/or engagement. These alternative approaches can help ensure we do not disincentivize people to stay home or quarantine when sick. Instructors should ask students to monitor themselves for COVID-19 symptoms and instruct students who feel ill to not attend in-person meetings.

As we work to return to a more normal campus environment for fall, the COVID Operations group would like to highlight some FAQs related to classroom instruction. Additional questions can be directed to Carolyn.shaw@wichita.edu to be addressed by this operational group.

FAQs Set #2:  Questions about the Classroom and Campus 

• Can instructors change their classes from fully online, no synchronous events with no Zoom lectures (IIE)/fully online with synchronous events like Zoom lectures required (IIS) to partly online, partly in person (HYB), or from HYB to IIE\IIS?
  • Registration has been underway since March, and students have made plans based on what is already in the catalog. For this reason, we will not be making any late course code changes to the fall semester.

• Can instructors request a new classroom based on changed class capacities?
  • The Registrar’s Office has ensured that all courses are in rooms that can hold the quota of the course. Special requests will be considered if they are needed to allow for additional enrollment, to address medical concerns or to accommodate a specific mode of teaching. The department chair or department schedule builder can contact schedulebuilding@wichita.edu with these select requests.

COVID-19 vaccination scheduling is now open to all WSU on-campus industry partner employees and new incoming students and their immediate family members, ages 18 and up, in addition to WSU and WSU Tech employees, students, and their immediate family members.

An immediate family member includes child, stepchild, grandchild, parent, stepparent, grandparent, spouse, sibling, mother-in-law, father-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law or sister-in-law, including any adoptive relationships, and any residing in the same household. Family members need to be residents of Sedgwick County, Kansas.

To schedule an appointment for immediate family members, the employee or student will need to sign in to myWSU and go to the home page tab. The “Schedule Your COVID Vaccine Appointment” link on the left-hand side of the home page.

Please follow these directions to save you time and to help SHS conserve our limited supply of vaccine: 

• 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.

On-campus vaccination clinics will be located in WSU Student Health Services, which is located inside the YMCA on the WSU campus. Check-in for your vaccination appointment inside the Student Wellness Center.