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Environmental education: Dr. Melanie Sattler will coordinate the "Engineering Sustainable Engineers" program this fall.

Engineering departments address sustainability

Beginning this fall, three College of Engineering departments will collaborate to infuse their curricula with sustainability concepts from the freshman through the senior year.

Civil Engineering Assistant Professor Melanie Sattler is coordinating the "Engineering Sustainable Engineers" program, which is being underwritten by a $150,000 grant from the National Science Foundation. Her collaborators include Yvette Weatherton and Stephen Mattingly from Civil Engineering, Kambiz Alavi from Electrical Engineering, and Victoria Chen and Jamie Rogers from Industrial and Manufacturing Systems Engineering.

"Sustainability is one of the global grand challenges of the 21st century," Dr. Sattler says. "In order for future generations to enjoy a satisfactory quality of life, the current generation must find ways to meet humanity's needs for energy, shelter, food and water in ways that are environmentally, economically and socially sustainable. This program will equip UT Arlington engineering students with sustainability concepts they can apply to real-world projects and problems."

Sustainability concepts will be integrated into 12 core engineering courses, spanning from "Introduction to Engineering" all the way up through senior design projects. Program developers predict that students will be conditioned to consider sustainability as an integral part of design and will carry this forward throughout their careers.

For more information, see the news release.

Professor subject of U.S. Army
Women's Museum exhibit

Military science Assistant Professor Jeannie Deakyne is featured in an exhibit that opened this week at the U.S. Army Women's Museum at Fort Lee, Va.

"Kevlar and Crowns" profiles American soldiers who have held pageant titles during their service. The women come from ethnically diverse backgrounds, all age ranges and all ranks. Some have multiple deployments with combat action.

Deakyne, who won the titles of Mrs. Texas International 2005 and Mrs. U.S. Beauties 2008, served as a national spokeswoman for the Lupus Foundation of America during her reigns. An Army major, she deployed twice to Iraq with the First Cavalry Division from Fort Hood.

The exhibit highlights that some of the most capable soldiers in today's Army wear high heels and combat boots. Featured women have a Purple Heart, four combat action badges, a combat medic badge, 13 college degrees, six bronze stars and 11 meritorious service medals. They have multiple deployments from the Cold War to the global war on terror and thousands of volunteer hours.

Researcher lauded for pioneering contributions
to sensor networks

Computer science and engineering Professor Sajal Das recently received the prestigious Technical Achievement Award at the IEEE national conference in Los Alamitos, Calif.

The founding director of UT Arlington's Center for Research in Wireless Mobility and Networking, Dr. Das is a National Science Foundation program director and IEEE Computer Society volunteer. In his acceptance speech, he said education is central to individuals realizing their potential.

The Technical Achievement Award recognizes outstanding and innovative contributions to computer and information science and engineering or computer technology. Das was honored for his "pioneering contributions to sensor networks." He is recognized as a leader for his fundamental contributions in pervasive computing and smart environments, and his research results are considered part of the foundational literature in mobile and pervasive computing.

For more information, see the news release.

Summer Commencement ceremonies Aug. 14-16

Summer Commencement ceremonies will be held Aug. 14-16 at Texas Hall.

Ceremonies for the College of Education and the School of Nursing will be held Friday, Aug. 14. School of Social Work, College of Business, College of Engineering and College of Liberal Arts ceremonies are scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 15. The ceremony for the College of Science will be held Sunday, Aug. 16.

The School of Architecture and the School of Urban and Public Affairs will not have summer ceremonies.

For more information, see www.uta.edu/ucomm/commencement.

Lamas selected to lead student services council

Frank Lamas, vice president for student affairs, has been elected president-chair elect of the Council of Student Services Vice Presidents of Texas.

Astronaut visits science camp Dr. Bernard Harris, a physician and former astronaut who was the first African American to walk in space, helps middle school students place the most pennies on their team's cardboard raft before the aluminum foil-covered vessel sinks from the weight at the ExxonMobil Bernard Harris Science Camp last week in the Chemistry and Physics Building. The two-week residential camp engages students in hands-on science experiments and innovative programs to encourage participation in math and science courses in school.

The organization comprises public college and university vice presidents for student affairs across the state.

Dr. Lamas has been vice president for student affairs at UT Arlington since 2005. He is responsible for coordinating and managing the resources of the division to meet the needs of the University's students and community.

Get a free two-week pass at the MAC

Faculty and staff can sign up for a free two-week pass to the Maverick Activities Center now through Aug. 16 by presenting a valid ID at the MAC Services and Information desk and by turning in this coupon. The last day to use the coupon is Aug. 16.

The MAC features cardio machines, circuit training units, free weights, group exercise rooms, basketball courts, volleyball courts, indoor tracks, racquetball courts, badminton courts, a game room and a climbing wall. Memberships for employees and retirees can be paid monthly, by semester or by payroll deduction. Memberships for spouses of employees also are available. For more information, call 2-3277 or visit www.uta.edu/campusrec.

Volunteers needed for move-in day

The Office of Apartment and Residence Life in the Division of Student Affairs is seeking faculty and staff to participate in the 10th annual Residence Hall Move-In Event on Thursday, Aug. 20 from 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Please click the link to volunteer to help our students move in.

This event is part of the Maverick Stampede Welcome Week. For a full schedule, see www.maverickstampede.com.

Strom among first elected as chemical society fellow

Thomas Strom, an adjunct professor in organic chemistry in the College of Science, was chosen for the inaugural class of American Chemical Society Fellows. He will be honored later this month at an ACS meeting in Washington, D.C. The first group of ACS Fellows features 162 members, including 11 from Texas.

Dr. Strom served two years in the U.S. Army at the Pioneering Research Laboratory of Natick Laboratories and worked 32 years for Mobil Research and Development Corp. in Dallas. He has nearly 50 scientific publications, 25 U.S. patents and several foreign patents. While working for Mobil, he taught chemistry courses at night at UT Arlington. After retiring from Mobil, he concentrated on teaching.

Campus network upgrade planned for Friday

The Office of Information Technology is scheduling an upgrade to some of its network equipment. While there are no planned interruptions in service, this is a vital portion of the computing infrastructure that can affect all network traffic both on and off campus. Any outages caused by this maintenance activity will last no longer than 10 minutes. The maintenance is scheduled from 8 p.m. to midnight Friday Aug. 7, historically the lowest level of network activity during the week.

If you have questions or concerns, contact the OIT Help Desk at helpdesk@uta.edu or 2-2208.

Internet Explorer 8 coming Tuesday

Internet Explorer 8 is the newest Web browser developed by Microsoft. Some of the important improvements in IE 8 are faster browsing, enhanced security, scripting improvements and fewer known memory leaks that had contributed to system sluggishness in machines running IE 7. Microsoft now considers IE 8 a "critical" patch, and it will be the default Web browser for the upcoming Windows 7 operating system.

Water fight School of Nursing team members, from left, Oretha Wilson, Dee Dee Freeman and Angelita Winter dodge water balloons Friday at the Balloon Bash on the west lawn of the Maverick Activities Center. Sixteen teams competed in the 12th annual event, which is sponsored by Facilities Management and the custodial department. A team representing the Office of Information Technology won first place.

The Office of Information Technology will distribute IE 8 with normal patches on Tuesday, Aug. 11. You should see a pop-up box that will allow you to download it early, or leave your computer on overnight and it will be installed on your machine. Be sure to hit ctrl+alt+del and choose "Lock Computer" if you leave your machine on overnight. Don't shut it down or you won't receive the update. Reboot your machine on Wednesday, Aug. 12.

If you have questions or concerns, contact the OIT Help Desk at helpdesk@uta.edu or 2-2208.

Online computer store now open

The UT Arlington Computer Store has opened an online store that offers a convenient way to benefit from educational discounts. Items being sold include Microsoft Office 2007 and 2008, Adobe Creative Suites, Mathematica, Matlab, SPSS/PASW, games and more.

Current faculty, staff and students can now order online. Visit the Web site and check out how easy it is to get great deals on all your computer needs without leaving your home or office.

Sign up by Friday for Maverick Cookout

Volunteers are needed for the Maverick Cookout and Activities Fair Day Wednesday, Aug. 26, from 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. at the University Center Mall. If you are interested in flipping hamburgers or working in the serving line, fill out the online volunteer request form. If possible, consider working one of the later time slots. Also, indicate your preferred T-shirt size and the location where you would like your shirt delivered. Please respond by Friday, Aug. 7.

The event annually draws more than 3,000 students. For more information, contact Molly Albart at 2-1104 or molly@uta.edu, or Sara Drischler at 2-2929 or drischler@uta.edu.

HIPAA Privacy Policies and Forms

All current and retired employees enrolled in the UT System's self-insured employee group health plans (UT Select, UT Dental Select and UT Flex) are entitled to receive a Notice of the Privacy Policies and Procedures. The UT System's Office of Employee Group Insurance (EGI) adopted the notice as a health plan in compliance with Title 2 of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) and the federal regulations adopted to implement HIPAA (45 CFR Parts 160 and 164 "the HIPAA Privacy Rule"). All carriers that provide the fully insured group health plans in which current and retired employees also are eligible to enroll through EGI have adopted similar privacy policies.

Food For Thought: Nutrition and a Healthy Living

Come learn ways to implement effective lifestyle changes, including healthy eating habits, snacking on the go, incorporating more exercise into your daily life and other tips for healthy living. Wednesday, Aug. 12, Noon-1 p.m., Maverick Activities Center, Room 101B. See the complete list of training classes.

Employment information

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

Thursday, Aug. 6 EXCEL Summer Movie Series "Angels and Demons" will be shown on the west wall of the Maverick Activities Center. Sponsored by EXCEL Campus Activities. Bring chairs or blankets. Free popcorn will be available, and candy and drinks will be available for purchase. Free and open to the public. The movie will begin at dusk, approximately 8:30 or 9 p.m. Anyone under 17 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. See calendar.

Now through Aug. 8 Special Collections Exhibit "The Road West: Travel Through America" looks at what travelers used to trek across the country, what they saw and how they remembered their trips. Free. Hours are 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Central Library, Special Collections, Sixth Floor. For more information, visit Special Collections or call 2-3393.

Now through Aug. 22 Master of Fine Arts Exhibition The second annual Master of Fine Arts Exhibition features works by a diverse group of graduate student artists at varying stages of their program of study. Free. The Gallery at UTA, Room 169, Fine Arts Building. Films will be screened concurrently in Room 2105. Hours are noon to 5 p.m. Saturdays through Aug. 22. Contact the Department of Art and Art History at 2-2891.

Now through Sept. 30 Fort Worth: A Vision in Glass Gallery 76102 at the Fort Worth Center hosts an exhibit that highlights various disciplines in the glass arts, including glassblowing, kiln-formed glass, flameworking, neon sculpture, stained glass, glass mosaic and cast glass. Free. 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Tuesday and Thursday; 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Saturday. Monday, Wednesday and Friday by appointment only. Contact Christina Graves at 2-5988.

Ongoing UT Arlington Planetarium programs Summer shows include Texas Stargazing, Stars of the Pharaohs, Black Holes, Secret of the Cardboard Rocket, Stars at Night are Big and Bright, Bad Astronomy, matinees and $2 movies. Faculty and staff with ID and their accompanying family members receive free admission on Thursdays through Aug. 20. Check the Planetarium Web site for upcoming shows. Contact the Planetarium at 2-1183 or planetarium@uta.edu for tickets.

(For an expanded list of events, see the UT Arlington Calendar)

Editors: Jim Patterson, Teresa Newton Web Developer: James Barberousse Photographers: Beth McHenry, Robert Crosby Executive Director for University Publications: Mark Permenter Associate Vice President for Communications and Marketing: David Johnson Vice President for Communications: Jerry Lewis Published by University Communications © 2009 The University of Texas at Arlington

MavWire is published by the Department of University Communications on Mondays and Thursdays (except for holidays) during the fall and spring semesters, and on Wednesdays during the summer. To submit items for possible inclusion in MavWire, e-mail mavwire@uta.edu. Items must be received three working days before distribution. Inclusion of events and activities in MavWire does not necessarily constitute an endorsement by the University. Read the MavWire Guidelines. MavWire welcomes any non-employees of UT Arlington who would like to subscribe.