University Honors Former Presidents with Street Names

University Honors Former Presidents with Street Names
Dr. Franklyn Jenifer, who served as UT Dallas president from 1994 to 2005, and his wife, Alfleda, unveil the new street sign on campus bearing his name. Franklyn Jenifer Drive, formerly a section of Drive A, runs eastward from Waterview Parkway to Rutford Avenue.

UT Dallas celebrated the legacies of Dr. Franklyn Jenifer, Dr. Frank Johnson and Dr. Bryce Jordan by renaming three streets on campus after them. Franklyn Jenifer Drive is the new name for the section of Drive A that runs eastward from Waterview Parkway to Rutford Avenue.

The section of Drive L that runs eastward from Waterview Parkway to Drive H is now Frank Johnson Drive. Johnson, a distinguished space scientist, was one of the first individuals hired by Lloyd Berkner as he created the Graduate Research Center of the Southwest, the predecessor of UT Dallas. Johnson was acting president of UT Dallas from 1969 to 1971.

Jordan, the University’s first president, has been recognized with the renaming of the section of Lookout Drive that runs westward from Floyd Road to Parking Lot G. Read more

OIT Launches New Customer Service Tool Called Atlas

Atlas
The Office of Information Technology (OIT) has launched Atlas, a new IT service management tool from Cherwell. Through the website, faculty, staff and students can submit technology help requests, report outages, request a service through a service catalog and search for answers through a knowledge base. Use your NetID and password to log in.

Atlas includes many of OIT’s products and services — from Help Desk and installing VPN to resetting a voicemail PIN and more. It guides users through the request and submission process and allows users to help themselves and track the progress of their incidents and service requests. For more information, visit OIT’s Atlas page.

Benefits Enrollment Open Until July 31

The annual benefits enrollment period continues through Sunday, July 31. You can:

  • Make changes to your benefits
  • Enroll or re-enroll in UT FLEX (employees only; enrollment does not automatically renew)
  • Add or remove dependents from your coverage plan
Plan Changes for 2016-17
Highlights of the Plan Year 2016-2017 benefit changes have been announced. Visit the benefits website for more details. The UT System Office of Employee Benefits also features the changes in the A Matter of Health newsletter.

Enrollment Email
An email containing a summary of your coverage and a link to the annual enrollment website has been sent to all benefits-eligible employees. To enroll, log in to MyUTBenefits and follow the on-screen instructions to make your selections. You will receive an email confirming your changes in approximately 24 hours. If you don’t receive it, contact the benefits services staff in the UT Dallas Office of Human Resources at [email protected].

Enrollment must be completed before midnight on Sunday, July 31.

Dual Benefits Enrollment
If you are a new hire or became newly eligible for benefits between July 1, 2016, and Aug. 31, 2016, you will need to complete your initial benefits enrollment online for 2015-2016 first, and then your annual enrollment for 2016-2017. If you experienced a life event change, please contact a Benefits Administrator to complete your enrollment.

For assistance or more information, email the benefits services staff in the Office of Human Resources.

Volunteers Sought to Help Students Make the Move for Fall

Volunteers Sought to Help Students Make the Move for Fall
Staff and faculty are encouraged to be a part of the Move-In Crew. Help is needed from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Aug. 17-20.

Move-in days for the fall semester are right around the corner, and Residential Life needs staff volunteers to help roll out the “green and orange carpet” to welcome students and their families. Help is needed from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the following days:

  • Wednesday, Aug. 17 — Residence Hall West and Residence Hall South
  • Thursday, Aug. 18 — Residence Hall West and Residence Hall Southwest
  • Friday, Aug. 19 — Residence Hall North and Residence Hall Northwest
  • Saturday, Aug. 20 — Apartments Phases 1-9
Volunteers will greet students and their families as they arrive and help move their belongings into their new residences. Residential Life will provide volunteers with Move-In Crew T-shirts, water and lunch. Volunteers should consider wearing sunscreen, hats and sunglasses. To volunteer, email Residential Life coordinator Dakota McKee with the days you can help. Also, students moving into the residence halls and apartments will receive giveaway bags. If your department or program would like to contribute marketing items for the bags, email Kaytie Farrell.

Sign Up: Saving for Retirement Lunch-and-Learn

The UT Dallas Benefits team will host a lunch-and-learn on “Preparing Your Savings for Retirement” from noon to 1 p.m., Monday, Aug. 1, in Galaxy Rooms A and B (SU 2.602). Fidelity will present strategies for saving, investing and planning for retirement. Lunch will be provided. Registration is required.

Couples Daily Lives Study Seeks Participants

Dr. Karen J. Prager, professor of psychology and program head of gender studies, invites qualified people to participate in her Couples Daily Lives Study. This study will examine day-to-day positive and negative encounters within a couple’s relationship. Couples must be at least 20 years old and have been living together for at least six months.

Participants will schedule a 90-minute meeting with the study’s staff, during which they will complete questionnaires, watch a brief presentation and talk to each other for a video recording. Partners chosen for the study will fill out a 10-minute online checklist each evening for two weeks. Those who complete the study will receive $65. For more information or to participate, email [email protected].

Mobile Mammography Unit to Visit Campus Aug. 4

The UT Southwestern Mobile Mammography Unit will be on campus from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 4, at the Visual Art Studio (AS) loading zone, off Rutford Avenue and Drive D.

Faculty, staff and spouses may schedule mammogram appointments by calling 214-645-2560 or 866-277-0710. Have your health insurance information available when you call. Sponsored mammograms are available for patients without health care coverage. For question or concerns, email Nora Pena.

Topping Out: Parking Structure 4

Parking Structure 4

Last month, Facilities Management shared a new view of our growing campus from the top of Parking Structure 4 on its Facebook page. Scheduled to open for the fall semester, the University’s largest parking structure will have 1,150 parking spaces and two ramps — one for entering and one for exiting. For the latest information on campus construction, visit Pardon Our Progress.

Staff Has More Online Learning Opportunities

UT Dallas has partnered with Skillsoft to provide online courses, videos, digitized books, simulations and job aids that can help staff answer on-the-job questions, or be a part of a personal development plan. Topics include:

Business skills: Communication skills, leadership and management, professional effectiveness, strategy and innovation, and more.

Digital skills: Microsoft Office programs, graphics and design, operating systems, and more.

IT skills: Data and databases, cloud computing, security, web development, software design and more.

Certification preparation: ITIL, HRCI, Microsoft, CompTIA, Six Sigma, PMI, Scrum Alliance and more.

To access the content, go to the Skillsoft portal and log in with your NetID and password. More information is also available on the Human Resources Organizational Development and Training site.

New Exercise Class Available at SPN Wellness Center

The SPN Wellness Center has expanded its schedule of fitness classes to include cardio-boxing from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. on Thursdays in SPN 1.720. The center also offers weekly yoga on Mondays, U-Jam on Tuesdays and Zumba on Wednesdays from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. In addition, the center is open Monday through Friday from 5:30 to 7:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and 5 to 8 p.m. for faculty, staff and research assistants.

Reminders

Vote in Staff Council Elections
Voting for Staff Council district representatives continues through Friday, July 22. Vote today.

Sign up for Corporate Challenge
Registration is open for the 2016 Richardson Corporate Challenge, which begins Aug. 12. Through the Olympic-style competition, local companies and organizations raise money for Special Olympics Texas. Visit the Wellness website to download the sign-up sheet with this year’s list of events, which range from tennis and kickball to bowling and darts.

In an effort to increase UT Dallas donations to Special Olympics Texas, participants are asked to contribute $5 per T-shirt. Payment can be made in person at the Office of Administration (AD 2.410), or online through the UT Dallas Corporate Challenge donation page. For the online option, click the “Support UT Dallas” link in the top center of the page, and list your name rather than “anonymous” so your T-shirt payment can be recorded. One-time donations also can be made through the same link. All proceeds will benefit Special Olympics Texas.

Office of Research Seminars and Events

Organizational Development & Training