This change will allow Wichita SHRM to continue to provide high-quality programs and value.  Thank you for your continued support of Wichita SHRM. We look forward to serving you in the year ahead and providing valuable opportunities for professional growth and networking within the HR Community.

The 2024 Wichita SHRM Board

Wichita, KS, April 2023:  The Wichita Chapter SHRM Scholarship Fund is accepting applications from college or graduate students pursuing an HR-related degree or from HR professionals pursuing assistance with certification prep or state conference registration fees. The fund is managed by an four-member trustee board. 

Eligibility criteria for education scholarship:

1. Applicants shall have a junior or senior standing in undergraduate coursework or be a graduate student.
2. Applicants shall be enrolled in an accredited college or university with a human resource degree program(s) based in Wichita, Kansas and/or surrounding areas. 
3. Applicants shall have and maintain a minimum GPA of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale.
4. Applicants shall have a declared major in a Human Resource Management related field or be enrolled in a relevant graduate degree with an emphasis or focus on Human Resources.
5. Applicants shall have a demonstrated commitment and interest in Human Resources through one or more of the following:
   1. Involvement in campus and/or community service.
   2. Involvement in SHRM at the student or professional level.
   3. Description of work experience in a Human Resource-related area.
6. Optional: Submit a letter of recommendation from an advisor, professor, or employer.
7. Optional: Cover letter

Eligibility for SHRM Certification Prep Scholarship:

1. Applicants must be a member of Wichita SHRM.

2. Applicants shall have a demonstrated commitment and interest in Human Resources through one or more of the following:
   1. Involvement in campus and/or community service.
   2. Involvement in SHRM at the student or professional level.
   3. Description of work experience in a Human Resource related area.
3. Applicants must be actively working in a Human Resource-related area.

The grant of Scholarships will be made for Spring 2023. Applications are being accepted between now – April 11^th, 2022 – June 1^st, 2023.  The Board of Trustees will contact the recipients by June 10th, 2022.  The Board of Trustees has allocated three $1,000 Scholarships to be awarded in University Scholarships, two SHRM learning systems for certification and 1 KS State SHRM HR Conference registration for 2023 in Overland Park, KS. Interested individuals can find an application online at www.wichitashrm.org.  Completed application and materials should be emailed to SHRM Scholarship Fund at mtaylor@rui.org. 

Link to Scholarship  below: 

 scholarshipapplication_2023.docx

The Wichita Chapter SHRM Scholarship Fund is accepting applications from college or graduate students pursuing an HR-related degree or from HR professionals pursuing assistance with certification prep or state conference registration fees. The fund is managed by an eight-member trustee board. 

Eligibility criteria for education scholarship:

1. Applicants shall have a junior or senior standing in undergraduate coursework or be a graduate student.
2. Applicants shall be enrolled in an accredited college or university with a human resource degree program(s) based in Wichita, Kansas, currently including Friends University and Wichita State University.
3. Applicants shall have and maintain a minimum GPA of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale.
4. Applicants shall have a declared major in a Human Resource Management related field or be enrolled in a relevant graduate degree with an emphasis or focus on Human Resources.
5. Applicants shall have a demonstrated commitment and interest in Human Resources through one or more of the following:
1. Involvement in campus and/or community service.
2. Involvement in SHRM at the student or professional level.
3. Description of work experience in a Human Resource-related area.
6. Optional: Submit a letter of recommendation from an advisor, professor, or employer.
7. Optional: Cover letter

      Eligibility for SHRM Certification Prep Scholarship:

1. Applicants must be a member of Wichita SHRM.

2. Applicants shall have a demonstrated commitment and interest in Human Resources through one or more of the following:
1. Involvement in campus and/or community service.
2. Involvement in SHRM at the student or professional level.
3. Description of work experience in a Human Resource related area.
3. Applicants must be actively working in a Human Resource-related area.

The grant of Scholarships will be made for the Winter 2021. Applications are being accepted between now – Dec 10^th, 2021.  The Board of Trustees will contact the recipient by Dec 17^th, 2021.  The Board of Trustees has allocated $5,000 to be awarded in University Scholarships. Interested individuals can find an application online at www.wichitashrm.org.  Completed application and materials should be emailed to SHRM Scholarship Fund at lisa.clark2@hcahealthcare.com.

The proposed Wichita SHRM board slate for 2022 is as follows.

Volunteer to help at the Kansas SHRM State Conference. The Kansas SHRM Chapter with the most chapter members to sign up and complete volunteer hours at the conference will receive cash for the chapter. 

Sign up today! 

Sign up today to attend the McConnell AFB Job Fair. Open to all employers with potential employment opportunities.

When: Sept. 15, 10am-2pm

Location: Dole Community Center Ballroom, McConnell AFB

Cost: Free

Registration is required. Complete the attached registration form and submit by Sept. 10. 

Questions? Contact Dale Johnson or Stephanie Horocofsky with the McConnell Airman & Family Readiness Center at 316-759-6020

The SHRM Student Chapter Merit Award program encourages the development of more effective student chapters and distinguishes outstanding activities and projects. Chapters are recognized based on operations, chapter programming and professional development of members, support of the human resource profession, and SHRM engagement.

“The members of our SHRM student chapters represent the next generation of HR leaders, and it’s critical to highlight the instrumental role they play in SHRM’s success,” said Johnny C. Taylor, Jr., SHRM-SCP, SHRM president and CEO. “The hard work of Wichita State University shows the future of the profession is, indeed, in good hands. I applaud their accomplishments and ability to foster innovative programming, development and interest in HR as we navigate changing workplaces.”

SHRM student chapters have the opportunity to earn an award based on the number of activities they complete during the merit award cycle, the most recent one of which lasted from May 1, 2020, to April 30, 2021.

To be eligible for the free registration, register for and be present at the August 18 Wichita SHRM luncheon. You must be present to win. Sign up for the luncheon here today. 

Why June? The organizers chose this month to pay homage to the Stonewall uprising in New York City in 1969, an event that helped ignite the modern gay rights movement. In the early hours of June 28, 1969, police raided the Stonewall Inn, a gay bar in New York’s Greenwich Village and began throwing customers outside. Tensions quickly escalated as patrons resisted arrest and a growing crowd of bystanders threw bottles and coins at the officers. New York’s gay community erupted in neighborhood riot that went on for several days. The uprising became a catalyst for the gay rights movement as organizations such as the Gay Liberation Front and the Gay Activities Alliance were formed, modeled after the civils rights movement and the women’s rights movement. A year after the Stonewall riots, the nation’s first Gay Pride marches were held.

What do we know about the rainbow flag? In 1978, artist and designer Gilbert Baker was commissioned by San Francisco city supervisor Harvey Milk -- one of the first openly gay elected officials in the US -- to make a flag for the city's upcoming Pride celebrations. Baker, a prominent gay rights activist, gave a nod to the stripes of the American flag but drew inspiration from the rainbow to reflect the many groups within the gay community.

Today and every day, we stand in solidarity with our LGBTQ+ communities and celebrate PRIDE! Thank you for your courage, your strength, your tenacity, and your immense contributions to our country. As we celebrate, we also acknowledge there is still work for us all to do. Let us continue to work together to ensure that our work spaces, our organizations, our communities are those of equality, equity and inclusion.

The EXCEL award is given to SHRM state councils and chapters to recognize major accomplishments, strategic activities, and tactical initiatives that elevate the HR profession. 

“So much of SHRM’s positive impact on our workplaces can be traced back to the dedication of our chapters and state councils like Wichita SHRM. I’ve seen firsthand how these leaders drive meaningful changes to build workplaces where employers and employees can thrive together,” said Johnny C. Taylor, Jr., SHRM-SCP, president and chief executive officer of SHRM. “The Silver EXCEL Award not only honors Wichita SHRM’s accomplishments in 2020, but it’s also a testament to the hard work it took to get there.”

The EXCEL Award can be earned at four levels: bronze, silver, gold, and platinum. Each level has a prescribed set of requirements and accomplishments that must be met. Wichita SHRM will receive recognition in SHRM publications and at conferences, a logo to display on its website, and information to share with its members about the significance of this award.

Wichita SHRM was recognized for the following achievements in 2020:

• Transitioned to virtual programming to continue to safely provide professional development opportunities to members during a global pandemic. 
• Provided a diversity, equity and inclusion program to share best practices and real-world application from panelists representing organizations in our area, to help members consider what they can apply within their respective organizations. 
• Integrated the members of the South-Central Kansas Chapter of SHRM. 

We've missed seeing you! We are looking forward to returning to in-person programming for our luncheons starting in July. We will return to the WBC Event Venue at 6160 E. Central. Safety precautious include having food served, providing distanced seating, encouraging mask-wearing, and having hand-sanitizer available. 

We will continue to provide virtual programming on a periodic basis for those unable to attend the luncheons in person. We look forward to seeing you at an upcoming event! 

HRCI

HR programs/activities, such as podcasts, webinars, roundtable discussions, and other programs can be a minimum of 30 minutes in duration and receive 0.5 pre-approval credits. Sessions may be expanded in increments of 15 minutes of additional learning. A program that is 1 hour and 45 minutes would receive 1.75 recertification credits. 

Beginning in January of 2021, HRCI requires one ethics credit as part of the total 45/60 recertification credits requirement.  This requirement can be fulfilled by participating in an HRCI Ethics Course. The Pre-Approved Course Directory can be found by clicking the link below and visiting the HRCI site.

https://www.hrci.org/recertification/what-is-recertification/ethics-requirement

SHRM

SHRM has also made policy and system changes for recertification which include the following:

• Minimum timeframe for educational activities has been changed from 1 hour to 15 minutes. Each 15-minute increment is equal to .25 PDCs.
• Credit requirement for SHRM-approved books and e-books has been changed from reading the book and completing a quiz to reading the book and submitting a book report summarizing what you learned. Each book submission is worth 3 PDCs.
• PDC maximum for the Advance Your Organization category has been increased to 30, an additional work project option has been added, and work hours for each option have been adjusted. New work project options include:

10 PDCs for a work project involving 40+ hours of work.

20 PDCs for a work project involving 80+ hours of work.

30 PDCs for a work project involving 120+ hours of work.

• Activity codes will also be available now to redeem PDCs for SHRM sponsored volunteer activities. Activities can either be auto uploaded by SHRM or provided to the recipient for manual input.

PDCs for Covid-19 related Work

SHRM is also offering an opportunity to earn PDC credit for the work you do to support your organization’s or community’s 2021 COVID-19 response efforts. Work in this area qualifies as a 120+ work project and would allow you to earn 30 PDCs in the Advance Your Organization category. Please refer to the SHRM certification website for additional details, link is below.

https://www.shrm.org/certification/recertification/Pages/Recertification-At-a-Glance.aspx

The basket includes a wine rack, 3 bottles of wine, 2 stemless wine glasses, a white felt basket, cozy knit blanket, blue sage-wood soy candle, Ferrero chocolate and a wine opener. Valued at $180! 

Click here to donate: https://www.wichitashrm.org/donations/donate.asp?id=20012

Dec. 8-10

Jan. 26-28

Feb. 23-25

March 23-25

Email George Marko at gmarko@workforce-ks.com for more information or to register. 

Oct. 27-29 and Dec. 8-10

Email George Marko at gmarko@workforce-ks.com for more information or to register. 

Employer volunteers are needed for the Workforce Alliance of South Central Kansas's virtual mock interview/resume review session October 20 from 9am-12pm.

See additional information below.

If interested, contact Amanda Hill at ahill@workforce-ks.com or 316-771-6800.

Overview

The original Practice Makes Progress program began in March of 2019. Opportunities to participate in the program occurred twice a month, until the shutdown due to COVID-19 in March 2020. During that time, 186 job seekers have been served and 20 employers have participated.

The goal of the program is to connect job seekers and employers together for mutual benefit. If possible, job seekers are matched with an employer in their industry. Job seekers are then able to speak with actual employers and/or professionals to obtain feedback on their resumes and interviewing skills, allowing the job seekers an opportunity to make changes in their job search practices to become more successful in their job search. This practice has resulted in many job seekers walking away feeling more confident about their next interview or sending their resume off to the next employer.

Employers are also able to recruit the jobseekers. It is a great way to get an idea of who might be a good fit for your company and provides an opportunity to speak with possible applicants. Making this opportunity, a win-win for everyone involved. 

Since COVID-19 we have discontinued the program in person and are bringing it back virtually. The processes will look different, but our goal is still the same: to help job seekers become more employable, and to help employers find the right candidates, ultimately to improve our workforce and our economy.

Equipment Needed

• Computer
• Mic
• Webcam

• Zoom – Break out rooms

The SHRM student chapter merit award program encourages the development of more effective student chapters and distinguishes outstanding activities and projects. Chapters are recognized based on chapter operations, chapter programming and professional development of members, support of the human resource profession, and SHRM engagement.

“Today’s members of our student chapters are the HR leaders of tomorrow. They are the movers and shakers of the future, and we cannot understate the vital role they play in SHRM’s success,” said Johnny C. Taylor, Jr., SHRM-SCP, SHRM president and CEO. “The Wichita State University SHRM Chapter is evidence that the future of HR is, indeed, in good hands. I applaud their accomplishments and ability to fiercely move forward during a time of such change and uncertainty in the workplace.”

SHRM student chapters have the opportunity to earn an award based on the number of activities they complete during the merit award cycle, the most recent one of which lasted from April 1, 2019, to March 31, 2020.

JAG-K is committed to partnering with students to help them overcome identified barriers, graduate from high school, and prepare for college or career pathways that will help them reach their full potential as leaders for their families, employers, communities, Kansas, and our nation. JAG-K currently has programs in 41 Kansas school districts, serving more than 3,900 students each year.

For more information: www.jagkansas.org

On September 24, 2019 the Department of Labor issued the final Overtime Rule.   The final rule updates the earnings thresholds necessary to exempt executive, administrative, or professional employees from minimum wage and overtime pay requirements last issued in 2004.   

Under the new regulations the “standard salary level” increases to $684 per week which is equivalent to $35,568 per year (up from $455 per week under the old rule).  Employers can include nondiscretionary bonuses and incentive pay including commissions that are paid at least annually to satisfy up to 10% of the standard salary level. The total annual compensation limit for Highly Compensated Employees (HCE) increased from $100,000 to $107,432 per year.  Special rules apply to workers in US Territories and in the motion picture industry.

The final rules issued on September 24th will go into effect on January 1, 2020.  This gives employers 99 days to audit employee compensation and prepare for compliance.

For more information go to www.dol.gov.