MavWire 2015 Archive » MavWire — Monday, May 4, 2015

Caring touch: Manfred Huber and Gergely Zaruba, professors of computer science and engineering, test flooring with special sensors in the Smart Care apartment. The sensors will enable researchers to measure and evaluate changes in walking gaits and weight that might suggest illness or injury in residents.

Smart Care apartment designed to improve health care for seniors, people with disabilities

Nursing and engineering researchers will unveil a model Smart Care apartment this week that is infused with intelligent care technology. The home is designed to reduce risks encountered by older adults and those with disabilities who want to live independently in their own homes.

The federal Health Resources and Services Administration provided more than $600,000 in funding for the five-year project, which has been a collaborative effort involving faculty from the College of Nursing and Health Innovation and the College of Engineering. U.S. Rep. Joe Barton, R-Arlington, advocated for the funding.

Kathryn Daniel, associate professor of nursing and director of UTA's  Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Program, serves as program manager for Smart Care.

Watch a short video. Read more about the Smart Care apartment.

Dr. George Siemens

LINK Lab study provides foundation for future of digital higher education

A new, comprehensive metastudy of the role technology plays in higher education urges universities of tomorrow to capitalize on technologies that effectively support student learning, to embrace blended learning environments, and to customize degree programs to serve the needs of students in a digital age.

George Siemens, executive director of the Learning Innovation and Networked Knowledge (LINK) Lab, is the lead author. The paper is published on the LINK Lab website and is part of the MOOC Research Initiative. MOOC stands for massive open online courses.

The international study offers strategies and implications for higher education institutions preparing for the digital wave.

Read more about the digital learning study.

Candidates for College of Liberal Arts dean to visit campus

Candidates for dean of the College of Liberal Arts will meet with administrators, faculty, staff, and students.

Seth Mallios, professor and chair of the Department of Anthropology at San Diego State University, is the first candidate. His public session is 1:30-2:30 p.m. today, Monday, May 4, Room 108, University Hall. A feedback survey is available through 5 p.m Tuesday, May 5.

Each candidate will speak and then answer questions. The name of each candidate will be released 24 hours in advance of his or her campus visit. Other sessions open to the University community are:

• Thursday, May 7, 1:30-2:30 p.m., Room 204, Architecture Building

• Friday, May 8, 1:30-2:30 p.m., Room 108, University Hall

• Monday, May 11, 1:30-2:30 p.m., Room 108, University Hall

Visit the Senior Leadership Searches webpage to learn more about the dean search for the College of Liberal Arts, as details become available.

Encourage students not to fall for phone scam demanding money

Remind students not to fall for a phone scam in which the callers identify themselves as members of a governmental agency and demand money. The caller threatens to arrest students on false or fictitious charges if immediate payment is not made to the suspects via a money card.

Ten students have reported providing payments to the suspects over the phone. Combined losses thus far total $20,000. One student lost more than $6,000.

Dozens of additional students have reported similar calls from individuals posing as representatives of local law enforcement agencies, state agencies, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), and other federal agencies.

Some calls have targeted international students. However, offenses are being reported by students of varying backgrounds.

If you or anyone you know has information related to these crimes, call the UT Arlington Police Department at 2-3381.

Faculty, associates honored at annual spring meeting Tuesday

President's and provost's awards are just a few of the accolades to be distributed at the Spring Meeting of the Faculty and Associates at 4 p.m. Tuesday, May 5, in the Rio Grande Ballroom at the E.H. Hereford University Center.

Awards will be announced for teaching, research, mentoring, advising, service learning, grants, and distance education, with remarks by President Vistasp Karbhari. The event is open to the public. A reception follows.

Head and heart Tung Nguyen, business senior, rubs the bronze head of E.H. Hereford at the Maverick Ring Ceremony on Thursday in the Bluebonnet Ballroom. Rubbing the former University president's head is a longtime campus tradition for good luck and a new part of the ring ceremony. Ernest H. Hereford was dean of North Texas Agricultural College and the first president of Arlington State College, both predecessors of UT Arlington. Nguyen also was crowned Homecoming king last fall.

Participate in emergency response exercise May 21

Students, faculty, and staff are invited to attend the Office of Emergency Management's annual Clery Act tabletop exercise. The event is 2:15-3 p.m. Thursday, May 21, in the Hospitality Suite at College Park Center

The exercise will focus on a discussion over emergency notification, shelter-in-place process, and evacuation on a campus-wide scale. Key officials, internal and external, will participate in the discussion.

Individuals needed for information resource roles

University deans and vice presidents are invited to appoint individuals to information resource roles on the IT Governance SharePoint group. Add names to the IT Governance SharePoint site or send an email with the appointee's name to itgovernance@uta.edu.

For more information about the appointment of the information resource roles, see Procedure 19-2. 

Steam service outage planned

The Thermal Energy Plant has planned its annual outage of campus steam service to complete inspection and repair requirements of the system components. The outage is scheduled to begin at 1 a.m. Monday, May 18, until midnight Wednesday, May 20.

During the time designated, the buildings served by the Thermal Energy Plant will be without hot water and steam. Electrical power, air conditioning, and chilled water services will still be available.

For questions on buildings or equipment impacted by the outage, contact Santiago Pink at pinks@uta.edu or 2-2564.

Get in shape for Blazing Race on May 20

Team up for the 2015 Blazing Race at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, May 20. The race begins at College Park Center.

Participants can walk or run either a low- or high-impact campus adventure course. The Wellness Committee hosts the free event. Find details and registration information online or email wellness@uta.edu.

Catering Services offers variety for your event

When ordering food and beverages on campus, utilize Catering Services.

The on-campus catering provider has a variety of menu offerings and pricing categories for plated meals, buffets, casual catering, and pick-up orders, large or small. Call to customize your menu, or create your own on CaterTrax. For details, contact Tina Gil, catering services coordinator, call 2-2304 or catering@uta.edu.

Read the University's policy for food and beverages, HOP ADM 5-309 of the Handbook of Operating Procedures.

Summit Avenue closed for water line upgrade, road resurfacing

Summit Avenue from Greek Row Drive to Fourth Street will be closed for approximately three weeks to allow the city of Arlington to upgrade water and sewer lines and resurface the street.

Arbor Oaks tenants will need to enter their parking lot from either Kerby Drive or Fourth Street.

Wednesday, May 6

Arlington Technology Association George Siemens, executive director of the Learning Innovation and Networked Knowledge (LINK) Research Lab, explores how education is changing due to massive open online courses (MOOCs), big data, digital networks, and the Internet. Light breakfast provided. RSVP. Free. 7-8 a.m., Room 100, Nedderman Hall. Arlington Technology Association.

Thursday, May 7

Social Work Colloquium Jeffrey Jenson is guest speaker at the Colloquium on Agency Collaboration and Community-Based Human Service Innovation. He will discuss the public health approach for preventing child and adolescent health and behavior problems and preventive interventions aimed at promoting positive youth development. Dr. Jenson is the Philip D. and Eleanor G. Winn Professor for Children and Youth at Risk at the University of Denver. Register online. 1-4 p.m., Room 107, Social Work Complex General Academic Building. Social Work.

Coming up

U.S. Manufacturing Symposium The symposium is a Walmart initiative to create affordable, flexible, automated solutions to bring manufacturing back to the United States. See the schedule. Admission $35, $120 for exhibitors; 25 free passes for students. Wednesday, June 3, UTARI, 7300 Jack Newell Blvd. S., Fort Worth. UT Arlington Research Institute.

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

Monday, May 4

BFA Art Exhibit The work of 43 Bachelor of Fine Arts candidates includes painting, drawing, sculpture, glass, printmaking, film/video, photography, digital imaging, and visual communication. Hours 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Mondays-Fridays, noon-5 p.m. Saturdays. Through Saturday, May 16. The Gallery at UTA.

Friday, May 8

Baseball Mavericks vs. Appalachian State. Tickets $5-7; $3 students. 6:30 p.m. Also, 2 p.m. Saturday, May 9; 1 p.m. Sunday, May 10. All at Clay Gould Ballpark. Athletics.         

UTA Dance Ensemble Recital Performances and choreography by students and faculty. $5 with student ID, $7 general admission. 8 p.m., Mainstage Theatre. Also, Saturday-Sunday, May 9-10. Theatre Arts Department.

Coming up

Commencement The Class of 2015 graduates. Tickets required. Thursday, May 14, 7 p.m., College of Nursing and Health Innovation. Friday, May 15; 11 a.m., School of Urban and Public Affairs/School of Social Work/University College/School of Architecture; 3 p.m., College of Science; 7 p.m., College of Liberal Arts. Saturday, May 16, 11 a.m., College of Business; 3 p.m., College of Engineering; 7 p.m., College of Education. All at College Park Center. Commencement. 

Ongoing

MavsArt The semi-annual UTA community art show features 67 works by 25 artists who are UTA students, faculty, and staff. Through May 15. UT Arlington Libraries, MavsArt.

Gallery 76102: Testament The exhibit is a collection of 12 photographs that explore the spiritual labor of bearing weight, submission, futility, and persistence. Gallery hours noon-6 p.m. Wednesdays-Saturdays. Through May 23. Free. Gallery 76102, Fort Worth Center.

Juneteenth in Texas: 150 Years of Freedom More than 60 photographs explore issues of Texas African-Americans from Emancipation to the Civil Rights era. Hours 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Through Aug. 9. Sixth floor, Central Library. Center for Greater Southwestern Studies.

Special Collections: !Viva Mexico! A Comic Book History of Mexico A rare look inside the rise of comic books in 20th century Mexico, their literary, cultural, and entertainment value, and influence by the Mexican government. Hours 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Mondays, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays, sixth floor, Central Library. Through Aug. 8. UT Arlington Libraries Special Collections.

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.)