University Communications » Internal Communications » MavWire » MavWire 03-21-2011

OIT announces computer lab, printing changes for fall semester

The Office of Information Technology plans to launch several service changes at the beginning of the fall 2011 semester in response to evolving campus computer use trends and demand for efficiencies in printing costs.

The changes follow a May 2010 report from the University’s Committee on Student Technology that recognized that an estimated 80 percent of students own or have access to a laptop and that more students are using smart phones, computer tablets such as the iPad, and other mobile devices. The report called for more collaborative spaces where students can secure their laptops and establish temporary work groups for projects.

Among the changes:

• Two general-purpose computer labs will be renovated and upgraded to create collaborative workspaces ideal for laptop use and student projects. The locations have not yet been selected. Faculty, staff, and students are invited to suggest labs that can be used for such purposes by sending an e-mail to ellis@uta.edu.

• Five existing areas around campus will be renovated to provide additional workspaces where students can use their laptops, tablet computers, and other similar portable computing devices.

• Campus printing will be on a pay-as-you-go basis. Faculty, staff, and students will be able to buy printing for a low per-page cost established to cover the cost of equipment, paper, and toner.

More information about the changes and a list of campus computer lab availability is published online at uta.edu/oit/cs/computerlabs/.

Informational Town Hall meeting set for Friday

President James D. Spaniolo has pledged to maintain clear and regular communications with the University community on budget challenges facing the University during the 82nd Session of the Texas Legislature.

Faculty and staff are invited to attend an informational meeting hosted by the president and Provost Donald R. Bobbitt. The session is intended to provide an open forum to hear concerns, answer questions, and reaffirm the University’s ongoing commitment to our long-term institutional priorities.

The meeting will take place noon-1 p.m. Friday, March 25, in Room 245W of the Business Building. If you're unable to attend, submit any questions by e-mail directly to the president at jds@uta.edu or to the provost at dbobbitt@uta.edu.

Bill Nye

Bill Nye 'the Science Guy' here Wednesday

Tickets are still available for the Bill Nye "the Science Guy" appearance at the ACES Roundtable at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 23, in Texas Hall.

The Annual Celebration of Excellence by Students (ACES) Roundtable will feature Nye, along with members of the UT Arlington faculty, in a moderated discussion about the current state of science. This event is part of the ACES 2011 schedule and will be open only to UT Arlington faculty, staff, students, and members of the Alumni Association.

Tickets are free but required. Doors open at 3 p.m., and seating is first-come, first-served. Because the ACES event is exclusively for the UT Arlington community, tickets must be claimed using a UT Arlington log-in. To reserve your free tickets for the ACES Roundtable, visit utatickets.com. There is a limit of two tickets per person.

Nye’s Maverick Speakers Series lecture at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday is sold out. Guests without tickets will be seated as space permits. Arrive at Texas Hall by 6:30 p.m. and check in at the Guest Relations window.

Spring 'UTArlington Magazine' available online

Learn about tiny robots that could revolutionize the defense industry and see what former Shorthorn editors are doing now in the spring 2011 issue of UTArlington Magazine.

Watch a video and read about novel initiatives exploring exercise, memory, high-tech homes, and caregiving that are helping America’s growing senior adult population lead healthier lives. Check out other web exclusive videos on the Engineering Research Building and the Movin’ Mavs wheelchair basketball team.

You’ll also find stories on the worldwide impact of UT Arlington alumni, a biomask with the potential to aid severely burned soldiers, and an alumna who’s restoring hope in war-torn Sierra Leone. Each story includes a link for posting comments. You also can “like” the magazine’s Facebook page and get updates in your newsfeed, as well as view and post photos on flickr.

Redesigned last fall, UTArlington Magazine recently won nine awards in the 2011 Council for the Advancement and Support of Education District IV competition. The magazine is published three times a year and is distributed to 140,000 UT Arlington constituents, including all alumni, major donors, elected officials, civic leaders, faculty, senior staff, and other friends of the University. Send your comments to utamagazine@uta.edu.

Dr. Allan Saxe

Allan Saxe first speaker in Last Lecture Series

Allan Saxe says he's not ready to retire, but his appearance in the Last Lecture Series gives him a chance to tell students what he might say. The free lecture is at 6 p.m. Tuesday, March 29, in the Lone Star Auditorium at the Maverick Activities Center.

The series is based on inspirational Carnegie Mellon Professor Randy Pausch, who died after a battle with pancreatic cancer. He gave his last lecture at the university in 2007.

For the Last Lecture Series, a faculty member is asked, “If this were your last time to address a group of students, what would you say to them?”

Dr. Saxe, an associate professor of political science and community philanthropist, says his true last lecture is five or more years away.

Omicron Delta Kappa, a leadership scholastic honor society, sponsors the Last Lecture Series.

Annual ACES symposium shows students' best work

The best of student research and creativity is displayed at the Annual Celebration of Excellence by Students (ACES) symposium Thursday, March 24, in the E.H. Hereford University Center.

ACES entries have ranged from gene therapy and pain control to better tools for builders and works of art. Various awards are given, including some for sustainability-related topics.

Posters are on display 8 a.m.-1 p.m. and 2-3:30 p.m. in the Palo Duro Lounge. Graduate oral presentations are 8:30-11 a.m. and 1-4:30 p.m. in the upper-level rooms. Undergraduate oral presentations are also 1-4:30 p.m. The symposium concludes with a reception at 5 p.m. and awards at 5:30 p.m. in the Rio Grande Ballroom.

For a schedule of oral and poster presentations or to find out more about ACES, go to uta.edu/aces, e-mail aces@uta.edu, or call 2-2315.

Nice shirt Sandra Debiparshad, left, nurse practitioner in Health Services, receives a T-shirt from Victoria McWilliams, a Staff Advisory Council member who is an academic adviser in the School of Social Work, at the SAC benefits fair on Wednesday in the Bluebonnet Ballroom. The fair included more than 60 vendors, from both campus and off-campus locations, who provide benefits for faculty and staff.

Glass art show and sale set for April 1

See the shimmer of radiant glass art at the annual World-Class Glass Art Show and Sale on Friday, April 1, at the Studio Art Center, 810 S. Davis.

The sale includes display creations, paperweights, vases, and other functional items crafted by faculty and students. The sale runs 9 a.m.-5 p.m. and bids can be made in a silent auction 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

Distinguished Alumni Award nominations now being accepted

Nominations are sought for the 2011 UT Arlington Distinguished Alumni Award, the highest honor a Maverick graduate can receive from UT Arlington.

Award criteria and a nomination form can be found on the Alumni Association website. Submit nominations by Friday, April 8. Awards will be presented at the 2011 Distinguished Alumni Gala on Saturday, Oct. 15. For more information, contact Stephanie Thompson at 2-2594.

University Club adds new menu items

The most popular dishes in last month's University Club sampling have been added to the menu.

New items include a shredded pork sandwich, which will be the daily special on Fridays, a ham and grilled pineapple sandwich, a grilled veggie bagel, and a Greek salad.

The University Club is located on the ground level in Davis Hall and is open 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Call 2-5999 for to-go orders.

Gallery 76102 seeking art for summer show

Gallery 76102 at the UT Arlington Fort Worth Center is hosting its first juried competition. The 2011 summer show is open to all artists living or working in Tarrant County.

Artists should submit materials to Slideroom by Thursday, March 31. For more information, see Gallery 76102 or contact Cindy Gossett at gallery76102@uta.edu or 2-0365.

Get your tickets for UT Arlington Night at the Ballpark

Tickets are now available for UT Arlington Night at the Ballpark when the Texas Rangers play the Toronto Blue Jays on Monday, April 25.

Sit in the UT Arlington block, wear your Maverick blue, and come for the pre-game fun featuring the UT Arlington color guard, performance of the national anthem, first pitch, and special appearance by Blaze. Game time is 7:05 p.m.

A block of seats for UT Arlington is available for $5 per ticket, half the regular price. Tickets can be reserved at utatickets.com, then picked up at the Department of Student Activities on the lower level of the E.H. Hereford University Center. Or you can buy your tickets in person at Student Activities.

Portion of Davis Drive closed for 10 days

Davis Drive will be closed from UTA Boulevard to Abram Street March 21-30 due to construction on the Maverick Village project.

Fresh Start from Tobacco

Health Services offers free tobacco cessation education classes as UT Arlington moves toward becoming a tobacco-free campus in August. The Fresh Start from Tobacco program consists of four one-hour classes designed to educate and assist individuals who are ready to make a fresh start from tobacco use. These seminars cover steps to understanding addiction, quitting and coping strategies, and receiving help. It is important to attend all four sessions. Free. See class schedule for times. Tuesday, March 22, and Wednesday, March 23. Room B03, Health Services Center. See a complete listing of HR training classes.

Relay for Life Information Sessions

Learn how to form teams and see what the American Cancer Society Relay for Life walk is all about at information sessions. 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Tuesday, March 22, at Palo Duro Lounge, and Monday, March 28, at Rio Grande Ballroom. E.H. Hereford University Center. Health Services.

Introduction to Hand Building Pottery

This six-week course starts with the basic slab, coil, and pinch methods, then adds specialized hand building, and decorating techniques like stamp texturing, paddling, wax relief, and lots more. All tools, clay, glazes, and materials are provided. Faculty, staff discount fee $89.50. Call 2-2581 for discount. 6-9 p.m. Mondays, April 4-May 16. The Upstairs Gallery, 1038 W. Abram. Continuing Education.

Mindful Moments

Take a break from stress with Mindful Moments. Mindfulness draws on one's internal resources to cultivate awareness and to practice being present in each moment of our lives. 12:15-12:45 p.m. Wednesdays, Room 235, Business Building. Health Services, Marie Bannister, 2-2771.

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 e-mail employment@uta.edu. The University of Texas at Arlington is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer.

Wednesday, March 23

Women's History Month Lecture Margot Badran, senior fellow at the Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding at Georgetown University, discusses "Islamic Feminism and the Battle for Gender Equality." Free. Noon, sixth floor parlor, Central Library. Women's Studies, OneBook.

Architecture Lecture Series French architect Pascal Quintard Hofstein speaks in the Booziotis & Company Endowed Lecture. Free. 4 p.m. Room 204, Architecture Building. Architecture. Robert Rummel-Hudson, 2-2314.

March 23-30

Center for Mexican American Studies John J. Valadez is a distinguished filmmaker-in-residence this week, screening several of his films in classes across campus while conducting research by consulting with faculty for upcoming documentaries he is creating on Latino Americans for the Public Broadcasting System. Valadez directed the award-winning film The Longoria Affair. Faculty interested in setting up an appointment to talk with Valadez should contact Alma Rick, CMAS program coordinator, at arick@uta.edu or 2-2933.

Thursday, March 24

Sustainable Real Estate Fred Forgey, clinical professor of business at the Fort Worth Center, describes the financing and valuation issues surrounding sustainable real estate. Free. 9:30-10:30 a.m. Room 115, Trimble Hall. Environmental and Sustainability Studies Lecture Series. Jeff Howard, 2-5119.

Biology Colloquium Series Mathew Leibold, professor in the School of Biological Sciences at UT Austin, speaks on the stability and resilience of pond ecosystems. Free. 4 p.m. Room 124, Life Science Building. Biology, Linda Taylor, 2-2872.

Friday-Saturday, March 25-26

Lone Star Diversity Colloquium Encourages under-represented minorities, women, and first-generation college students enrolled at Texas colleges and universities to stay in Texas to complete their graduate education. College-specific activities and events are set for Friday afternoon. Saturday workshops will focus on graduate admissions, the importance of undergraduate research, graduate funding opportunities, and other topics relevant to graduate and professional study. Register. See program. E.H. Hereford University Center. Office of Graduate Studies.

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

Monday, March 21

Guest Trombone Recital Features Brent Phillips of the Baylor University music faculty. Free. 7:30 p.m. Irons Recital Hall, Fine Arts Building. Music, 2-3471.

Tuesday, March 22

Clavier Series Piano Recital Piano students perform. Free. 7:30 p.m. Irons Recital Hall, Fine Arts Building. Music, 2-3471.

Wednesday, March 23

Women's Tennis Mavericks vs. TCU. Free. 3 p.m., UTA Tennis Center. Athletics, 2-2261.

$2 Movie: It's Kind of a Funny Story A clinically depressed teenager gets a new start after he checks himself into an adult psychiatric ward. Rated PG-13. 5:30 p.m. Also 5:30 p.m. Friday, March 25, and 2:30 p.m. Saturday, March 26. Planetarium, 2-1183.

Friday, March 25

Baseball Mavericks vs. Northwestern State. Free with UT Arlington ID. 6:30 p.m. Also 2 p.m. Saturday, March 26, and 1 p.m. Sunday, March 27. Clay Gould Ballpark. Athletics, 2-2261.

Friends of the Library J. Todd Moye discusses his book Freedom Flyers: The Tuskegee Airmen of World War II, about the first African-American military pilots. Free. 7:30 p.m., sixth floor parlor, Central Library.

Saturday, March 26

Community Garden Dedication President James D. Spaniolo and Arlington Mayor Robert Cluck are among the speakers who will be at the dedication and ribbon cutting. The Community Garden at UT Arlington is a combined effort of the Office of Sustainability and the Arlington Parks and Recreation Department. 10 a.m., 406 Summit Ave.

Ongoing

Gallery 76102 "A Certain Shade of the Aftermath," an exhibit by Timothy Harding, deals with U.S. history, corporate infrastructure, heavy metal music, terrorism, and popular culture. Free. Gallery hours are 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays; 2-6 p.m. Wednesdays and Fridays. Through March 31. Gallery 76102, Fort Worth Center.

The Gallery at UTA Sedrick Huckaby, assistant professor of art, displays paintings, and Barbra Riley, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi professor of art, provides digital photographs. Free. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, noon-5 p.m. Saturdays. Through April 2. The Gallery at UTA, Fine Arts Building.

Six Flags Over Texas Exhibit Celebrate 50 years of an Arlington landmark with the free interactive exhibit "What You Wish the World Could Be: The Early Years of Six Flags Over Texas." 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Mondays, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays. Through May 14. Special Collections, sixth floor, Central Library.

Combat Narratives: Stories and Artifacts from UT Arlington Veterans Artifacts, memorabilia, and gear on loan from UT Arlington military veterans and objects carried, used, or found by U.S. servicemen and women in Iraq and Afghanistan. Free. Through May 21. Sixth floor atrium, Central Library. Library and OneBook.

Exposure: Photos from the Second Battle of Fallujah Photographs from the Second Battle of Fallujah taken by UT Arlington student and Marine Corps veteran Joel Chaverri. Free. Through May 21. Sixth floor parlor, Central Library. Library and OneBook.

Planetarium The beauty of a starlit sky conceals the violent forces at work within our universe in Violent Universe. 6 p.m. Tuesdays, 1 p.m. Saturdays. See the complete Planetarium schedule, 2-1183.

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