WSU Today: Monday, Sept. 11, 2023

Events

Military and Veteran Services encourages everyone in remembering 9/11

Wichita State’s Military and Veteran Services encourages everyone to take time today to pause for a moment of silence in honor of those who sacrificed so much, who inspired a multitude to service, and who strengthened the spirit of unity as a nation, and will have a banner in 105 Grace Wilke Hall that members of the community can sign acknowledging that they will not forget. The center will be open all day.

Each year on the anniversary of 9/11, the families of victims gather for a ceremony on the 9/11 Memorial Plaza to read aloud the names of the 2,983 men, women and children killed in the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks and Feb. 26, 1993 bombing of the World Trade Center. Six moments of silence mark the times when each of the World Trade Center towers was struck, when each tower fell, and the times corresponding to the attack at the Pentagon, and the crash of United Airlines Flight 93 in Pennsylvania.

Community invited to attend Wichita State’s Shocktoberfest Parade

Wichita State is holding a parade next month and is inviting anyone in the community to join in.

Starting at 6 p.m. Oct. 6 on the WSU campus, the parade is part of the university’s annual Shocktoberfest celebration.

The parade will launch just east of the John Bardo Center on WSU’s Innovation Campus and will end at Braeburn Square. Immediately after the parade, the Shocktoberfest Patio Party will be held in Braeburn Square, and all are invited to attend.

Parade winners will be announced at the Patio Party, which will include live music from The Source, giveaways and special offers from Braeburn Square restaurants. Bring your own chair or grab a spot on the patio for this casual and fun-filled gathering.

The parade and party are hosted by WSU Foundation and Alumni Engagement and the Division of Student Affairs. 

Anyone with questions can contact Amber Duncan at 316-978-5483 or amber.duncan@wichita.edu; or Stacie Williamson at 316-978-3834 or stacie.williamson@wichita.edu.

Learn more about Shocktoberfest

National Hispanic-Serving Institutions Week kicks off

In support of HACU-Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities, Wichita State recognizes Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSI) Week, observed by colleges and universities across the nation.

As an emerging HSI, with a current percentage of 17% of students that identify as Latinx/Hispanic, WSU plays an important role of improving access to education and advancing equity for traditionally underserved students.

Interested in learning more about what is an HSI? Join a brown bag lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 13 in 233 Rhatigan Student Center, Santa Fe Trail Room to get an overview of Hispanic Serving Institutions.

Office of Research to host PCORI town hall viewing, discussion

The WSU Office of Research is hosting a viewing of the PCORI Town Hall on the “Advancing the Science of Engagement” funding opportunity at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 12 in 261 Rhatigan Student Center, Olive Room, with a brief discussion afterward.

Dr. Nikki Keene Woods, a successful principal investigator who has helped Wichita State secure PCORI funding in the past, will visit with attendees after the town hall to share about the experience of applying to PCORI.

Find more Office of Research workshops

Discounts and freebies at the RSC Open House

Join the Rhatigan Student Center for a day of discounts and freebies during the RSC Open House, happening all day Tuesday, Sept. 12 in the RSC.

Students, faculty, staff and campus affiliates/partners can enjoy deals and freebies from RSC’s departments. Attendees must show a Shocker ID.

View the full list of promotions

NSF’s Graduate Research Fellowship Program hosting sessions for graduates, seniors

The National Science Foundation’s Graduate Research Fellowship Program (NSF-GRFP) is one of the most prestigious programs to recognize and support outstanding graduate students. Two separate sessions will be offered: one for first-year graduate students and a second one for undergraduate seniors.

The Graduate School is hosting a session for first-year domestic graduate students in a STEM discipline who are pursuing a research-based master’s or doctoral degree from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 14 in 405 Jardine Hall.

The McNair Scholar program is offering a separate session for undergraduate seniors about the NSF-GRFP program and also the Goldwater Scholarship at 11 a.m. Friday, Sept. 15 in 142 Rhatigan Student Center. RSVP for the event at 316-978-3139 or mcnairscholars@wichita.edu.

During both events, Dr. Coleen Pugh, Graduate School dean and AVP of research will help students craft a competitive application for the NSF-GRFP.

The five-year fellowship includes three years of financial support including an annual stipend for the school and a cost of education allowance for the institution.

Attend First-Year Seminar informational sessions

The First-Year Seminars (FYS) program will host informational sessions from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 13 and from 10 to 11 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 14, both in 261 Rhatigan Student Center.

These sessions will describe the process on how to create and teach an FYS class for first-year students. Teaching an FYS is an excellent opportunity to support the academic transition of first-year students to Wichita State and support student success and persistence.

For more information, contact Brett Bruner, assistant vice president for Student Success & Persistence, at brett.bruner@wichita.edu.

‘Yellowface’ is KMUW’s September Literary Feast book pick

KMUW’s monthly book club, Literary Feast, features selections made by its staff. For September, KMUW is reading “Yellowface” by R.F. Kuang.

Participants will meet from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 27 at KMUW for a group discussion over dinner and drinks. Dinner is provided by Public, and guests are invited to bring a beverage to share with the group.

Purchase a ticket to the event

News

Visit the Lowell Holmes Museum of Anthropology on campus

The Lowell Holmes Museum of Anthropology in Neff Hall is open from 1 to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday or by appointment.

The museum houses unique cultural artifacts from all over the world. If you would like to schedule a tour, contact Rachelle Meinecke at 316-978-7068 or at holmes.museum@wichita.edu.

Student Wellness Center will be available 1-5 p.m. Sept. 15

The Student Wellness Center (housing Student Health, CAPS and HOPE Services) will have altered hours Friday, Sept. 15 and will be available from 1 to 5 p.m.

For assistance with any of the services, visit their websites:

Important info on student loan interest and payments

Attention borrowers. Interest on student loans resume Sept. 1, with the first payment due in October. Loan servicers will send the bill at least 21 days prior to the due date.

However, those currently enrolled at least half time will have their loans be in an in-school deferment. While no payments will be required during in-school deferments, interest will begin accruing on unsubsidized loans. Contact your lender for further information.

Be mindful of scammers and visit the Federal Student Aid website to find your lender’s contact information, review your loan balance and view repayment options. Students never have to pay for help with repayment and should never reveal personal information or account password to anyone.

University schedule for the 2023 winter closedown

It has come to WSU's attention that the winter closedown schedule overlaps with the beginning of spring 2024 pre-session classes by one day, Jan. 2, 2024. The decision has been made to shift the winter closedown dates to begin and end a day earlier. This means the winter closedown will commence at the end of the day on Monday, Dec. 18, 2023, and reopen on Tuesday morning, Jan. 2, 2024. The closedown is ten (10) days, two of which are paid holidays. Classes will not be in session during this period.

Presentations and Talks

Biological sciences seminar series continues with Dr. Tatsuya Yamada

The Department of Biological Sciences’ fall 2023 seminar series continues Monday, Sept. 11, with Dr. Tatsuya Yamada, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, with his talk, “Mitochondrial Size versus Dynamics – Which came first: the Chicken or the Egg?”.

The seminar is held from 4 to 5 p.m. in 218 Hubbard Hall. Seminars are open to the public and undergraduates are encouraged to attend.

Learn more about biological sciences

Latasha St. Arnault will talk social justice at the Ulrich

Join the Ulrich Museum for a talk from LaTasha St. Arnault at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 12 in the Beren Gallery of the Ulrich.

The talk, “Social Justice in Our Community,” is presented in conjunction with the exhibition, “Lesley Dill | Wilderness: Light Sizzles Around Me,” on display in the Polk/Wilson Gallery from Aug, 5 through Dec. 2.

LaTasha St. Arnault is the president and CEO of HumanKind Ministries, a homeless services and housing provider that serves more than 15,000 people experiencing poverty and housing insecurities in Sedgwick County each year.

Mathematics lecture series presents Dr. Keiko Kawamuro, University of Iowa

Join the Department of Mathematics and Statistics for a public lecture by Dr. Keiko Kawamuro from the University of Iowa.

The lecture, titled “Diagrammatic left canonical form of braids and applications,” will take place at 3 p.m. Friday, Sept. 15 in 372 Jabara Hall. Refreshments will be available at 2:30 p.m. in 353 Jabara Hall.

Find the abstract of the lecture

Research

MURPA, URCA proposals are due by Oct. 6

Proposals are due for Multidisciplinary Research Project Awards (MURPA) and University Research/Creative Award (URCA) projects to the Office of Research no later than 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 6.

The MURPA opportunity provides funding of up to $7,500 for faculty projects that involve two or more investigators from different disciplines that focus different perspectives and capabilities on complex problems that intersect established areas of study.

The URCA opportunity provides funding of up to $4,500 for faculty to retool or reestablish productive research/creative projects or as seed money to develop pilot data where external funding is available.

Proposers must work with a grant specialist in the Office of Research prior to submission and all complete applications require an endorsement from the chair and dean. Incomplete or late applications will not be reviewed or considered. Contact proposals@wichita.edu to get started or visit the Office of Research website for additional information.