MavWire 2015 Archive » MavWire — Thursday, October 22, 2015

Maverick community welcomes parents, families for weekend of fun

Students share the joys of Maverick Country during Parent and Family Weekend, Friday-Sunday, Oct. 23-25.

The weekend features a long list of events that allow students to show their families what it's like to be a Maverick.

Activities include faculty spotlights, a fall festival with live music, glass-blowing demonstrations, Movin’ Mavs basketball, and more.

See the Parent and Family Weekend schedule.

UT System becomes largest state institution to offer free college courses to high school students

The University of Texas System is now the largest state institution in America to offer free online college courses for high school students.

The System launched four courses this fall—with a fifth on the way—to provide high school students in Texas, the nation, and throughout the world with opportunities to prepare themselves for college.

Taught by faculty at UTA, UT Austin, and UT Permian Basin, the courses are Intro to Engineering, Discover Pre-Calculus, Intro to Sociology, Solving Problems using Python, and Human Geography.

At UTA, the engineering course has an enrollment of 28,000 students, and the Python programming course has 11,000 students.

Read more about the UT System's free college courses.

JFK and space race panel discussion today

Listen to a panel discussion on the advancements in technology and engineering since the Kennedy presidency at 6:30 p.m. today, Thursday, Oct. 22, in the Rosebud Theatre of the E.H. Hereford University Center.

Panelists include Col. Walter Cunningham, Apollo 7 astronaut; Wendell Mendell, retired NASA scientist and International Space University instructor; and Donald Wilson, professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering. Associate Professor Marvin Dulaney, chair of the Department of History, will moderate the discussion.

The program will also include special archival video material from The Sixth Floor Museum in Dallas.

The event is free, but registration is required. Register at fwopera.org or by calling 817-731-0726.

The lecture is part of the JFK: Five Decades of Progress series sponsored by the Fort Worth Opera, host of the world premiere of the new American opera JFK.

Plan now for Homecoming

It’s Homecoming time in Maverick Country. Join the fun Nov. 7-14.

During the week, you can participate in a golf tournament, a 5K run, a home run contest, attend the Distinguished Alumni Awards dinner, and take a road trip to see the women's basketball team play Baylor.

Saturday's events include the Class of 1965 50th Reunion Brunch and numerous other alumni reunions. A street festival and the Party on the Plaza reception are followed by the Homecoming parade with big lighted floats, marching bands, special guests, and UTA's traditional display of decorated and lighted golf carts. It all winds up with a pep rally in front of College Park Center, where the men's basketball team plays Fordham.

Sign up now to compete in the Chili Cook-Off and register to enter the Homecoming Parade by Wednesday, Nov. 4.

See the schedule and buy tickets for events at uta.edu/homecoming.

Reserve your tickets now for Homecoming games, both on the road and at home

Make plans to cheer on the women's basketball team when they face the Baylor Bears on Friday, Nov. 13, at the Ferrell Center in Waco.

Participate in the pre-game tipoff with food and activities 1:30-3 p.m. at Moritz Plaza at College Park Center. Buses leave for the game at 3 p.m. The game starts at 6 p.m.

Tickets are $30 for faculty, staff, and alumni and $15 for students. Price includes the game ticket, food, a T-shirt, and transportation to and from the game. Tickets are available at uta.edu/homecoming along with other details about Homecoming 2015. Purchase tickets by Monday, Nov. 2.

Drive yourself to the game and purchase individual tickets starting Monday, Oct. 27.

The Homecoming men’s game against Fordham tips off at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 14, at College Park Center. Tickets are $5 at utatickets.com.

Questions? Student Affairs has answers at 2-6080.

Wellness Fun Walk takes off this morning

Take the first steps toward fitness with a Fun Walk sponsored by the UTA Wellness Committee. Registration for the 1½-2 mile walk starts at 11:30 a.m. today, Thursday, Oct. 22, in Room 133 of the Maverick Activities Center. After the exercise, join the committee for lunch. Sign the release agreement.

Learn more about the University's wellness programs and events.

Texas FreshAIR Conference showcases therapeutics, devices

A new heart disease medication and other discoveries made by University of Texas System researchers will be highlighted at the 2015 Texas FreshAIR Conference on Wednesday-Thursday, Oct. 28-29, at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas.

Texas FreshAIR is a world-class UT System conference designed to showcase faculty research at the System’s 14 institutions, industry research, new medications, medical devices, and startups. The conference brings great minds together to foster academic-industry collaborations that will help commercialize more faculty research.

There will be 70-plus scientific lectures and presentations at Texas FreshAIR. More than 250 researchers, entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, and executives from Texas and the country’s top pharmaceutical and venture companies are expected to attend.

Read more about the Texas FreshAIR Conference.

Name change Workers recently changed lettering from the Architecture Building to the College of Architecture, Planning and Public Affairs.

NetIDplus adds new level of security for off-campus connection

In response to the growing number of sophisticated cyber threats, the Office of Information Technology is adding steps to safeguard personal and University information.

On Monday, Nov. 2, UTA will begin to implement NetIDplus, which will require two-factor authentication when you remotely access UTShare and VPN. Use of two-factor authentication is mandated by the UT System.

For more details, visit uta.edu/netidplus to find the definition of two-factor authentication, enrollment and training schedules, changes to your VPN group, frequently asked questions, troubleshooting guidelines, supported devices, and additional documentation.

 For assistance or questions, contact the Help Desk at helpdesk@uta.edu or 2-2208.

UTA Innovation Day today at College Park Center

UTA will showcase a range of technologies including a student-designed, scale-sized Formula race car, a social interaction research robot, and a rehabilitation glove at the second annual InnovationDay@UTA 9 a.m.-6:30 p.m. today, Thursday, Oct. 22, at College Park Center.

See utainnovation.com for the full agenda. The event is free, but registration is required. For questions or details, contact Marie Peterson, manager of conference and event management, at 2-2581 or innovationday@uta.edu.

Training offered for new Unit Effectiveness Process software

Results Reports and Improvement Reports for the Unit Effectiveness Process are due to the Office of Institutional Effectiveness and Reporting soon.

Training sessions for TracDat, the new Unit Effectiveness Process assessment software, is 3-5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 30; 1-3 p.m. Monday, Nov. 2; and 10 a.m.-noon Wednesday, Nov. 4.

The deadline for Improvement Reports for 2013-14 and 2014-15 is Friday, Nov. 6. The deadline for Results Reports was Oct. 16.

Register for TracDat training.

Research Integrity Symposium set for Friday

Register now for the first Research Integrity Symposium focusing on responsible authorship. The event is 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 23, in the second floor lounge of the Maverick Activities Center.

Sessions cover plagiarism, responsible authorship, institutional practices and legal implications, and tools for detecting and preventing plagiarism.

Register online. Attendance at the symposium will count toward credit for Responsible Conduct of Research certification.

Conference looks at higher ed and technology

Educause Virtual Conference, a premiere event for technology in higher education, will explore tough issues facing institutions around the world.

The conference is Wednesday-Friday, Oct. 28-30, on the UTA campus. Sponsors are University Analytics, UT Arlington Libraries, the Center of Teaching and Learning, and the Office of Information Technology.

Topics include “Analytics, Business, Intelligence, and Data Management,” “Leading and Partnering across the Academy,” “Teaching and Learning,” and “Risk Management.”

See the schedule and register for Educause Virtual Conference.

State Employee Charitable Campaign concludes Oct. 31

The State Employee Charitable Campaign is your opportunity to impact the world.

There is a charity that matches your interests, from Adopt-A-Beach to EarthShare to Global Impact. Choose from hundreds of organizations. UTA's goal is $60,000 for the campaign, which runs through Oct. 31.

Payroll deduction through online giving is the easiest way to donate. Go to UTA's SECC page to see the guidebook with a list of charities. Click on the red banner to give.

For questions, contact your department representative, Amber Campbell at amber@uta.edu, or Colin Sanor at colinsanor@uta.edu.

Streaming video now available via library

The UTA Libraries recently implemented the Alexander Street Press Streaming Video. This collection provides access to more than 23,000 videos across multiple disciplines from a wide variety of providers such as BBC, Bloomberg, Canal+, CRM Learning, Discovery, CBS, HBO, Janus Films (Criterion Collection), Kantola, Medcom, National Geographic, NBCUniversal, Opus Arte, Royal Anthropological Institute, and many more.

On the library website, go to the Database A-Z List  and select Alexander Street Press Streaming Video to search all streaming video and audio available.

Video tutorials are available to show how to make clips, create playlists, and use other tools that will enhance the use of the streaming videos in teaching and learning.

Computer repair services offered at Central Library

The Campus Technology Repair Center offers drop-in troubleshooting for Apples, PCs, and laptops in the Central Library's first floor Service Zone. Technical staff are available noon-4 p.m. Mondays-Fridays.

The center is a licensed AppleCare repair shop providing free services for Apple computers or laptops under warranty. Other work is done at competitive fees.

Simple repairs may be completed on site. Computers needing more extensive work are sent to the repair center in the UTA Bookstore.

New laptops available for checkout

UTA Libraries now offer 25 new Dell Latitude E5450 laptops with webcams for checkout. Available soon for checkout are Microsoft Surface tablets, Acer Chromebooks, and iPad Airs.

Share your thoughts with Dining Services

The Dining Services survey seeks to better understand the University community's dining preferences and satisfaction. At the end of the survey, choose to participate in a drawing for one of four prizes: a $150 gift card grand prize or one of three $50 gift cards.

Symposium focuses on breast health

Students, staff, and faculty can attend the 2015 Breast Health 101 Symposium, sponsored by the College of Nursing and Health Innovation and Susan G. Komen of Greater Fort Worth.

The free event is 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 7, at the Maverick Activities Center. Register online, and use code BH101.

Tickets available to see Daymond John at next Maverick Speakers Series event

Tickets to see entrepreneur Daymond John for the Maverick Speakers Series are available online.

John will speak on "Shark Tank Entrepreneurship" at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 10, at College Park Center. An audience question-and-answer session and book signing will follow the lecture.

For VIP packages, contact Mark LaVelle at mlavelle@uta.edu or 2-5235.

Register now for free flu shot

UTA has partnered with Catapult Health to provide free, quick, and confidential preventive health checkups and annual flu vaccines on campus.

These checkups and flu shots are available to all employees covered under the UT Select Medical Plan at no charge. You must make an appointment to take advantage of this benefit. The clinics will be held Thursday-Friday, Nov. 5-6.

For more information and to make your appointment, visit the Office of Human Resources website and click on the link Flu Shots.

Be part of Maverick Experience Preview Day

The Office of University Recruitment invites your academic department or student organization to participate at the Academic Fair or Student Life Fair at the Maverick Experience Preview Day on Saturday, Oct. 31.

Register online. Questions? Contact Alicia Graves at agraves@uta.edu.

Thursday, Oct. 22

Question, Persuade, Refer: Suicide Prevention Training Learn the warning signs and clues of people who may be considering suicide and how to intervene with at-risk individuals. Register online. 2-4 p.m., Room 104, Preston Hall. Also, Nov. 30. Counseling and Psychological Services.

Earth and Environmental Sciences Lectures Bob Gregory of Southern Methodist University, 4 p.m., Room 100, Geoscience Building. Also, Bastian Georg of Trent University, Oct. 29. Earth and Environmental Sciences.

Payment Vouchers Register online. 1:30-3:30 p.m., Room E200C, Continuing Education Building. Business Affairs.      

LINK Lab Lecture Series Sidney D'Mello of the University of Notre Dame on "Affect- and Attention-Aware Cyberlearning." 12:30-1:30 p.m., Room 246, Nedderman Hall. Also, Throy Campbell, “Higher Education in the Face of Labor Market Change,” Nov. 13, and Catherine Spann, “The Scientific Benefits of Mindfulness,” Nov. 19. LINK Research Lab.

Friday, Oct. 23

Psychology Speakers Series Jerry Jellison of University of Southern California on "Making Change Happen: Overcoming Resistance." Noon, Room 10, University Hall. Psychology.

Hermanns Lecture Series The literature of life writing including diaries, letters, memoirs, social media, and comic books. Schedule. 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m., sixth floor parlor, Central Library. English.

Dealing Effectively with Conflict and Confrontation Register online. 10 a.m.-noon, Room 200, J.D. Wetsel Service Center. Human Resources.

Tuesday, Oct. 27

Financial Statements and the Reconciliation Process Register online. 8:30-10:30 a.m., Room E200C, Continuing Education Building. Business Affairs.

Thursday, Oct. 29

Position and Workforce Management Register online. 1:30-3:30 p.m., Room E200C, Continuing Education Building. Business Affairs.

Women's and Gender Studies Symposium Speakers include Whitney Peoples, Provost Post-doctoral Fellow in Women's and Gender Studies, and Ana Louise Keating of Texas Woman's University addressing the theme "Minding the Field: Exploring and Expanding Women's and Gender Studies in North Texas.” 9 a.m.-5 p.m., sixth floor, Central Library. Women’s and Gender Studies.

Biology Colloquium Series Bryan Carstens of Ohio State University. 4 p.m., Room 124, Life Sciences. Biology.

Friday, Oct. 30

UTARI Lunch and Learn Fan Gao of UT Southwestern Medical Center. Register online. Shuttle available. Lunch provided. Noon, UTARI, 7300 Jack Newell Blvd. S., Fort Worth. UT Arlington Research Institute.

Qualitative Research Brown-bag Meetups Priscila Caçola, right, assistant professor of kinesiology, "Mixed Methods and Working on Research as an Interdisciplinary Team." Noon-1 p.m., Room 414, Central Library. Also, Yekang Ko and Ann Foss of planning and landscape architecture, "Measuring Climate Literacy: Using Survey Data for Interdisciplinary Environmental Education," Nov. 12. Qualitative Research Meetup.

Coming up

Arlington Technology Association Xinbao Yu, associate professor of civil engineering, discusses "Using Geothermal Energy to Remove Ice and Snow from Roads and Bridges." Light breakfast provided. RSVP. Free. 7-8 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 4, Room 100, Nedderman Hall. Arlington Technology Association.

Mathematics Colloquium Series Patrick Shipman of Colorado State University. 3 p.m., Nov. 6, Room 311, Pickard Hall. Mathematics.

RAD Self-Defense for Women For female faculty, staff, and students. Register online. Free. 9 a.m.-6 p.m., Nov. 7, Room 102-B, Maverick Activities Center. UT Arlington Police.

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

Leading ladies: Sophomore center Rebekah VanDijk, top, was named to the All-SBC Preseason First Team. At bottom, freshman setter Madison Helt leans into a pass before a record volleyball crowd of 2,018 in College Park Center for the annual Dig Pink match promoting breast cancer awareness.

Women’s basketball picked 2nd in conference

The expectations are high for the Lady Mavericks basketball team after being selected second in the Sun Belt Conference Preseason Poll released this week.

UTA completed the largest turnaround in NCAA Division I last season after a 13-win increase to finish tied for fourth in the Sun Belt with a 17-13 overall record. Sophomore center Rebekah VanDijk was named to the All-SBC Preseason First Team.

The Lady Mavericks begin the 2015-16 season Friday, Nov. 13, when they travel to Waco to take on Big 12 favorite Baylor in the 2015 Preseason WNIT.

Record volleyball crowd watches Dig Pink match

UTA lost in four sets to Texas State last Thursday before a record volleyball crowd of 2,018 in College Park Center for the annual Dig Pink match promoting breast cancer awareness.

Junior setter Cassidy Wheeler recorded 26 assists with just one error and a service ace. Freshman middle blocker Marisah Ingram hit .444 on five kills, and senior libero Caitlyn Cooney had 11 digs.

The Mavericks dropped to 13-8 on the season and 4-5 in Sun Belt Conference play. Next up are road matches at Georgia State on Friday, Oct. 23, and Georgia Southern on Saturday, Oct. 24.

Cross country teams post top-10 efforts in Alabama

The men’s and women’s cross country teams finished their regular seasons last Friday with top-10 showings at the highly regarded Crimson Classic in Tuscaloosa, Ala.

The men placed seventh among 23 schools with sophomore Michael Guerrero finishing 26th. The women took 10th in a 26-team field paced by senior Gabriela Alfonzo’s 14th-place showing.

The Mavericks compete Sunday, Nov. 1, in the Sun Belt Conference Championships in Atlanta. The UTA women are the defending league champions, while the men won the title in 2013.

Sports Shorts

• The Movin' Mavs wheelchair tennis team took second place at the 2015 ITA/USTA College National Championships in Tuscaloosa, Ala. Juan Soto won first place in the silver bracket, and Ricardo Lucien took home third place in the gold bracket. The duo earned second place in doubles

• Junior golfer Josh Radcliff tied for fifth this week at the Herb Wimberly Intercollegiate in Las Cruces, N.M. UTA finished 11th as a team in the three-round tournament.

• Freshman Rachel Kroener has been selected to represent the United States in track and field at the International Paralympic Committee Athletics World Championships in October in Doha, Qatar. The competition qualifies athletes for the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

• The women’s tennis team returns to action Thursday-Monday, Oct. 22-26, at the ITA Texas Regional Championships in College Station. The men’s team competes Saturday-Tuesday, Oct. 24-27, at the ITA Texas Regional Championships in Houston.

Intramural sports entries due for table tennis

Upcoming intramural sports deadlines are table tennis, Thursday, Oct. 22; drop-in basketball, Monday, Oct. 26; and Halloween ultimate disc, Friday, Oct. 30.

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.)

Glass pumpkins available at annual sale Saturday Add a little glass art to your fall decorations with hand-blown glass pumpkins of all shapes and sizes designed by UTA students and faculty. The delicate gourds are on sale starting at 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 24, at the Studio Arts Center. A raffle begins at 4 p.m. Live glass-blowing demonstrations are planned throughout the day. Proceeds go to the visiting artist fund of the Department of Art and Art History. The fund allows art students to invite world-renowned artists to lead workshops and share their professional experiences.

Friday, Oct. 23

Friday Night Film: 'Inside Out' Rated PG. Free popcorn. Concessions for sale. $1, $1.50 with credit card. 8 p.m., Rosebud Theatre, E.H. Hereford University Center. EXCEL Campus Activities.

Saturday, Oct. 24

Astronomy Day Scientists, engineers, and visionaries from astronomy and the space industry share their experiences to inspire students and stargazers. Free parking in Lot F10. $4 shows; free lectures and events. 10 a.m.-8 p.m., Planetarium. Planetarium.

Thursday, Oct. 29

Lunafest 2015 Short films produced and directed by and for women. $5. 7-9 p.m., Lone Star Auditorium, Maverick Activities Center. Women’s and Gender Studies.

Friday, Oct. 30

Opening Reception: 'Reunion: XV Faculty Biennial and Invited Alumni Exhibition' Receptions for concurrent exhibitions featuring 35 faculty members and 26 invited art graduates. Free 5-7 p.m. Gallery West, Studio Arts Center; and 6-8 p.m., The Gallery at UTA, Fine Arts Building. Art and Art History.

Great Pumpkin Carnival A night of family fun on Greek Row includes games, popcorn, and candy. Free. 6-8 p.m., Greek Row Drive. Fraternity and Sorority Life.

Volleyball Mavericks vs. Troy. Flashback Friday, '90s Night, prize for best '90s outfit. Tickets $5. 6:30 p.m., College Park Center. Also, vs. Louisiana-Monroe, Trick-or-Treat giveaway, costume contest Oct. 31; vs. South Alabama, Nov. 15. Athletics.

Ongoing

Reunion: XV Faculty Biennial and Invited Alumni Exhibition Concurrent exhibitions feature 35 faculty members and 26 invited art graduates. Hours for both galleries 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Mondays-Fridays, and noon-5 p.m. Saturdays. Gallery West, Studio Arts Center; and The Gallery at UTA, Fine Arts Building. Through Nov. 21. Art and Art History.

Ornament and Adornment: The Decoration and Application Techniques of African Masks 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Mondays-Fridays, Visual Resources Commons, Room 2109, Fine Arts Building. Through Dec. 9. Art and Art History.

University Center Gallery: Digital Photography Student Exhibit 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Mondays-Fridays. University Center Gallery, E.H. Hereford University Center. Through Dec. 12. EXCEL Campus Activities.

Special Collections: Ringside: Memories of WCC Wrestling 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Mondays, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays, sixth floor, Central Library. Through Jan. 16. UT Arlington Libraries Special Collections.

Planetarium Fall shows SOFIA 3-D, Cosmic Origins Spectrograph, From the Earth to the Universe, Astronaut, Pink Floyd, and Spacepark 360: Infinity. Planetarium.

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