WSU Today: Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023

Human Resources

Due today: Complete your annual appointment notices

The 2024 fiscal and academic year annual appointment notices are available online and will not be printed and distributed to departments. Thursday, Aug. 31 is the deadline to complete your notice.

Featured Stories

Wichita State recognized as a Breastfeeding Friendly Campus

August is National Breastfeeding Month, and Wichita State has received the Gold Level Employer Supporting Breastfeeding award and has been designated as a “Breastfeeding Welcome Here” campus by the Kansas Breastfeeding Coalition.

These designations acknowledge WSU’s efforts to incorporate lactation support into the university’s culture and establishes WSU as an employer concerned about the health and well-being of the campus community. WSU provides a supportive environment for faculty, staff, employees and students to reach their breastfeeding goals by providing private locations and flexible time to pump and have written policy to support lactating people.

Private, comfortable places to accommodate lactation needs of employees, students and campus visitors are available on the WSU main campus and satellite locations.

News

CAS dean will throw first pitch at Wichita Wind Surge game

Dr. Jennifer Friend, dean, College of Applied Studies, will throw out the first pitch at the Wichita Wind Surge baseball game against the San Antonio Missions at around 6:45 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 31 at Riverfront Stadium to kickoff Educator’s Night sponsored by Credit Union of America.

The game is scheduled to start at 7:05 p.m.

Find tickets to the game

Learn more about the new course evaluation tool: CES

Watermark’s Course Evaluations & Surveys (CES) tool is Wichita State’s new course evaluation tool. Find more information over the coming weeks in WSU Today about CES.

Today’s focus is “What Is CES?”

CES is a course evaluation platform from Watermark. The evaluation portion of the platform is called “Course Evaluations & Surveys” and at WSU, is referred to it as CES.
CES has replaced SPTEs as the source for course evaluations.
CES is easy to use and is integrated with Blackboard.
CES results are electronic and will be available at the end of the semester.
Using CES should increase response rates.
There is a dedicated CES website that includes additional information.

For questions, contact Sandra Ranney, CES administrator, at evaluations@ces.wichita.edu.

WSU Child Development Center has an open pre-K spot

The WSU Child Development Center (CDC) has an open Pre-K spot for the current school year. Kids for the room need to be going to kindergarten in fall 2024.

Call 316-978-3109 or email Jillian Hoefer, director of the CDC, at jillian.hoefer@wichita.edu for more information.

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.

Events

Attend retirement reception for Kathy Downes, dean of University Libraries

The Office of Academic Affairs will celebrate the career and accomplishments of Kathy Downes, dean of University Libraries, from 4 to 5:30 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 31 in 262 Rhatigan Student Center, Herrman Room.

Downes has served as dean since 2017 and has worked for over 40 years at Wichita State. During her time with WSU Libraries, she spearheaded many facility expansions, including coordinating the west addition project from 1985 to 1989 and helping with the 2019 expansion of the 24-hour study room. She also co-led the systems migration from NOTIS to Voyager and initiated an ongoing project to prepare for the next generation of cloud-based library services. Many other transformations and enhancements of Ablah Library’s learning spaces, collections and services were also led by her.

She will retire in September 2023. Please join us in congratulating her on a successful academic career and wishing her a happy retirement.

Join a film screening, panel discussion at the CAC Theater

The campus community is invited to a film screening of “The Silent Cries of Unborn Ghetto Children” directed and co-produced by Dr. Kevin Harrison, assistant teaching professor and director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, and Riccardo Harris, executive director of Wichita GEAR UP, from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 31 in the CAC Theater.

“The Silent Cries of Unborn Ghetto Children,” explores trauma, tragedy, racial segregation, and healing centered around a tragic plane crash that occurred on Jan. 16, 1965, just blocks from the campus. In fact, as the plane was losing altitude and jettisoning fuel, some spilled on the campus. Less than four hours later, with jet fuel still on the arena roof, Shocker fans packed onto campus to witness the Shockers defeating St. Louis to claim its first ever Missouri Valley championship. The film was funded through a grant from Humanities Kansas.

The screening event is co-sponsored by the Cohen Honors College, Fairmount College, the School of Digital Arts and Shocker Studios.

Join WSU Libraries for Savvy Scholar workshop

The Savvy Scholar Workshop is designed to empower students with enhanced research skills, and faculty and staff are invited to join and encourage their students to participate in the workshop. Join WSU Libraries from 3 to 4 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 13 at Ablah Library’s Digital Scholars Commons or participate online.

The workshop, Introduction to Geographic Information Systems, will focus on leveraging Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to supercharge research endeavors. By mastering GIS basics, students will gain the ability to effectively utilize spatial data and harness the true potential of mapping in their work.

Learn more and register

Campus community invited to cosmic bowling at Shocker Sports Grill & Lanes

Turn the lights down and the music up for some cosmic bowling from 5 to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday nights at the Shocker Sports Grill & Lanes.

Standard bowling rates apply, and the nights are open to the public.