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Communication for the staff and faculty of
The University of Texas at Dallas |
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Wednesday, January 30, 2019 |
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Gear Up for Comets Giving Day at Training Sessions
Last year’s Comets Giving Day was a huge success — 40 campus groups helped UT Dallas raise nearly $400,000 in just 18 hours. The Office of Development and Alumni Relations is ready to make Comets Giving Day 2019 an even bigger success for our campus community. Mark your calendars for UT Dallas’ biggest giving day to date: Tuesday, April 2.
If you are interested in participating for the first time, please attend new group training at 9 a.m., Thursday, Feb. 7, or 2 p.m., Monday, Feb. 11.
Groups that participated in Comets Giving Day 2018 are invited to attend returning group training at 10:30 a.m., Thursday, Feb. 7, or 3:30 p.m., Monday, Feb. 11.
If you want to participate but are unable to attend the sessions, please email Brennae Benda.
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Co-Workers to Walk for Heart Health on Feb. 8
Join the 10-minute UT System-wide walk for heart health. Meet at 10 a.m., Friday, Feb. 8, at the Margaret McDermott Trellis Plaza or join groups walking at:
Participants will receive a heart-healthy pin as a reminder to love your heart every day.
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New Tech Tool Benefits People with Visual Impairments
The Division of Student Affairs and the Office of Information Technology are partnering to provide access to Fusion, an assistive technology resource for individuals with visual impairments.
Fusion’s features include:
- JAWS (Job Access With Speech) screen reading.
- ZoomText screen magnification — up to 60 times.
- Screen and cursor enhancements.
- Eloquence and Vocalizer Expressive speech synthesizer.
- Instant access to any JAWS customization already in place.
- Screen tracking synchronized with speech and Braille.
Fusion is available on OIT-supported computers and labs, as well as in the McDermott Library. It is also available for use by all departments on campus.
Department use: Please submit an Atlas ticket at atlas.utdallas.edu for assistance in connecting to the Fusion server.
Home use: Students, faculty, or staff may submit an Atlas ticket at atlas.utdallas.edu for assistance with installation and registration.
For more information, visit OIT’s website or contact the OIT Help Desk at [email protected] or ext. 2911.
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UTD Earns Tree Campus USA Designation
UT Dallas was honored with 2018 Tree Campus USA recognition by the Arbor Day Foundation for its commitment to effective urban forest management.
The Tree Campus USA program honors colleges and universities for effective campus forest management and for engaging staff and students in conservation goals. Some 364 campuses across the U.S. have this recognition.
UT Dallas achieved the title by meeting Tree Campus USA’s five standards: maintaining a tree advisory committee, a campus tree-care plan, dedicated annual expenditures for its campus tree program, an Arbor Day observance and a student service-learning project.
“UT Dallas has about 7,000 trees on campus that provide shade for our students, improve our air quality, provide habitat to fauna and enhance the aesthetic of campus. This recognition as a Tree Campus USA affirms our commitment to preserve and grow our tree canopy as we aim to be a good steward of the environment,” said Gary Cocke, associate director for sustainability and energy conservation.
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Research is Accepting Submissions for Seed Grant Initiatives
The Office of Research is piloting several seed grant initiatives for faculty research. While each program is designed to support different opportunities, they all share the goal of growing quality and quantity of research and scholarly activities at UT Dallas.
Full program details, including eligibility requirements and expenditure guidelines, are available on the Internal Funding page. Submissions will be accepted starting Feb. 1.
For more information, please email Suzanne Head or Sanaz Okhovat.
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Student Success Director to Lead Learning Center Association
Dr. Ne’Shaun Jones, director of the Student Success Center and Testing Center, has been named the founding vice president for the Texas College Learning Center Association (TCLCA), an affiliate of the National College Learning Center Association (NCLCA).
The NCLCA approved TCLCA’s application as an affiliate in December. The TCLCA will promote professional standards in the field of learning assistance in Texas while developing services available in learning centers that enhance student learning.
“This is very exciting for Texas. We have so many colleges and universities that could benefit from professional development, implementation of best practices, research and resources,” Jones said.
NCLCA assists in creating and enhancing learning centers and programs that reinforce student learning and enhance student academic success, retention and completion rates. It also provides opportunities for professional development, networking and idea exchange through conferences, workshops, institutes and publications.
Michael Frizell, immediate past president and liaison for affiliates, said expansion of the affiliate program into Texas is “exciting for the profession as a whole.”
“The state of Texas has a thriving network of learning center professionals. The work of TCLCA will add a lot to the growing scholarship surrounding the development of learning centers,” Frizell said.
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Gender Studies Lecture Set for Jan. 31
UT Dallas’ Gender Studies program, Galerstein Gender Center and the Office of Diversity and Community Engagement will host “It’s More Than Male and Female: Fostering Gender Identity Diversity & Inclusion in Work Environments” from 5:30-7 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 31 (MC 2.402).
Guest speaker Dr. Ellen Greenwald, assistant professor at UT Southwestern Medical Center, will present current scientific and cultural knowledge of gender identity and expression, and will speak about the ways in which corporate/professional cultures are evolving to be more inclusive and diverse.
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Annual University Golf Tournament Benefits Student Scholarships
Faculty and staff are invited to the 26th Annual Scholarship Golf Tournament on Friday, April 26, at Firewheel Golf Park in Garland. The tournament and its related auction support three University scholarships:
The Betty and Gifford Johnson Graduate Endowment, which helps graduate students attend and make presentations at national conferences.
The Patti Henry Pinch Undergraduate Endowment, which assists undergraduates with research and travel expenses.
The Academic Bridge Scholarship Endowment, which provides advising, mentoring and tutoring to first-generation college students.
Register as a team or sponsor. For more information, please contact the Office of Facilities & Economic Development at [email protected] or ext. 2213.
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Office of Research Seminars and Events
Grantsmanship 101 featuring Lucy Deckard, 9-11 a.m., Thursday, Feb. 7 (FA 2.206): Join grants consultant Lucy Deckard as she explains the grants process. Seating is first come, first seated. For additional information, please email Emily Lacy or call ext. 4572.
Participating in Consulting & Advisory Boards, 10-11 a.m., Wednesday, Feb. 13 (MC 2.404): Learn about the benefits and challenges of engaging with industrial partners as a consultant or advisory board member. Office of Research representatives will discuss standard agreements and compensation packages, UT System rules and regulations that apply to consulting and the risks such engagements create for your research and other responsibilities to UTD. Registration is required for attendance. For more information, email Tiffany Willoughby or call ext. 4577.
Quenching Curiosity: What’s Love Got to Do With It?, 7-9 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 13 (Northside Drafthouse and Eatery): Developmental psychologist Dr. Joanna Gentsch will lead a discussion of the mechanisms underlying why people feel what they feel and do what they do when it comes to lust and love. This event is free and open to the public. For more information, please email Gregory Hearns or call ext. 3539.
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Training and Professional Development Classes
The Office of Organizational Development and Training offers a variety of classes throughout the year. Here are a few coming up:
- Office Etiquette - The Platinum Rule, 10 a.m., Monday, Feb. 11 (AD 3.108): If you are interested in promoting a more positive and cohesive environment, sign up for this class.
- Emotional Intelligence: A New Standard of Success for Today's Workplace, 10 a.m.-noon, Thursday, Feb. 14 (AD 3.108): This course introduces the concept of emotional intelligence and provides opportunities to assess your skill sets and offers ways to improve.
- The 4 Disciplines of Execution, 2-4 p.m., Monday, Feb. 18 (AD 3.108): Learn how to overcome the daily grind that keeps leaders and teams from executing programs that drive real change.
For a complete listing of classes, visit Comet Calendar.
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Library Events
The Eugene McDermott Library offers a variety of events and workshops throughout the year. Here are a few coming up:
- Library Tour, 1-1:45 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 30 and Friday, Feb. 1 (Information Desk): Learn about the history, resources and services on each floor.
- Unlocking Research Money: Finding Grant and Fellowship Funding Today, 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 5 (MC 2.524): Learn how to use Pivot, a ProQuest COS database, to find funding opportunities.
- Mango Languages, 11 a.m.-noon, Tuesday, Feb. 12 (MC 2.524): Learn how to use Mango, an online language learning software that offers 71 different languages along with specialty courses in culture and etiquette.
For a complete listing of events, visit Comet Calendar.
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Reminder
RSVP for Free Lunch, Games at Community Appreciation Day
The Office of Facilities & Economic Development and the Department of Athletics invite faculty, staff and community members to Community Appreciation Day on Saturday, Feb. 9 in the Activity Center.
Enjoy complimentary lunch and giveaways, and cheer for your Comet women's and men's basketball teams as they take on UT Tyler. Tipoff for the women's game is 1 p.m. The men’s game starts at 3 p.m.
Parking will be available in Lot J and Parking Structure 4 in all but the purple spaces.
RSVP with your name and number of people in your group to [email protected] by Tuesday, Feb. 5.
Join Campus Conversation on Unconscious Bias
Learn how to recognize and mitigate personal blind spots at a workshop on unconscious bias from leaders of Deloitte’s North Texas Inclusion Council.
The Office of Diversity and Community Engagement will host the interactive workshop from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 7, in the Naveen Jindal School of Management Executive Dining Room (JSOM 1.118).
The event will explore how unconscious bias can impact interactions and help us recognize how our actions and behaviors may have unintended consequences. Increase your understanding of how we each experience the world at this session focused on raising awareness and starting a conversation. Lunch will be provided. Register here.
Comet Cupboard Can Opener Drive
More than 250 students use the Comet Cupboard each week, but many do not own a can opener, which limits the items students can select from the pantry. Throughout January, help the Office of Student Volunteerism (OSV) collect new or gently used, nonelectric can openers for the Comet Cupboard. Collection bins are located in the OSV office (SSA 14.431T), the Administration Building near the second-floor elevator, the Student Union lobby and Residence Hall North (RHN).
Volunteers Needed for Explore Engineering Day 2019
The Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science is hosting its annual Explore Engineering Day on Saturday, Feb. 16, as part of 2019 National Engineers Week. The event will provide a variety of Tech Talks, demonstrations, tours and other interactive sessions from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at ECSW, ECSN and ECSS.
Volunteers are needed to assist K-12 students, their families, school leaders and other community attendees. Shifts are available in the morning and afternoon and are open to faculty, staff and current students. Sign up through iVolunteer.
For more information, email Kathryn Owens or call ext. 4479.
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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 Robert Tracy at [email protected] or ext. 3521. |
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