MavWire 2016 Archive » MavWire — Thursday, July 21, 2016

Go to website for news about campus carry law

The right of individuals with a license to carry a concealed handgun onto a public college campus commences Monday, Aug. 1.

The law known as “campus carry” was passed by the 84th Texas Legislature. UTA’s provisions for implementing this law were accepted by the UT System Board of Regents at the July board meeting.

UTA’s campus carry website has extensive information on implementation of the law. Please consult the site for the most updated information, including the UTA Campus Carry Policies and Procedures.

Look for upcoming news about additional useful materials and resources such as a training presentation and more.

Titans finalists: Clockwise from top left, Dr. Purnendu “Sandy” Dasgupta, Dr. Liping Tang, Dr. Laura Mydlarz, and Dr. Kevin Schug.

Tech Titan Awards names four UTA professors as finalists

Four UTA professors have been named finalists for the 2016 Tech Titans awards, which recognizes the educators’ outstanding innovations in science and engineering.

Tech Titans Technology Inventors Award finalists are:

• Purnendu “Sandy” Dasgupta, Hamish Small Chair in Ion Analysis and James Garrett Professor in the Dpartment of Chemistry and Biochemistry
• Liping Tang, professor of bioengineering

Tech Titans of the Future University Level Award finalists are:

• Kevin Schug, Shimadzu Distinguished Professor of Analytical Chemistry
• Laura Mydlarz, associate professor and associate chair of biology

Read more.

Dr. Peter E. Crouch

Crouch named dean of College of Engineering

Peter E. Crouch, dean of engineering for the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa and the former dean of Arizona State University’s Ira A. Fulton School of Engineering, joins UTA in August as dean of the nationally ranked College of Engineering and as a professor of electrical engineering.

As dean, Dr. Crouch has led significant enrollment growth, established strong partnerships with businesses and workforce leaders, and elevated the college's national rankings. He has helped secure millions of dollars in federal support for major research centers focused on renewable energy, environmental security, space flight, and flexible electronics displays, among other areas of emphasis.

Read more.

Dr. Gene Moo Lee

UTA researchers use text-mining techniques info on potential high-tech mergers, acquisitions

A UTA researcher has created a new method that uses big data analytics and text-mining techniques to improve market intelligence and explain potential mergers and acquisitions of startup companies in the fast-moving, high-technology industry.

Gene Moo Lee, assistant professor of information systems and operations management, says the technique can help industry giants such as Google, Microsoft, and Yahoo identify companies with the right products or technology in the vast startup universe.

Read more.

Dr. Purnendu 'Sandy' Dasgupta

New system to measure dry blood samples used in infant screening testing

UTA researchers have demonstrated that electrical conductivity can be an effective means to precisely measure the amount of blood present in dry blood spot analysis, providing a new alternative to the current preferred approach of measuring sodium levels.

Purnendu "Sandy" Dasgupta, Hamish Small Chair in Ion Analysis and James Garrett Professor in UTA’s Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, co-authored the research findings in the journal Analytical Chemistry.

Read more.

Vote for your SAC representative

The Staff Advisory Council election runs through Wednesday, Aug. 3. Eligible voters in this election cycle are staff members below assistant director who do not report directly to a dean or vice president. Go to the SAC website and log in using your NetID and password. Click on Nominate. Select the name from the listing to nominate your district’s SAC representatives.

Emergency generator test on Friday

Facilities Management will test the emergency electrical generators on some buildings 1-2 p.m. Friday, July 22. Buildings to be tested are the College Park Parking Garages (Center and South garages), Engineering Lab Building, Engineering Research Building, Geoscience Building, Nedderman Hall, and Woolf Hall. Questions? Call Toby Buhrkuhl at 972-832-1490 or Jeff Johnson at 817-798-8456.

UT Share and MyMav unavailable last weekend of July

UT Share and MyMav will be unavailable for extended maintenance from 5 p.m. Friday, July 29, to 3 p.m. Sunday, July 31.

During the maintenance, a user may receive a message that the user ID or password is invalid. Please do not contact the Help Desk if you receive this error message. Only critical UTA personnel will have access to the MyMav system.

Visit the system status page to receive updates. Additional information is on the maintenance update page. Questions? Contact the Help Desk at helpdesk@uta.edu or 2-2208.

Benefits Fair covers enrollment details Monday at MAC

Learn about changes for 2016-17 at the Benefits Fair 9 a.m.-noon Friday, July 17, in the second-floor lounge of the Maverick Activities Center.

Both insurance and retirement plan providers will be available to answer questions as well as conduct presentations throughout the day. Representatives from the Office of Employee Benefits with the UT System also will be at the fair. Sign up for the door prizes.

Annual enrollment is your opportunity to enroll or make changes to your current insurance coverage without a family status change. The enrollment period runs through Sunday, July 31. Changes in benefit programs will be effective Sept. 1.

Read more about the 2016-17 benefits. For more information, see Employee Benefits Services, call 2-5554, or email benefits@uta.edu.

Use your remaining UT FLEX funds

Be sure to use your remaining UT FLEX money for the 2015-2016 benefit year. The current benefit year will end Aug. 31. Check your UT FLEX account balance online at utflex.com or call Payflex at 866-887-3539. For questions, call the Office of Human Resources at 2-5558.

Use Benefits Value Adviser for copay waiver

Call the UT System Benefits Value Adviser at 866-882-2034 prior to service to waive a $100 copay per MRI and CT scan. Read about how the Benefits Value Adviser can help you save money by calling prior to scheduling health procedures.

Employment information

Check out employment opportunities at uta.edu/jobs. Have questions? Call Human Resources/Employment Services at 2-3461 or TDD 2-8139, or email employment@uta.edu. The University of Texas at Arlington is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer.

Coming Up

Business Affairs Training Register online. Travel and Expenses, 8:30-11:30 a.m. Friday, July 22; Position and Workforce Management, 1:30-3:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 26; Financial Statements and the Reconciliation Process, 8:30-10:30 a.m. Thursday, July 28. All in Room E200C, Enterprise Development Building, 140 W. Mitchell. Business Affairs.

Human Resources Training Register online. Motivating Your Employees, 9-11 a.m. Tuesday, July 26; Fundamental Skills for Supervisors and Managers, 9-11 a.m. Thursday, July 28; Dealing with Difficult Employees and People, 9-11 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 2; Effective Delegation, 2-4 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 9; and Coaching Skills for Supervisors, 2-4 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 10. All in Room 200, Wetsel Service Center. Human Resources.

UTARI Seminar The staff of the UTARI Biomedical Division on project status. Register online. Shuttle available. Lunch provided. Noon, Thursday, July 28, UTARI, 7300 Jack Newell Blvd. S., Fort Worth. UTA Research Institute.

Open House: Veterans Business Outreach Center Learn about the Veterans Business Outreach Center program designed to provide entrepreneurial development services such as business training, counseling, and mentoring, and referrals for eligible veterans owning or considering starting a small business. RSVP to patrick.alcorn@uta.edu. 11 a.m.-7 p.m., formal presentations 11:30 a.m. and 6 p.m., Thursday, July 28, Room 635, Business Building. Business.

Arlington Technology Association UTA engineering alumnus Saty Satyamurti describes his plan for a bus transit system for Arlington, including issues such as population forecasts, bus terminals, routes, fares, and more. RSVP. Free. 7-8 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 3, Room 100, Nedderman Hall. Arlington Technology Association.

(For an expanded list of events, see the Events Calendar.)

Sports Shorts

• Men's golf coach Stuart Deane and associate head coach Casey Devoll won the Effex Management Texas Team Championship with a combined 12-under-131 in the two-day tournament in Austin. Read more.
• Men's golf student-athlete Tanner Gore won the ninth annual Eschenbrenner Amateur Golf Classic at Lone Star Golf Club in El Paso. Read more.
• UTA's Gerald Richey Invitational is the season opener for the men's and women's 2016 cross country schedules, which include four regular-season meets and three postseason races. Read more.

Intramural deadline for poker, MavStrong

Upcoming intramural sport deadlines are poker, today, Thursday, July 21, and MavStrong, Thursday, Aug. 11.

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.)

Coming up

Free Outdoor Movie Bring a chair or a blanket, a picnic, and friends for outdoor movies each Thursday. Free popcorn. Upcoming movies are The Boss (R), today, Thursday, July 21; and The Jungle Book (PG), Thursday, July 28. Free. 9 p.m., lawn behind the Maverick Activities Center. EXCEL Campus Activities.

Dallas Wings Women's professional basketball. Tickets $25-50. College Park Center. Upcoming games are vs. Chicago Sky, 3:30 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 28; vs. Los Angeles Sparks, 7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 2; vs. Washington Mystics, 3:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 4; and vs. New York Liberty, 3:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 11. Dallas Wings.

Ongoing

Visual Resources Gallery: 'Ritual and Animism: Visual Investigations of the Soul and Supernatural in African Art and Artifacts' See artwork and artifacts from the Campbell-Dowdey and Brodie African Art collections. Gallery hours 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Mondays-Fridays. Through Aug. 26. Visual Resources Gallery, Suite 2109, Fine Arts Building. Art and Art History.

Planetarium The summer schedule includes Dynamic Earth; One World, One Sky: Big Bird's Adventure; Pink Floyd; Secret of the Cardboard Rocket; Spacepark 360: Infinity; Texas Stargazing; and We Are Astronomers. Through Aug. 28. Planetarium.

UTA Libraries: 'Academic Evolution: The University of Texas at Arlington' An exhibition of UTA's academic history. Through Aug. 31. Sixth floor, Central Library. UTA Libraries.

UTA Libraries: 'Building a Barrier-Free Campus' Explore how UTA became a model accessible campus for students with disabilities. Sixth floor parlor, Central Library. Through Sept. 16. UTA Libraries, History, College of Liberal Arts’ Festival of Ideas, Office for Students with Disabilities.

(For an expanded list of events, see the Events Calendar.)