Category: News

One of the principle values of Wichita State University is student-centeredness, and its efforts to create an inclusive and safe educational environment are central to the purpose of both the University and the Student Government Association.

Beginning July 1, WSU will implement mandatory Title IX training for all students to complete. The information provided in this training will provide students with the tools to better support and protect their fellow Shockers. Students who fail to perform the Title IX training will be subject to a registration hold on their accounts.

In May, Wichita State University began the transition from the Blackboard platform to the Ultra platform. The complete transition will take more than a year and a half, but you may have noticed significant changes already.

WSU is currently in the “Ultra Base Navigation” platform, which means logging in and finding courses is different than before. However, once professors and students log in, they look almost identical because the move to Ultra is a two-step process. At this time, most WSU courses are still in the Blackboard format.

If you are unsure whether the course you are teaching is in Ultra, please visit the Am I in Ultra? webpage.

What is a first-gen student? A first-generation college student is defined as a student whose parents/legal guardians have not completed a bachelor’s degree — a student who is the first person in their immediate family to attend a four-year college or university to attain a bachelor’s degree.

• FORM-A-LINE: Become a subcommittee member of FGCC. The First-Generation Coordinating Council (FGCC) is looking for individuals to join in the work. Currently seeking subcommittee members for the following:
  • Marketing
  • Faculty & Staff Engagement
  • Data & Assessment
  • Graduate School
• FOCUS ON FIRST-GEN: This week we highlight Elaine Bernstorf, PhD, CCC-SLP, College of Fine Arts, School of Music, Professor of Music Education and Honors Faculty Fellow.
• F1RST-GEN T-Shirts are available in the RSC Shocker Store for $12.
• If you’re interested in being featured as a first-generation profile, contact Lydia Santiago.

Per the designated holidays schedule released by Gov. Laura Kelly’s office on August 28, 2020, Wichita State University will close July 5 in observance of Independence Day. 

For this next episode of Tuesday Talks, join Nurse Heather Stafford, Student Health Services associate director; Aaron Coffey, Wichita State Graduate Enrollment Management assistant dean; and Austin Nordyke and Rachit Rajput, WSU graduate students. The group will discuss what new graduate students need to know about staying healthy.

WSU community,

This summer we are preparing for a new fall semester – one for which we are excited for positive and exciting changes and growth. One area of growth and change that we are pleased to share is being led by Wichita State University’s Office of Institutional Equity and Compliance (OIEC). Beginning in the fall, OIEC will be working on a number of initiatives to increase education and awareness of Title IX and campus safety, and to expand the accessibility and transparency of OIEC resources and processes.  

One of these initiatives that we are excited to implement is the Sexual Assault Prevention training requirement for all WSU students, faculty and staff. A recent survey aimed at gauging Title IX awareness and prevention indicated that 70% of employees and 63% of students feel the training should be mandatory. This is consistent with the Student Government Association’s resolution supporting mandatory Sexual Assault Prevention training. OIEC is partnering with SGA to develop content for a student-centric video promoting the importance of completing mandatory training.  

OIEC will continue to offer trainings to incoming and transfer students during new student orientation; content specific trainings to student organizations, graduate assistants, graduate teaching assistants, tutors, resident assistants, student athletes and mandatory reporters. OIEC will be offering a new advanced advisor training that will be released in late summer 2021.  

Finally, OIEC will see a staffing increase to assist with processing complaints and providing resources and education to the campus community. 

These initiatives are on the heels of a comprehensive review recently completed by Cozen O’Connor, a national law firm specializing in federal compliance issues mandated under Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (Title IX), the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act (Clery Act) and the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013 (VAWA). This review examined the University’s written policies, procedures and related documents and communications; interviews of campus implementers, stakeholders and persons who have utilized OIEC services; and a survey of students, staff and faculty seeking feedback, observations and recommendations. The review provided the university and the Kansas Board of Regents a comprehensive assessment of OIEC’s legal compliance and examined ways the university could enhance the effectiveness of its policies, procedures and practices related to sexual and gender-based harassment and violence under Title IX and related provisions of the Clery Act and VAWA. 

The review targeted three areas of the university’s Title IX regulatory compliance: (1) publishing a non-discrimination statement, (2) appointing a Director of Institutional Equity and Compliance, and (3) having a written, prompt, and equitable grievance procedure for resolution of reports and formal complaints of sexual harassment. The review revealed that the university was in compliance with all three areas, noting the university’s 2018 installment of a Director of Institutional Equity and Compliance and its efforts in adopting and updating as needed Policies 3.02 and 3.06.   

The review also highlights the extensive training materials that have been created and offered beginning in 2018. Several of the training materials can be found on OIEC’s website.   

The review also identified areas that could be improved, including visibility, enhanced advisor training, increased reporting, and education on mandatory reporting obligations by employees. These areas of opportunity were highlighted in the campus-wide survey conducted last spring. The review also found a discrepancy between the number of reports made compared to the number of formal investigations conducted.  It was found that a high number of individuals did not respond to OIEC’s outreach resulting in cases that could not be investigated.   

We support the external review of the university’s Title IX procedures, policies and practices and the recommendations that followed. We look forward to our students, faculty and staff returning to campus this fall and the positive and exciting changes and opportunities for growth that our students and our university as a whole are poised to achieve. 

For an accessible copy of the report or survey, please contact OIEC.wichita.edu. 

About the Office of Institutional Equity and Compliance 

OIEC is committed to ensuring a work and educational environment that is free from discrimination, harassment, and sexual misconduct.  OIEC is a university resource and encourages Wichita State community members to reach out with any questions about related policies and processes.   

Dr. Richard Muma, President 

Christine Taylor, Executive Director of Institutional Equity & Compliance 

Join KMUW’s Carla Eckels, host and producer of Soulsations, in conversation with chart-topping jazz artist Skinny Hightower. The interview will premiere at 6 p.m  on Tuesday, June 29, on Soulsations’ Facebook page.

From Wichita, Hightower is a record producer, bass player, drummer and jazz pianist with a reputation for trekking his own path. With two No. 1 Billboard singles (“Blue Moon” and “Taboo”) and four Top 5 Billboard singles (“Blue Moon,” “Taboo,” “Bittersweet,” and “Sample That”), Hightower is no stranger to mass appeal.

KMUW’s Carla Eckels will host Hightower in conversation about his craft and his latest effort “Blue Moon,” a two-disc collection of lively yet edgy ’70s-clad instrumentals. More than 100 songs were recorded, all produced by Hightower, and a team was carefully selected to determine the best 24 songs of the bunch, forming what is now an album of considerable proportions.

Due to State of Kansas policy requirements, starting the weekend of July 2, a new log-on warning will be rolling out over the course of the weekend to all university devices

What is a log-on warning? Prior to logging onto any device on campus, a log-on warning will appear on the screen. The log-on warning defines that the system is monitored for improper use and directs users to read the acceptable use policy located at www.wichita.edu/aup. This does not impact the usage of the device and will appear before every log-on.

Who will get this message? All WSU-owned devices, including Apple macOS and Windows. There will be no change to NIAR’s warning as part of the deployment.

Why do we need this? The state policy has made log-on warnings a requirement among institutions and agencies. Additionally, this helps to ensure we meet compliance obligations undertaken by many areas of the university.

When will this happen? Starting July 2, the change will go into effect across campus. It may take a few days to appear on your WSU-owned device, or longer if you are off campus.

Have questions or concerns? Let us know @ askinfosec@wichita.edu

What is a first-gen student? A first-generation college student is defined as a student whose parents/legal guardians have not completed a bachelor’s degree — a student who is the first person in their immediate family to attend a four-year college or university to attain a bachelor’s degree.

• FORM-A-LINE: Become a subcommittee member of FGCC. The First-Generation Coordinating Council (FGCC) is looking for individuals to join in the work. Currently seeking subcommittee members for the following:
  • Marketing
  • Faculty and staff engagement
  • Data and assessment
  • Graduate school
• FOCUS ON FIRST-GEN: This week we highlight Carrie Wyatt, who graduated with a bachelor of science in business management with a minor in art. Carrie is Wichita State’s Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders; academic data manager and website and social media coordinator.
• F1RST-GEN T-Shirts are available in the RSC Shocker Store for $12.
• If you’re interested in being featured as a first-generation profile, contact Lydia Santiago at fgshockers@wichita.edu.