University Golf Tournament to Benefit Student Scholarships

Faculty and staff are invited to the 25th Annual UT Dallas Scholarship Golf Tournament, to be held Friday, April 27, at Firewheel Golf Park in Garland. Proceeds benefit the Betty and Gifford Johnson Graduate, Patti Henry-Pinch Undergraduate and Academic Bridge scholarship endowments.

The scholarships help undergraduates with research and travel expenses, allow graduate students to present their work at national conferences and help smooth the transition for first-generation college students. Past proceeds have helped raise these endowments to over $613,000. For more information, see the tournament registration page, or call the Office of Administration at 972-883-2213.

Also, The Practice Tee will host UT Dallas Day from 5:15 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 10. Students, faculty and staff are invited to enjoy free refreshments and the use of the facility’s putting green, par-3 course and driving range. Golf clubs will be provided.

Comets Giving Day is Next Week

Comets Giving Day: April 3, 2018

On Tuesday, April 3, join the many alumni, students, faculty, staff and friends for the second annual Comets Giving Day.

During the 18-hour event, you can make a gift and promote the event online, as well as participate in on-campus activities to support the University programs most important to you.

You can further the impact of gifts made on Comets Giving Day by serving as a digital ambassador and participating in matching and challenge funds on our website.

Regardless of how you promote Comets Giving Day, please use #COMETogetherUTD and #UTDGivingDay when posting on social media.

For more information, email Brennae Wright.

Women in Engineering Panel on Space and Aviation

The Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science and Galerstein Gender Center will present “Celebrating the Future of Space and Aviation,” a Women in Engineering Panel at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 29, in the Edith O'Donnell Arts and Technology Building’s lecture hall (ATC 1.102). Tracy Drain, deputy chief Engineer for NASA’s JUNO mission to Jupiter, will present on the central topic, followed by a Q-and-A session with Drain and three other panelists. The event is free to attend, but tickets are required. For more information, email Anricka Ziller.

CVL Lecture Features Neuroscience Professor, PBS Host

Dr. Adam Gazzaley

The Center for Vital Longevity will host “Technology Meets Neuroscience — A Vision of the Future of Brain Optimization,” a lecture with Dr. Adam Gazzaley at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, April 24, at the Communities Foundation of Texas, 5500 Caruth Haven Lane in Dallas.

Gazzaley is a professor of neurology, physiology and psychiatry at the University of California, San Francisco, and he wrote and hosted the PBS special, “The Distracted Mind with Dr. Adam Gazzaley.”

This fifth annual Jean and Bill Booziotis Distinguished Public Lecture is free, but registration is required.

Sexual Assault Survivor, Author to Lecture on Hope and Healing

The Office of Student Affairs will welcome Monika Kørra, author of Kill the Silence, for a lecture and Q&A session on how she turned the tragedy of her assault into a message of hope and healing. This event will be held at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, April 10, in the SSA Auditorium (SSA 13.330). Entry is free, but seating is limited to 500 attendees. Her book will be available for purchase. For more information, email Tricia Losavio.

Celebrate Earth Week

Earth Week

The Office of Student Volunteerism and the Office of Sustainability will celebrate Earth Week April 16-20 with interactive and educational events. All events are on campus and open to students, faculty and staff.

Highlights include a Sustainability in Research Panel Discussion at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, April 18, in TI Auditorium (ECSS 2.102) and the Earth Fair at 11 a.m. on Thursday, April 19, at the Plinth, featuring booths, giveaways and Dining Services’ Pop Up Farmers Market.

CTL Lecture, Workshop on Teaching While Learning

The Center for Teaching and Learning invites faculty to its workshop, “Teaching on the Edge,” from noon to 1 p.m. on Wednesday, April 11, in the McDermott Library (MC 2.410). Dr. Therese Huston, founder of the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning at Seattle University, will discuss the dynamics of covering subject matter beyond the scholarly areas with which instructors are most familiar. RSVP by noon on Friday, April 6. Seating is limited to 100 attendees. Lunch will be provided. For more information or special accommodations, email [email protected].

Spring Wellness Challenge: Keep UT System Active

UT System Active

Employee Wellness invites faculty and staff to join this spring’s UT Systemwide wellness challenge, Keep UT System Active. Earn points by tracking your steps, sleep and water consumption. The challenge runs April 2-29 during which you can help UT Dallas compete for the traveling trophy and earn Living Well rewards such as a cooling towel and a running belt. Registration is open through April 9.

Hygiene Item Charity Drive

Throughout April, the Office of Student Volunteerism will collect hygiene items for the Human Rights Initiative, a nonprofit that assists immigrant victims of violence living below the poverty line. OSV seeks unopened, full-sized hygiene items. Shampoo, toothpaste, lotion, body wash and feminine hygiene items are especially needed. Donation boxes are in the OSV Office (SSA 14.431T), the Administration Building’s second-floor lobby near the elevators, the Student Union first-floor lobby, the Residence Hall North lobby and the ECS Student Services Office (ECSS 2.502).

IRB Training Session: Panel on Research Involving Minors

The Office of Research Compliance will present an Institutional Review Board protocol assistance workshop on Research with Minors at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, April 11, in the McDermott Library (MC 2.404). Experienced researchers will cover regulatory requirements, institutional policies, study procedures and considerations for recruitment or obtaining consent when conducting research with children. Registration is required.

Lunch-and-Learn: Relaxation and Stress Reduction

Employee Wellness invites faculty and staff to a Relaxation and Stress Reduction Lunch and Learn by David Mora, MA, LPC-S, EAP Specialist, from noon to 1 p.m. on Friday, April 20, in Galaxy Rooms A and B (SU 2.602). Learn healthy and effective relaxation techniques to manage day-to-day stress. Space is limited to 100 participants; register online to reserve your spot. For more information, email Nora Pena.

Reminders

Movie Viewing to Raise Awareness of Free Assault Exam Program
In recognition of Sexual Assault Awareness month, the Student Health Center and Turning Point Rape Crisis Center will host a viewing of The Hunting Ground at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, April 10, in the SSA Auditorium (SSA 13.330). The viewing supports the launch of the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner program, which will offer free sexual assault exams to current faculty, staff and students.

Relieve Stress with Yoga and Tai Chi
As part of the Employee Wellness stress-management series, join fitness instructors James Clark and Elaine Pendleton from noon to 1 p.m. on Monday, April 16, in Galaxy Rooms A and B (SU 2.602) for yoga and tai chi. Healthy snacks and refreshments will be provided. RSVP to [email protected] by Thursday, April 12.

HR Notice on Approved Retirement Providers, Unsolicited Emails
The Office of Human Resources Benefits Services team would like to remind you that the UT System has five approved retirement providers with which you can invest your ORP, UTSaver TSA, and UTSaver DCP contributions. Representatives or agents of approved retirement vendors are required to sign and comply with the Retirement Program Sales Solicitation Agreement. Unapproved agents and providers should not be contacting you by email or phone at work. For more information, contact the HR-Benefits team at [email protected].

Financial Wellness Webinars Offered
TIAA, a UT System retirement vendor, is offering free Financial Wellness Education Webinars to all employees through Thursday, April 12. Sign up for a session at www.tiaa.org/webinars.

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.