myPerformance Manager Review is due now!
Managers of USS and Non-Teaching UP employees should now submit reviews and ratings for their direct reports for the 2018-19 annual evaluations in myPerformance. This step is due Thursday, Feb. 28. Managers should log in to myPerformance in myWSU to rate their direct reports and submit comments to justify the ratings.
For more information (including quick reference guides, training available, and open labs) go to www.wichita.edu/myPerformance.
Gartner to help enable change to WSU’s future IT environment
WSU leadership has been looking at the university’s future needs and wants to make sure we have the right IT structure and capabilities to help drive the university’s future success.
WSU has engaged Gartner, a deeply experienced consulting firm, to help us with the process.
To help enable change to WSU’s future IT environment, Gartner has been asked to evaluate four key areas:
- Assess the need for a Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) and recommend the best methods to deliver services related to the areas of a CISO
- Assess and provide recommendations to improve IT service outcomes on campus, including a review of IT spending and staffing needs to industry peers
- Provide recommendations on the best organizational structure, including IT governance, to optimize WSU’s future success
- Review the IT leadership structure and propose recommendations to address any skill gaps
The review by Gartner will take about 15 weeks, and you may see their team on campus meeting with IT staff and key stakeholders. For those who will be involved in this process, you’ll hear more in the coming weeks.
If you have any questions, University Budget Director David Miller has been asked to serve as the Engagement Manager for the project, reporting to Acting President and Provost Rick Muma and VP for Finance and Administration Werner Golling.
Rick Muma: Why WSU is asking students to raise their own fees
Rick Muma
Why are students being asked to raise their own fees? Provost Rick Muma explains.
WSU students, who returned to campus Tuesday, Jan. 22 for the start of spring semester, are being asked to raise their own fees to finance improvements in classroom, laboratory, library and student services space across the campus.
The proposed changes benefit every college in the university and will improve the educational setting for many thousands of students for years to come. The changes will provide updated spaces and new technology to create and collaborate; optimized environments for applied learning and research; and convenient, accessible study spaces and student services.
This is the first student fee referendum since the 2012 vote that led to the highly successful expansion and renovation of Rhatigan Student Center.
Before voting begins March 4, students will have many opportunities to learn more about the current plan and voice their opinions at a series of town halls. I’m writing to explain to the community why this new initiative is so important to WSU’s future.
It would be ideal if the university could take care of these improvements with other resources, but the state doesn’t fund capital improvement projects like those we’re proposing.
We can borrow the money through bonds, as long as student fees are in place as a guaranteed source of revenue to make bond payments. The proposed $6-per-credit-hour increase is the same amount devoted to paying off the Rhatigan bonds.
As provost and acting president, I’m responsible for working with faculty and many others to provide excellent academic opportunities for our students in the best possible environment for learning. If we don’t keep improving facilities and programs, we risk being less attractive to students and faculty considering WSU as a place to learn and work.
Based on discussions with students, faculty and staff, these priorities were identified: updating of historic Henrion Hall and Wilner Auditorium; updated biology labs; health care clinical space improvements driven by accreditation requirements; centralized space for student services in a renovated Clinton Hall; engineering wind tunnel repairs; restrooms for the library’s 24-hour study space; and a long-planned new building for the Barton School of Business.
The proposed student fee will provide $20 million for the new business building, Woolsey Hall, and $18.5 million for improvements to existing buildings. Private donors have already pledged $30 million for the business building and nearly $260 million for scholarships, professorships and other WSU improvement initiatives.
I know we are asking a lot of students and their families, especially in a time when increasing fees are hard to manage financially. But spreading this across all colleges and students makes it more manageable for everyone.
Because all of the renovation projects are scheduled to be completed within three years of the start of construction, some current students will enjoy the benefits of new and renovated spaces. Those graduating sooner will be a leaving a legacy for future Shockers, as their predecessors did by approving funding for the Rhatigan Renewal.
If you have questions, email me at provost@wichita.edu. For more information, go to .
457 Deferred Comp Plan representative on campus
Robin Deiter with Empower Retirement will be in 240 RSC from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday, Feb. 4, to help current 457 participants review their plans or enroll employees who want to begin contributing for the first time. Call or email to schedule an individual appointment at 1-844-446-8658 ext. 20468 or robin.deiter@empower-retirement.com.
WSU passes two policies on Furlough (3.54) and Attendance (3.55)
To fulfill its fiscal responsibilities in times of budget restraints or if directed by the State of Kansas, the University may exercise its authority to implement furloughs or to reduce employee’s salary or hourly rates of pay.
Timely and regular attendance is an expectation of performance for all 鶹ƽ State University (“University”) Employees. Attendance expectations should be based on business department needs, and established by Leadership. To ensure adequate staffing, positive Employee morale, and to meet expected productivity standards throughout the university, Employees will be responsible and held accountable for adhering to their workplace schedule.
Volunteers sought for upcoming conference at 鶹ƽ State
鶹ƽ State is the host of the 27th annual MBLGTACC conference Friday to Sunday, Feb. 15-17. The Midwest Bisexual Lesbian Gay Transgender Asexual College Conference (MBLGTACC) is an annual conference held to connect, educate and empower queer and trans+ college students, faculty and staff around the Midwest and beyond.
The event will be held at the Hyatt Regency Hotel and Century II Conference Center. This year’s event is expected to draw more than 1,200 students from around the Midwest, and feature speakers and entertainers including Nyle DiMarco, Janaya Khan, Pidgeon Pigonas, and Penny Tration from Ru Paul’s Drag Race Season 10.
To make this event a success, we need your help! You can choose a volunteer opportunity that fits . Any person who signs up for three or more volunteer spots is eligible for free registration. This is the conference’s first time in Kansas, so let’s show them some great Shocker hospitality!
College of Applied Studies dean to host Shock the Future Town Hall
Shirley Lefever, dean of the College of Applied Studies, will host a College of Applied Studies Town Hall meeting to answer questions and spark discussion on the Shock the Future Referendum, a student-led campaign that identifies a list of academic and student success infrastructure needs.
You’re invited to attend the Town Hall at 2 p.m. today (Friday, Feb. 1) in 105 Heskett Center.
This is your opportunity to listen to students’ thoughts on WSU’s future and find out more about the potential changes coming to our campus.
ISME/EECS seminar today (Friday, Feb. 1)
Visvakumar Aravinthan
Visvakumar Aravinthan, associate professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, will present “Reliability Considerations in Cyber-Physical Energy Systems” from 11 a.m.-noon today (Friday, Feb. 1) in 211 Engineering Building.
Weekly Briefing update
Here are some highlights from yesterday’s university update at the Weekly Briefing on the subjects of two-factor authentication, Strategic Planning, Fairmount Towers site, and Bike Share ICT at WSU.
Two-factor authentication
As part of the university’s efforts to keep information secure, we’re beginning a rollout of Duo two-factor authentication for employees signing into our internal site to perform administrative processes and procedures.
Duo enhances security by requiring the use of a secondary device at login to verify identity, which will ensure that others cannot access your account by obtaining your password.
Information Technology Services is providing training on Duo Security on the following dates:
- Tuesday - Feb. 5 - 2-3 p.m. - 211 Hubbard Hall
- Wednesday – Feb. 6 - 2:30-3:30 p.m. – 142 RSC
Faculty and staff can enroll in these sessions through the myTraining link of the myWSU portal, under the faculty/Staff tab. The name of the training session is “Duo Security Software Demonstration.”
For more information about Duo, visit and click on Duo Two Factor Security.”
Strategic Planning update
Monthly Activation Team meetings have resumed, with the first meeting of the semester held on Tuesday. Activation Teams are the foundation of the strategic planning process at 鶹ƽ State. These teams evaluate our current strategic plan and determine whether improvements or changes are needed.
Faculty, staff, students and community members are invited to join a team and help the university better fulfill its mission. To find out more and sign up, visit , click on the drop-down menu and click on Activation Teams.
Fairmount Towers site update
A quick update on the Fairmount Towers site: Its 290 existing parking spots will be retained, and there are no immediate plans for construction where the residence hall was demolished. It will be planted with grass and available for future university use.
Bike Share ICT at WSU
Today we’re happy to announce that Bike Share ICT is coming to campus this spring. This is an extension of the same bike-share program that is currently operating throughout the city, and is another way the university is enhancing the campus experience for our students, employees, partners and the community.
The program is funded from a grant through the YMCA and includes 20 bikes, which can be accessed at the Rhatigan Student Center, Heskett Center, the Experiential Engineering Building and Metropolitan Complex. The bikes are expected to arrive in February.
Annual memberships are $30, student annual memberships are $20 or riders can rent bikes for $3 an hour.
For more information about Bike Share ICT, and to sign up for a membership, visit . We hope to see many of you biking around campus soon.
Graduate Studies presents ‘Patent Searching for Research & Development
Learn how to search for patents alongside scholarly articles to research the advancement of technology in the presentation “Patent Searching for Research & Development from 5-6:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 7, in 266 RSC. Snacks will be provided. The presenter will be Sara Butts from University Libraries.
We will focus on the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and European Patent Office databases and Google Patents, using a combination of keyword and classification searching, among other strategies.
Office of Research to hold compliance workshop on Friday, Feb. 8
The Office of Research Compliance Workshop: University Export Compliance 101 will be held from noon-1:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 8, in 405 Jardine Hall. The presenter will be Becky Hundley, MBA Director of Research Compliance.
U.S. export laws apply to higher education and you have personal liability. The Research Compliance Office is here to serve as a resource and provide training to protect not only the university, but help you, as an individual, be better informed and avoid export violations.
Seeking participants for a paid study
Computer users, 18 or older, are sought to participate in a research study investigating the effects of computer monitor resolution on user performance and experience. Do you digitally create / edit illustrations, photos, textures or animation?
The study will take place in McKinley Hall, and last about 90 minutes. Participants will earn $25 or six SONA credits if enrolled in a WSU psychology course.
If you’re interested in participating, take the . Questions can be directed to Christal Haskins at cahaskins@shockers.wichita.edu.
Philosophical Society meeting coming to WSU on Feb. 9
Philosophers from WSU, Kansas, and the region will present their recent work on Saturday, Feb. 9 in 266 Rhatigan Student Center. The event is free and open to the public.
11 a.m.-12:10 p.m.
Fake News on Social Media: Eliminating a Uniquely Noxious Market" Megan Joanna Fritts and Frank Cabrera, Kansas State University
"On the Contractualist Case for Eating Meat" Keith Harris, University of Missouri
1:30 – 2:40pm
"Self-Reflexive Cognitive Bias" Joshua Mugg, Park University and Muhammad Ali Khalidi, York University
"Confucian Ethics and the Challenge of Gender" Dennis Arjo, Johnson County Community College
3:15 – 4:25 pm
"Epistemic Injustice in Aristotelian Ethics" Noell Birondo, 鶹ƽ State University
"Knowing Disability Transactionally: A Pragmatist Response to Epistemic Injustice" Sarah Woolwine, University of Central Oklahoma
4:40 pm Keynote Address
"The Mnemonic Puzzle" Sarah Robins, University of Kansas
Opera Theater to present ‘Scenes and Songs’
鶹ƽ State University Opera Theater will present its 2nd annual “Scenes and Songs” at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 7, and Friday, Feb. 8, in Wiedemann Hall.
This year’s theme follows “the journey of life” with music by Bernstein, Copland, Mozart, Gounod, Dvořák, and WSU student composer Aaron Fink.
Contact the WSU College of Fine Arts Box Office for tickets at 978-3233. WSU students receive one free ticket with their WSU ID.
Volunteer at Wu’s Big Event X
Community Service Board invites you to join us on Saturday, Feb. 9 to make a huge impact in the 鶹ƽ community by volunteering at Wu’s Big Event X. Individuals, organizations, faculty, staff, alumni, friends and family are all encouraged to participate in a fun-filled day of service.
The event will be start on the third floor of the RSC in the Shirley Beggs Ballroom. Check-in will run from 8:30-8:50 a.m. We will have fun speakers, a breakfast including muffins and coffee, and you will be given a collectible Wu’s Big Event T-shirt.
Participants will load onto buses and be at a service site by 10 a.m. and volunteer until 1 p.m. Participants will then get back to the RSC for fun celebration activities and lunch (a Chartwells boxed lunch containing sandwich, chips, and fruit). The event will end by 2 p.m.
We hope to serve more than 750 collective volunteer hours on Feb. 9, and we need your help to make this happen!
Learn how to swim or improve your swimming
Want to face your fear of water, learn basic strokes or get ready for a swim meet? The 鶹ƽ Aqua Shocks offer adult, children and parent-tot classes in group, private and semi-private settings. For more information, contact Tonya Blattner of the Aqua Shocks at 316-833-6544 or at tblattner11@gmail.com.
Health Fair planned for Feb. 27
Join us as we host an educational and interactive health fair in the upstairs gymnasium at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 27, in the Heskett Center. Plan to join hundreds of your fellow Shockers as you receive medical screenings and wellness tips from more 50 vendor booths from 鶹ƽ State University departments and the community. For more information visit .
Shocker Rowing to hold indoor rowing event
Join us for Shocker Rowing’s indoor rowing event on Saturday, Feb. 9.Test your racing fitness in our 2K event. You must register in order to secure your spot on race day. The 1000m team event allow you compete in “boats” of four and race against other teams.
Sign up at the Heskett Center or at IMLeagues.com/鶹ƽ. If you have questions, contact Rachel Tuck at rachel.tuck@wichita.edu or at 978-3465.
Eck Stadium skyboxes available for 2019 season
Several Eck Stadium Skyboxes are available for purchase for the upcoming 2019 鶹ƽ
State baseball season,
Skybox users receive eight tickets for Shocker home baseball games and a VIP parking
pass.