WSU Today: Friday, Sept. 3, 2021

COVID-19 Updates

I am vaccinated because…

“I am vaccinated because I want to feel safe and protect others around me.”

Together, we can help end this pandemic.

WSU offers financial incentives for students who receive COVID vaccine

Wichita State University is expanding its COVID-19 vaccine incentive program to include a $250 award for fall 2021 for current students who can show proof of vaccination. Participating students may also be eligible to receive one of 20 scholarships worth $5,000 each for the spring 2022 semester, which will be awarded through a random drawing.

Vaccinations continue to be the best weapon against COVID-19 as we work together to move past this pandemic. We encourage anyone who can to get vaccinated from Student Health or anywhere else where it’s offered.

As a reminder, masks are required in all indoor classrooms and labs at Wichita State and are strongly recommended indoors elsewhere.

“Throughout my medical career as a physician assistant, I’ve never seen a vaccine like the ones we have for COVID-19, which are extremely effective in preventing serious illness or death,” says WSU President Dr. Rick Muma. “By encouraging our students and the rest of our campus community to get vaccinated, it gives us the best odds at keeping our classrooms and campus open — and eventually ending this pandemic.”

News

Student Health Services to close on Labor Day

The Student Health Services will close temporarily Monday, Sept. 6, in observance of Labor Day.

For more information, contact 316-978-4792 or student.health@wichita.edu.

F1RST-Gen Shocker Friday: Crystal Dozier

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/university to attain a bachelor's degree.

Read more of F1RST-Gen Shocker Friday: Crystal Dozier

Save the date: Orientation feedback sessions

Would you like to share your ideas, questions or feedback for the planning of the 2022 orientation program? If so, you can attend one of the orientation feedback sessions virtually or at the Rhatigan Student Center (RSC) on the following dates:

2-3:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 24 virtual session
2-3:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 29 at the RSC (room 319)
11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept.30 at the RSC (room 319)

A feedback form will be made available later in September for those who are unable to attend or for those who prefer to keep their comments anonymous.

Space is limited for the in-person sessions, so please RSVP.

RSVP for orientation feedback sessions

Public comments sought ahead of dental hygiene accreditation visit

The Dental Hygiene program at Wichita State University will undergo national accreditation renewal by the Commission on Dental Accreditation Nov. 4-5.

Part of the accreditation renewal requires the program to solicit third-party comments to communities of interest and the public including faculty, students, program administrators, dental- related organizations, patients and consumers. There is a deadline of 60 days for receipt of third-party comments to the commission’s office.

Both signed and unsigned comments will be accepted, and names and signatures will be removed from comments before forwarding to the program. Comments must pertain only to the standards for the particular program or policies and procedures used in the commission’s accreditation process. A copy of the appropriate accreditation standard and the commission’s policy on third-party comments may be obtained by contacting the Commission at 211 East Chicago Ave.; Chicago, Illinois 60611; or by calling 1-800-621-8099, extension 4653.

The deadline for receipt of comments is Sunday, Sept. 5.

More info third party comments process, procedures

Human Resources

MBC Transition Update: Individual market-based compensation statements accessible on myWSU

The cornerstone of the workforce Diversity, Equity and Inclusion plan is the implementation of a compensation program that is transparent, market-based and administered in a consistent manner.

The cornerstone of the workforce Diversity, Equity and Inclusion plan is the implementation of a compensation program that is transparent, market-based and administered in a consistent manner. As part of the implementation, Human Resources has completed an external market review of all jobs at the university and has created an individualized Market-Based Compensation (MBC) Statement for each employee, which will be published on July 28 and available through Sept. 30. To access a statement:

Log in to myWSU (Chrome is the preferred browser)
Select the Faculty/Staff tab
Scroll down the page to the “Human Resources Links” Channel box
Select “Market Based Compensation Statement”

Due to differences in how the market data is presented, two versions of the statements have been created, one for teaching positions and one for non-teaching positions. Short Market-Based Compensation Video Tutorials have been developed to assist with interpreting the information on the MBC Statement.

NOTE: Employees in the following status or division of the University will not receive a compensation statement: temporary position, lecturer or visiting professor, student employee, coaches and employees in the Division of Industry Defense Programs.

Important things to know about the statement:

In the coming months, Human Resources will conduct a full base pay analysis to include:

Partnering with university leaders to gather input on each current employee’s experience and skills. This, paired with the external market information will be used to prioritize future pay increases when funding is available for that purpose.
Developing a multi-year strategy to prioritize future base pay increases to address any gaps identified in the analysis, as funding becomes available for this purpose.
Establishing the annual pay cycle which starts at the beginning of each calendar year and includes updating market data, conducting base pay analysis in advance of the budget cycle and making base pay increases effective at the start of each fiscal year if funding is allocated for that purpose.

Utilizing the Compensation Administration Guidelines by leaders throughout the year will aid in creating consistency in the administration of base pay decisions. These Guidelines are published at www.wichita.edu/marketbasedcompensation.

If you have any additional questions after reviewing the statements and tutorial video, please don’t hesitate to reach out to your supervisor or the HR Business Partner assigned to your area. You can also find helpful material related to the Market Based-Compensation Program located on the Human Resources website. You can also look up nd Compensation Administration Guidelines on the Market-Based Compensation Program website. Thank you for your assistance in supporting this university strategic initiative and a cornerstone of the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion workforce plan.

Events

CHP hosts exercise, weight management, and health expert

The College of Health Professions is pleased to host Dr. Timothy Church, M.D., M.P.H., and Ph.D., and Wondr Health chief medical officer (formerly Naturally Slim) for the presentation Five Graphs that will Change Everything You Thought You Knew About Exercise and Health at 3 p.m. Sept. 30 at the Campus Activities Center Theater.

Math sciences lecture features University of Missouri researcher

Please join us for a public lecture by Dr. Chris Wikle, professor of statistics at the University of Missouri, titled “Data-Driven Discovery of Dynamics with Uncertainty Quantification” at 3 p.m. Friday, Sept.10 at Jabara Hall (room 372).

Refreshments will be served before the lecture at 2:30 p.m. in Jabara Hall (room 353)

View abstract and list of upcoming lectures

Kudos

‘She Moved the Prairie’ explores women’s labor practices at early 20th century farms

Cheyla Clawson Chandler's, Wichita State School of Performing Arts associate director and assistant professor of Dance, a dance film, "She Moved the Prairie," has been recently been featured at film festivals worldwide. Chandler choreographed and directed a dance film.

“She Moved the Prairie,”—a film directed by Cheyla Clawson Chandler, Wichita State School of Performing Arts associate director and assistant professor of dance— has been recently featured at film festivals worldwide. Chandler choreographed and directed a dance film.

“She Moved the Prairie” is a 25-minute dance film that focuses on women’s labor practices in the home and on the land in Kansas in the early 20th century. Chandler was selected for a National Tallgrass Artist Residency in 2020 and spent 10 days in June of 2020 creating the movement for the film on location at Matfield Green, Kansas, and at the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve in Strong City, Kansas.

Cheyla received several grants to complete this film project including a Tallgrass National Residency stipend, a Wichita State University Research/Creative Project grant, and support from the WSU School of Performing Arts Angels Organization.

“She Moved the Prairie” is a collaboration between faculty and students from WSU Dance and Filmmaking. Chandler set the choreography with students and guest artist Sarah Frangenberg, which was filmed at her farm outside of Douglass, Kansas, as well as the Shaffer Homestead in Latham, Kansas. A student filmmaker, Caitlyn Cody, was the cinematographer for the project. Bret Jones, professor of performing arts and digital arts, was co-director. The music was composed by WSU graduate music student, M. Joseph Willette.

“She Moved the Prairie” has been accepted into several online and international film festivals. These include Roma Short Film Festival (Rome, Italy), Toronto International Women Film Festival (Toronto, Canada), Montreal Independent Film Festival (Montreal, Canada), Full Shot Cine Magazine Online International Film Screening, Mannheim Arts and Film Festival (Mannheim, Germany), Nahui Ollin Film Festival (Durango, Mexico), and Kadoma International Film Festival (Osaka, Japan).

For information about future screenings, please email cheyla.clawson@wichita.edu