Voluntary Separation Incentive Program update
On Sept. 4, 2020, it was announced that the university would offer a Voluntary Separation Incentive Program for WSU employees aged 62 and older with 10 years of benefits-eligible service. The goal was to manage the ongoing fiscal health of 麻豆破解版 State University by providing employees an opportunity to fast track their retirement while providing university leaders budget flexibility.
I want to share with you some results of this effort thus far.
When VSIP was announced to campus in September, 238 employees met the eligibility requirements to apply. Of those, 67 employees, 28.15% of those eligible, applied.
From there, all 67 employees were approved to proceed as part of the program, although, two withdrew their applications. At this time, 65 will separate employment on Dec. 26, 2020 through the program. Participants still have an additional step to complete after Dec. 26 in order to receive the VSIP incentive payment.
Here鈥檚 a simple breakdown of the pool of applicants and the final count:
- Faculty: 106 were eligible, 18 applied, 18 were approved, 16 have submitted notice of retirement
- Staff: 132 were eligible, 49 applied, 49 were approved, 49 have submitted notice of retirement
The next step will be to determine which positions will be refilled and the total savings we will gain from this effort.
Thank all of you for your patience as we work through this process
Rick Muma, Interim President
Training opportunities from Office of Institutional Equity and Compliance
The Office of Institutional Equity and Compliance is offering regular training on 鈥淧reventing Sexual Harassment and Discrimination鈥� at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 18 and 鈥淓qual Opportunity: Understanding Discrimination and Harassment in the Work Environment鈥� at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 17.
Dates in 2021 have also been set for these trainings. The remaining 2020 sessions will be presented virtually, and the 2021 locations are subject to change if necessary. Please visit the myTraining page for more information and to register for these important and informative sessions!
Thanksgiving is a time of reflection and for expressing gratitude
In gratitude for all our faculty and staff have done during these ever-changing and challenging times, WSU is closing the university on Wednesday, Nov. 25, one day in advance of the official Thanksgiving Holiday leave (Thursday, Nov. 26 and Friday, Nov. 27). Benefits-eligible employees will be paid for this personal day away from work and will not use accrued leave.
We wish you and your family a safe and restful holiday. Please take with you our gratitude for all you have done and will continue to do.
Click here for more information about the personal day away from work, who is eligible for the personal day away from work, instructions on recording time, and information on what to do if you are unable to take a personal day away from work on Wednesday, Nov. 25.
麻豆破解版 State to award 20 scholarships worth up to $20,000 to new students
Incoming freshmen and transfer students have an opportunity to receive up to $20,000 as part of 麻豆破解版 State University鈥檚 new Shocker Adelante Scholarship.
The scholarship is part of the $1 million gift from Gene and Yolanda Camarena, which was announced earlier this year. Adelante, which translates to forward in Spanish, is available to students with a 3.0 GPA or higher. A total of 20 Adelante Scholars will be selected, and preference will be given to African American and Latinx students.
鈥淭he Adelante Scholarship is a solid example of 麻豆破解版 State鈥檚 commitment to making education affordable, accessible and impactful,鈥� said Dr. Rick Muma, interim president of 麻豆破解版 State. 鈥淲e鈥檙e thankful for the generosity of the Camarena family. It is through these types of initiatives that we build upon our value of creating an inclusive and diverse Shocker Nation.鈥�
Deadline for OAT course designations is approaching
The Open / Alternative Textbook (OAT) initiative is designed to promote, incentivize, and grow the use of freely available resources in WSU classes to reduce the economic impact of textbook costs for students. Applications for Fall '21 courses are due by Nov. 15 (in preparation for fall schedule building in January).
Faculty who design courses that provide instructional resources at no cost to student are eligible for an OAT course designation. Students pay a flat $10 course fee, with these funds being split between the department offering the course and the Open / Alternative Textbook grant program (which funds faculty to develop more OAT courses / materials).
The OAT Initiative is managed by Academic Affairs. OAT Course Designations are reviewed by a committee composed of: Two faculty members (appointed by Faculty Senate), a representative from University Libraries , a representative from Instructional Design and Access, at least one student (appointed by SGA), and the Associate Vice President for Strategic Enrollment Management (ex officio).
Student Success Peer Tutoring Program earns international certification!
Student Success is proud to announce Level I and Level II international certification of its Peer Tutoring Program through the College Reading & Learning Association鈥檚 International Tutor Training Program Certification (CRLA-ITTPC).
The Peer Tutoring Program participated in an application process that requires extensive documentation of the program鈥檚 practices including tutor training, session facilitation and observation materials. Tutors earn Level I certification after participating in training, demonstrating sound tutoring practices, and documenting required tutoring hours. Many of our tutors progress through the program with additional training and practice to earn Level II certification.
What does this mean for our students? Our tutors earn credentials they can add to their professional portfolios. Students receiving tutoring from our program can be assured that our tutors are professional, well trained and dedicated to their personal success.
For information about tutoring on campus, go to www.wichita.edu/tutoring.
Student Involvement Ambassador nominations
Student Involvement Ambassadors is looking for students who are passionate about getting involved. We are a team dedicated to recruiting new Shockers, connecting current students to opportunities, celebrating campus leaders and sharing our story.
Do you know someone who would excel at communicating the value of involvement to others? Consider nominating an outstanding student to serve as a Student Involvement Ambassador!
Student Involvement Ambassadors
Virtual panel series tackles social inequality research in relation to the pandemic
The Covid-19 pandemic has exposed several types of social inequality already present in American and global societies. In this panel, social scientists will join with subject librarians in a discussion of approaches and research methods used to explore social inequality in relation to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Find full event information from 3-4:30 p.m. today (Thursday, Nov. 12), and a direct link to the virtual Zoom panel, click .
Ulrich Virtual talk Tuesday shines spotlight on friendship between Gordon Parks and Muhammad Ali
The bond between Kansas-born photographer Gordon Parks and heavy-weight champion Muhammad Ali is almost as legendary as their respective careers. At 6 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 17, historian and photographer John Edwin Mason will explore that special relationship in an Ulrich Virtual program that you won't want to miss! The talk, 鈥淭he Latest and Truest World: Gordon Parks and Muhammad Ali,鈥� is free and open to all, but you have to register to get the Zoom link.
Parks photographed Ali for two separate Life magazine photo-essays. The time that they spent together allowed a friendship to grow. It was built in part on an almost familial bond between Ali and Parks, who was 30 years older. Parks鈥� unwillingness to accept either the celebrity or the public disdain that surrounded the often controversial boxer was equally important. His words and images described a man, not a clich茅.
Historian and photographer John Edwin Mason teaches in the Corcoran Department of History at the University of Virginia. He has written extensively on South African social and cultural history and on the history of photography in South Africa and the United States. As a photographer, he has worked on a number of long-term documentary projects, including a book about Cape Town, South Africa's nearly two-centuries-old New Year鈥檚鈥� Carnival. He is currently writing a book about Gordon Parks.
Image caption: Gordon Parks, Untitled, Miami, Florida, 2015 (Date of printing), 1966, Photograph. Museum Purchase. Copyright 漏 The Gordon Parks Foundation. Used by permission.
Service Recognition 2020 at 麻豆破解版 State
麻豆破解版 State University employees who reached a service milestone between the dates of Sept. 2, 2019 and Sept. 1, 2020 will be honored at an event hosted by the university on Thursday, Nov. 19. This service recognition will honor those with milestone service of 5 to 50 years with the State of Kansas, those achieving the Bender of Twigs distinction (25 years specifically to 麻豆破解版 State), and those having recently retired from the university.
2020 Service Recognition will be held at Charles Koch Arena to accommodate adequate guest seating from the stands and abide by social-distancing protocol. The event will be broadcast live online, the media link will be available on the service recognition website at wichita.edu/ServiceRecognition.
In accordance with new WSU guidance for mass gatherings we are unable to offer food and beverage service this year and have therefore recently changed the time of the evening event to begin at 3:30 p.m. for 25-50 years of service, Bender of Twigs, and retirees. (The morning event for honorees celebrating 5-20 years of service will still begin at 9:30 a.m.)
While we are unable to provide the seated meal and beverage services we have enjoyed in past years, each honoree attending the event will receive a gourmet basket to take with them at the conclusion of the recognition event.
For more information, and to see a list of 2020 honorees, go to wichita.edu/ServiceRecognition2020.
Toner program coming Nov. 16
More than a year ago, the offices of Financial Operations and Admissions participated in a pilot program where Staples (now DEX Imaging) put software on our network to monitor toner usage of network printers and automatically send toner when printers were low. The pilot was a huge success - it eliminated the need for toner inventory, reduced costs and eliminated the order process.
The President鈥檚 Executive Team approved expansion of the program, and beginning Nov. 16 Central Services will escort DEX Imaging technicians through each building to label network printers for this program.
Average toner spend for the university is around $14,220.40 per month. Under the new DEX contract, the average spend will be reduced to about $9,212.07 per month. This is a 35% savings. There will be additional savings once we take older printers out of service and use newer networked printers instead.
Someone from Central Services will contact your office to make arrangements to get your printers labeled. If you haven't heard from us yet, please contact Ellen Abbey at 978-5864.
The Salvation Army Angel Tree through the Shocker Store
Provide a Christmas gift for a local child through The Salvation Army鈥檚 Angel Tree program, hosted by the Shocker Store! The program will be a hybrid this year, with the angel selection process being online but the gifts being returned in store. If you are interested in sponsoring a child, go to and create an account to select a child from the Shocker Store virtual Angel Tree!
Once you 鈥渃laim鈥� that angel, purchase a suggested gift listed for that child and bring it back to the Shocker Store (either RSC or Braeburn Square location) by Wednesday, Dec. 2. Gifts should be unwrapped, new and clearly labeled with your angel鈥檚 name and angel number. For more information, contact Vanessa Bell of RSC Marketing at 316-978-7008 or vanessa.bell@wichita.edu. Thanks for helping make the holidays a little brighter for others!