WSU Today: Wednesday, May 19, 2021

News

Shocker alumni rowers realize dream of building boathouse on Little Arkansas

The Wichita Rowing Association founded Wichita State University crew in 1974, and that shared history remains important to many former Shockers.

On May 8, the WRA dedicated its $250,000 Riverside Rowing Center Boathouse at Riverside Park on the Little Arkansas River. The project, privately funded, involved many former Shocker rowers who spent decades dreaming, planning and working toward construction. They remain committed to nurturing the sport because of the influence it’s had on their lives.

Wichita State alumnus’ viral Twitter account lands him new job

In December of 2020, Wichita State class of 2017 graduate Max Runyon created Literal Larry, a viral parody account on Twitter (@ImLiteralLarry1), which led him to land a remote role as a creative strategist with 180 New York.

Heskett Center closed Memorial Day weekend

The Heskett Center will close May 29-31 in observance of Memorial Day weekend.

For any questions, call the Heskett Center at 316-978-3082.

Blackboard login and landing pages to change

On Saturday, May 29, Blackboard’s login page and landing page (the place you come to first when you login) will change significantly. This is a cosmetic change and will not impact Blackboard’s functionality. The change will be triggered at 8 a.m., and by 9 a.m. it will be complete.

Read more of Blackboard login and landing pages to change

Watch a video on some of the changes

Human Resources

FAQs about the transition to market-based compensation

Here are a couple of questions raised during the faculty and staff Town Hall hosted by President Rick Muma and Interim Provost Shirley Lefever May 13.

Here are a couple of questions raised during the faculty and staff Town Hall hosted by President Rick Muma and Interim Provost Shirley Lefever on May 13. Please visit the Human Resources website to view additional material related to the Market Based-Compensation Program.

Q: When will the university transition to market-based compensation be complete?

A: The university will complete the transition to market-based compensation in July 2021. The completion will align the University with the annual pay cycle and in fall 2021 HR will conduct a full base pay analysis to include:

Partnering with University leaders to gather feedback on each current employee’s experience, education, and skills and determine appropriate placement within the assigned pay range (pay range assignments not applicable to teaching positions). When complete for each employee, this will allow us to review internal base pay equity.
Assessing how competitive our base pay is in relation to the external market.
Developing a multi-year strategy to prioritize future base pay increases to begin to close 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 a 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. No funding is allocated for pay increases for FY2022.
Utilizing the Compensation Administration Guidelines by leaders throughout the year to aid in creating consistency in the administration of base pay decisions.

Q: Will there be base pay increases in FY22?

A: Unfortunately, there were no financial resources allocated for base pay increases in FY22.

Q: Will departments that have financial resources be allowed to fund base pay increases?

A: The university will align to the annual pay cycle, use the results of base pay analysis to determine future base pay increases, and move forward in a unified approach. Base pay increases at the department level and not in accordance with the methodology established by the university will not be allowed.

Status update: Market-based compensation info for hiring activity June 1-July 16

PeopleAdmin, our applicant tracking and position management system, will be undergoing configuration changes and testing to support our transition to market-based compensation July 12-16

PeopleAdmin, our applicant tracking and position management system, will be undergoing configuration changes and testing to support our transition to market-based compensation July 12-16. During this time there will be adjustments to the normal hiring activity, and Human Resources and those on Search Teams will not have access to the system and will be unable to:

View and disposition candidates
Approve and post new jobs
Initiate and approve hiring proposals

Candidates will still be able to apply to requisitions that were posted in advance of July 12, and candidates that have accepted offers will be able to continue and complete their onboarding.

In preparation for this system reconfiguration and to eliminate or mitigate any delay in the hiring process, please contact your talent consultant if you have a vacancy to fill after June 1. The consultant will assist you by identifying an appropriate job description in the job catalog. They will then make sure you are apprised of any applicable dates that might impact your search and ensure you know everything required to have a complete submission.

If you need to know the talent consultant assigned to assist you, please email employment@wichita.edu.

Our goal is to minimize any delay the system reconfiguration and the transition to Market-Based Compensation could cause to all our end users, specifically our search teams and candidates. Below are some dates to follow to ensure no delays occur in the hiring process:

Posting a Position:

June 18 – Last day to submit a completed Position Exception Review Form. This will allow the time necessary for the approval process.
Approvals must be complete before July 6 in order to be posted by July 12.

Search Waiver and Emergency hire:

June 25 – Last day to submit completed Search Exception Request Form. This will allow the time necessary for the approval process.

Hiring Proposals:

July 9 – Last day for all Hiring Proposals to be approved on offers that have been accepted. This will allow the time necessary to complete the hiring process prior to July 12.

Adhering to the above dates and ensuring submissions are complete will give the talent team the best ability to meet your needs. Requests for hiring activity submitted after the above dates will resume activity when system functionality is restored July 17.

Shockers United campus reintegration staffing plan — Effective June 1, 2021

On June 1, 2021, the university will continue the Shockers United campus reintegration plan. This will include rescinding or revising a number of temporary policies and procedures, and reorienting our plans and protocols, as we transition over the summer toward a return to in person operations for fall 2021. The university’s plans, policies, and protocols implemented in response to COVID-19 supplement other existing university policies and procedures. These COVID related policies and procedures are contingent on current conditions and health guidance and are subject to change as deemed necessary by the university. As we move forward, we should remain mindful … Continue reading "Shockers United campus reintegration staffing plan — Effective June 1, 2021"

As we move forward, we should remain mindful of the guiding principles and public health considerations that have provided a framework for our response from the start of the pandemic. We should also continue to leverage technology enhancements (Zoom, Microsoft Team’s, and other virtual formats) and encourage basic health and safety practices that have served us well during the pandemic.

Health and Safety Practices

The university strongly encourages all employees to consider getting vaccinated.

During the reintegration phase, the university will modify the following health and safety measures:

Face Coverings – Face coverings are encouraged, but not required. In limited circumstances, face coverings may be required.
Social Distancing – Physical distancing is still encouraged where possible, but not required.
Personal Health Screening – Individuals are responsible for screening their personal health, staying home if sick, and seeking medical advice as appropriate. Individuals subject to any isolation or quarantine requirements imposed by the local health department remain responsible for complying with such requirements.
Cleaning and Disinfecting – Individuals should continue to keep the areas in which they personally work or are assigned to monitor sanitized. The University maintains a significant inventory of cleaning and disinfecting supplies. Supervisors may utilize the facilities work order system to request personal protective equipment (PPE), such as face coverings and disposable masks.
• Practicing Personal Hygiene – Individuals should continue to wash their hands often and use hand sanitizer when washing isn’t practical. Avoid touching your face, eyes, or nose, and use good respiratory etiquette like covering your mouth with your elbow when you cough or sneeze.

Remote Work

Starting June 1, 2021, the university will resume business operations which generally requires in person work. Exceptions to a return to previous work arrangements such as requests for remote work, will be made on a case by case basis and discussed with the supervisor. Such requests should follow the Remote Work Guidance.

Events and Recreation

Ulrich Museum summer exhibitions showcase vacations, new acquisitions

Two new exhibitions, “On Vacation!” and “Art Is a Superpower!,” go on display at the Ulrich 11 a.m.-5 p.m. May 20-July 31. The museum is open Monday-Saturday and admission is free. Click here for directions and parking. On Vacation! features pieces from the Ulrich’s permanent collection that celebrate excursions and adventures. This includes John Baeder’s photographs of 1970s American diners, the art of Alexander Calder and George Grosz and a series of colorful prints from Dutch artist Karel Appel among other works. Art is a Superpower! shines a spotlight on the amazing new pieces the museum has acquired over the … Continue reading "Ulrich Museum summer exhibitions showcase vacations, new acquisitions"

Ulrich Museum updates

Wednesday’s Academic Resources Conference Schedule

Join the Office of Instructional Resources and campus partners for today's Academic Resources Conference online in the Zoom Platform.

Join the Office of Instructional Resources and campus partners for today’s Academic Resources Conference online in the Zoom platform. Here is what you can expect:

LinkedIn Learning Challenge No. 3: Becoming Indistractable with Nir Eyal and Arianna Huffington. This is another short course (32 minutes) and will be invaluable for both instructors and students. Take this course for yourself now, and use this course later in your own classes! WSU employees receive LinkedIn Learning access as a benefit. Please sign up before accessing.
OLC Conference Recorded Session Suggestion #3: Building 21st Century Skills for All Learners with Patrick Dempsey of the Office of Digital Teaching at Loyola University Maryland and Matthew Aranda, from Micro-credentialing at Education Design Lab. This session has some interesting statistics and some ideas for addressing the “massive skills gap” they discuss in the presentation. You must register for the conference to access this recording. The registration link is only for Wichita State employees.
Suggested ARC Recording from Previous Conference or Event: Running Effective Discussions Online with John Jones. This is one of our most popular sessions in any ARC, and since we are not offering it live, we wanted to make it available as a recording. This is from the June 2020 ARC.

9-9:50 a.m. (Vendor Hour): Panopto Presents: Panopto Tips and Tricks. Panopto is a powerful video creation and hosting platform, and if you are just getting started with it, you are likely not aware of all the cool things it can do. Come to this vendor presentation on the unexpected tricks in Panopto. Add to Calendar (or) access directly.

10-10:50 a.m. (Rapid Sessions): Three sessions, each 15 minutes long. LightBoard Studios with John Jones, Master Classroom Capabilities with Ryan Corcoran, and Understanding the Zoom-to-Panopto Integration with Carolyn Speer. Add to Calendar (or) access directly.

11-11:50 a.m.: Using GoodNotes on iPad as an infinite, Flexible, Shareable Whiteboard for Remote or In-Person Teaching with David MacDonald. Add to Calendar(or) access directly.

Noon-12:50 p.m. (Panel Hour): Meet Your Ultra Pilots! Panel discussion with instructors who have piloted the Ultra classroom. Want to know the real story? Come ask and participate! Add to Calendar (or) access directly.

1-1:50 p.m.: Library Services for Savvy Instructors with Angela Paul. Your University Libraries have so much good content and so many services. Are you getting what you could be? Savvy instructors leverage resrouces at hand, and this session will help you better understand what is available to you as a WSU instructor. Add to Calendar (or) access directly.

2-2:50 p.m.: 21st Century Workforce Skills with John Jones. This session will be designed to be a discussion about research into necessary 21st-century skills. Come prepared to interact and discuss these topics with other interested instructors. Add to Calendar (or) access directly.

3-3:30 p.m. (Free Stuff for WSU Employees and Students): Meet LinkedIn Learning: You’re Ready to Use Option with Carolyn Speer. Carolyn will share how she uses LinkedIn Learning in her classes, where she leverages this content for both classroom assignments and extra credit. Do you want to know more about LinkedIn Learning but just haven’t found the time? This session is for you. Add to Calendar or access directly.

Job Openings

WSU Strategic Communications office hiring manager of videography

Want to be an ambassador and storyteller for all things Wichita State University? WSU’s Strategic Communications office is looking for a full-time manager of videography to develop and deliver visual stories through video. The position will also require overseeing any digital media including but not limited to video, YouTube, television and audio/MP3. This position is for internal candidates only.

For more information, or to apply for the manager of videography, view the official job listing.

KMUW seeking underwriting account executive

KMUW, Wichita’s NPR station, is seeking a goal-oriented public radio sales professional to join their corporate underwriting team. This underwriting account executive will sell broadcast sponsorship messages, digital media and events sponsorships. Applications close May 31.

Apply for KMUW underwriting account executive