WSU Today: Wednesday, Aug. 18, 2021

Featured Stories

Fall address today at 2:30 p.m.

The annual faculty and staff fall address is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. today at the Beggs Ballroom located in the Rhatigan Student Center. The event will also be available via a YouTube livestream.

President Richard Muma, with the assistance of several university representatives, will outline key focus areas for the coming year:

Access and affordability
Applied learning and digital transformation
Interdisciplinary research

Watch YouTube livestream of the fall 2021 faculty and staff address

Save the date: Presidential inauguration set for Oct. 29

The inauguration ceremony for President Muma is set for 2:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 29, in the Hughes Metropolitan Complex, located at 29th Street N. and Oliver. The event will also be livestreamed on YouTube and on campus television monitors. The theme for the event is “Inspired by the past. Focused on the future.”

The Kansas Board of Regents appointed Muma as the 15th president of Wichita State University in May. He had been serving as interim president of Wichita State since September 2020.

To save the date or for more information, call 316-978-3258 or email inauguration@wichita.edu.You can also visit the link below.

COVID-19 Updates

Employee guide updated for fall 2021 semester

The fall semester has begun, and we’re excited for the semester!

Because COVID-19 continues to require flexibility in our daily lives, we will continue throughout this time to keep you updated on what you need to know for a successful school year.

We have updated our employee guide with new guidance regarding health and safety, testing and vaccination information, staffing details and more.

See fall 2021 employee guide

PPE supplies are still available at Facilities Services

As students return to campus, WSU Facilities Services is still available to supply personal protective equipment (PPE) to the campus community.

Customers can access the Facilities Services work order system to make their requests. Customers should also continue bringing their empty hand sanitizer and surface disinfectant bottles in for refills.

For more information or order PPE, contact our work order center at 316-978-3444.

Access the WSU Facility Services work order system

News

Ulrich Museum of Art giving away free wall posters

Looking to spruce up your walls? The Ulrich Museum of Art is giving away free wall posters of the Romare Bearden print “Tidings,” which is part of the museum’s permanent collection.

Attend the at discussion at 6 p.m.on Aug. 19 with Curator Sylvie Fortin and artists Richard Ibghy and Marilou Lemmens and pick up a free 18-by-24-inch wall poster. On the backside, you’ll find a handy calendar of our upcoming programs and events.

The talk with Ibghy, Lemmens, and Fortin is related to the Ulrich’s exhibition, “Look, it’s daybreak, dear, time to sing,” which is on display at the museum from Aug. 19 through Dec. 4. The exhibition features the works of Canadian artists Richard Ibghy and Marilou Lemmens as they explore points of contact between birds and humans in an effort to expand the meaning of hospitality, care, communication, and attentiveness between species.

Come check out this interesting talk and pick up a lovely wall poster while you’re there.

Prevent vehicle break-ins

As you park your cars on campus, please always remember to hide or take any valuables with you; and always lock your car doors as you leave. If you experience a break-in, call the University Police Department at 9788-3450 or 911 from a campus phone.

It’s never too late to join a sisterhood

Kappa Delta Chi Sorority Inc. is accepting applications for alumnae. All unaffiliated womxn with a bachelor’s degree are eligible to join. Applications are due Aug. 31.

A virtual information session is scheduled for 6 p.m. Aug. 21 and 7 p.m. Aug. 25. Join the Zoom meeting at the link below. The meeting ID is 396 309 8665, and the password is 1987.

For more details or questions, email us at Wichita@KappaDeltaChi.org.

Join the informational meeting

WSU student fights illiteracy through Storytime Village fellowship

Amanda Phanivong, a Wichita State University senior studying integrated marketing communication, recently began a fellowship with the Kansas-based Storytime Village Inc. While working there with their marketing and special events cohort, Phanivong has fully embraced her time with the Storytime team.

Learn more about Amanda's fellowship

TRIO DSS accepting student applications for 2021-22

WSU’s TRIO Disability Support Services (DSS) Program is accepting student applications for the 2021-22 academic school year.

The program offers numerous services — such as academic advising, career development, study skills assistance, financial literacy assistance, and tutoring — at no extra charge for qualified students.

The staff also provides one-on-one virtual and in-person meetings to help students toward academic success. Many DSS graduates cite DSS as a critical program on campus that provided the support, university connections, and resources necessary for success.

To apply, or for more information, visit www.wichita.edu/dss or call 316-978-5949. TRIO DSS is located in the Grace Wilkie Annex.

Events and Recreation

Webinar showcases Environmental Finance Center community sustainability tool

The Wichita State University Environmental Finance Center (WSU EFC) will host a webinar to showcase its new online Community Sustainability Tool form 10 to 11 a.m. on Thursday, Aug. 19.

Food Truck Plaza this week

Check out the Aug. 16-20 food truck lineup and join us for lunch 11-1:30 p.m.at the Wichita State Food Truck Plaza. Eat at one of our tables, have a picnic on the grass or take your meal to go.

Get answers to small business sales tax questions

The Kansas Small Business Development Center is hosting two business sales tax courses Aug. 25. Both courses are free of charge:

State Tax Workshop – 9 a.m.-noon, Wednesday Aug. 25 at the WSU Metropolitan Complex, Entrance B. Carl York, Kansas Department of Revenue, will give the basics of state tax in this free webinar. Topics include sales and compensating use taxes, tax forms and how to file them, estimated taxes and recordkeeping.

State Tax Workshop for Construction Contractors – 1-3 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 25 at the WSU Metropolitan Complex, Entrance B. Carl York, Kansas Department of Revenue, will focus on sales tax issues for construction contractors and subcontractors, including those who provide services such as plumbing, carpentry, electrical, roofing, HVAC and landscaping. Learn about applying sales tax to materials and labor, Project Exemption Certificates, tax returns, billing and more.

Research

Participants wanted for gait and balance research

A group of physical therapy doctoral students are recruiting participants aged 65 and older for a home exercise research study to improve balance and walking speed. Participation in this study may help the field of physical therapy understand better methods to improve balance and walking speed using home exercise programs.

If chosen to participate in the eight-week study, subjects will exercise in the comfort of their own homes and will be given step-by-step instructions on the exercises, which will take approximately 20 to 30 minutes per day. Participants will need to recruit pre- and post-program results. It will take approximately 20-30 minutes to complete. If you are interested in participating, please click on the link below to complete a survey. Once you have completed the survey, you will receive an email with further information within five to seven business days.

Your participation is graciously appreciated, voluntary, and your responses will remain confidential. Should you have any questions or concerns, feel free to email Bryce Isaac at bdisaac@shockers.wichita.edu.

Complete the study survey

NASA Kansas Space Grant Consortium call for proposals

The NASA Kansas Space Grant Consortium (KSGC) Teacher Workshop Program is currently accepting proposals for KSGC affiliated middle-school teachers. The KSGC supports the development and implementation of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) educator workshops. NASA is especially interested in helping teachers bring NASA-relevant material and content into middle-school classrooms.

Three awards worth about $50,000 each are anticipated (smaller proposals are also welcome) with a $0.50 match requirement for every NASA dollar awarded. All proposal submissions are due Aug. 30.

For more information, contact nasainkansas@wichita.edu.

More info about KSGC