Category: Volunteer Opportunities and Surveys

Wichita State continues to invest in research cyberinfrastructure to enhance computing, data and software resources critical to supporting research and education, including significant upgrades currently being made on the Beoshock High-Performance Computing (HPC) system. WSU is seeking feedback from faculty and research staff who utilize HPC.

The survey will help WSU better understand the future needs of faculty, research staff and students. The feedback collected will help shape strategic decisions to ensure that WSU’s infrastructure is flexible, scalable and sustainable. If you use or plan on using HPC in the future, your input is crucial for tailoring resources to meet the university’s evolving demands and for fostering a collaborative research environment.

Responses will be accepted through Wednesday, Feb. 25.

Dr. Seuss Day, celebrated annually on March 2, honors the birthday of the beloved children’s author. In partnership with USD 259, WSU Foundation and Alumni Engagement invites faculty and staff to bring stories to life by reading to local students in their classrooms.

The departments of public health and engineering are developing a wearable fetal heart rate monitor to improve prenatal healthcare access. Researchers are recruiting participants who are 36-40 weeks pregnant to help test this non‑invasive device. The study takes about 90 minutes in Ahlberg Hall. Participants receive $125. A valid Social Security number is required for compensation.

If you’re interested, complete the interest form or share it with someone who might be interested.

Learn more about the project.

For questions, contact PI Dr. Nikki Keene Woods at nikki.keenewoods@wichita.edu or student researcher Anna Brake at axbrake@shockers.wichita.edu.

Researchers are currently seeking English-speaking adults (18+) with skydiving experience to complete a questionnaire of knowledge and attitudes towards noise-induced hearing loss and hearing protection devices.

Participants will complete an online questionnaire. The questionnaire consists of general demographic questions, questions about experience skydiving, and questions concerning noise-induced hearing loss and hearing protection devices. It is estimated that the questionnaire will take approximately 20 minutes to complete. Compensation is not provided.

If you have any questions, contact masutter1@shockers.wichita.edu or benjamin.kirby@wichita.edu. For questions about the rights of research participants, you may contact the Office of Research at 316-978-3285.

A Doctor of Audiology student is conducting a study on different procedures of a clinical test evaluating the function of the inner ear.

Participants must be between the ages of 18 and 35, have normal hearing, have not had an ear infection in the past three months nor had a cold or flu in the past two weeks.

Participants will receive a no-cost comprehensive hearing evaluation and ear examination prior to testing. The testing will take less than one hour in 106 Hubbard Hall. If you are interested in volunteering, contact Kayleigh Von Hoene at kavonhoene@shockers.wichita.edu or 719-304-6380, or Xiao-Ming Sun, professor of communication sciences and disorders, at xiao-ming.sun@wichita.edu.

Are you curious about volunteering, but aren’t sure where to start? Stop by the Volunteer Fair from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday, Jan. 26 on the first floor of the RSC to learn about ways that you can get involved.

There will be representatives from more than 30 non-profits on hand who can tell you about how you can get involved with volunteering. Once you have visited with five organizations, you can enter a raffle to win a prize as well. For questions, email civicengagement@wichita.edu or call 316-978-7016.

Join WSU’s largest one day volunteer event. Wu’s Big Event is quickly approaching. Join your fellow Shockers for a morning of volunteering throughout the community. Individuals, groups, organizations, students, staff and faculty are all invited to attend. Check-in for Wu’s Big Event will be from 8:30 to 8:50 a.m. Feb. 7.

The event will begin at 9 a.m. in 305/306 Rhatigan Student Center, Beggs Ballroom with a light breakfast and kick-off celebration. Participants will then load the buses and be at a service site by 10 a.m. Volunteers will work until noon and return to the Beggs Ballroom for lunch and closing festivities.

The event will end by 1:30 p.m. Transportation to and from service sites is provided.

For additional information, email CSB@wichita.edu or call 316-978-7016.

With artificial intelligence rapidly reshaping the landscape of higher education, both how students learn and how staff and faculty conduct research and tasks, it’s important to prepare ourselves for this new paradigm by clarifying where AI helps and where it doesn’t, protecting academic integrity and data, and making support accessible across disciplines.

That’s why Wichita State would like your perspective — whether you use AI daily, avoid it on principle or feel uncertain about the technology — so the university can aim support where it matters most. To do so, WSU needs your input on two short surveys, open to all faculty and staff:

• AI Inventory (5-10 minutes) – What’s happening now? This gives the university a reliable, campus-wide picture of current AI use (courses, research, tools, needs and contacts) so it can quickly remove friction, expand access and highlight promising practices.
• Optional AI Literacy Baseline (5-10 minutes) - What would help you next? This establishes starting points for confidence, training priorities and policy clarity. It helps the university tailor workshops, micro-credentials and just-in-time resources, and strengthens upcoming grant proposals.

Why this matters:

• Faster enablement in tools you already use (e.g., Blackboard, M365/Copilot)
• Targeted training and clinics aligned to your discipline and schedule
• Clear, teachable guardrails (data/privacy, academic integrity)
• Visibility and support for pilots that improve learning and research outcomes
• Stronger proposals and resource cases grounded in real campus needs

These surveys are not an evaluation of individuals or programs, and results will be reported in aggregate. Survey responses will be accepted through 5 p.m. Friday, Jan. 30.

For questions or accessibility needs, contact Academic Affairs at provost@wichita.edu.

Thank you for helping the university build the support you want to see.

Take a quick survey to suggest presenters and topics that matter most to you for the Shocker STRIVE Staff Professional Development Conference March 27, 2026 and save the date. Your feedback will help create a great conference experience.

A Doctor of Audiology student is conducting a study on different procedures of a clinical test evaluating the function of the inner ear.

Participants must be between the ages of 18 and 35, have normal hearing, have not had an ear infection in the past three months nor had a cold or flu in the past two weeks.

Participants will receive a no-cost comprehensive hearing evaluation and ear examination prior to testing. The testing will take less than one hour in room 106 Hubbard Hall. If you are interested in volunteering, contact Kayleigh Von Hoene at kavonhoene@shockers.wichita.edu or 719-304-6380, or Xiao-Ming Sun, professor of communication sciences and disorders, at xiao-ming.sun@wichita.edu.