Category: News

Event submissions are open for the Student Activities Council’s (SAC) annual De-Stress Fest. Submissions must be made by Friday, Nov. 3.

De-Stress Fest will take place from Dec. 4 to Dec. 8. Come chill out with SAC and help make finals week better for everyone.

It’s never too late to join the Women of WSU (WWSU). WWSU serves the university by providing student scholarships and providing opportunities for employees and spouses to connect across campus. It is dedicated to promoting personal growth through social interaction and fostering a sense of community.

Annual dues of $12 include the opportunity to join an interest group (book club, friends & food, lunch bunch, new members and theatre), to participate in social events held throughout the year and benefits the WWSU scholarship.

Membership in WWSU provides many opportunities to connect female-identifying WSU employees, WSU auxiliary employees and spouses with others who love WSU. Attend an event, join an existing interest group or start a new interest group. Members will receive more information about the Lunch & Learn event planned for Nov. 8 on campus, the holiday luncheon planned for Jan. 10 at the Wine Dive, and other day and evening events planned for spring and summer. Fundraising events benefit the WWSU Scholarship. For more details about membership please visit wsu.edu/wwsu.

The College of Applied Studies (CAS) hosted the 2023 Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on Oct. 20 to officially induct the Class of 2023 selections into the CAS Hall of Fame, and to recognize them for their achievements and impact on the college.

The Class of 2023 CAS Hall of Fame inductees:

• Dr. Marcus Ballenger – Professor and associate dean emeritus, is an award-winning teacher and scholar who authored innovative language arts textbooks and created the college’s Cooperative Education program.
• Dr. Jeri Ann Carroll – Professor emerita in early childhood and elementary education, a scholar and leader in professional development schools and program review, and former department chair and president of the WSU Faculty Senate.
• Dr. Orpha Duell – Professor emerita in educational psychology, is a distinguished teacher and nationally recognized scholar, and former department chair and president of the WSU Faculty Senate.
• Mr. Rick Pappas – Former educator in physical education, is an award-winning teacher at WSU after a distinguished career teaching in USD 259. He is nationally recognized as a curricular leader for innovative approaches to physical education.
• Dr. Michael Tilford – Former college faculty and dean of the Graduate School, and a national leader in minority studies. The annual Michael Tilford Conference on Diversity and Multiculturalism is named in memory of Dr. Tilford.

For more information about the CAS Hall of Fame, including categories and criteria, the nomination process, the selection committee and process, visit the CAS website.

Adult learner getting ready to graduate in December are eligible to receive an adult learner cord at no additional charge. Cords will be handed out Nov. 15 during the Office of Online & Adult Learning’s Harvest Huddle event from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. in Grace Wilkie Annex.

Those unable to attend the Nov. 15 event, but would still like an adult learner cord, can email oal@wichita.edu or call 316-978-8325 to coordinate a time to pick up a cord. Students in TAP will receive their graduation cords at the pinning ceremony.

Applications are still being accepted for the 2024 Alternative Spring Break trip in Boulder Creek, California. The trip will be spent volunteering as camp counselors at Camp Campbell, Outdoor Science School.

The California Outdoor Science Association is sponsored by the California Department of Education. Wichita State volunteers will serve as camp counselors through the week and assist with the camp’s programming. The cost of the trip is $200 per student and includes transportation, airfare to/from, housing, meals and excursions.

To apply, students need to complete an application and essay questions and turn them into the SEAL office by 5 p.m. Nov. 22. Applications and additional information may be found on the Wichita State website. For more information, email Loren Belew at loren.belew@wichita.edu or call 316-978-7016.

Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) is dedicated to making sure Shockers are heard, seen and understood while attending Wichita State. CAPS is located in located in the Student Wellness Center inside the Steve Clark YMCA, and counselors are available in person and virtually. Appointments can be scheduled by calling 316-978-4792 (4SWC). Don’t wait until the end of the semester to schedule an appointment. Keep up with what CAPS’s counselors are doing at @ShockersCAPS on Facebook, Instagram and X.

CAPS offers low cost, confidential mental health services from licensed providers. Individual, couples and group counseling options are also available. CAPS providers also co-facilitate several support groups, including Healing from Trauma as well as an LGBTQ+ group. CAPS is offering a total of eight therapy/supports groups to students on campus this fall at no additional charge. More information can be found on the CAPS website. Spring groups will start in February.

CAPS works with HOPE Services to provide outreach to the WSU community, including the weekly Mindfulness and Meditation sessions offered either online or in-person. Training and education resources centered on health and wellness for students, staff and faculty can be requested on the HOPE Services website.

CAPS is training 12 students this year. Partnering with Wichita State (ISLE, Social Work and Psychology departments), Emporia State University and Wichita Collaborative Psychology Internship Program.

Crisis appointments are available during the regular business hours from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Other crisis resources include the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or 1-800-273-8255 or text the Crisis Text Line at 741-741. For emergencies, dial 911.

The fifth annual Stock the Shocker Support Locker challenge between faculty and staff is off and running. This friendly competition, co-sponsored by the Faculty and Staff Senates, challenges all university employees to help raise needed items for the Shocker Support Locker.

The group that raises the most items, faculty or staff, will be declared the winner. Drop off non-perishable food items at any of the locations below by Friday, Nov. 10.

• Morrison Hall – Post office
• Woolsey Hall – Business Student Success Center
• Jardine Hall – OneStop
• Elliott Hall – Main level
• Ahlberg Hall – Dean’s office, fourth floor
• Lindquist Hall – Dean’s office, second floor
• Corbin Education Center – Dean’s office
• Partnership 2 Building – Dean’s office (engineering)
• McKnight Arts Center – Fine Arts Advising Center, third floor
• Wallace Hall – Biomedical engineering office, first floor
• Ablah Library – Circulation desk
• Rhatigan Student Center – Student Government Association office, second floor
• Metroplex – Office for Workforce, Professional and Community Education
• WSU West Campus

To help faculty and staff plan their time off and work schedules throughout the year, Wichita State shares the winter closedown period schedule that has been approved for this year.

The closedown will commence at the end of the day on Dec. 18, 2023, and WSU will reopen the morning of Jan. 2, 2024. The closedown is 10 days, two of which are paid holidays and four are paid days so you will not be required to use accrued leave for those six days. Classes will not be in session during this period.

Employees who would normally be scheduled to work the days may use accumulated vacation leave or their 2023 discretionary day* during the winter closedown. Non-exempt employees can also use accumulated compensatory time off during the winter closedown.

If your role requires you to work during the winter closedown it must be approved in advance by your immediate supervisor. For those that are required to work during the winter closedown, we appreciate your dedication and service to the university.

Schedule of winter closedown:

• Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2023
• Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2023
• Thursday, Dec. 21, 2023
• Friday, Dec. 22, 2023
• Monday, Dec. 25, 2023 (Paid Holiday)
• Tuesday, Dec. 26, 2023 (Paid Day)
• Wednesday, Dec. 27, 2023 (Paid Day)
• Thursday, Dec. 28, 2023 (Paid Day)
• Friday, Dec. 29, 2023 (Paid Day)
• Monday Jan. 1, 2024 (Paid Holiday)

An employee must be in pay status the entire workday before and the entire workday after state holidays to receive holiday pay. The official state holidays are Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.

Please refer to these frequently asked questions for more information on your leave days and what to do if you work during the winter closedown.

*The discretionary day for 2023 must be used on or before Dec. 23, 2023.

Kim Moore, executive director of the Office for Workforce, Professional and Community Education, has joined other senior leaders from higher education, edtech suppliers and K-12 districts to help realize the full potential of microcredentials to benefit learners, educators and employers.

The resulting framework is designed to set a standard for the information that digital credentials need to contain in terms of transparency with respect to the skills, knowledge, and abilities achieved, as well as the interoperability of the credentials.

“Wichita State University is proud to work towards an articulated, interoperable and sustainable ecosystem, which adheres to a common standards framework, and which will guide issuers on the best ways to maximize the benefits of their badges for learners and employers” Moore said.

The framework is expected to be released at 1EdTech’s Digital Credentials Summit, March 4-6, 2024 in New Orleans, where President Rick Muma is a featured speaker.

Marie Bukowski, dean, College of Fine Arts, was elected by the membership at large to serve a three-year term on the Commission on Accreditation for the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD).

Commissions of elected peer representatives of member institutions meet twice a year to review application materials including self-studies, visitors’ reports and optional responses to visitors’ reports. Commission action is the culminating synthesis function in the accreditation process. As such, the commission applies the standards of the association to institutional programs in art/design in a manner that preserves their uniqueness and supports their development, and makes recommendations that will help the institution develop its own best future for art and design.

This work is critical as it is responsible for affirming quality based on standards and for protecting institutional autonomy, programmatic innovation, artistic and academic freedom, and the mobility of credits and credentials. Bukowski’s three-year term starts in April 2024.