April 2007 Newsletter
A Message from Dr. Lamas
Dear
Friends, Colleagues and Students,
It's been a great year! As we approach the end to another academic year of wonderful events and impressive co-curricular efforts, I'm glad to reflect on the many successes and milestones we've accomplished in the Division of Student Affairs.
Although we've already had a year packed full of great events, more great things are coming:
- This week we will honor our many student scholars and leaders during Academic Excellence Week.
- The Big Event on April 14 was bigger than ever this year, providing multiple volunteer opportunities throughout the City of Arlington and Tarrant County for more than 450 students, faculty and staff.
- Spring Fest '07, an exciting outdoor concert and festival featuring hit artists Switchfoot and Joe Nichols, will take place in Maverick Stadium on April 21.
- Finally, we'll celebrate the great accomplishments of the Class of '07 at the Graduation Celebration. The program will include fireworks, a band performance, the firing of the Carlisle Cannons, student speeches and a keynote address from First Lady Laura Bush.
All this activity does not stop for the summer as we gear up for New Student Orientation, the most recent addition to Student Affairs' long list of programs and services. Turning toward the fall, I would like to remind you of our annual student Leadership Retreat that will take place in August. Don't forget to join in as we welcome our new and returning students, faculty and staff during Maverick Stampede welcome week and at MavsMeet: New Student Convocation and After Party featuring the Randy Rogers Band.
Last but not least, I would like to wish all of our students the best of luck on their final exams and congratulate those who are graduating in May. Look forward with me to all of the great things to come. Have a wonderful summer!
Sincerely,
Frank Lamas
Vice President for Student Affairs
Academic Excellence Week
Academic Excellence Week, which is this week, had its beginnings in UT Arlington's Centennial Observance during the 1995-96 school year.
The centerpiece event is the President's Convocation for Academic Excellence, which will take place this year at 3:30 p.m. Thursday in Texas Hall. The outstanding students honored there include University Scholars, ACES award recipients, McNair summer interns, the Carolyn A. Barros Community Service-Learning Award recipients, and the OneBook essay contest winners.
Other events include awards ceremonies of the College of Liberal Arts, the College of Science, the College of Engineering, the College of Education, the School of Nursing, the School of Social Work, SOAR Learning Services, FLOC (Freshman Leaders on Campus), Intercollegiate Athletics, and the 40th Who's Who Breakfast sponsored by Student Affairs.
A special event will be the installation of the 300th chapter of Phi Kappa Phi, a prestigious academic honor society. Inducted this year will be those members of the faculty and staff who received the honor during their collegiate years. In the future, outstanding faculty, staff and students will be extended invitations to join.
Graduation Celebration
UT Arlington's Graduation Celebration will take place Friday, May 11 and will feature First Lady Laura Bush.
In addition to the traditional speakers and the fireworks display, there will be a few additions to the evening's festivities. For the first time, a student speaker from the College of Liberal Arts will join President Spaniolo, Provost Dunn, a UT System Regent and the First Lady. After the fireworks, the graduates and other UT Arlington students are invited to listen to the sounds of Randy Rogers. Refreshments will be available for sale. Students should bring their MavExpress IDs.
Movin' Mavs Again in Nationals
In a rebuilding year, the UTA Movin' Mavs qualified for participation in the 30th Annual Intercollegiate Wheelchair Basketball tournament held March 21-25 in Edinboro, Pa.
With a six-man squad, the Movin' Mavs opened tournament play with an impressive defensive performance that held the Missouri Tigers to 18 total points while posting 64 on offense.
During second round play, the Mavs came up against a much taller and stronger Minnesota team. While the game was much closer than the 52-38 final score, the Mavs were upset in their quest to repeat as national champions.
In a consolation game against the University of Arizona, the Movin' Mavs began working on "next year" by dominating both ends of the court and posting a 69-44 win.
Junior guard Danny Fik was named Sportsman of the Year while junior forward Aaron Gouge was named to the First Team All-American squad, and then was named as the Most Valuable Player for the year. Equally significant, Danny Fik, Aaron Gouge, and freshman David Wilkes were all selected to the Team USA tryouts, an honor accorded to the very best and those selected will represent the nation in the Gold Cup and paralympic competition.
The Movin' Mavs are already beginning practice for next year and hitting the recruiting trail.
SpringFest Kicks Off on Saturday
You are invited to the SpringFest '07 Music Concert and Festival on Saturday, April 21, in Maverick Stadium.
This exciting and energizing event will feature live music performances by alternative rock band Switchfoot and country music artist Joe Nichols in addition to other music acts, games, food, beer, soft drinks, and local merchants and vendors.
Gates open at 5 p.m. Tickets are now on sale and prices range from $10 to $17. Visit the event Web site at http://www.uta.edu/springfest to buy tickets and get other information. Seating will be open on the stadium football field and lawn chairs and blankets are welcome. Bleacher seating will also be available. For more information about this event, contact University Events at 817-272-2963.
About the headline acts:
Switchfoot's most recent album, "Oh Gravity," continues to receive critical acclaim and fan approval. Its previous album, "The Beautiful Letdown" has sold over 2 million albums in the U.S. alone and reached double platinum status.
Joe Nichols' most recent album, "III" has hit the charts having sold over 500,000 albums and is a certified gold record with songs like "Tequila Makes Her Clothes Fall Off," "I'll Wait For You," and "Size Matters (Someday)."
Student Affairs Retreat June 4-5
The retreat will start June 4 with a full day of presentations and discussion
at the new Santa Fe Station in downtown Fort Worth and wrap up on June
5 with a half day of activities on the main campus in Arlington.
Coming to us from East Stroudsburg University in Pennsylvania, Interim Vice President for Student Affairs Dr. Doreen M. Tobin will present and facilitate discussions on three assessment related topics:
- "Creating a Culture of Assessment" – how to incorporate assessment into your everyday departmental activities
- Using CAS for program reviews, strategic planning, or evaluation
- Qualitative techniques – collecting relevant data for assessment
Every department within the division will be completing the Council for the Advancement of Standards in Higher Education, or CAS, self-assessment over the next academic year.
Also during the retreat, Dr. Lamas will acknowledge some of the division's accomplishments over the last year and present his vision for the future.
Alexis Collazo
Student Profile: In each issue of the newsletter, a student in one of the departments in Student Affairs will be highlighted to show the contribution students make in the division.
Alexis
Collazo is the president of the Multicultural Greek Council and a good
example of a Greek Life student.
Originally from San Antonio, Alexis has been a member of UT Arlington's Greek system for four years now and has continued to serve in several leadership positions.
Alexis, a 24-year-old senior, has balanced a dedication to her sorority with a demanding workload in her accounting degree program. She has also held leadership roles in several key student organizations on campus, including the Latin American Student Organization and the Association of Mexican American Students.
While managing her academic and extracurricular activities, Alexis also makes time for the U.S. Army as a reservist, currently serving the fifth year of an eight-year contract with the armed forces.
Alexis personifies the true essence of a Greek member – dedicated and willing to give back.
"Being Greek has definitely been my greatest experience here at the University of Texas at Arlington," Alexis said. "I have met and worked with a lot of awesome people. I have learned a great deal about myself, especially as a leader. But most of all, I have made memories and friendships that will last a lifetime."
Student Governance and Organizations
Department Profile: In each issue of the newsletter, a different department within Student Affairs will be highlighted to show what it does and how it's helping build better students.
Since 1922, Student Governance has been the primary way for students to participate in policy-making directly affecting their education stay at the University. In fact, the department's motto is "Make a Difference, Make Some Memories."
The department consists of many components:
Student Congress is the governing body comprised of elected representatives from each of UT Arlington's schools and colleges. Its mission is to incorporate students into the university's governance processes.
Nine Constituent Councils, each representing a school or college, are responsible for providing programs, publications, and addressing policy issues for the students they represent.
The Graduate Student Senate, the student governing body that deals with issues pertaining to graduate students, consists of representatives from all the graduate programs.
UTA Ambassadors are led by Mr. and Ms. UTA and help with campus tours and a number of campus traditions, such as Maverick Swap and Ask Me Days. Freshman Leaders on Campus, or FLOC, strives to promote freshman involvement, community service, and university pride. UTA-HOSTS!, which stands for "Helping Other Students to Succeed," is a peer mentoring program that helps new students adjust to UT Arlington.
UT Arlington has more than 280 registered student organizations, ranging from honorary to recreational groups, in which students can find worthwhile experiences to enhance their education.
The Leadership Commonwealth is a Freshman Leadership Interest Group, supported by both Student Governance and Organizations and the Leadership Center.
The office is located in the University Center's lower level and can be contacted by e-mail mavorgs@uta.edu or by phone (817-272-2293). Our Web site is http://www.uta.edu/studentgovernance.
Promotions and New Hires
Michael Knox is the new Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs/Director of Orientation and will begin June 18. Michael has worked at Bellarmine University, the University of Kentucky and was a student at Texas A&M. He will oversee New Student Orientation, Student Publications, the Office for Students with Disabilities and other division projects.
Jake Hayes has been hired to be the new Coordinator for New Student Orientation and will begin May 15. Jake comes here from Arkansas State University.
Committee Looking for Newest Staff Member
A search committee will be bringing candidates to campus over the next couple of weeks for the new Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Coordinator. The coordinator will serve as a primary advocate and resource for sexual assault victims and make appropriate referrals to campus and community agencies. Due to the serious nature of this office, it will be housed in the same suite as Student Judicial Affairs and Legal Services. Once established, this will be an essential resource for our students.
Department News
Campus Recreation
Phase I of the Maverick Activities Center is on schedule to be completed in September, thanks to the construction team's work to keep this project up to date. A Web cam of the project can be seen at http://www.uta.edu/mac.
Mark your calendar now for the ribbon-cutting ceremony on September 13 at 4 p.m.
Next year marks the 40th anniversary of the Intramural Sports program, and each year the program continues to grow. Participation has increased this year 20 percent. The program's staff, led by assistant director Drew Barfield and coordinator Tak Momose, is trying new avenues to attract and target its participants, such as Facebook ads, flyers and posters, ground signs, mailouts and championship T-shirts.
When the MAC is completed, Campus Recreation plans to offer more to future intramural calendars so that more participants can "Be Active and to Be Involved" with Intramural Sports.
The Leadership Center
The Leadership Academy's Spring 2007 Meet and Greet was held March 21 and highlights included:
- Keynote speaker Arlington City Councilmember Lana Wolff, who gave the students insight on life as a public servant
- Matthew Betsill, Grady Hill and Holly Lortie were recognized as the Academy's Outstanding Seniors
- 12 new members were inducted
- 10 seniors were recognized for their completion of the Leadership Academy program
The UTA Leadership Recognition Ceremony will be April 25 and is sponsored by the Office of the President, the Division of Student Affairs, the Alumni Association and Student Activities. This annual event honors outstanding UTA students, faculty and staff leaders.
On April 14, students from EDUC 1130, Foundations of Leadership, along with their Peer Leadership Trainers, participated in this year's Big Event. Volunteers were excited to be giving back to the community and putting their team working skills to the test.
Office of Student Judicial Affairs and Legal Services
The office is updating the Student Code of Conduct and, pending all approvals, will take effect this fall. Updates will make the wording more educational and more specific for some violations. SJA has also created new brochures for students and faculty on the Code of Conduct, the Regents' Rules, and the role our office takes in regard to student behavior and the discipline process.
Recently SJA recommended a program called AlcoholEdu, which would be used as a preventative educational program for students before they came to campus. Studies show most students binge drink during their first six weeks away from home.
If you would like to help plan "Mavericks Use Their Own Minds" Academic Integrity Week in October or "Promoting Positive Traditions" Hazing Prevention Week in September or if you have any suggestions for programs, please contact Tami Tucker at tami@uta.edu.
Legal Services hosted a landlord-tenant seminar and is preparing a seminar on identity theft.
Office for Students with Disabilities
In addition to helping students who need academic accommodations, many staff members have been busy with various programs and outreach activities. On Feb. 7, in cooperation with the UT Arlington Career Services Department, the office hosted a job recruiter from the Workforce Recruitment Program in Washington, D.C. Eleven students participated in interviews for possible summer internships and/or permanent jobs.
The department also hosted an informative audio conference in which disability staff from Tarrant County College and TCU attended. On March 1, Dianne Hengst presented to the UTA Advising Association on the topic "What Every Advisor Needs to Know about Advising Students with Disabilities." Dr. Hengst also presented to Region 12 and Southlake Carroll High School students and parents on the topic "Transitioning from High School to College: Tips for Students with Disabilities."
Finally, all of the disability staff participated in a regional meeting with the Texas Department of Rehabilitative Services on how to help students with disabilities in the transition from high school to college.
Office of Vice President of Student Affairs
The division is sponsoring a free cookout and giveaway at the April 27 game against Northwestern State at 6:30 p.m. The cookout will begin at 6 p.m. in front of Clay Gould Ballpark. Come by and bring a copy of this newsletter for free food and Maverick spirit giveaways. It's first come, first served. Tickets to the game are free for students with MavExpress ID and division staff. To reserve your staff ticket or for more information, contact John Hillas at 817-272-2963 or hillas@uta.edu.
The orientation Web site is now live at http://www.uta.edu/studentaffairs/orientation-home for access. The new site was designed in conjunction with University Publications and features a sleek new look and user-friendly navigation. Valuable information such as dates, schedules, advising and frequently asked questions can be found there. Incoming freshmen can register for New Student Orientation on the site.
Student Governance and Organizations
Student Governance welcomes Rebecca Garner, or Becky as she's known, as our new department secretary. Becky's son, Tyler, is a player on the Movin' Mavs wheelchair basketball team, and her husband, Douglas, assists Coach Jim Hayes.
Jennifer Lopez is now "starring" as the student coordinator of UTA-HOSTS! Jennifer, who served as secretary of FLOC this year, replaces Craig Allen who has held the position ably for the past two years.
Congratulations to Carter Bedford who was recently elected president of the Texas Leadership Consortium for 2007-2008.
The hallmarks of spring in SGO include Student Elections which ended Tuesday, the Student Recognition Banquet on May 1 and the Student Governance Retreat on May 15-16, which will prepare student leaders for their roles in fall 2007.
Student Publications
The Shorthorn took home several awards in recent national, regional and state competitions. The largest honor was from the Texas Associated Press Managing Editors who chose The Shorthorn as the best college newspaper in the state for the fourth consecutive year. The Columbia Scholastic Press Association also honored The Shorthorn with a Silver Crown Award. Only 10 school papers from around the nation received a Crown Award. Nine individual staffers picked up awards as well.
The Texas Intercollegiate Press Association gave The Shorthorn 16 individual awards, including best sports reporting for covering the Movin' Mavs national title, best picture story for Oozeball, best ad design and best Web site.
Also, the Society of Professional Journalists handed out 10 individual awards to The Shorthorn, including two first-place honors to Photo Editor Dominic Bracco and another first place to former Photo Editor Mark Roberts, who won a national SPJ award two years ago.
Committee News
Benchmarking Committee
The committee has completed its report on student compensation. The committee chair will be sending out the guidelines for staff awards established as part of the 2005-06 committee charges. Staff awards will be part of the Student Affairs Retreat.
Communications Committee
Committee members are pleased to announce the completion of a comprehensive brochure for the Division of Student Affairs, outlining our wide variety of departments, programs and services. This brochure is a great resource for sharing co-curricular and student life resources and opportunities at the University. If you would like to receive brochures for your office collection, please contact John Hillas, Coordinator-University Events & Marketing, at hillas@uta.edu.
Calendar of Events
April 21
Springfest '07 – Music festival
with Joe Nichols and other great bands at Maverick Stadium.
April 25
Leadership Recognition Ceremony – This ceremony in the
Bluebonnet Ballroom will recognize some of UT Arlington's most outstanding
student leaders, organizations, and faculty/staff advisers.
May 11
Graduation Celebration
The Division of Student Affairs Newsletter for staff members will be published periodically throughout the year to keep people informed about what's happening throughout the division. Enjoy.
Staff: Chris Whitley, Mardie Sorensen