University Communications » Internal Communications » MavWire » MavWire 07-26-2012

UT Arlington Research Institute debuts new name, mission

UT Arlington has a new name and a bold new mission for its former robotics institute in Fort Worth. The UT Arlington Research Institute (UTARI) aims to become a global leader in the research and development of advanced technology to help humanity and to provide unique, affordable solutions to complex problems.

Under the direction of retired Army Lt. Gen. Rick Lynch, UTARI will focus on strengthening links between University research and the commercialization of technology and innovation. A new strategic plan calls for the Research Institute to produce $100 million annually in research expenditures, significantly increasing its research and support staff.

The plan also will establish a new industry consortium that will allow industry professionals to share ideas and collaborate with the Research Institute, other UT Arlington faculty, and each other.

Read more about the UT Arlington Research Institute.

In agreement: President James D. Spaniolo, second from left, was joined Monday in renewing an agreement to support the path to a bachelor's degree by, from left, Bob Morrison, Mansfield schools superintendent; Erma Johnson Hadley, Tarrant County College chancellor; and Marcelo Cavazos, interim superintendent of Arlington schools.

University streamlines degree path with school districts, TCC

UT Arlington has renewed partnerships with the Arlington and Mansfield school districts and Tarrant County College to aid dedicated students on their path to earning a full bachelor’s degree.

Through agreements signed Monday, the two school districts, TCC, and UT Arlington pledge to provide additional staff and scholarship resources to guide students and families who want the highest quality education from high school through college.

UT Arlington admissions and academic advising staffs will work with TCC students to ensure that they take courses accepted toward their bachelor’s degree from the University. High-performing transfer students would be eligible for a UT Arlington scholarship of up to $10,000.

Students who complete all three phases of the program and qualify for the scholarship could save $25,000 on the total cost of their undergraduate education and earn a college degree for less than $10,000 in tuition and fees.

Read more about the partnership agreement.

For more information about the accelerated degree plan, contact the UT Arlington Admissions Office at beamaverick@uta.edu or 2-6287.

In the chips: An artist’s representation of the proposed on-chip laser design created via transfer printing of photonic crystal between layers of silicon nanomembrane.

Printed photonic crystal mirrors shrink on-chip lasers down to size

Electrical engineers at UT Arlington and at the University of Wisconsin-Madison have devised a new laser for on-chip optical connections that could give computers a huge boost in speed and energy efficiency. The team published its findings this week in Nature Photonics.

At just two micrometers in height—smaller than the width of a human hair—the surface-emitting laser's vastly lower profile could make it cheaper and easier for manufacturers to integrate high-speed optical data connections into the microprocessors powering the next generation of computers.

"The co-existence of photonics with electronics on the chip level shall enable multi-functional energy-efficient super-chips for applications in computing, communications, sensing, imaging, and more," says Weidong Zhou, an associate professor of electrical engineering.

Read more about on-chip optical connections.

Parking permits available online, reserved space permits must be picked up at the Parking Office

Plan for parking during the 2012-13 academic year by ordering your permit online at uta.edu/mymav. All faculty and staff need a permit to park on campus and must have their permits no later than Aug. 23.

Faculty and staff who work at least 30 hours per week may use payroll deduction, which starts with the Oct. 1 paycheck for eight months.

To order your permit, sign on to MyMav. Click on the Main Menu drop-down menu on the upper left, then Self Service, then Parking Request.

Options include pre-tax or after-tax for payroll deduction. If charging to your University account, pay by the due date. Reduced pricing on remote parking is available to all faculty and staff that work east of Davis Street.

Only reserved space permits and upgrades, exchanges, and motorcycle permits will be issued in person at the Parking Office. Reserved permits will be available in mid-August at Suite 112, Wetsel Service Center, 1225 W. Mitchell. Reserved permits are not offered online.

Call the Parking Office at 2-3907 or email dtate@uta.edu for more details.

Tuesday is deadline for Annual Enrollment

Annual Enrollment for the 2012-13 benefit plan year continues through Tuesday, July 31.

During Annual Enrollment, you may change your group insurance benefit elections, add or remove dependents from coverage, and enroll in UT Flex.

If you are not making any changes, no action is required. However, if you participate in UT Flex, you will need to set your amount.

For more information regarding Annual Enrollment and UT Arlington benefits for the 2012-13 plan year, see Employee Benefits Services, call 2-5558, or email benefits@uta.edu.

E-waste containers now available

Electronic and computer recycling services are now on campus thanks to the Office of Sustainability and Techway Services, Inc.

The program includes placing recycling bins throughout the campus for small electronic collection, larger collection events, and “lunch-and-learn” events.

The containers have signs about their purpose and what should be collected in each, along with the Techway and Office of Sustainability logos. Larger containers will be locked so that items deposited can only be retrieved by Techway. The smaller containers for toner and batteries will not be locked.

To acquire containers for your department, contact Mike of Techway Services at ops@rightwayscs.com.

Paving the way Workers add pavement stones along the west side of the College Park District as finishing touches are being applied before students arrive in August. The College Park District project is scheduled to achieve substantial completion by Aug. 1. See the latest on the College Park District webcam.

College Park Center Brick Campaign features payroll deduction option

Leave your imprint on campus with the College Park Center Brick Campaign offered by the Office of Development.

Faculty and staff can pay for their purchases through payroll deduction in 10 months. Donations range from $300 to $1,000.

Choose from three sizes of bricks, which could commemorate your own graduation, recognize someone special, or just show Maverick pride.

Contact Michelle West, director of University Development, at 2-0850 or email mlwest@uta.edu for details.

Vintage Computer Festival Aug. 4-5

The Vintage Computer Festival Southwest 3.0 on Saturday-Sunday, Aug. 4-5, features a tour of the Ross Perot collection of vintage computing, including several sections of the original ENIAC computer.

Festival hours are 9 a.m-5 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday. Events are in the Bluebonnet Ballroom at the E.H. Hereford University Center.

Admission is $15 for two days or $10 for one day. Children 17 and younger are admitted free.

The event is sponsored by the Office of Information Technology, the College of Engineering, the Museum of Information Technology at Arlington, the Museum of Computer Culture, the Houston Computer Museum, and Vintage Tech.

Get tickets now for UT Arlington's own Six Flags Day in August

Enjoy the rides and thrills at UT Arlington Six Flags Day on Sunday, Aug. 26, at Six Flags Over Texas.

Discount tickets for faculty and staff are $27.50 each with a limit of 10 tickets per person. Get tickets at utatickets.com. After purchasing tickets online, print out a copy of your receipt and bring it to the College Park Center Box Office to pick up your actual tickets and parking pass. This must be completed by 5 p.m. Friday, Aug. 24. No refunds will be given. The CPC Box Office hours are 10 a.m-6 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Fridays.

Enjoy the fun at the park starting at 10:30 a.m. or come 6-9 p.m. when it's the UT Arlington-only crowd. Remember to wear a UT Arlington shirt to show your Maverick Pride.

The event is open to the UT Arlington community and is sponsored by the Division of Student Affairs. It is valid through UT Arlington only and not valid at the Six Flags Over Texas main gate.

Reaping benefits Nancy Rowe, right, manager of statistical service in the Office of Information Technology, talks with Nola Ray of Delta Dental during the Benefits Fair last week in the Bluebonnet Ballroom. Annual Enrollment for the 2012-13 benefits plan year continues through Tuesday, July 31. Contact the Office of Human Resources with questions.

Early voting on campus ends today

UT Arlington is an early voting site 7 a.m.-7 p.m. today, Thursday, July 26, for the Tuesday, July 31, primary runoff elections.

Polling site is at the Maverick Activities Center, just inside the entrance.

The University also will serve as an early voting site Oct. 29-Nov. 2 for the Nov. 6 general election.

For more information on early voting, see votetexas.gov and Tarrant County elections.

Help Mavericks move in

Lend a hand when students arrive on campus at the annual Residence Hall Move In Event. Volunteers are needed for shifts 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday, Aug. 20.

Apartment and Residence Life in the Division of Student Affairs anticipates 2,183 residents to move in to six residence hall communities.

Complete the Move-In volunteer form. For questions and details, contact Mari Duncan, director of residence life, at mari@uta.edu.

Volunteers needed for Mav cookout

Burger flippers and soda servers are needed to welcome students to campus at the Maverick Cookout Featuring the Activities Fair Day. The cookout is 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 29, on the University Center Mall.

More than 3,000 students attend the cookout each year.

To volunteer, complete the Maverick Cookout volunteer form before Friday, Aug. 3. Your volunteer assignment information and T-shirt will arrive one week before the event.

For questions or details, contact Molly Albart at 2-1104 or molly@uta.edu.

'Be Air Aware' and sign the pledge at Air North Texas

The Office of Sustainability at UT Arlington and Air North Texas are challenging the University community, businesses, and local governments to focus strategies on air pollution watch and warning days.

Things you can do to help include carpooling, using mass transit, biking or walking, and avoiding car idling. Heed air pollution watch and warning notifications, and protect your health by limiting outdoor activity on air pollution warning days.

UT Arlington is seeking to get the maximum number of faculty and staff to sign the pledge to "Be Air Aware" at Air North Texas. Submit the UT Arlington zip code (76019) when registering.

On the dean's list Rebecca Bichel, right, new dean of the Library, visits with Bob Samson, coordinator of library systems, and Julie Alexander, associate director of the Library, during a meet and greet reception last week at the Central Library. Bichel previously was associate dean for public services at Florida State University and began her new duties July 16.

Tuesday is deadline to sign up for the Green Team rewards

Form a Green Team in your office and start reducing, reusing, and recycling. Meet certain environmental initiatives and your team can earn recognition.

Complete a self-audit by Tuesday, July 31, and be entered to win a chance for a new mountain bike. The winning department will hold a drawing, and one lucky individual in the office will go home with the bike, courtesy of Pepsi.

For more information, see uta.edu/greenteam.

Senior named student of the year by Boeing, Flightglobal

Monica Hew has been named one of two Boeing/Flightglobal's Engineering Students of the Year.

This is the first year Boeing and Flightglobal selected winning students at both the undergraduate and graduate levels in the annual Engineering Student of the Year Award competition.

Hew, an aerospace engineering and physics senior, has been developing, building, and testing ultra-low-power wireless strain sensors for use in monitoring the integrity and health of remote structures, including airplanes and other aircraft. The sensors use small photo cells to power the strain gage and data transmission system, enabling placement anywhere on a vehicle without the need for additional wiring.

Read more about Hew and her award.

Get discount and see Rembrandt etchings at Arlington Museum of Art

Enjoy UT Arlington Week at the Arlington Museum of Art Aug. 7-12 and see the summer exhibit Rembrandt: An Evolution of Etchings.

Show your UT Arlington ID and pay only $5 ($3 off the regular admission). The exhibit, which showcases some of Rembrandt's most celebrated etchings as well as some of his lesser known and rarely exhibited pieces, is co-sponsored by College Town UTA.

For hours, location, and other information, see Arlington Museum of Art.

The Building Blocks of Business Writing and Proofreading

Discover how to improve your writing skills and effectiveness. Learn to handle projects as simple as a quick email and as difficult as detailed technical reports. Free. 9-11 a.m., Tuesday, Aug. 7, Room 200, Wetsel Service Center. Human Resources Training Classes and Events.

Mindful Moments

Take a break with Mindful Moments, which will meet Aug. 1, but will not meet Aug. 8. Free. 12:15-12:45 p.m., Wednesdays, Room 219, Health Services Center. Health Services.

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.

Two former Mavericks competing in Olympics

Former track athlete Jared Connaughton and former men’s basketball player Derrick Obasohan will represent their countries in the Summer Olympics, which begin Friday in London.

Connaughton (’08 BA), who was named the Southland Conference’s Athlete of the Year and Outstanding Track Performer in 2005, will compete in the 200-meter dash and the 400-meter relay for his native Canada.

Obasohan, who earned All-Southland Conference honors in 2004, helped propel his country of Nigeria to its first ever Olympic qualification in basketball.

Intramural Olympic contest entries due Friday

Select the countries that collect the most gold medals in each event and you could win the 2012 Summer Olympics Challenge, sponsored by Intramural Sports in Campus Recreation.

Entries are due by 5 p.m. Friday, July 27, at the services and information desk at the Maverick Activities Center.

Find entry forms at the MAC or enter online at Campus Recreation.

(For more sports news, go to utamavs.com, uta.edu/movinmavs, or uta.edu/campusrec.)

Thursday, July 26

Outdoor Movie: The Pirates! Band of Misfits Enjoy free popcorn or buy soft drinks and snacks at the concession stand. Bring a blanket or chair for the lawn seating. Children under 17 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Free. 9 p.m., west lawn, Maverick Activities Center. Also, Battleship, Aug. 2. EXCEL Campus Activities.

Ongoing

897 Square Exhibit features artists who live and/or work in Tarrant County, including UT Arlington faculty, staff, and students. Free. 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Saturdays; 4-8 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays, Fort Worth Center. Through Tuesday, July 31. Gallery 76102.

Texas "Identity" Politics: 1900-Present Focuses on the ways in which politics have become intertwined with our identities. Shows groups, right, advocating for their civil rights in relation to various aspects of their identities, such as worker, mother, or citizen. Free. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays, sixth floor, Central Library. Through Saturday, Aug. 11. Special Collections.

Texas Rangers Baseball Get tickets for faculty, staff, students, alumni, family, and friends. Access texasrangers.com/uta and use the password MAVS12 for designated games through Wednesday, Sept. 26.

India Unveiled: The Photography of Robert Arnett A collection of images highlighting the diversity of India and its various regions. Free. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays, sixth floor parlor, Central Library. Through Jan. 5, 2013. Special Collections.

Planetarium Travel to ancient Egypt to see how science was used to tell time, make a workable calendar, and align huge buildings in Stars of the Pharaohs. 2 p.m. Fridays, 5:30 p.m. Saturdays. Planetarium.

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