MavWire 2015 Archive » MavWire — Thursday, February 5, 2015

Green approach: The Green at College Park, which functions as an ecological water detention system and large-scale rain garden, is one of numerous sustainability projects at UT Arlington.

UTA launches new Institute for Sustainability and Global Impact

UT Arlington has strengthened its commitment to creating sustainable urban communities through the new Institute for Sustainability and Global Impact. 

The program follows a successful period within the Office of Sustainability, which has received national recognition from the Environmental Protection Agency for UT Arlington’s efforts to reduce food waste. The office also implemented a new car-sharing program, began the first Global Reporting Initiative report as a Sustainability Action Plan, and in 2011 helped launch The Green at College Park, the first certified Sustainable Sites Initiative landscape.

The move is aligned with the University’s Strategic Plan 2020, which aims to enhance quality of life by developing more sustainable communities that focus on the natural, built, economic, cultural, and social environments. It also unifies and integrates environmental improvement approaches across campus.

Meghna Tare will lead the institute as an executive director and will oversee the strategic planning and day-to-day operations. Since 2010, she has served as director of the Office of Sustainability, which will transition into the new institute and eventually move from Preston Hall to a new location on campus.

Read more about the Institute for Sustainability and Global Impact.

Dr. Naomi Cleghorn

Anthropologist awarded prestigious Leakey Foundation grant to research early humans in South Africa

Anthropologist Naomi Cleghorn has been awarded a grant from the prestigious Leakey Foundation that will enable her to research early humans in South Africa.

Dr. Cleghorn, assistant professor of anthropology, will lead a team of researchers and students this summer to a site near Knysna, South Africa, on the southern coast of the continent. She believes the site dates to a rarely represented time period—between 44,000 and 18,000 years ago—and holds never-before-seen evidence of early human evolution.

The funding will allow Cleghorn’s team to sift through yards of dirt—similar to an ancient landfill—that likely contain shellfish remains and other trash left over from the inhabitants of that time period. She believes additional sites in the area also may hold similar findings, but today they are underwater. 

“This Leakey award is acknowledgement of how important this site is going to be,” Cleghorn says. “There’s nothing else down there like this. I’m amazed it wasn’t dug previously. The Leakey Foundation recognizes this is worth investing in.”

Scholars have evidence that the South African coastline extended 47 miles farther south more than 20,000 years ago. The Knysna site sits on a shelf that would have overlooked a larger community of humans living closer to the shore.

Read more about Cleghorn's research.

Dr. Weidong Zhou

Army Research Office grant will stimulate nanoscale-related research and manufacturing

Weidong Zhou, professor of electrical engineering, will use an Army Research Office grant to purchase a micro-optics assembly and characterization system that will usher in more intricate nanoscale-related research and manufacturing in the College of Engineering.

Dr. Zhou, who specializes in nanophotonic devices and nanotechnology manufacturing, is the principal investigator on the $298,770 grant. Yuze (Alice) Sun, assistant professor in electrical engineering, is co-principal investigator.

“We need the piece of equipment to be more accurate in our projects and assemblies related to nanoscale dimensions,” Zhou says. “The next big frontier is integrating electronic devices like circuit boards with nanotechnology and photonics to increase capacity and speed, and eventually reduce cost. This equipment helps us do that.”

The grant is part of the Army Research Office’s Research and Education Program for Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Minority-Serving Institutions. UT Arlington became a Hispanic-Serving Institution last year by meeting all U.S. Department of Education requirements. The status makes the University eligible for federal grants supporting institutions with large numbers of Hispanic students.

Read more about Zhou's nanophotonic research.

What's for dinner?: Daily displays of food options in the Connection Café are among improvements made to dining services based on student feedback to the Food Services Task Force Committee.

New services enhance dining experience

A wider variety of dining choices and payment options are available for grabbing a bite on campus.

The changes are a direct result of feedback from student surveys collected last semester and recommendations from the Food Services Task Force Committee, comprised of students, administrators, and representatives from Aramark, which manages dining services on campus.

“Pricing structure was a common theme in discussion while the task force met,” Loan Ho, Student Congress president, says. “It is great that we were able to get to a consensus about mid-meal pricing in the Connection Café, and I think most students will be happy about that.”

Mid-morning and mid-day pricing has been added at the Connection Café. Mid-morning meals are 9:31-10:45 a.m. at $4.84, $1 less than the breakfast price. Mid-day meals are 2-5 p.m. at $7, which is $1.53 less than the lunch price and $1.96 less than dinner. Savings are even more when using a meal plan.

A board with menu items and their nutritional and allergen information is at the entrance to the Connection Café.

At the POD Market, more hot food options are available, including five items under $5.

“The work of the task force isn't over,” says Tim Quinnan, vice president for student affairs. “Now we have to generate ideas on the future of campus dining facilities from the student's point of view and preference."

Aramark also welcomes feedback from your campus dining experience. Visit campusdiningvoice.com to let Aramark know how it is doing. You can follow Dining Services on Instagram.

Zippy ride: Trupti Jadhav, civil engineering graduate student, checks out a red Zipcar at Wednesday's kickoff of the new car-sharing program.

UT Arlington partners with Zipcar to offer new car-sharing program on campus

The Office of Sustainability has rolled out a new car-sharing program as part of its commitment to creating a more sustainable campus for students, faculty, and staff.

Zipcar, the world's leading car-sharing network, is open to those over 18 years of age and who have been licensed for at least one year.

Students, faculty, or staff may join the membership program for $25, then pay $7.50 per hour or $69 a day to reserve one of four vehicles parked on campus. The cost includes gas, insurance, 24-hour roadside assistance, wireless technology, and other features.

Zipcar replaces the Hertz car-sharing program. Visit zipcar.com/uta for more information.

Read more about the car-sharing program.

And it's in Martin McZeal, communication junior, lands a ringer in yard pong on The Green at College Park. The game was part of a tailgating event before last Thursday's women's and men's basketball games against Georgia State.

Student organization advisers needed

Student Activities and Organizations is looking for faculty and staff who have an interest in advising a registered student organization.

New groups are continually being formed by students and are required to have an on-campus adviser. Building a mentor relationship with students engaged in on-campus activities can be a fulfilling role for faculty and staff.

Complete the Adviser Interest Form. The form is not a commitment. For more information, email sao@uta.edu or call 2-2293.

Policy revision concerns criminal background checks

The Handbook of Operating Procedures has been revised for HOP 5-509: Criminal Background Checks.

Questions? Contact the Office of the Vice President for Human Resources at 2-5554. 

Advising super powers topic of annual conference

Register online for the UT Arlington Advising Association's 18th annual advising conference, "Academic Marvels: Unleashing Your Advising Super Powers." The conference is Tuesday, Feb. 17.

Faculty regalia sales, rentals next week

Order your faculty Commencement regalia at the UTA Bookstore during its sales event 9-10 a.m. Monday-Tuesday, Feb. 9-10, and 11-noon Wednesday-Thursday, Feb. 11-12.

Packages include a tam or deluxe cap, gown, hood, and tassel. Purchase a doctoral package for $465.85 or a master’s for $328.25 during the sale.

Rental orders also can be placed.

For details, call 2-2785

Broadening horizons Amaraoma Ugaji, biology sophomore, learns about studying in another country from Mahesh Biyyala, computer science graduate student, at Wednesday's Study Abroad Fair.

Writing Center launches new website

The Writing Center has a new website at www.uta.edu/owl. Faculty members and program directors may request personalized workshops. Other support services include faculty writing groups, consultation on student writing, and workshops on grant writing.

Emergency generator test on Friday

Facilities Management will test the emergency electrical generators 1-2:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 6.

Buildings involved are the Amphibian and Reptile Diversity Research Center, Business Building, Chemistry and Physics Building, Chemistry Research Building, Davis Hall, Health Center, Pickard Hall, Texas Hall, E.H. Hereford University Center, University Hall, and the University Police Station.

The test will only affect the electrical services tied to each building’s generator, not the entire building. There will be a slight “blip” lasting a half-second as the electrical service transfers to the generator and another as it is transferred back to the normal building service. Keep computer work in progress saved during this time to prevent any possible data loss.

Questions? Call Toby Buhrkuhl at 972-832-1490 or Jeff Johnson at 817-798-8456.

Friendship program partners international faculty, students with community

International students and faculty members can link up with Arlington community members through The Link International Friendship Program, sponsored by the Office of International Education.

The Link program fosters an appreciation for how others live and view the world by matching international students and scholars with families and individuals from the Arlington community. Ideally, friendship partners will meet at least once a month for a year. Common activities include conversations over coffee or tea, preparing dishes from each other's cultures, celebrating a birthday or holiday, visiting a local park, or attending a local festival, museum, or film.

Apply online to be a community friend or if you are an international faculty member. For questions, contact Josh Garcia at joshg@uta.edu.

Sign up for Institutional Review Board mini-conference

Faculty, staff, and students can learn the basics of regulations and more at the Institutional Review Board Mini-Conference 9:30 a.m.-3:45 p.m. Friday, Feb. 13, in Room 215 of the Center for Innovation, 202 E. Border St.

Sessions include the IRB review process, how to prepare a protocol for submission, a mock IRB board meeting, and a panel discussion. One session can earn you credit for human subject training requirements.

See the conference schedule. RSVP to marycolette.lybrand@uta.edu.

Regulatory Services and Research Administration sponsor the conference.

Vote today for UTA

Vote daily to help UT Arlington win the Stanley Security Together for Safer Schools grant. The grand prize is $200,000 in security equipment with a runner-up prize of $75,000. 

Vote every day, but only one vote per email address, phone number, or Twitter account. Vote from all your email addresses and cellphone numbers. Ask family, friends, and UTA fans to vote, too.

Go online to vote at stanleysaferschools.com, text utaedu to 334455, or tweet using hashtags ‪#‎stanleysecurity and ‪#‎utaedu.

Voting ends at midnight Friday, Feb. 13. See official rules at stanleysaferschools.com.

Nominations needed for student employee awards

Nominate your outstanding student employee for a chance to win $1,000 or $500 in financial awards. All nominations are due by Monday, Feb. 16.

For questions, contact the Career Development Center at 2-2932.

Nominate a Maverick of the Month

Do you know a faculty or staff member or student who exemplifies The Maverick Way? Nominate the person to receive the Maverick of the Month distinction.

Each month the UTA Ambassadors solicit nominations for the Maverick of the Month. One faculty or staff member and one student are selected for the award.

Nominations are due by Wednesday, Feb. 25. Contact Jennifer Fox at jdfox@uta.edu for more information.

Thursday, Feb. 5

Qualitative Research Brown Bag David Sparks, curriculum and instruction, discusses "Navigating the Intersectionality of Race and Gender in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM)." Noon-1 p.m., Room 415, Central Library. Register online to present on any facet of qualitative methodologies. Qualitative Research Networking.

Wednesday, Feb. 11

Coaching Skills for Supervisors Register online. 9-11 a.m., Room 202, J.D. Wetsel Service Center. Human Resources.

Cancer Support Network at UTA For faculty and staff who have experienced or are in treatment for cancer. Free. 11 a.m.-noon, Room 314, Central Library. For more information, contact Jody Bailey at jbailey@uta.edu or Bruce Bower at bower@uta.edu.

Focus on Faculty: David Narrett David Narrett, professor of history, speaks on “Adventurism and Empire: The Struggle for Mastery in the Louisiana-Florida Borderlands, 1762-1803.” Noon, sixth floor parlor, Central Library. UT Arlington Libraries, Focus on Faculty.

Faculty Promotion and Tenure Info Sessions Review the process and forms, and learn more about advancing your teaching career. 1-2 p.m., Tenure and Promotion to Associate Professor; 2-3 p.m. Promotion to Professor. Room 154, Business Building. Faculty Affairs.

Coming up

Faculty Peer Observation Training Become a certified peer reviewer. Register online. 1-5 p.m. Monday, Feb. 16, Room 115, Central Library. Also, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Friday, Feb. 20; 1-5 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 25; 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 28; 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Wednesday, March 4; 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Friday, March 20; 1-5 p.m. Friday, March 27; 1-5 p.m. Monday, April 6. Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence.

Human Resource Training Register online. Managing Across Generations, 9-11 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 17; Dealing Effectively with Conflict and Confrontation, 10 a.m.-noon Friday, Feb. 20; Professional Telephone Techniques, 9-11 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 26. All at Room 202, J.D. Wetsel Service Center. Human Resources.

(For an expanded list of events, see the UTA calendar.)

Mighty Mavs: Freshman Rebekah Van Dijk, top, recorded her 10th double-double with 19 points and 12 rebounds in Saturday's 70-67 victory over Troy.  Middle, junior infielder Darien McLemore was named a member of the 2015 Preseason All-Sun Belt Baseball Team. Bottom, freshman Daniel Velasquez was named to the USA National Junior Team and invited to compete at the International Wheelchair and Amputee Sports Federation World Games on July 2-8. Velasquez, who has cerebral palsy, also will represent UT Arlington at the World Games.

Maverick women top Troy, Georgia State

The women’s basketball team shot a season-best 52.1 percent to defeat Troy 70-67 Saturday at College Park Center. Freshman Rebekah Van Dijk recorded her 10th double-double with 19 points and 12 rebounds.

UTA downed Georgia State 57-45 Thursday to reach 10 victories for the first time since the 2009-10 season. Van Dijk led the way with a game-high 16 points.

The Mavericks are 11-9 overall and 5-6 in the Sun Belt Conference. They face Louisiana-Lafayette on the road Saturday, Feb. 7.

Men's basketball loses two at home

The Mavericks failed to hold a second-half lead for the second consecutive game, falling to Troy 55-54 Saturday night at College Park Center. Senior Greg Gainey came off the bench to score 15 points.

UTA lost 88-74 Thursday to Georgia State despite holding an 11-point lead in the second half. Freshman Kevin Hervey scored a season-high 21 points.

The Mavericks are 12-9 on the season and 6-5 in conference play. Next up is a road game at Louisiana-Lafayette on Saturday, Feb. 7. Catch the action on ESPN2 beginning at 1 p.m.

Indoor track teams excel at Adidas meet

The men and women’s track teams turned in some outstanding individual performances Saturday afternoon at Nebraska’s Adidas Classic.

For the men, Quentin Butler won the 200 meters and the long jump, while Tobi Fawehinmi placed first in the triple jump. In women’s action, Ashley Wright won the 800 meters, and Katelyn Howard was first in the mile.

The Mavericks return to action Saturday, Feb. 14, at Wichita State’s Varsity Apartments Invitational. It’s the final event prior to the Sun Belt Conference Indoor Championships Monday-Tuesday, Feb. 23-24, in Birmingham, Ala.

Tennis teams victorious

The men and women's tennis teams defeated Midwestern State University on Friday afternoon at the UTA Tennis Center. The women came up with another 7-0 sweep, while the men regained momentum winning 5-2.

The men face Rice in Houston on Friday, Feb. 6. The women are home Saturday, Feb. 7, for a doubleheader against Dallas Baptist and Seminole State.

Mavs tabbed fourth in SBC preseason baseball poll

UT Arlington was picked to finish fourth in the Sun Belt Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll. The Mavericks also had junior infielder Darien McLemore honored as a member of the 2015 Preseason All-Sun Belt Baseball Team. 

The Mavericks open the 2015 season Friday, Feb. 13, when they travel to Nacogdoches to face Missouri State in the Stephen F. Austin Tournament. UT Arlington's home opener is Friday, Feb. 20, when it hosts Southeastern Louisiana in the UTA Hilton Invitational. 

Season tickets are $75 for the 24-game baseball schedule at Clay Gould Ballpark. The schedule includes all 15 Sun Belt Conference home games and one tournament. All seating is general admission. 

Season tickets do not include UTA's home game at Globe Life Park in Arlington on Tuesday, March 17, against Texas. Information on tickets for the Mavericks' matchup with the Longhorns will be released at a later date. 

Season and single-game tickets are available at utatickets.com or by calling 2-9595.

UTA picked to finish 8th in SBC preseason softball poll

The UT Arlington softball team was picked to finish eighth in the team's second season in the Sun Belt Conference as released by the league's 2015 Preseason Poll voted on by the SBC coaches. 

UTA begins its season Friday, Feb. 6, at the Tangi Tourism Lion Classic in Hammond, La. The Mavericks will open the newly reconstructed Allan Saxe Field on Thursday, Feb. 12, to begin the Maverick Invitational when they host Incarnate Word, Buffalo, Ohio State, and Sam Houston State. Next are games against Texas Tech and Missouri-Kansas City in the UT Arlington Invitational beginning Friday, Feb. 20.

Intramural deadlines include rock climbing, racquetball

Upcoming entry deadlines for intramural sports include rock climbing, Tuesday, Feb. 10; and racquetball, Friday, Feb. 13.

See the intramural sports schedule. Pick up entry forms at the Services and Information Desk of the Maverick Activities Center. For questions, call 2-3277 or email imsports@uta.edu.

(For more sports news, go to utamavs.com, uta.edu/movinmavs, or uta.edu/campusrec.)

Grammy nominees perform at Spring Concert Grammy nominees Jessie J and Luke James will perform for the Spring Concert at 8 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 10, at Texas Hall, two days after the prestigious music awards ceremony. Jessie J was nominated for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance for Bang, Bang with Ariana Grande and Nicki Minaj. She also will perform with Tom Jones (It's Not Unusual, What's New Pussycat?) for the awards ceremony, televised at 7 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 8, on CBS. She was nominated for two 2015 People’s Choice Awards—Favorite Pop Artist and Favorite Song (Bang, Bang). In 2012, her Price Tag won the MTV Video Play Award for highest video play counts on all MTV channels. James is up for Best R&B Song for Options (Wolfjames Version) with Rick Ross. He is a singer/songwriter who embodies an honesty and fresh, organic soulfulness. The New Orleans native has penned songs for Justin Bieber (That Should Be Me) and Britney Spears (Kill the Lights). Tickets are $15 with student ID, $20 faculty and staff, $25 general admission.  EXCEL Campus Activities sponsors the event.

Friday, Feb. 6

UT Arlington Wind Symphony Concert Conductor Douglas Stotter leads a concert of band classics from around the world. Tickets $6 with student ID, seniors; $9 adults. 7:30 p.m., Irons Recital Hall, Fine Arts Building. Music.

Flight 12 Improv! An evening of funny and oh-no-you-didn't moments presented by 12 members of the Maverick Theatre Company. Free. 8 p.m., Studio Theatre, Fine Arts Building. Also, Saturday, Feb. 7. Theatre Arts.

Saturday, Feb. 7

Men's Basketball on ESPN Mavericks vs. Louisiana-Lafayette game televised from the Cajundome in Lafayette, La. 1 p.m., ESPN2. Athletics.

Monday, Feb. 9

FAFCO Concert Free. 7:30 p.m., Irons Recital Hall, Fine Arts Building. Music.

Tuesday, Feb. 10

Honors Recital Outstanding music students perform. Free. 7:30 p.m., Irons Recital Hall, Fine Arts Building. Music.

Thursday, Feb. 12

Innovative Community Academic Partnership Reception Join the start of the Innovative Community Academic Partnership, a program of the School of Social Work that focuses on the well-being of children and families in the Dallas and Tarrant counties area. 10 a.m.-noon, second floor lounge, Maverick Activities Center. Social Work.

Coming up

Concerts and Recitals Voice Division Recital, noon, Monday, Feb. 16; Clavier Piano Recital, 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 17; guest artist Shawn Seguin, 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 18. Irons Recital Hall, Fine Arts Building. Music.

Ongoing

Special Collections: The Price of Manifest Destiny Discover how maps and war interlocked in the 19th century. Hours 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Mondays, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays, sixth floor, Central Library. Through Feb. 7. UT Arlington Libraries Special Collections.

The Gallery at UTA: Gyorgy Beck and Sylvia Plachy Two Hungarian-born artists share space in both the literal and metaphysical sense. Through Feb. 14. The Gallery at UTA.

Visual Resource Commons and Gallery The African Art Collection is a multi-dimensional collection of 11th- to 20th-century art and artifacts. Free. 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Mondays-Fridays, Suite 2109, Fine Arts Building. Art and Art History.

Planetarium The spring schedule features Black Holes, Dynamic Earth, Pink Floyd, Secret of the Cardboard Rocket, and Spacepark 360: Infinity. Planetarium.

(For an expanded list of events, see the UTA calendar.)