Category: Faculty and Staff Resources

The Office of Student Accommodations and Testing would like to remind all instructors to submit the Test Information Form for students utilizing its office for exams and quizzes. Timely submission is crucial for students to schedule their appointments, so submit TIFs as soon as possible. This form is used for make-up exams and accommodated exams.

And remind your students that all exams require an appointment. Students must schedule their exams through RegisterBlast.com/wsu.

For any testing related questions, contact OSAT at testing.center@wichita.edu or call 316-978-8378.

Dr. Susan Castro, philosophy and Dr. Nils Hakansson, biomedical engineering, are spearheading the launch of a new faculty research club starting at 2 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 28 in 262 RSC, Herrman Room, in partnership with the Office of Faculty Advancement, Retention, and Excellence (FARE). The goal of the FARE Faculty Research Collaborative is to catalyze interdisciplinary research partnerships among WSU faculty.

Each month, faculty from across campus will gather to hear three-minute talks from three colleagues and will have an opportunity to ask questions and contribute to the project through their own disciplinary lenses and networks. Snacks and drinks will be provided.

Those who attend at least 50% of the collaboratives will receive a letter of participation to include in their FAAR.

September’s gathering will be 2-3:15 p.m. Sept. 24 (meetings will be at 2 p.m., alternating between Wednesday and Thursday)

August presenters:

• Dr. Susan Castro, associate professor of philosophy – “WSU Research Affiliation Groups: HealthHum and AI”
• Dr. Yuanyuan Gao, assistant professor of biomedical engineering – “Optical Instrumentation Design for Neuroimaging”
• Dr. Abdulaziz Abubshait, assistant professor of psychology – “Should Robots be Social?”

The ShockerStrengths Initiative provides “Discover Your Strengths” workshops and activities that are a great plug in option for your courses this semester. Through First Year Seminars to capstone courses, it can help connect students with their top five CliftonStrengths, connect to your course content and encourage students to leverage their strengths academically, personally and professionally.

All workshops include the inventories and materials.

For more information and to request the inventory or a workshop, visit the ShockerStrengths website.

Leo Wetta, investment adviser representative with Voya Financial, will be available for in-person meetings at Wichita State Monday, Aug. 25. Faculty and staff can get one-on-one advising and review their Voya Financial accounts as part of their KBOR retirement plan.

If you are interested in meeting with Leo, you can schedule a time to meet. Time slots are limited, so reserve a time soon. For questions, you can call Voya Financial Advisors at 316-686-2428.

The table below is to assist instructors with certain dates regarding CES. The dates shown are for the fall 2025 semester.

• The first column includes the various start/end (part-of-term) dates for fall semester courses.
• The second column includes dates meant for instructors. This is the timeframe when instructors will receive emails about the CES process and procedures that they should complete. Instructors will receive additional emails during and after the student CES access dates.
• The last column includes the dates that CES will be available for the students to complete course evaluations.

If your course is in bold, then your fall 2025 CES evaluation process will start soon. Review the start/end dates in each column so you know when your access to the CES system will start and end.

The Shocker Teaching Community of Practice is available for all who teach at WSU (tenured, tenure-track and non-tenure track faculty, adjunct faculty, GTAs, etc.). The Shocker Teaching Community of Practice, rooted in the Student Experience Project created by the Association of Public & Land-Grant Universities and the Coalition of Urban-Serving Universities, provides a monthly gathering space for community members to learn about, implement and reflect on the core components of student success that can be implemented in teaching practices. The Shocker Teaching Community of Practice will gather on the last Wednesday of the month at 2 p.m.

For questions or more information about the Shocker Teaching Community of Practice, contact Brett Bruner, assistant vice president for Student Success & Persistence, at brett.bruner@wichita.edu.

The Office of Faculty Advancement, Retention, and Excellence (FARE) will hold a two-day Class Prep Sprint for faculty to prepare for the semester starting. FARE will provide coffee, bagels, snacks and camaraderie. Sign up now to let FARE know to expect you to prepare enough refreshments.

• When: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday, Aug. 4 and Tuesday, Aug. 5. Participate for half-days or whole days. There will be a lunch break from noon to 1 p.m. Bring your lunch so that you can spend that time getting to know your colleagues, if you’d like.
• Where: Wichita State Connect, rooms 106 and 107
• What: In one room, there will be a quiet space for working on your class prep. In the room next door, you can either choose to participate in Academic Resource Conference sessions, discuss plans with colleagues or get advice from Office of Instructional Resources staff or FARE coordinator Dr. Debby Hinsdale, a curriculum specialist.

To pre-schedule time to consult with Office of Instructional Resources staff, fill out the request form here.

The Faculty Ombuds program offers a confidential, impartial and informal space to talk through workplace concerns. Whether it’s a conflict, a policy question, or just something that doesn’t feel right, the ombuds are here to help you think it through.

The State Employee Health Plan (SEHP) Open Enrollment period is from Oct. 1-31 for benefits effective Jan. 1, 2026. If you wish to receive a printed copy of the Open Enrollment Guide from SEHP, be sure to submit your request by July 31 by clicking the request link through SEHP and completing the request form. 

Be on the look out for future communication in WSU Today from the Total Rewards team with information and reminders about enrolling for your 2026 SEHP coverages.

The Office of Strategic Communications will offer headshot photos to WSU faculty and staff at no additional charge. These opportunities are quick and walk-in only without needing to schedule an appointment.

The next headshot photo event is from 9 to 11 a.m. Aug. 6 in 266 Rhatigan Student Center, Pike Room.

Additional dates will be announced in the future.

Learn more about headshots and what to expect at wichita.edu/headshots.