University to Celebrate New Campus Spaces

Synergy Park and Science Buildings

Faculty and staff are invited to celebrate two campus additions: a ribbon-cutting and open house at Synergy Park North 2 and a groundbreaking ceremony for the new Science Building.

Tour the 79,000 square-foot space at SP2 (top) at its open house at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 6. Among the highlights are a 6,000-square-foot art gallery and the library’s aviation archives.

The Science Building groundbreaking will be at 11 a.m., Tuesday, Feb. 20, near the northeast corner of the Science Learning Center (SLC). The 186,000-square-foot building (bottom) will house the Department of Physics, the William B. Hanson Center for Space Sciences, and more.

Please RSVP to [email protected], specifying the event(s) you plan to attend.

Community Appreciation Day Features Comets Basketball

The Office of Administration and Department of Athletics invite faculty, staff and community members to Community Appreciation Day, beginning at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 17 in the Activity Center.

Enjoy complimentary lunch and giveaways as the Comets women’s and men’s basketball teams face East Texas Baptist University. Please RSVP with your name and the number of people in your group to [email protected] by Tuesday, Feb. 13.

OIT Retirements Reception

Ed Bennett and Kevin Brown

The Office of Information Technology will host a retirement reception for two departing employees with a combined 50 years of service to the University.

IT support specialist Ed Bennett (left) and application administrator Kavin E. Brown (right) will be recognized from 2 to 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 31, in the Founders Building Atrium. All staff and faculty are welcome. For more information, email Lacy Fenn.

Online Option for 1095-C Form

Form 1095-C will be available on or before March 2 to all 2017 full-time employees, employees who averaged 30 or more hours per week, and others enrolled in the UT Select Medical Plan. The form includes information about the health insurance coverage offered to employees, retirees and their dependents. To access the form, which will be available online Feb. 12, provide consent by Feb. 2 through the single sign-on Equifax portal. If you do not consent, your form will be mailed on or before March 2. You do not need to wait for the form to file your taxes. However, you may want to have 1095-C on file for your records.

If you have any questions, email [email protected], contact the Employee Benefits Team, or visit the IRS website or the UT System Office of Employee Benefits website.

Group Training for UTD Giving Day

Comets Giving Day

The Office of Development and Alumni Relations will conduct hourlong training sessions on Thursday, Feb. 1 and Wednesday, Feb. 7 for groups participating in this year’s Comets Giving Day.

Comets Giving Day is Tuesday, April 3. If you are part of a group that wants to participate, email [email protected] and request either training day.
The Feb. 1 training sessions will be in SPN 2.120. New groups should arrive at 2:30 p.m. Past participants will be trained at 3:45 p.m.
The Feb. 7 presentations will be in DGA 1.135. The first-timers’ class will be at 9 a.m.; the newcomers’ at 10:30 a.m. A group only needs to attend only one session.

Assessing the Needs of the LGBTQ Community

The School of Interdisciplinary Studies’ Gender Studies ProgramGalerstein Gender Center and Office of Diversity and Community Engagement are sponsoring a presentation on assessing the needs of Texas’ LGBTQ community from 5:30 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 8, in the CTL Seminar Room (MC 2.404). Drs. Kara Sutton and Richard Scotch will describe key findings and discuss implications for improving services. For more information, email Lauren DeCillis.

Cleaning Supply Drive

Cleaning Supply Drive

Throughout February, the Office of Student Volunteerism will collect cleaning supplies for foster youth in the CitySquare Transition Resource Action Center program. Sponges, hand soap, paper towels and detergent are especially needed. Donation boxes are in the OSV Office (SSA 14.431T), the Administration Building second-floor lobby near the elevators, the Student Union first-floor lobby, the lobby in Residence Hall North, and the ECS Student Services Office (ECSS 2.502).

Media Services Tip: Projection Screen Cleaning

In the fall semester, dry-erase markers left their mark on several projection screens. Media Services recommends that the eraser not be used to clean off the marks as it leaves a black smear that cannot be removed. If you accidentally mark on the screen instead of the whiteboard, contact Media Services at ext. 4900 for assistance. For more information, email Ryan Arnold.

Creating a Diverse and Inclusive Learning Environment

The Office of Diversity and Community Engagement and the Center for Teaching and Learning invite faculty to the interactive workshop, “Creating a Diverse and Inclusive Learning Environment,” from noon to 1 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 6, in the McDermott Library (MC 2.404).
Lunch will be provided. Register here by Thursday, Feb. 1. Seating is limited to 50 attendees. For more information or special accommodations, email [email protected].

UT System Heart Walk Will Be Feb. 9

Faculty and staff are invited to a UT System-wide 10-minute Heart Walk at 10 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 9. Meet at the Plinth and join a walk to increase awareness of heart disease. Groups will also meet outside the SPN main entrance, at the Brain Performance Institute lobby and the Callier Center Dallas lobby. For inquiries about walking at the Center for Vital Longevity, email Vivian Brockwell.

Wellness Lunch-and-Learn on Hypertension

The Office of Administration and Employee Wellness will host a lunch-and-learn on “Hypertension: Causes, Symptoms, & Treatments,” at noon on Friday, Feb. 9, in Galaxy Rooms A & B (SU 2.602). Dr. Angela Price, assistant professor of internal medicine at UT Southwestern Medical Center, will discuss new health guidelines and ways to reduce the risk for hypertension. To reserve lunch, RSVP to [email protected] by Tuesday, Feb. 6.

Interpreting Teaching Evaluations Workshop

The Center for Teaching and Learning invites faculty to its workshop, “Interpreting Student Teaching Evaluations,” from noon to 1 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 15, in the McDermott Library (MC 2.404). Register here by Feb. 9. Seating is limited to 50 attendees. For more information or special accommodations, email [email protected].

Unlocking Research Funding Workshop

The Office of Research, Office of Graduate Studies and Eugene McDermott Library will co-host “Unlocking Research Money: Finding Grant and Fellowship Funding Today,” from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 13, in MC 2.524. This class is open to students, faculty and staff. It will include a demonstration of Pivot, a database for researchers seeking funding. To register, email Stephanie Isham.

Meeting on Changes Made by Institutional Review Board

The Office of Research Compliance will host a session on upcoming changes in Institutional Review Board processes and procedures at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 14, in the McDermott Library (MC 2.404). This session will cover the new definition of clinical trials, five-year renewals of training requirements, and new protocol submission portals.

IRB Protocol Workshops

The Institutional Review Board offers informal workshops on applications or protocols for IRB review, amendments, or annual renewals of their projects. Walk-ins are encouraged. The next workshops are from 10 a.m. to noon on Thursday, Feb. 1, in ATC 3.225; and from 10 a.m. to noon on Friday, Feb. 12, in BSB 11.302. Check the Research event calendar for later workshop dates.

Intercollegiate Recycling Competition

From Feb. 4 to March 31, the University will participate in RecycleMania, a nationwide competition and benchmarking tool for colleges to promote recycling on campus. To request additional recycling or paper shredding bins, email [email protected]. Ink cartridges and toners can be recycled in the designated collection bins across campus to benefit the Staff Council Scholarship Fund.

Reminders

Police Department Offers Self-Defense Classes
The UT Dallas Police Department will offer free Rape Aggression Defense classes for women throughout the year. Class size is limited, so registration is required. The next classes for women are Feb. 20-21. For additional information, email Cpl. Somer Fernandez.

Training Opportunities
A variety of professional development classes hosted by the Office of Human Resources, eLearning, Financial Management, Information Security, OIT, PeopleSoft, Procurement and Employee Wellness are available for free to faculty and staff. To view available trainings and enroll, log on to Galaxy and click the LEO link.

About This Newsletter

Intercom is the official University-wide newsletter for UT Dallas faculty and staff members. This periodic publication is designed to provide University employees with important information necessary for the workplace, as well as community news that supports the University's mission. Guidelines about content and submissions can be found here or contact Stephen Fontenot at [email protected] or ext. 4405.