Category: News

The Office of Instructional Resources is proud to announce the launch of a new Blackboard-based training course for all instructors and any interested others. The course, “Ultra Training for Instructors,” is now available in Blackboard in the “Courses” area, and all 2023-24 academic year instructors have been enrolled.

In addition to the course, all enrollees have received a sandbox course shell called “Ultra Practice for Instructors,” which can be found in the Blackboard Courses area. The practice course will allow instructors to follow along with the training and practice Ultra skills.  If you are not enrolled in the course and would like to be (and staff and others we welcome too), send an email to OIR@wichita.edu with your Shocker ID number.

The staff in the Office of the Registrar support the mission of WSU by providing essential enrollment, curricular, and student record services to the campus community. While these activities are often behind the scenes,” they contribute greatly to the success of the faculty, staff and students.

Annual data for calendar years 2022 and 2023 have been compiled to recognize the type and volume of work they do, and can be viewed on the Office of the Registrar website (wichita.edu/ROannualreport). These numbers reflect hard work, dedication and collaboration across campus.

President Rick Muma and First Gentleman Rick Case will be on KMUW starting at 7 a.m. Thursday, March 28 during KMUW’s spring pledge drive. Listen in on 89.1 FM.

They will be matching listener donations. Listeners can make a donation by calling 316-978-6700, using the KMUW smartphone app or visiting the website.

Parking Services is in the final stages of moving into the former Campus Credit Union building and should be operational in their new location in early April. Lobby and drive thru hours will be 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

To help parents sign their children up for summer camps, the Office of Strategic Communications is compiling Wichita State camp info on the 2024 Summer Camps website.

For Darren DeFrain, associate professor of English and director of the writing program, research is all about finding the narrative.

Take, for example, graphic novels, a subject of DeFrain’s research for some ten years.

Students are requested to provide updated information to Wichita State anytime there is a change to contact information. This includes mailing address, phone number and emergency contact. It is especially important that you provide and update an emergency contact.

The person you list will only be contacted in the event of a health or safety emergency in which you are personally involved. If you live on campus, this will also be the person contacted should you be reported as missing. You may list a parent, family member, spouse or other trusted individual as your emergency contact. You will find the link to your profile page on the myWSU Home tab, under “Student Tools” and “myContact Info.” A separate link there also provides an opportunity to update self-reported military affiliation.

Please take a few minutes and ensure WSU has your updated information and an emergency contact.

The division of Industry and Defense Programs (IDP) has recently made several changes to its finance administration and contracts departments.

• David Miller, previously WSU executive director of budgets, has moved to IDP as associate vice president of finance and operations. In this newly created position, Miller reports to John Tomblin, senior vice president for Industry and Defense Programs.
  Miller works directly with university research and industry-facing organizations such as the National Institute for Aviation Research (NIAR), FirePoint Innovations Center, the National Institute for Research and Digital Transformation, and GoCreate, a Koch Collaborative.
• Lois Tatro and Paul Werner will continue in their respective positions as IDP director of financial services and special projects and NIAR senior director of financial reporting.
• Robyn Bongartz joins Miller as director of revenue operations for IDP. Bongartz was previously director of accounts receivable for WSU. In her new role she will initially focus on improving processes, management and recognition of all aspects of revenue from billing to payment. To accomplish this, she will work directly with IDP business managers, directors and the research accounting team. Bongartz has worked at the university in various capacities since 1993.
• Lisa Haggard returns to the university as director of contracts and grants for IDP after spending a year with Textron Aviation Defense. In this position, Haggard reports to Tomblin, and will oversee pre-award activities, including the development and timely submission of technical and cost proposals that are compliant with customer requirements; negotiation and award of contracts and grants; administration of contract and grants from account set up through closeout; and negotiation, award and administration of subcontracts. Haggard previously worked for NIAR/IDP for eight years as a grant manager.
• Amy Smith continues as the associate director of post-award for IDP, reporting to Miller.
• Karen Davis is returning to the Office of Research as director, reporting dually to Tomblin and Shirley Lefever, provost and executive vice president.

Contact information:

• David Miller, associate vice president of finance and operations, Industry & Defense Program
  NIAR, room 223, 978-5821 david.miller2@idp.wichita.edu
• Robyn Bongartz, director of revenue operations, Industry & Defense Programs
  NIAR, room 207C, phone TBD, robyn.bongartz@idp.wichita.edu
• Lisa Haggard, director of contracts and grants, Industry & Defense Programs
  Partnership Building P2, 316-655-6936, lisa.haggard@idp.wichita.edu
• Karen Davis, director, Office of Research, WSU
  Jardine Hall, 978-6808, karen.davis@wichita.edu

The Service-Learning Showcase is a unique opportunity for students who participate in service-learning through applied learning opportunities to showcase their experience through a research or reflective poster about the application of their course work to current community issues. For 2024, the showcase will be held in a digital format and judged by a team of community partner leaders.

The showcase is an open forum for students to interact with faculty/staff, community partners and other students to engage in conversation about Wichita State’s commitment to the public good. Awards are presented in the following categories:

• Outstanding Overall Service-Learning Project: $150 scholarship to winning entry
• Innovation and Creativity in Problem Solving: $100 scholarship to winning entry
• Community Impact/ Community Choice: $100 scholarship to winning entry
• Collaboration and Leadership in Service-Learning: $100 scholarship to winning entry

Submissions are due April 5. For more information and to submit, visit the showcase website.

The Budget Advisory Committee (BAC), consisting of appointed faculty, staff, students and administrators, serves to host campus budget conversations to provide an educational and communicative platform regarding university finances.

As part of these efforts, the committee wishes to engage campus to gather input, ideas and opportunities from the WSU community that can positively impact financial outcomes and budgetary planning. Through the committee’s Idea Generator, thoughtful ideas can be shared in a transparent, inclusive and collaborative process to ensure all ideas – regardless of origin – can receive consideration based on its merit. Submitted ideas are open to all of campus to both view and leave feedback.