COVID-19 UPDATES
#WeSupportU Faculty/Staff Mental Health Advocate Program for the spring
In response to the toll the pandemic has had on our community鈥檚 mental health, Counseling and Preventive Services has developed a more formal #WeSupportU Faculty/Staff Mental Health Advocate Program to assist instructors and staff who want to more intentionally incorporate the wellness campaign into their work with students.
CAPS has created a list of action steps employees can take to become a mental health advocate on campus ensuring Shockers know it鈥檚 OK to not be OK and the University cares about their well-being with services ready to help. The program includes material to be used in classrooms, training and support, and information on how to spread the message of Suspenders4Hope. Please consider becoming an advocate today and including this material as you plan for next semester. Our goal is to have at least one advocate per department to help us promote hope and end stigma once and for all.
For more information, reach out to suspenders4hope@wichita.edu.
Asymptomatic COVID-19 testing is by appointment
Voluntary asymptomatic COVID-19 testing is under way for current WSU students, faculty and staff. Contact 316-978-4792 to schedule your appointment for testing at Student Health Services.
Teaching This Spring: Day 3 Questions about Teaching Online
As we continue to adapt to the current instructional environment, the Faculty Curricular Design Working Group would like to highlight some FAQs related to classroom instruction this spring. We firmly believe that instructors are valued content experts and want what鈥檚 best for their students. We encourage instructors to intentionally experiment with new techniques. It is OK to not know the perfect solution. You can make adjustments as needed, knowing that there are development opportunities and support resources available.
FAQs Set #3: Questions about Teaching Online
- How do I build personal relationships with students I don鈥檛 meet in person?
-Share information about your own background so students feel comfortable sharing something about themselves
-Include an introductory video in your Blackboard course
-Include your photo in your Outlook and Blackboard profiles
-Send periodic personal communications, not just instructions directed to the entire class
-Provide timely, personal feedback on assignments
-Participate in (don鈥檛 just observe) discussion board posts - this creates deeper engagement, signals your presence in the course, and models the quality of posts you want to see
-Require a one-on-one Zoom meeting assignment for course credit
-Additional suggestions here.
Additional FAQs about teaching this spring can be found on the COVID-19 university webpage.
Many new topics debut in today鈥檚 ARC sessions
The Academic Resources Conference (ARC) is a free, Zoom-based training conference designed for anyone who is interested. Adjuncts, GTAs, full-time faculty, staff who teach, interested others, and friends from other schools are all invited. Take a look at what we have, and join us for a session or two.
- LinkedIn Learning Challenge: . 46 minute class. (Must activate your WSU LinkedIn Learning account first.)
- 9:00am-11:00am: Microsoft Teams Advanced with Ali Levine. (MyTraining sign-up is required for this session. This session is a suggested prerequisite for Friday's workshop "Using Microsoft Teams to Teach.")
- 9:00am-9:50am: Instructional Video: Devices and Planning with John Hammer. .
- 10:00am-10:50am: Instructional Video: Staging and Editing with John Hammer. .
- 11:00am-11:50am: Teaching About Politically Controversial Topics with Neal Allen. .
- Noon-12:50pm: Suicide Prevention and the WeSupportU Program Panel Discussion. Partnership programming with CAPS. .
- 1:00pm-1:50pm: Supporting Students' Metacognition with Moriah Beck. ARC Big Read Topic Session: Chapter 5. .
- 2:00pm-2:50pm: Intermediate Blackboard (with updates for the new SaaS environment) with Taylor Moore. .
- 3:00pm-3:50pm: Leveraging Blackboard's Discussion Board for Meaningful Discussion with John Jones. .
- 4:00pm-4:50pm: Using Your iPad and Apple Pencil for Teaching and More with John Jones. .
- 5:00pm-5:50pm: Lightning Round Session #3: FERPA Fast, Copyright Fast, In-Person Contact Fast with Camille Childers, Gina Crabtree and Maria Sclafani. .
Free virtual workshop to teach basics of intellectual property
Join patent, trademark and copyright expert Jessica Peirpoint (Torres) for the first virtual workshop of 2021. This free workshop "Intellectual Property Basics" is set for 3-4:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 21.
Join KMUW's live-stream panel on managing yourself and your goals in 2021
It's a new year and already one that is difficult to put into words. KMUW wants to help you take a moment and get some guidance from local experts on how to manage yourself and your goals in 2021.
Join KMUW for Digital Democracy on Tap: New Year's Solutions at 5 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 14. The conversation will be streamed live from and at . Our panelists include Patricia Houston of WSU's Community Engagement Institute and Jen Liss, host of The Creative Commute podcast. Comment on the Facebook video with your questions or send an email to info@kmuw.org.
Lean into discomfort and engage in meaningful dialogue with Real Talk
Join the Office of Diversity and Inclusion and Counseling and Prevention Services for Real Talk Intersection Dialogues. Engage in meaningful dialogues around various topics that impact identity, diversity, inclusion, equity and society. We welcome you to lean into discomfort and join in on the discussion.
Join us as we debrief the insurrection. We will host multiple sessions today (Wednesday, Jan. 13), and Thursday, Jan. 14. In order to access the Zoom platform, you must sign in prior to joining one of the sessions as an authenticated user. Sign up to attend a session at .
GRASP 2021 abstract submission closes Feb. 11
The Graduate School is now accepting abstract submissions for the 17th annual Graduate Research and Scholarly Projects (GRASP) Symposium. GRASP 2021 will be held on Blackboard again this year with video presentations open for WSU Community viewing starting on April 2. Please encourage your graduate students to take advantage of this opportunity to showcase their research. Abstract submission closes on Feb. 11.
Become a Microsoft Office Power User
Are you looking for a New Year's resolution? You can now become a WSU Microsoft Office Power User from your own desk. Attend a suite of ITS led Microsoft Office sessions earn a a digital credential (badge) through Acclaim. You will also come away with tons of new tips, tricks, and inspiration. All sessions are free for faculty and staff and are offered remotely. For training calendar and registration, visit myTraining.
For more information, and a list of your fellow Power Users, visit .
Toner replenishment program update
The toner replenishment program is now fully in place. All printers with a DEX MPS tag on the printer will receive an auto-replenishment of toner when your printer gets down to 30% toner life. If your printer was below 30% when the program went into effect, it will not auto-replenish. If this is the case for your printer, please call the phone number on the tag and tell the operator that you need toner; this will be a one-time process, all future orders will be automatic.
The operator will need the Equipment ID # on the label. The program also covers service and parts such as drum kits, fuser kits and toner collection units. When your printer notifies you that you need one of these parts, call the number on the label and order the part. At the end of each monthly cycle, you will receive an invoice from Central Services detailing your toner use for the month. You are only billed for toner use, nothing else. The detailed usage and rate per printer will give you the data you need to determine which printers should be replaced or taken out of service.
Please contact Ellen Abbey if you have any questions regarding this program or if you need assistance in ordering supplies: ellen.abbey@wichita.edu
Submit your holiday greetings requests to ITS telecommunications
Monday, Jan. 18, is a holiday, 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 wichita.edu/services/telecom. Choose 鈥淭elephone Request鈥� as the requested service, then choose 鈥淧rogramming鈥� 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 x3535 if you have any questions or need any assistance.