WSU Today: Nov. 21, 2019

 

Early deadlines for employee hiring prior to 2019 Holiday Shutdown

Early deadlines for employee hiring

 

In preparation for the 2019 Holiday Shutdown, the HR Talent Acquisition team will implement early deadlines related to hiring. This will provide a more positive experience for candidates, while ensuring positions are posted and employees are hired successfully prior to the shutdown. Additional information and details are found below.

Deadline for Benefit-Eligible Positions
  • Postings: Position description must be completely approved in the PeopleAdmin routing process by noon on 12/18/19 to be posted prior to the shutdown.
  • Hiring: The first New Hire Orientation (NEO) in 2020 will be held on 1/03/20. To start on this date and attend that NEO session:

                      o The verbal offer must be accepted by the selected candidate by the close of business on Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2019.

                      o The candidate must be cleared for hire by HR (i.e. successful background check completed, new hire paperwork completed, hiring proposal approved in PeopleAdmin) by noon Friday, Dec. 20, 2019.

Note: Candidates who have not accepted an offer or are not cleared to begin work by the deadlines above, will be scheduled to start at a later date.

Deadline for Non-Benefit Eligible Positions (i.e. Student/Grad, Lecturer, Temp):

  • Non-Benefit Eligible Hire Request forms must be submitted to employment@wichita.edu by the close of business on 12/18/19 to be processed prior to the shutdown.
  • Onboard checklists and ePAFs must be completely approved by noon on 12/20/19 to be processed prior to the shutdown.
  • ePAFs for employees who have not completed the hire process by noon on 12/20/19 will be returned and departments will be asked to resubmit the ePAF for the next payroll period.

If you have any questions, email the Talent Acquisition team at employment@wichita.edu.


KPERS 457 retirement counselor at WSU Nov. 25, 2019

KPERS 457 retirement counselor will be on campus Monday, Nov. 25

Robin Deiter, Retirement Plan Counselor with Empower for KPERS 457, will be on-site from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday, Nov. 25, for individual retirement counseling appointments in 257 RSC. You can schedule an appointment with Robin .

If you would like more information, contact our plan representative below:

Robin Deiter

Empower – Retirement Plan Counselor KPERS 457

 

Call 844-446-8658 ext. 20468 or email Robin.deiter@empower-retirement.com

If you prefer to enroll online, you’ll need the following information:

Group ID: 130000-01

Enrollment Code: ilmjnQ6w


Graduate School temporarily moves to 113 Hubbard Hall

A cracked sewer pipe has resulted in the Graduate School temporarily relocating this morning (Thursday, Nov. 21). It’s likely the Graduate School will be out of its suite until early-to-mid January. 

Graduate School will not be open during today’s move, but hopes to be operational again on Friday, Nov. 22, in 113 Hubbard Hall. 


ͷ Regional Institute on Aging calls for interdisciplinary proposals

WSU Regional Institute on Aging (RIA) calls for interdisciplinary proposals with a focus on facilitating accessibility, diversity and inclusion of older adults to improve physical, cognitive, and social well-being.

WSU RIA is pleased to announce a new funding opportunity for interdisciplinary faculty research that addresses issues related to well-being in older adults. This funding opportunity is supported by a gift from the estate of Evelyn Cassat. Funding will be provided for three interdisciplinary research projects at WSU that contribute to knowledge and practice related to well-being in older adults. The maximum funding amount for each of the three proposals is $25,000 for a 12-month period.

More information on RIA funding opportunity.

Proposals may be either for foundational research or applied research. Foundational and applied research projects that actively involve faculty members at WSU from at least two distinct disciplines and more than one college will be given priority; however, sole researcher projects will also be considered. Applied research projects that provide evidence of real or potential impact for improving or sustaining older adults’ access to and inclusion in services or activities that foster physical, cognitive, and social well-being will be given preference.

All projects must include an impact statement describing specifically how the project will benefit the quality of life for older adults in the community, and provide practical guidelines for possible implementation. Projects must also include a plan for obtaining future funding from external sources to continue the research.

Application due date Friday, Jan. 17, 2020

Click here for details on how to apply. wsuria.org/applyhere/

Further questions?

Contact: Carryl Baldwin, RIA director, at Carryl.Baldwin@wichita.edu or call 978-3058


Interdisciplinary Award deadline is approaching – Nov. 29

In order to advance WSU’s Strategic Plan and SEM plan, a competition is underway to develop new interdisciplinary programs.

The competition is:

  • For all members of the WSU community
  • Open to proposals for new interdisciplinary certificates, minors, honors tracks, undergraduate, mini-master’s or master’s programs
  • Focused on programs that meet the future needs of students and the community

The authors of the winning proposal will receive a combined cash award of $5,000. There also will be up to five reserved (red sign) parking places made available for the next academic year for use by the authors of the proposal, at no charge to them.

Proposals are due Friday, Nov. 29.


Holiday greeting ITS Nov. 2019

Holiday greeting requests for ITS Telecommunications

Thursday, Nov. 28 and Friday, Nov. 29 are state holidays, and most departments on campus will be closed. Now is the time to submit your request if your department needs a holiday greeting activated on your calling-tree or call distribution number. Please submit the request at . Choose “Telephone Request” as the requested service, then choose “Programming” as the telephone service. Please ensure to include all details in the description.

Only requests received via this method will be processed. Please email telecomservices@wichita.edu or call 978-3535 if you have any questions or need any assistance.


Partial sidewalk closures and slight traffic delays on Mid-Campus Drive today (Thursday, Nov. 21) and Friday, Nov. 22

There will be a partial sidewalk closure today (Thursday, Nov. 21) and Friday, Nov. 22 along Mid-Campus Drive. Coonrod Construction, who will perform the work, will provide signage to redirect pedestrians. There may be slight traffic delays on Mid-Campus Drive while concrete is poured.


Tuition assistance deadline approaching

Tuition Assistance deadline approaching

The HR Total Rewards Team reminds staff and faculty that the deadline for spring 2020 Tuition Assistance applications is Monday, Dec. 2.

A fillable PDF application can be found online here. For additional program information, visit .

Applications with incorrect or incomplete information, including missing signatures, will be returned to the applicant for completion, and will be considered submitted as of the date of submission of the fully completed form. Applications returned for completion will be denied if they are not submitted with all complete and accurate information prior to the deadline. Due to the volume of applications received each semester, late applications will be automatically denied. There will be no exceptions.

Questions may be directed to TuitionAssistance@wichita.edu.


Geology professor to present research based on GIS technology and remote sensing data

Zelalem Demissie will present a description of his work using Geographical Information System (GIS) as a preview to his GIS course offered in the spring semester 2020 at 1:30 p.m. tomorrow (Friday, Nov. 22) in Room 101 of the Geology Department.

All are invited to hear “The Spatial Likelihood for the Occurrence of Landslide in Oklahoma,” and the application of GIS using remote sensing data in geology.


WSU-RIA Colloquium and faculty networking event

The WSU Regional Institute on Aging (RIA) is hosting a colloquium and networking event in conjunction with its recently released rfp. This opportunity is aimed at facilitating the formation of interdisciplinary teams of researchers interested in similar issues.

The event will be held from 4:30-6:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 5, in the RSC Lancelot Room.

The keynote speaker will be Dr. Joseph Schlesinger, Hearing and Speech Sciences, Vanderbilt University presenting "The alarmscape in the OR and ICU - Considerations for the aging clinician and patient.”


Kansas Dance Festival

ͷ Dance hosts Kansas Dance Festival 2019

Like a gathering of tribes, dancers from around the region descend onto the WSU campus to present original choreography from their university programs. The Kansas Dance Festival 2019 lights up Wilner Auditorium at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Nov. 22-23. 

Participating universities are Oklahoma University, University of Missouri/Kansas City, Friends University, Barton Community College and Regina Klenjoski Dance Company. Tickets range from $10-$15, students are free with a current WSU I.D. 


Participants needed for audiology research

You are invited to participate in a research study of Digit-Pair Speech Recognition Thresholds in Adults with Hearing Loss. We hope to learn the validation and generalization of using digit recognition thresholds during hearing evaluations.

If you decide to participate, you will be scheduled for a hearing evaluation. Once criteria are determined, additional hearing testing will be conducted.

Testing is expected to last about 55 minutes.

If you are interested in participating in this study, contact Marian Smith, mxsmith18@shockers.wichita.edu, or call 361-290-7015, (Yes, area code is not 316); or Stacey Kampe at stacey.kampe@wichita.edu or call 316-978-7264.


DSI on Nov. 23, 2019

Distinguished Scholarship Invitational this Saturday

The largest Distinguished Scholarship Invitational (DSI) in school history is slated for Saturday, Nov. 23.

Here’s a quick glance at the 2019 DSI class:

  • 735 students registered to attend, 94 more than last year
  • 532 students from Kansas
  • Other states represented include Oklahoma (59), Missouri (53), Texas (49), Illinois (11), and students from 13 other states.
  • 114 students from ͷ USD 259
  • Average ACT composite score of 26
  • Average high school GPA of 3.81

Thanks in advance to the ͷ State administrators, faculty, staff and students who are assisting with DSI! Remember to wear your Shocker colors and welcome our guests to campus.


Shocker Support Locker challenge Nov. 2019

Stock the Shocker Support Locker challenge ends tomorrow (Friday, Nov. 22)

Tomorrow (Friday, Nov. 22) is the final day to bring items for the Shocker Support Locker and have them count toward the faculty and staff challenge total. Drop your items off at one of the donation boxes around campus or call Central Services at 978-3545 to pick them up before the end of the day Friday, Nov. 22. To see a complete list of items needed and the drop-off locations, click here.

The Shocker Support Locker accepts items year-round. Students, faculty and staff can use the Shocker Support Locker and take up to 25 items per week. It is open 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday through Thursday (except when campus is closed), and located in 103 Grace Wilkie Hall.


150 for 150 event Aug. 15, 2020150 for 150 event to honor ͷ’s top athletes

League 42, in conjunction with partners at Visit ͷ, ͷ State Athletics, the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame, and It Takes a Village, Inc., has announced plans to host 150 for 150: A Celebration of ͷ’s Best High School Athletes. The event will take place at Charles Koch Arena on Saturday, Aug. 15, 2020.

ͷ will celebrate the city’s 150th birthday in 2020. This event will feature outstanding athletes that graduated from ͷ high schools. Over 150 athletes will be recognized as part of this event, including three of the city’s all-time greats in their respective sports: Lynette Woodard, Jim Ryun, and Barry Sanders.

General admission tickets for seating in the Koch Arena bowl will go on sale in spring 2020. General admission tickets will start at $20 per seat. General admission tickets do not include dinner options. For more information on the 150 for 150: A Celebration of ͷ’s Best High School Athletes, contact Bob Lutz at league42wichita@gmail.com.