University Communications » Internal Communications » MavWire » MavWire 05-09-2011

Top teacher: Dr. Kenneth Roemer, right, received the Piper Professor award from President James D. Spaniolo last Monday at the Spring Meeting of the Faculty and Associates.

English professor honored with Piper Professor award

Kenneth Roemer, distinguished scholar professor of English, has received the Piper Professor award from the Minnie Stevens Piper Foundation. He is one of 10 university professors in the state to receive the honor.

The Piper Professor awards were established to recognize outstanding achievements in the teaching profession at Texas colleges and universities. The award includes a $5,000 honorarium.

Dr. Roemer joined the English faculty in 1971. His interests include utopian literature, American Indian literature, American literature/culture studies, reader-response criticism, and personal narrative writing.

He has received four National Endowment for the Humanities grants to direct summer seminars. He has been a fellow of the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science and a visiting professor in Japan. He is past president of the Society for Utopian Studies and founding editor of Utopus Discovered.

Reflecting on success: Sally Welborn ('75 BS) is the Commencement speaker at the College of Science ceremony, and George Boll ('88 BA) is speaking at one of the College of Liberal Arts ceremonies.

Accomplished alumni among speakers at Commencement

Outstanding speakers, including three alumni, bring inspiring messages to graduates at Commencement ceremonies Thursday-Sunday, May 12-15. All ceremonies will be held at Texas Hall.

Sally Welborn ('75 BS, mathematics), senior vice president of benefits for the Wal-Mart Corporation, speaks to College of Science graduation candidates at 4 p.m. Thursday in the weekend's first ceremony.

Jon Fleming, chairman of the Texas Education Reform Foundation, addresses the College of Education and Health Professions candidates at 10 a.m. Friday. Mary Jean Moloney, public affairs manager for Atmos Energy, talks to School of Social Work and University Studies candidates at 1 p.m. Friday.

Jody Grant, chairman emeritus of Texas Capital Bancshares, speaks to the College of Business candidates at 4 and 7 p.m. Saturday.

College of Liberal Arts candidates will hear two alumni and local attorneys. Jordan Parker ('86 BA, English and history), partner at Cantey Hanger, speaks at the 1 p.m. Sunday ceremony while George Boll ('88 BA, political science), president of Juneau, Boll, Stacy & Ucherek, addresses the candidates at 4 p.m.

Cheryl Contant, vice chancellor for academic affairs at the University of Minnesota at Morris, is the speaker for the School of Urban and Public Affairs ceremony at 7 p.m. Sunday.

Speakers for the School of Architecture, College of Engineering, and College of Nursing are, respectively, Dean Donald Gatzke, President James D. Spaniolo, and Jennifer Gray, associate dean and chair of the Department of Nursing Administration, Education, and Research.

Check the Commencement schedule for details on tickets, parking, protocol, photography, and special accommodations.

Social Work adds cohort master's degree in direct practice

The School of Social Work will begin offering the Master of Science in Social Work (MSSW) degree with a concentration in direct practice and a certificate in administration in the fall. The cohort program is designed to meet the needs of working professionals and will be offered through the Fort Worth Center.

The 64-hour program is primarily scheduled in five-week sessions with classes meeting two nights per week and is fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education.

Only two-year, non-advanced standing students will be accepted for the fall 2011 semester. Advanced standing students may be able to join the cohort in summer 2012.

For more information, see MSSW Fort Worth Center Cohort.

It's an honor New Phi Kappa Phi president Shelley Smith, left, receives some adjustments from outgoing president Regina Aguirre before last Monday's initiation ceremony, which added 150 faculty, staff, and students to the University-wide honor society's membership. Dr. Smith is a professor and chair of sociology and anthropology, and Dr. Aguirre is an assistant professor of social work.

Voluntary Separation Incentive Program deadline is Wednesday

Faculty members participating in the Voluntary Separation Incentive Program must return the signed agreement to the Office of Human Resources by 5 p.m. Wednesday, May 11.

The VSIP is for tenured and tenure-track faculty with at least five years of service and a combination of age and service with the State of Texas totaling 85. Other criteria also apply.

For more information, see the Voluntary Separation Incentive Program for Faculty.

Mavs Book Club meets Thursday

Way of the Peaceful Warrior: A Book That Changes Lives by Dan Millman is this month's selection for the Mavs Book Club, which meets at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, May 12, in the basement of the Central Library.

Blending fact and fiction, the story relates an odyssey into realms of light and shadow, romance, and mystery. Guided by an eccentric old warrior and drawn to an elusive young woman, Dan moves toward a final confrontation that will deliver or destroy him.

Mavs Book Club selections will be in stock at the UT Arlington Bookstore with a 20 percent discount for book club members. For more information, call Mary Levesque, general book manager, at 2-7173.

Learn more about the Mavs Book Club selection at blog.uta.edu/bookclub.

Join the Blazing Race 2 for a wellness walk Wednesday, May 18

Step up to the challenge of the Blazing Race 2. Join UT Arlington's faculty and staff Wednesday, May 18, for National Employee Health and Fitness Day.

Participants can walk or run a campus adventure course and receive prizes and giveaways. Take your choice of starting times at 11 a.m. or noon. The UT Arlington Wellness Committee hosts the free event.

Individual and team registration ends Monday, May 16. Find details and registration information online or email wellness@uta.edu.

Rising rapidly An aerial view shows the construction progress in the 20-acre College Park District. The recently opened Green at College Park, top left, provides a southern gateway into the emerging college town environment, which includes College Park Center, top center, and the College Park residential and retail development. A second web cam has been added to let you follow the construction progress.

MAC, PE Building set limited hours; group exercises available

Hours at the Maverick Activities Center and the Physical Education Building will change for the summer intersession.

The buildings are open 8 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday-Friday May 16-June 3, except for Memorial Day, Monday, May 30, when hours are 5-10 p.m. The MAC is closed Saturdays and Sundays May 14-June 5. Spring pool hours continue through May 12, but the pools will be closed May 13-30 for renovation.

Group exercises, including step, pilates, yoga, cycle, and Latin fusion are available May 6-June 3. See the schedule.

Walkway closed during construction

The walkway connecting the Central Library with the Life Science Building and University Hall is closing this week for a water line upgrade. Construction should be completed by mid-June.

For more information, see Blazing Construction.

Campus steam shutdown scheduled

It's time again when the Thermal Energy Plant must shut down steam service to complete inspection and repair requirements of the system components. Steam outage begins at 1 a.m. Monday, May 23, and ends at 10 p.m. Wednesday, May 25. This time period should minimize disruption for campus functions and activities.

Buildings will be without hot water and steam. Electrical power, air conditioning, and cold water service will be available.

If you have questions concerning the buildings or equipment affected by this outage, contact Santiago Pink in the Office of Facilities Management at 2-2049.

Summer schedule begins next week for MavWire

MavWire moves to a summer schedule after this week. Keep up with campus activities throughout the summer on Thursdays. Monday editions return Aug. 22 for the fall semester.

Blackboard Workshops for Faculty

Choose which type of workshop best meets your needs: Getting Started or Essentials. Free. Workshops available May 16-26. Comprehensive workshops available in June. Check the Blackboard workshop schedule. Blackboard Faculty Resources.

Delegating for Maximum Results

Develop strategies to delegate effectively and increase your productivity by challenging and motivating your staff. Call 2-2581 for faculty, staff discount fee of $99.50. 6-9 p.m., Tuesday, May 17, and Thursday, May 19, Room E200E, Continuing Education Workforce Building. Continuing Education.

Developing Assertive Communication Skills

Learn powerful tools to be an assertive communicator. Free. 9-11 a.m., Wednesday, May 18, Room 200, Wetsel Service Center. Register and see a complete list of HR training classes.

Swim Programs Available for Adults, Children

An adult swimming program and a learn-to-swim program for ages 4-18 are offered this summer through the Department of Kinesiology. The four two-week sessions begin Monday, June 6, at the UT Arlington outdoor pool. Mid-Cities Arlington Swimming provides the training. Masters/triathletes training is available. For the schedule and more information, see marswim.org or call 817-925-0505.

Mindful Moments will not meet this week

Mindful Moments will not meet Wednesday, May 11. Beginning Wednesday May 18, the sessions move to Room 150 in the 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 email employment@uta.edu. The University of Texas at Arlington is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer.

Thursday, May 12

Biology Colloquium Series Matthew Hahn, associate professor of biology at Indiana University, speaks on "Natura Facit Saltum: Mutational Leaps in Evolution." Free. 4 p.m., Room 124, Life Science Building. Biology, 2-2872.

A Century of Women in Architecture: A Short History Architecture faculty Susan Appleton, Rebecca Boles, and Norma Figueroa lecture in the Spring Salon Series at the Oak Cliff Society of Fine Arts. $10 OCSFA members, $15 non-members. 7:30 p.m., Turner House, 401 N. Rosemont, Dallas.

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

Wednesday, May 11

$2 Movie: Burlesque A small-town girl ventures to Los Angeles and finds her place in a neo-burlesque club run. Rated PG-13. 5:30 p.m. Also 5:30 p.m. Friday, May 13, and 2:30 p.m. Saturday, May 14. Planetarium, 2-1183.

Friday, May 13

Graduation Celebration Grammy Award-winning superstar John Legend, right, is the featured speaker. President James D. Spaniolo and Kate Aoki, an architecture graduate student representing the Class of 2011, also will speak. A Texas-sized fireworks show, food, and a special surprise for graduating students are also on the agenda. Free. 8 p.m. Graduation Celebration, Levitt Pavilion, Arlington Founder's Square, 100 W. Abram St.

Sunday, May 15

Scholarship Benefit Concert Pianist Eduardo Rojas performs, with donations benefiting scholarships for three female students. Free with donations accepted. 3 p.m., Irons Recital Hall, Fine Arts Building. Sigma Alpha Iota Alumni Chapter.

Ongoing

Bachelor of Fine Arts Exhibition Showcase for recent work created by the graduating seniors of the Department of Art and Art History. Features the work of 52 students demonstrating painting, drawing, sculpture, ceramics, glass, printmaking, film/video, photography/digital imaging, and visual communication. Free. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday, noon-5 p.m. Saturday. Through Saturday, May 14. The Gallery at UTA, Fine Arts Building.

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. troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. Free. Through Saturday, May 21. Sixth floor atrium, Central Library.

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 Saturday, May 21. Sixth floor parlor, Central Library.

Gallery 76102 "Reconsidering Art History," a solo exhibit by Betsy Williamson ('06 BFA), who uses pre-existing images to create specific juxtapositions. Free. Gallery hours are 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and 2-6 p.m. Wednesdays, Fridays. Through Tuesday, May 31. Gallery 76102, Fort Worth Center. 2-0365.

Six Flags Over Texas Exhibit Celebrate 50 years of an Arlington landmark. 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Mondays, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays. Through Aug. 13. Special Collections, sixth floor, Central Library.

Planetarium The beauty of a starlit sky conceals the forces at work 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.)