Campus Connection: May 5, 2020

B1 bomber story

Retired B1-B will arrive in 鶹ƽ soon for Air Force research project

A new research partnership between 鶹ƽ State University’s (WSU) National Institute for Aviation Research (NIAR) and the U.S. Air Force will create a virtual B-1 Bomber that could help the Air Force predict the future of its supersonic bombers.

The project, sponsored by the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center B1 Division, will study the effects of flight operations on aircraft structures. The NIAR team will fully disassemble the aircraft, scan every individual structural part down to the nuts and bolts, and reassemble the virtual aircraft parts to create a digital twin. The program will provide the Air Force with unprecedented information on the B-1B, allowing for the evaluation of damage or changes to aircraft usage in order to repair, modify design or structural inspection intervals, and/or reevaluate the design life of the aircraft.


LAS Pandemic Series

Pandemic series speaker to discuss his work on COVID-19 vaccines and therapeutics

Bill Groutas

Bill Groutas

Making sense of the issues surrounding the coronavirus can be challenging. Faculty experts in the Fairmount College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at 鶹ƽ State University are helping clear the confusion.

The last talk in the Perspectives on the Pandemic series is "In search of a COVID-19 vaccine and therapeutics," by Bill Groutas, WSU Foundation Distinguished Professor of Chemistry. His presentation at 3 p.m. Wednesday, May 6, will briefly review coronaviruses, their life cycle, and state-of-the art progress in the development of vaccines and immunotherapeutics, as well as the use of repurposed drugs. Lastly, progress by his research group related to the discovery of inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 3CL protease, an enzyme essential for viral replication, will also be discussed briefly.

LAS COVID-19 Series


Kansas businesses can learn about the new cybersecurity rules for selling to DoD

Kansas PTAC

 

Cybersecurity certification auditing will be required of all companies selling to the Department of Defense (DoD) and to prime contractors beginning later this year. The Kansas Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) at 鶹ƽ State University is bringing one of the first training sessions on this certification to Kansas business in a Thursday, May 14 program. The program will be presented by Project Spectrum, which has been chosen by the DoD to make presentations across the country regarding the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification.

Senior Cybersecurity Expert Nathan Magniez will lead the program to begin educating Kansas businesses on what they need to do to make their business comply with the audits to that will be done by approved auditors, before a company can sell their goods or services to the DoD.

Read full story

This program will focus on Level 1 of the five-level certification model with the training to include information on access control, physical protection, system/communications protection. The webinar is scheduled for 45 minutes, beginning at 11 a.m. CDT Thursday, May 14, to be followed by a question-and-answer period. There is no charge for this presentation. Registration is required prior to the presentation at .

The DoD is planning to begin implementing this auditing program later this year. It will be a program that will be rolled out over several years to be required for all business selling any item to the DoD. It will also be required of companies in the supply chain for businesses that sell to the DoD.

The Kansas PTAC assists Kansas companies with in locating, obtaining and performing federal, state and local government contracts. It has offices at 鶹ƽ State University, GO Topeka and Johnson County Community College.

This Procurement Technical Assistance Center is funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the Defense Logistics Agency. It is funded additionally by 鶹ƽ State University, Pittsburg State University, GO Topeka, and Johnson County Community College.


George Dehner

鶹ƽ State historian compares COVID-19 with past pandemics

George Dehner might take exception to those who say the COVID-19 pandemic is unprecedented.

“This pattern of the appearance of a novel infection that spreads pandemics is as old as a human story. Once we began to settle in the towns and be connected to larger groups of populations that can sustain this sort of rapid infection element like a virus or some other thing, you have pandemics,” said Dehner, associate professor of history at 鶹ƽ State University.

Nor would Dehner say that the pandemic was entirely unexpected.

“COVID-19 itself was not predicted, but something like COVID-19 has been predicted for 25 years. COVID-19 is not a surprise to people who have been doing this sort of modeling” he said. “You can't pick which one it will be, but the fact that some sort of animal disease leapt into the human population and spread globally would not come as a surprise to anybody who does that sort of research.”


Invitation extended by Councilman Brandon Johnson, 鶹ƽ City Council, District 1

City of 鶹ƽ logo

 

Attention Shockers!

Do you want to add your voice to conversations about community development happening both near and around our campus?!

Do you know what Community Benefits Agreements (CBAs) are and how they can help support the needs of WSU’s students, faculty, staff and neighbors?

Do you believe that it is important for those who live, work, or play in the community to have a voice in what happens there?

During the next six weeks, a committed group of community residents will host Virtual CBA Focus Groups to discuss all these questions and more.

Sign up today to participate and have your voice be heard!


Local relief fund

Relief fund established to help local creatives affected by COVID-19

  • An emergency relief fund has been set up for 鶹ƽ-area creatives who have been financially affected by the current pandemic. 
  • Applications are reviewed every Thursday, and $500 grants will be given to those who show the most need.
  • To qualify, applicants must meet a list of requirements.

Pictured above: Mary Alexis Wirths, a fund recipient and senior WSU ADCI student studying community and social practice, helps build a class sculpture.

Read the complete story.


Allegiant has top performance in 2020 Airline Quality Rating

Dean Headley

Dean Headley

The 30th annual Airline Quality Rating results show an industry that had a performance decline for 2019. Results released today (Monday, May 4) reflect poorer industry performance in all four of the criteria tracked for calendar year 2019.

The AQR is a joint research project by co-researchers Dr. Dean Headley and Dr. Brent Bowen. This research originated at the W. Frank Barton School of Business at 鶹ƽ State University in 鶹ƽ, Kansas.


SBDC webinar series

SBDC offers webinar series in May


The Kansas SBDC will offer two “Succeeding in the New Normal” webinar series this month.

For more information, go to 


Free online courses

Enjoy free online self-paced courses!

The 鶹ƽ State University Office of Workforce, Professional and Community Education in partnership with Ed2Go is excited to announce free professional development opportunities to the community. Ten free self-paced tutorial courses are now offered to you at no cost!

Free self-paced courses include:  

How to Register 

To register and view the courses, . To take advantage of this special opportunity, you must select the courses titled, Free Self-Paced Tutorial.

Courses are available through Tuesday, June 30.

For more information or questions, contact jennifer.harry@wichita.edu.


Usha Haley

鶹ƽ State's Usha Haley in Bloomberg Businessweek on global regulation affecting multinationals

Bloomberg Businessweek approached Usha Haley, W. Frank Barton Distinguished Professor in International Business, Professor of Management and Director of the Center for International Business Advancement, for her views on the post-COVID regulatory environment.

Usha Haley's predictions on imminent global regulation as it affects the operations of multinational corporations, based on her research and expertise over 30 years in international business, can be .

If you encounter a paywall, .


BIGs info session

Learn how you can make a BIG difference with Kansas Big Brothers Big Sisters

Are you ready to be a part of something BIG? Learn more about Kansas Big Brothers Big Sisters during Kansas' BIGgest Virtual Info Session ever at 11:30 a.m. today (Tuesday, May 5).  for the free webinar; space is limited.

There are currently more than 1,500 Littles waiting for a Big across the state of Kansas. Will you join the more than 100 鶹ƽ State faculty, staff and students already involved by being a friend to the youth in need? For more information visit .


KMUW Hindsight podcast

KMUW podcast presents ‘Hindsight: Looking Back at 100 Years of Women’s Suffrage’

“Hindsight: Looking Back at 100 Years of Women’s Suffrage” is a year-long podcast series from KMUW, hosted by 鶹ƽ State University's Dr. Robin Henry. A blend of historical context and conversations with scholars, politicians, and activists, Hindsight aims to educate, entertain, and help listeners gain a better understanding of women’s diverse voices and roles in US history. Episode 2: Conflict & Compromise is out now. Listen at kmuw.org and wherever you get your podcasts.


Khristian Jones

To the stars, student defies odds

Just 10 percent of aerospace engineering majors are female. Black women make up less than a fraction of a percent in the field. Khristian Jones is undeterred by the odds. She aspires to be an astronaut.

“As an eighth grader, I knew that I was talented in math and science, had a love for space and wanted to be a part of the space community,” Jones said. “I just had to figure out a way to put those things together.”

Her research led her to pursue a degree in aerospace engineering at 鶹ƽ State University. It represented a big change from her hometown of Chicago, but she’s adjusted to the smaller city.

Read complete story.


Bruckner letter

A letter from Misty Bruckner for Public Service Recognition Week

Bruckner family lore dictates that spreading mulch around plants and trees in one of the worst household chores there is. So, after appropriately avoiding human contact to get his truckload of mulch, my husband made the dreaded announcement: “Mulch spreading at 2:00.” I don’t know whether it’s the mulch in the socks or mulch dust in the eyes, but disdain was palpable from the teenage children… okay, and from me.

So gloved and ready, imagine my surprise to find my gleeful eight-year-old in the truck bed, joyfully announcing, “I’m Rakeman. It’s a huge promotion. I didn’t even have a title last year.”

The enthusiasm for my son’s new title gave me pause to think of all the millions of people across the country taking on new titles as public servants.

Read full story

We’ve witnessed:

  • Educators as virtual teachers, counselors and a link to a safe place for our children
  • Restaurant owners as food bank operators
  • Government staff serving other agencies hardest hit by the pandemic
  • First responders who daily put their lives on the line taking even more risks to keep us safe
  • Nonprofits taking on more responsibility – higher caseloads with fewer resources
  • People sheltering in place and putting “we before me” to keep others safe
  • Private sector leaders providing equipment, supplies and financial support to those most in need
  • Food supply, delivery and sanitation workers being applauded for essential services they provide
  • Healthcare workers being recognized as the superheroes they are, outshining any comic book icon

We all have taken on new roles as public servants. May that spirit of “stronger together” continue as we forge through these challenging times ahead and the joyful spirit of Rakeman thrive in all of us. May 3-9 is Public Service Recognition Week. Thank you to those with official titles in public service and those who have joyfully accepted new roles as public servants. May you be safe and well.

Misty Bruckner
Director
Public Policy and Management Center
鶹ƽ State University


Mother's Day Brunch Kit

Mother's Day Brunch Kit

WSU Dining is offering a Mother’s Day Brunch Kit with contactless delivery to your house on Saturday, May 9! It includes a DIY quiche, cheesy hashbrown casserole, cinnamon rolls and more, plus additional add-on options available.

For more information, . To order, call 316-978-5863 or email wsucatering@compass-usa.com.


KMUW COVID-19 updates

KMUW News has daily updates on COVID-19 in Kansas

As news regarding the COVID-19 pandemic rapidly changes, KMUW News is compiling daily updates. At KMUW.org, you'll find the latest information, including the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Kansas broken down by county.


State library card

University Libraries is helping with State Library Card signup

Get a State Library of Kansas card easy! Email us at librarystaff@wichita.edu with your full name (including middle initial), email address and date-of-birth.

See all the online resources available at .


Mother's Day Sale

Mother's Day Sale

Looking to find some great gifts for the Shocker moms in your life? The Shocker Store is having a Mother’s Day Sale online at  from May 3-9. It will feature select products at awesome prices! May not be combined with other discounts or promotions.


Volunteers needed for a research study

SWAY study

 

Test-Retest of the SWAY Mobile Application: Telemedicine Approach

Purpose of the study: To assess the accuracy of the balance, reaction time and cognitive assessment modules of the SWAY mobile application through a telemedicine approach using virtual Zoom meetings and a SMART device.

Procedures: Participants balance, reaction time, and cognitive function will be tested using the SWAY application using a SMART device and receiving instruction through a virtual zoom session.

Time: Participation will include three separate sessions placed one week apart. Each weekly session is expected to last about 30 minutes.

Volunteer criteria and how to participate

Inclusion / Exclusion Criteria:

  • Participants must be age 18 or older
  • No known muscular disorders
  • No known neurological disorders
  • No known orthopedic disorder
  • No uncorrected vision

Location: Telemedicine approach: virtual Zoom appointments using computer technology and a SMART device.

Contact: If you are interested in participating in this study please contact Dr. Heidi Bell at: heidi.bell@wichita.edu or 316.393.3339

Millicent Setzkorn at mrsetzkorn@shockers.wichita.edu or 620-393-5320

Should you have any questions or concerns, email Dr. Heidi Bell at heidi.bell@wichita.edu or call 316-978-5150.