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Grants to help minorities: Dr. Carla Amaro-Jiménez and Dr. Luis Rosado worked to obtain grants for a partnership with Arlington schools.

University receives grants for Arlington ISD partnership

UT Arlington has received funding for a partnership with the Arlington Independent School District to prepare first-generation minority students for postsecondary education.

The College of Education and Health Professions has received a $275,000 grant from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to begin the UT Arlington and Arlington ISD College Readiness Program. Carla Amaro-Jiménez, visiting assistant professor of bilingual/ESL education and program coordinator for the Center for Bilingual Education, and Luis Rosado, associate professor of education and director of the center, worked to obtain the grants.

The new college readiness program will recruit 25 first-generation college students in different majors from the University to function as mentors to students at Arlington and Lamar high schools in the Arlington ISD.

The College of Education and Health Professions also was awarded a separate $50,000 grant from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board for the P-16 effort. P-16 is designed to connect pre-school, K-12 and postsecondary education by helping students make easier transitions from one level to the next.

The $50,000 grant will be used to improve the graduation rates of Latino students from Arlington High and Lamar High and boost Latino students' rate of enrollment in college by 20 percent. Latinos are the largest minority group in the nation, but only 6.5 percent of Latino students in Texas go to college.

Tobacco program provides 'fresh start'

UT Arlington is now offering tobacco cessation education classes that are free for all faculty, staff and students.

The Fresh Start from Tobacco program consists of a series of four classes designed to educate and assist individuals who are ready to make a fresh start from tobacco use.

Facilitated by Health Services, the four one-hour educational sessions will address tobacco addiction and cessation topics. These classes will cover addiction, quitting and coping strategies, and receiving help. It is important to attend all four sessions.

In addition, all participants are eligible for a limited supply of nicotine replacement therapy patches and gum.

Faculty and staff classes are scheduled each week on Thursdays in the Wetsel Service Center, Room 200. You may register for classes online through the Human Resources Training and Staff Development calendar. You must register for all four sessions separately.

For more information, see tobacco-free.

Sustainability featured in Focus on Faculty lecture

Jeff Howard, assistant professor of urban and public affairs, will lecture about "Sustainability and Crisis of Expertise" from noon-1:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 7, in the Focus on Faculty series in the Central Library sixth floor parlor.

Dr. Howard will discuss the issues of climate change and other global environmental problems. He received the UT Arlington Service Learning Award in 2009 and was a founding co-chair of the President's Sustainability Committee, where he continues to serve. His efforts heightened awareness of our institutional responsibility to preserve the environment and support a sustainable economy.

The presentation is free and open to all. A reception will follow the talk. For more information, contact Tommie Wingfield at 2-2658 or wingfield@uta.edu.

Outstanding Employee Award nominations accepted through Friday

UT Arlington will recognize outstanding employees through an awards and recognition program. Each outstanding employee selected will receive $1,000 and a plaque at a dinner honoring the recipients. Regular full-time and part-time employees who have been employed for a minimum of two years are eligible for nomination. Nominations are being accepted through Friday, Oct. 9.

Professors emeriti Receiving the honor of professor emeritus at the fall faculty meeting Thursday are, from left, Robert McMahon, biology and Honors College; Donald Burquest, linguistics; Raymond Shoults, electrical engineering; Vasant Prabhu, electrical engineering; Karin McCallum, communication; John Mills, mechanical and aerospace engineering; Howard Arnott, biology; and Dennis Reinhartz, history. Not pictured are Edward Bellion, biochemistry; and Richard Francaviglia, history and Southwestern studies.

You can access the Employee Awards nomination form by selecting one of the following links: Nomination Form (PDF) (print and mail to box 19176 or fax to 2-3361) or Nomination Form (Electronically) (submit electronically).

Two awards will be presented in each of four categories: (1) Professional, Para-Professional and Technical; (2) Administrative Support; (3) Service and Maintenance; and (4) Administrative and Professional.

If you have questions or concerns, contact Linda Snowden in Human Resources at 2-7091.

Tickets still available
for Morris Dees lecture

Morris Dees, founder and chief trial counsel for the Southern Poverty Law Center, will be the featured speaker for the Diversity Lecture Series at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 7 in the Rosebud Theatre. The event is free, but tickets are required.

A legendary civil rights attorney, Dees founded the center in 1971, starting a legal career dedicated to suing hate groups including the Ku Klux Klan, White Aryan Resistance and Aryan Nations, and pursuing controversial cases.

A book signing will follow the lecture. Sponsors are the Office of the President, Multicultural Affairs and the Division of Student Affairs.

Help protect environment with your SECC donation

Are you a champion for our environment? Help protect our natural resources through the State Employee Charitable Campaign. When you make a donation to a charity of your choice, you could be preserving our environment for the future.

One of the charitable groups is Earth Share of Texas. Learn about how you can help protect natural resources at www.earthshare-texas.org. If you haven't been contacted already, your SECC representative will be contacting you soon. Your gift will make a difference. For more information, see policy or contact Shawn DuMond at 2-5518.

Distinguished Alumni Gala to honor 10 on October 17

The 44th Annual Distinguished Alumni Gala will honor nine alumni and one honorary alumnus at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 17, in the Bluebonnet Ballroom at the E.H. Hereford University Center. See the 2009 honorees.

Farm to market The Downtown Farmers Market offered a variety of things at Friday's opening on Front Street in Arlington. Jim Goad, left, shows off one his classic tractors. Others from left are Tony Vann, vendor; Steve Vincent, executive chef from Dining Services; Earlene Moore, vendor; Larry Burdette, vendor; and David Ok, Dining Services marketing manager. The University's Dining Services provided free breakfast and drinks to the vendors. The market will continue every Friday through Dec. 18 except for the Friday after Thanksgiving. Market vendors will offer locally grown vegetables, fruits and other items.

Jim Wilkinson ('93), a managing partner with Brunswick LLC, will serve as master of ceremonies. Prior to Brunswick, Wilkinson served in positions under Secretary of Treasury Henry Paulson, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and General Tommy R. Franks.

The Alumni Association established the Distinguished Alumni Award in 1965. It is the highest honor given by the university to alumni. This annual event recognizes outstanding alumni for their individual achievements, contributions to their industries or professions, service to their community and demonstrated loyalty to UT Arlington. The event also generates significant scholarship funds for students.

To purchase tickets or become a sponsor, see www.uta.edu/alumni/gala/galasponsor_form.

Instructional Support Sessions
offered for all faculty

The second Instructional Support Session, titled "Teaching by Inquiry," will be from 1-4 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 6, in Room 101 in Trimble Hall. The ability of an instructor to pose appropriate higher-order thinking questions is highly correlated with student involvement and motivation. Designing a lesson so that students pose their own questions to solve a problem or arrive at a conclusion can be even better. Following this session, faculty should be able to incorporate active inquiry strategies into their courses. All faculty, both full and part time, are invited to participate.

This is the second in a series being offered this fall. The sessions are taught by Mary Lynn Crow, professor in the College of Education, member of the UT Arlington Academy of Distinguished Teachers and recipient of the UT System Regents' Outstanding Teaching Award in 2009. There is no cost, but faculty are asked to pre-register for each session by contacting Delene Remmers at 2-2737 or remmers@uta.edu. Handouts and light refreshments will be provided.

Customer Service 101

How can I best serve my customers? How do I deal with difficult customers? If you're looking for answers to these questions then this is the class for you. Come learn what it means to deliver knock-your-socks-off customer service. 2-4 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 8, Room 200, Wetsel Service Center. See the complete list of training classes.

Access 2007 Level I: Tables

This introductory course covers databases and using MS Access 2007 to create them. You will learn how to create good and efficient databases and how to modify tables. You also will learn how to create relationships between these tables. 2-4 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 13, Room 312, Ransom Hall. Register to attend. See the complete list of OIT training classes.

Fort Worth Center helps preparation for SAT math test

For faculty and staff members who have high school students preparing to take the math portion of the SAT, you can receive a helping hand from UT Arlington. Tarrant County students can attend classes at the UT Arlington Fort Worth Center. Classes are scheduled for Saturdays, Oct. 10 and 24, and Nov. 7 and 14. No pre-registration is needed. Students should bring a pencil and a graphing calculator, if available. A limited number of graphing calculators will be on site. Students also should bring snacks or money for snacks to purchase on campus. Free. 9 a.m.-noon, UT Arlington Fort Worth Center, 1401 Jones St., Fort Worth.

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.

Tuesday, Oct. 6 Writing Literature Reviews This workshop will examine the criteria for literature reviews in various disciplines and in different writing assignments. Participants are encouraged to bring a sample literature review they have written and/or sources that can be used to begin writing an effective literature review. Free. 4:30-6 p.m., Writer's Studio, Room 411, Central Library.

Wednesday, Oct. 7 Arlington Archosaurs The College of Engineering and the Arlington Technology Association welcome Derek Main, lecturer in the College of Science and director of the "dino dig" in north Arlington, where fossil remains of ancient creatures are being uncovered. In this presentation, Main presents an overview of the project and its startling discoveries. Everyone welcome. Light breakfast provided. Make reservations. Members free, others $5. 7 a.m., Room 610, Nedderman Hall.

Wednesday, Oct. 7 27th Anderson Sport Performance Lecture Stephen Bardo will speak on "Transferring Leadership off the Court." A four-year starting point guard for the University of Illinois basketball team, he led the "Flying Illini" to the 1989 Final Four. Following a 10-year professional basketball career, he began a career in sports radio and television broadcasting. He is currently a color analyst for ESPN college basketball. Sponsored by the Department of Kinesiology. Free. Noon, Rosebud Theatre.

Wednesday, Oct. 7 Weather Report Victoria Meyers from Hanrahan Meyers Architects lectures as part of the School of Architecture Fall '09 Lecture Series. Free. 4 p.m., Room 204, Architecture Building.

Thursday, Oct. 8 Condition Monitoring of Electric Machines The Electrical Engineering Department welcomes Thomas Habetler, professor of electrical engineering at Georgia Tech. The increased production of hybrid and all-electric vehicles around the world brings a question from consumers: "How dependable is this technology?" Dr. Habetler describes recent advances in electric machine protection and condition monitoring, switching convertor technology and drives. Free. 1:30 p.m., Room 100, Nedderman Hall.

Thursday, Oct. 8 Biology Colloquium Series James Erickson of Texas A&M University will discuss "Sex determination: switches in cell fates, paradigms, mechanisms, and promoters." Free. 4 p.m., Room 124, Life Science Building.

Friday, Oct. 9 Entropy and Dissipative Processes of Friction and Wear The Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Department welcomes Michael Bryant, professor of mechanical engineering at UT Austin. Friction and wear are manifestations of the irreversible processes that dissipate mechanical power, reorder the material structures of the bodies and generate entropy. Dr. Bryant reviews the dissipative processes operative at the interface during dry sliding and examines the recent Degradation Entropy Generation Theorem. Free. 1:30 p.m., Room 105, Nedderman Hall.

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

Monday, Oct. 5 Irons in Irons Presentation Learn all about Colonel Earl D. Irons and the Irons Recital Hall. Gary Barrow of the Arkansas Tech University music faculty will cover the life and times of Irons, a teacher, composer, arranger and conductor for whom the Music Department's Irons Recital Hall is named. Free. 7:30 p.m., Irons Recital Hall, Room 105, Fine Arts Building.

Tuesday, Oct. 6 One Mic Stand Comedy series featuring Paul Varghese, whose act includes a number of observations about being Indian, providing outsider-looking-in and insider-looking-out commentary, while also exploring an array of topics and issues outside that realm. He was named by the Dallas Observer in 2007 as the "Best Stand-up Comic in Dallas." Free. 7:30 p.m., Rosebud Theatre.

Wednesday, Oct. 7 Candlelight Vigil Faculty and staff are invited to attend the "Go Yellow for Our Troops" candlelight vigil to honor armed forces personnel. There will be a march of silence with flameless candles. Veterans and staff members will speak. Sponsored by Delta Sigma Theta sorority. Free. 8 p.m. March from University Center mall to Central Library mall.

Thursday, Oct. 8 Opening Reception for Selected 2D Works Five accomplished artists who live and work in the Fort Worth area share their works from still life to landscape and beyond at Gallery 76102. Featured artists are Marianna Alfaro, Lucille Oppermann, Gloria Sepp, Dolly Valdez and Soon Warren. The exhibition will be on display Oct. 8-Dec. 22. Reception is free and open to the public. 6-8 p.m., Gallery 76102, Fort Worth Center.

Thursday, Oct. 8 Bed Races Rescheduled for this week, the 29th annual Bed Races are one of the oldest traditions on campus. Awards will be given for the fastest times, for the most creative costume and for a team wearing costumes showing the most school spirit. The races are sponsored by EXCEL Campus Activities and the Department of Campus Recreation. Participants also can take part in a pillow fight, field goal kicking contest, bungee and mechanical bull riding. See more on Bed Races. Free admission. 7 p.m., Maverick Stadium.

Thursday, Oct. 8 Wind Symphony and Symphonic Band Concert The first concert of the 2009-10 season features the Wind Symphony and Symphonic Band, conducted by Douglas Stotter and Matthew Luttrell. The program includes the band classic "West Point Symphony" by Morton Gould as well as two new works for winds by Frank Ticheli and David Sampson. $5 adults, $3 seniors. 7:30 p.m., Irons Recital Hall, Room 105, Fine Arts Building.

Through Oct. 10 Art Exhibition: Geometry in Reflection Two internationally recognized artists, Tommy Fitzpatrick and Margo Sawyer, address architectonic forms and color relationships through their work. Free. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Mondays-Fridays, noon-5 p.m. Saturdays. Patricia Healy, 2-5658, phealy@uta.edu.

Monday, Oct. 12 UTA/Jim Reeves Competitors Challenge Golf Sign up at www.utamavs.com for the 15th annual tournament. Shotgun start at 8 a.m. Team and individual registration available. Waterchase Golf Club, Fort Worth.

(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.