MavWire 2015 Archive » MavWire — Thursday, November 12, 2015

Best for Vets: A trumpeter plays Reveille before dawn Wednesday for Veterans day events on campus with the ROTC cadets and the Maverick Rifles team on hand. UTA was named No. 16 in Military Times' Best for Vets list.

UTA tops in Texas, No. 16 in the U.S. among 2016 ‘Best for Vets’

The University of Texas at Arlington is the best four-year college in Texas for military veterans and one of the top 20 schools in the nation for servicemen and servicewomen who are working to earn a college degree, according to Military Times.

The news organization’s Best for Vets: Colleges 2016 rankings placed the University No. 16 of 125 four-year schools that offer bachelor’s, graduate degrees or both. That’s up 20 spots from last year’s No. 36 ranking. Military Times comprises Army Times, Navy Times, Air Force Times, and Marine Corps Times.

The magazine’s sixth annual Best for Vets survey focused on veterans’ academic success rates, including graduation, retention, persistence and completion rates. The ranking also placed emphasis on services, special rules, accommodations and financial incentives offered to military and veteran students and their families.

UTA serves more than 3,000 student veterans or dependents of military veterans among its more than 51,000 students.

Read more about the Best for Vets rankings.

Homecoming happenings: Homecoming 2015 started with the annual Step Show last Saturday and Monday's Paint Your Ride event. Visit the The Shorthorn to see more Paint Your Ride photos and the Homecoming court. Check the Homecoming schedule of events.

Homecoming offers plenty of options for Maverick memories

Light up your week with some Maverick traditions of a parade, basketball game, fellowship, and more for Homecoming 2015 festivities in Maverick Country.

Attend the Distinguished Alumni Awards before heading to The Bash today, Thursday, Nov. 12.

Cheer on the women's basketball team with the afternoon pep rally and trip to Waco on Friday, Nov. 13. The pre-game tipoff features food, activities, and a pep rally 1:30-3 p.m. at Moritz Plaza at College Park Center. The Lady Mavs take on defending Big 12 champion Baylor in the preseason Women's National Invitational Tournament at 6 p.m. at Ferrell Center in Waco. Individual tickets for $5-10.

Saturday, Nov. 14, is filled with the 5K run/walk and a golf tournament, followed by reunions. Head to the College Park District for the pre-game street festival at 3:30 p.m. and The Party on the Plaza at 4 p.m. Cheer on the Homecoming parade at 5:45 p.m., then get loud at the pep rally.

The men’s basketball team faces Fordham at 7:30 p.m. at College Park Center. Tickets are $7-20 at utatickets.com.

Today, Thursday, Nov. 12, is the deadline to enter the Homecoming 5K and to reserve tickets for the Greek alumni and student leaders reunions and the Party on the Plaza.

Order Homecoming event tickets online.

UT System Day festivities Friday

Wear your Maverick attire when celebrating UT System Day 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Friday, Nov. 13, in the Palo Duro Lounge of the E.H. Hereford University Center.

The celebration goes online with the hashtag #ALLUT, joining with System colleagues across Texas. Take a picture or two in the photo spot, post them to your favorite social media site, and follow along as others across Texas do the same.

Departments can join the celebration with a table to distribute promotional materials. Register online.

UT System Day is sponsored by the Office of the President, Staff Advisory Council, the UT System Employee Advisory Council, and the Office of Human Resources.

See more information on UT System Day website.

UTA receives $1.5 million to increase Ph.D.s in areas of national need

The departments of mathematics and computer science and engineering have been awarded a total of $1.5 million for two U.S. Department of Education grants to help students earn doctoral degrees in areas of national need.

The highly competitive Graduate Assistance in Areas of National Need, or GAANN, grants will provide fellowships over the next three years to assist graduate students of superior ability who demonstrate financial need. UTA was the only Texas school awarded funding during the 2015 GAANN grant cycle.

Tuncay Aktosun, professor of mathematics, is the principal investigator on the $923,000 mathematics GAANN grant. Ishfaq Ahmad, professor of computer science and engineering, is the principal investigator on the $600,000 computer science and engineering grant, the department’s second GAANN award.

Read more about the GAANN grants.

Beam me up: Alex Weiss, right, UTA Distinguished Professor of Physics, is the principal investigator on a grant for developing a next generation positron beam facility.

Physicists use beams of antimatter to investigate the characteristics of advanced materials

UTA researchers are developing a next generation positron beam facility that will enable them to analyze the properties of advanced materials for future electronics applications such as ultra compact high-speed computers and ultra small high-powered batteries.

Initial research is focusing on the characteristics of graphene, a versatile pure carbon material 200 times stronger than steel that is expected to provide ecologically friendly, sustainable solutions across a huge variety of applications including electronics and biotechnology.

A $640,608 National Science Foundation Major Research Instrumentation Development Grant funded the project to build the enhanced beam and develop the UTA team’s initial projects. Alex Weiss, a UTA Distinguished Professor of Physics, is the principal investigator on the grant, which continues through 2016.

Read more about positron beam facility.

Parking garages, lots closed for Homecoming

Parking for Homecoming events will affect parking on the campus' east side through Sunday, Nov. 15.

Guests for the Distinguished Alumni Gala today, Thursday, Nov. 12, can use lots F11 and 39.

The first floor of College Park North and Park Central garages will close Thursday for parade vehicle staging. Park Central will reopen Sunday Nov. 15, and Park North will reopen Monday, Nov. 16.

Parking lot F12 will be closed Saturday, Nov. 14. Lot F13 will be reserved Saturday for parade dignitaries and VIP attendees.

Spaniolo Street will be closed 9 a.m. Friday-midnight Saturday between UTA Boulevard and Third Street.

Emergency electrical generator testing set for Friday afternoon

Facilities Management will test the emergency electrical generators on some buildings 1-2:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 13.

Buildings to be tested are Carlisle Hall, Engineering Lab Building, Engineering Research Building, Geoscience Building, Hammond Hall, Nedderman Hall, Pickard Hall, Trimble Hall, and Woolf Hall.

The test will affect only the electrical services tied to each building’s generator, not the entire building. There will be a slight “blip” of a half-second as the electrical service transfers to the generator and another as it is transferred back to the normal building service.

For questions, call Toby Buhrkuhl at 972-832-1490 or Jeff Johnson at 817-798-8456.

Sharky advice Daymond John, FUBU founder and Shark Tank cast member, shared his business savvy when he spoke at the Maverick Speakers Series on Tuesday at College Park Center. John visited with VIPs and alumni at a reception hosted by Texas Trust and at a dinner in the Hospitality Suite. See more photos.

UTSW hosts info session on collaborative research resources

Faculty can learn more about resources available at UT Southwestern and its Center for Translational Medicine (CTM) noon-1:30 p.m. Monday Nov. 16, in Room 549 in Pickard Hall.

Robert Toto, principal investigator for CTM, will  presentation details about collaborative research opportunities.

UTSW resources available to the UTA research community include databases, facilities, nursing teams, different cores. Read about the core facilities.

RSVP to Mary-Colette Lybrand at marycolette.lybrand@uta.edu.

Grant writing workshops aimed at research faculty

Research Administration offers tailor-made seminars on Writing Winning Grant Proposals to help research faculty improve their grant-writing skills.

The seminars are Thursday-Friday, Dec. 10-11, in the Rio Grande Ballroom of the E.H. Hereford University Center. The core program is 8:30 a.m.-noon Thursday and covers core principles and writing for specific aims and objectives. The session for the National Science Foundation is 1-4:30 p.m. Thursday. The National Institutes of Health workshop is 8:30 a.m.-noon Friday.

All participants receive an extensive handout, as well as a copy of The Grant Application Writer’s Workbook, either for the NIH or NSF.

RSVP by Sunday, Nov. 15 to Amy Osborn at osborn@uta.edu with your name, department, position, and a departmental cost center to charge the workbook. Specify which workbook is needed.

Canned heat Wally Trejo, advertising junior, tries to stay warm early Wednesday morning during the Omega Delta Phi Fraternity 24-hour canned food drive on the library mall.

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.

OIT continues continues to implement NetIDplus, which will require two-factor authentication when you remotely access VPN. Later, NetIDplus will be expanded to UTShare and additional UTA applications. 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.

Be part of Orientation Involvement Fairs

University departments and registered student organizations are encouraged to host an information table at New Maverick Orientation's Involvement Fairs. The next fairs are Thursday, Nov. 19, and Saturday, Dec. 5.

These sessions are an opportunity to share information about your programs and services with incoming students. There are a limited number of tables available, so register your group in advance.

Visit the Involvement Fair website for details and to register.

Adopt from Angel Tree in Leadership Center

Make a child's holiday wish come true this season through the Salvation Army Angel Tree. Choose an infant to young teen to sponsor by yourself, with friends, or with your department.

Adopt an angel by Tuesday, Nov. 24, in the Leadership Center in Suite B 160 of the lower level of the E.H. Hereford University Center. Drop off those gifts 9 a.m.-4 p.m. weekdays by Monday, Nov. 30. For questions, call the Leadership Center at 2-9220.

Plan for departmental summer camps

If your department is interested in sponsoring a day or overnight summer camp, check the Conference Services website for information and requirements for making your program a success.

The Summer Camp Guide outlines information needed to host a summer program on campus. All camps are required to complete a Request to Host form for approval. Complete the housing and dining forms as soon as possible.

Questions? Contact Maggie Quinn at mquinn@uta.edu.

Thursday, Nov. 12

Qualitative Research Brown-bag Meetups Yekang Ko and Ann Foss, assistant professors of planning and landscape architecture, "Measuring Climate Literacy: Using Survey Data for Interdisciplinary Environmental Education." Noon-1 p.m., Room 414, Central Library. Qualitative Research Meetup.

Current Research on Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Panelists Alexa Smith-Osborne, associate professor of social work; Cheryl Anderson, associate professor of nursing; and Mary Kate Kenworthy, readjustment counselor for Veterans Affairs. 4-6 p.m., sixth floor parlor, Central Library. Veterans Upward Bound.

Friday, Nov. 13

Position and Workforce Management Register online. 8:30-10:30 a.m., Room E200C, Continuing Education Building. Business Affairs.

LINK Lab Lecture Series Throy Campbell, “Higher Education in the Face of Labor Market Change.” 12:30-1:30 p.m., Room 246, Nedderman Hall. Also, Catherine Spann, “The Scientific Benefits of Mindfulness,” Nov. 19. LINK Research Lab.

Monday, Nov. 16

Safe Zone Ally Training Register online. 9 a.m.-noon, Guadalupe Room, E.H. Hereford University Center. LGBTQA Program.

Financial Statements and Reconciliation Process Register online. 2-4 p.m., Room E200C, Continuing Education Building. Business Affairs.

Navajo WWII Code Talker Samuel Holiday Samuel Holiday, right, Silver Medal of Honor recipient and WWII Navajo code talker. Part of National Native American Heritage Month. Free. 7 p.m., Room 101, College Hall. Native American Student Association.

Tuesday, Nov. 17

Goolsby Leadership Lecture Mary-Uhl Bien of Texas Christian University, “Leadership in the Workforce.” Free. 7 p.m., Bluebonnet Ballroom, E.H. Hereford University. Goolsby Leadership Academy.

Wednesday, Nov. 18

Focus on Faculty Traci Freling, associate professor of marketing, "The Selective Generosity of Donors: How Victim Identifiability Affects Philanthropy.” Free. Noon-1:30 p.m., sixth floor, Central Library. UTA Libraries.

Anderson Sports Performance Lecture Series James Pollifrone, president of Arlington Orthopedic Associates, “Treating the Whole Patient: Case Studies From the Athletic Arena to the Weekend Warrior.” Noon, Lone Star Auditorium, Maverick Activities Center. Kinesiology.

Requisitions Register online. 8:30-11 a.m., Room E200C, Continuing Education Building. Business Affairs.

Managing Projects and Making Decisions Register online. 9-11 a.m., Room 200, Wetsel Service Center. Human Resources.

Thursday, Nov. 19

Disability Studies Lecture Catherine Kudlick, “Disabling Cures: Rescuing History’s ‘Incurables’ from the Clutches of the Present.” Free. 3:30-5 p.m. Room 104, University Hall. Disability Studies.

LINK Lab Lecture Series Catherine Spann, “The Scientific Benefits of Mindfulness.” 12:30-1:30 p.m., Room 246, Nedderman Hall. LINK Research Lab.

Genomic Core Facility Info Seminar Learn about next-gen sequencing and how Illumina MiSeq desktop sequencer can enhance your research. Register online. 8:30-11:30 a.m., Room 227, Pickard Hall. Genomics Core Facility, Biology.

Friday, Nov. 20

Payment Vouchers Register online. 8:30-10:30 a.m., Room E200C, Continuing Education Building. Business Affairs.

Fundamental Skills for Supervisors and Managers Register online. 10 a.m.-noon, Room 200, Wetsel Service Center. Human Resources.

UTARI Lunch and Learn Christopher Ray, right, associate professor of kinesiology. Register online. Shuttle available. Lunch provided. Noon, UTARI, 7300 Jack Newell Blvd. S., Fort Worth. UTA Research Institute.

Peer Observation of Teaching Training Learn about this powerful tool for professional growth, documenting great teaching, and sharing new ideas. Register online. 1-4 p.m., Room 415, Central Library. Also, 9 a.m.-noon Dec. 11. Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence, Faculty Affairs.

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

Volleyball Mavs sweep Louisiana on last road trip

UTA's volleyball team rode its momentum to complete a two-game road sweep, downing Louisiana-Monroe 3-0 in Sun Belt play Saturday. The Mavs completed the season sweep after downing the Louisiana-Lafayette 3-0 Friday.

The Mavericks, taking all six sets during the Louisiana road swing, improved to 18-9 overall and 9-6 in conference play.

UTA ends the regular season by hosting South Alabama at 1 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 15, at College Park Center.

Sports Shorts

• The Movin' Mavs Fall Tournament ended with a sweep by both the men's and women's wheelchair basketball teams last weekend at College Park Center. Competitors included Alabama, Arizona State, Auburn, Dallas Mavericks, DFW Freewheelers, Oklahoma City, and Oklahoma Rolling Thunder. Next is the Lady Movin' Mavs Home Tournament on Friday-Saturday, Dec. 5-6.

• The women’s basketball game against the Baylor Bears in the 2015 Preseason WNIT Friday, Nov. 13, will be broadcast on Fox Sports Southwest Plus.

• Women's basketball has a few changes this year. NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel approved revisions to start with the 2015-16 season. Read about the women’s basketball rule changes.

Intramural deadline for poker, innertube water polo

Upcoming intramural sports deadlines are poker, Monday, Nov. 16; innertube water polo, Sunday, Nov. 22; 3-on-3 wheelchair basketball, Tuesday, Dec. 8; college football bowl pick 'em, Sunday, Dec. 13; badminton, Sunday, Dec. 20; billiards, Wednesday, Jan. 6; racquetball, Tuesday, Jan. 12; and table tennis, Thursday, Jan. 14.

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.)

Thursday, Nov. 12

Faculty Chamber Recital Free. 7:30 p.m., Irons Recital Hall, Fine Arts Building. Music.

Friday, Nov. 13

UT System Day Wear your Maverick attire and celebrate UT System Day. UTA joined the UT System 50 years ago. Free. 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., Palo Duro Lounge, E.H. Hereford University Center. Human Resources, UT System Day.

Apollo's Flight Live music and visual effects mingle for this original performance. See trailer. Tickets $15 students, up to age 12; $20 general public, call 2-1183. 7 p.m., Planetarium. Also, Saturday, Nov. 14; Friday-Saturday, Nov. 20-21. Planetarium.

Wind Symphony Concert Tickets. $9, $6 students, seniors. 7:30 p.m., Irons Recital Hall, Fine Arts Building. Music.

Friends of the Library Julie Kibler, author of Calling Me Home: A Novel. Free. 7:30 p.m., sixth floor parlor, Central Library. UT Arlington Libraries, Friends of the Library.

Saturday, Nov. 14

Faculty Bassoon Recital Laura Bennett Cameron, senior lecturer of bassoon. Free. 7:30 p.m., Irons Recital Hall, Fine Arts Building. Music.

Sunday, Nov. 15

Volleyball Mavericks vs. South Alabama. Staff Appreciation/Senior Day; VB Club Team Night. Tickets $5; use code STAFFVB for $3 tickets. 1 p.m., College Park Center. Athletics.

Monday, Nov. 16

Trumpet Studio Recital Free. 7:30 p.m., Irons Recital Hall, Fine Arts Building. Music.

Tuesday, Nov. 17

Clavier Piano Recital Free. 7:30 p.m., Irons Recital Hall, Fine Arts Building. Music.

Deck the Mall Welcome the holiday season with music, hot chocolate, and lighting up the Library mall. Free. 7 p.m., Library mall. EXCEL Campus Activities.

Wednesday, Nov. 18

Great American Smoke Out 10 a.m.–2 p.m., Palo Duro Lounge, E.H. Hereford University Center. Health Services.

'The Man Who Came to Dinner' Classic comedy by Moss Hart and George Kaufman. Tickets $7 faculty, staff, students, seniors; $10 general public. 8 p.m., Mainstage Theatre, Fine Arts Building. Also, 8 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, Nov. 19-21; 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 22. Theatre Arts.

Thursday, Nov. 19

Guest Wind Recital Stephen F. Austin University wind faculty. Free. 7:30 p.m., Irons Recital Hall, Fine Arts Building. Music.

Transgender Day of Remembrance Finn Jones from Transcendence DFW and candlelight vigil. 6-8 p.m., Student Congress Chambers, E.H. Hereford University Center. LGBTQA Program.

Friday, Nov. 20

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

Friday Night Film: 'Straight Outta Compton' Rated R. 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, Nov. 21

UTA Symphony Orchestra Concert Tickets. $9, $6 students, seniors. 7:30 p.m., Irons Recital Hall, Fine Arts Building. Music.

Holiday Extravaganza A family-oriented holiday celebration with arts and crafts representing a variety of winter holidays, cookie decorating, and pictures with Santa. Free. 11 a.m., Palo Duro Lounge, E.H. Hereford University Center. Freshmen Leaders on Campus.

Sunday, Nov. 22

Bassoon Studio Recital Free. 5:30 p.m., Irons Recital Hall, Fine Arts Building. Music.

Monday, Nov. 23

Voice Division Recital Free. Noon, Irons Recital Hall, Fine Arts Building. Music.

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

Tuesday, Nov. 24

Viola Studio Recital Free. 7:30 p.m., Irons Recital Hall, Fine Arts Building. Music.

Women's Basketball Mavericks vs. Seton Hall. Tickets $7-20. 7 p.m., College Park Center. Also, vs. Missouri Valley College, Saturday, Nov. 28, Recover from Black Friday: Post-Game Autographs. Athletics.

Coming Up

Concerts and Recitals Honors Recital, noon, and String Chamber Recital, 7:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 30; UTA Jazz Concert, 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 1; UTA Choir Concert, tickets $6-9, 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 3; Flute Studio Recital, 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 4. Free, unless noted. Irons Recital Hall, Fine Arts Building. Music.

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. UTA 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.)