University Communications » Internal Communications » MavWire » MavWire 05-10-2012

Campus experiencing great increase in phishing attempts through fake email

Deceptive emails have been on the rise lately, so use precaution with unusual messages, the Information Security Office urges.

Don't take the bait of malicious email messages that attempt to steal personal information through a legitimate-looking email, also known as "phishing." The messages direct recipients to click on a link or reply by email and confirm their username and/or password.

UT Arlington staff will never request that you submit your username (NetID) or passwords via email.

Phishing email and regular email appear similar. See a comparison online.

When you receive questionable email, examine the email header and the reply-to address. Most of the phishing email are sent from external email addresses, such as yahoo.com, gmail.com, and other sites. Sometimes the email appears to come from a uta.edu email address.

Always be cautious of links in suspicious email messages, which may go to an illegitimate website or a fraudulent login page.

The Information Security Office offers these guidelines:

• Do not provide a NetID and password in email.
• Do not respond to emails that require you to enter personal or financial information directly into the email.
• Do not reply to emails that ask you to send personal information.
• Do not respond to emails threatening to close your account if you do not provide personal information.
• Do not use your email address as your password.
• Contact the OIT Helpdesk at 2-2208 if you are unsure about an email asking for personal information.
• Go to uta.edu/selfservice to change your password immediately if you have submitted information about your password.

James Franco highlights Graduation Celebration at Levitt Pavilion

Graduation Celebration, a free community festival featuring fireworks and remarks by award-winning actor James Franco, highlights Commencement weekend at 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 11, at the Levitt Pavilion in downtown Arlington, 100 W. Abram St.

Graduates, their families and friends, and supporters are encouraged to attend along with faculty, staff, and alumni.

Franco is perhaps best known for his role as Harry Osborne in the Spider-Man trilogy. The actor and author is an education advocate who returned to UCLA in the fall of 2006 at age 28 and quickly earned a bachelor’s degree in English.

He then moved on to New York and enrolled in three schools: Columbia University’s MFA writing program; Brooklyn College for creative writing; and New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts for directing.

President James D. Spaniolo and nursing graduate student Melissa Sepulveda Tran also will give Graduation Celebration remarks. Tran is earning her master’s degree in nursing and plans to continue working at Baylor Medical Center in Dallas.

In case of inclement weather, Graduation Celebration moves to College Park Center.

Read more about Graduation Celebration.

Flexible Summer Hours Program available again this summer

UT Arlington again will offer the Flexible Summer Hours Program June 4-Aug. 10.

Participating employees work a compressed week of four 10-hour days with one day off during the work week. Employees who wish to participate must have their manager's written approval of their flexible schedules before beginning the program. Schedules for non-exempt employees also must include a minimum 30-minute lunch break.

Departments or employees who choose not to participate in the program will continue to work their regular schedules.

If you have questions about the program, contact Eunice Currie at currie@uta.edu or 2-5554.

Degrees of excellence: More than 4,400 students are included in the May 2012 graduating class.

University's largest class to graduate at College Park Center this weekend

The largest graduating class in UT Arlington's history is the first to have Commencement exercises at the new College Park Center Saturday-Sunday, May 12-13.

The spring Class of 2012 totals more than 4,400 students, an increase of about 700 students from the number of degrees conferred in May 2011. The graduating class includes 3,000 undergraduates, 1,309 master’s candidates, and 97 doctoral scholars.

The 7,000-seat center allows three colleges to have one Commencement exercise each rather than two. In previous years, the colleges of Business, Engineering, and Liberal Arts each had two graduation ceremonies to accommodate their large number of graduates and their families at the 2,709-seat Texas Hall.

Parking north of College Park Center is available in the College Park District north garage, lots 38, 39, F11, and F12. South parking is available in lots 47, 53, F10, the Lipscomb Hall lot, and the Continuing Education lot.

The School of Architecture will continue the tradition of using Texas Hall for its graduation ceremony, which begins at 4 p.m. Friday, May 11.

See the Commencement schedule for details.

Deadlines outlined for fiscal year-end purchasing

The Office of Procurement has implemented procedures to ensure that year-end purchasing is efficient and effective. These deadlines for requests to purchase will improve the overall procurement processing for the end of the fiscal year.

Fiscal Year 2012-13 Funding: Service/maintenance contracts effective Sept. 1, 2012

• June 1: Facilities Management, University Housing, University Center, and OIT only
• June 15: All other University departments (includes equipment rentals)

Fiscal Year 2011-12 Funding: All purchases

• July 27: All departments

All requests to purchase received after the close of business July 27 will be processed and counted against fiscal year 2012-13 funds.

Ring bearer Jesse Marroquin, advertising senior, shows off his class ring last week at the Official Maverick Ring Ceremony. The event is held each spring and fall for alumni and students to receive their rings.

Blazing Race features two courses

Join UT Arlington's faculty and staff for the Blazing Race at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, May 16, and get credit in the UT System Physical Activity Challenge.

The race begins at College Park Center. Participants can walk or run either a low- or high-impact campus adventure course. The UT Arlington Wellness Committee hosts the free event.

Find details and registration information online or email wellness@uta.edu.

Monthly selection for Mavs Book Club is 'The Murder of the Century'

The Murder of the Century: The Gilded Age Crime That Scandalized a City & Sparked the Tabloid Wars by Paul Collin is the May selection for Mavs Book Club, which meets at noon Friday, May 11, in the University Club at Davis Hall.

The story is about an 1897 murder case seized upon by battling media moguls Joseph Pulitzer and William Randolph Hearst, making the case a publicity circus.

The club meets the second Friday of every month. For more information, contact Diane Shepelwich at dianec@uta.edu.

Join Staff Advisory Council for baseball social night

Faculty and staff are invited to a social night at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, May 17, prior to the baseball game at Clay Gould Ballpark as the Mavericks host Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. Game time is 6:30 p.m.

Tents will be set up by the parking lot and free drinks and peanuts are available to those who attend the event, sponsored by the Staff Advisory Council.

Group exercise classes available during May at Maverick Activities Center

Group exercises, including step and sculpt, pilates, yoga, cycle, cardio kickbox, and ultimate conditioning are available through Friday, June 1, at the Maverick Activities Center.

Register at the services and information desk at the MAC. See the schedule.

Be 'Air Aware' this summer

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.

After several years of steady improvement, North Texas witnessed one of the toughest ozone seasons in recent years last summer.

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.

Intellectual Property Education Seminar Series

David Risley, a patent attorney with Thomas Kayden law firm, will answer questions about intellectual property. Snacks and beverages provided. Free. 1-4 p.m., Thursday, May 24, Room 100, Nedderman Hall. Office of Technology Management.

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.

Good sports: Track middle-distance runner Holton Hemby, left, received the Big Al's Community Service Award from Jim Baker, director of athletics, at the All-Sports Banquet last week. Volleyball’s Alicia Shaffer also received the award. Tennis player Maria Martinez-Romero and baseball pitcher Lance Day were named B.G. Wilson female and male scholar-athletes of the year. Softball infielder Courtney Zink and tennis player David Subirats were selected UTA Athletics Alumni Chapter female and male student-athletes of the year.

Mavericks selected for NCAA golf regional

The UT Arlington golf team received a bid Monday to the NCAA Regional May 17-19 at the University of Georgia Golf Course in Athens, Ga.

The Mavericks are seeded No. 11 in the regional and are in the NCAA field for the fourth time in the last five years. This is the ninth regional appearance in school history.

Baseball Mavs take two from Sam Houston

Winning two of three games from league-leading Sam Houston State last weekend, the Maverick baseball team maintained its hold on third place in the Southland Conference.

The Mavericks lost the first game of the series but came back to take the next two at Clay Gould Ballpark.

Coach Darin Thomas’s club is 16-11 in the SLC and 29-20 overall. They travel to McNeese State this weekend.

Tracksters primed for SLC meet

The men's and women's teams head to the Southland Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships Friday-Sunday, May 11-13, in San Marcos.

Top hopefuls for the men’s team include decathlete Romain Martin, pole vaulter Jeff Rodriguez, high jumper Isiah Clements, sprinters Clayton Vaughn and Quentin Butler, and distance runner Emil Blomberg.

Leading the women’s team are sprinter Shannon Reynolds, middle-distance runners DeAndrea Smith and Ashly Wright, and distance runners Emily Koenig and Lindsey Putman.

Both the men and women finished second in the SLC indoor championships in February.

Movin' Mavs help Army win gold at Warrior Games

Three Movin' Mavs wheelchair basketball players brought home the gold as members of the Army team for the Warrior Games last week in Colorado Springs, Colo.

Veterans Blake McMinn, Anthony Pone, and Juan Soto played in the games sponsored by the United States Olympic Committee, the Department of Defense, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, USO, Fisher House Foundation, and the Bob Woodruff Foundation.

The Army team won the gold in wheelchair basketball 54-34 against the Marines on Friday. Leading up to the championship game, Army won 57-6 against Air Force and 45-27 against the Marines.

Winning individual gold medals in shot put were Juan Soto, wheelchair, and Anthony Pone, other seated.

Doug Garner, coach of the Movin' Mavs, served as coach for the Army team. Graduate student and former Movin' Mavs player Tyler Garner served as assistant coach.

Mavs softball team closes out season

The softball season ended on a sour note as the Mavericks lost both games at Southeastern Louisiana last weekend.

The Mavericks finished tied for 10th in the Southland Conference with a 5-15 record and did not qualify for the SLC tournament. They were 15-27 overall.

Pitcher/utility player Teri Lyles earned second team All-Southland Conference. Catcher Erica LeFlore received honorable mention.

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

Friday, May 11

School of Architecture Commencement President James D. Spaniolo delivers the Commencement address. 4 p.m., Texas Hall. Commencement.

$2 Movie: War Horse Rated PG-13. 5:30 p.m.; also 2:30 p.m. Saturday, May 12. Planetarium.

Graduation Celebration Featured speaker is Oscar-nominated actor and Golden Globe winner James Franco. President James D. Spaniolo and Melissa Sepulveda Tran, a nursing graduate student, also will speak. A Texas-sized fireworks show, music, and a street fair of free food are on the agenda. Open to the public. In case of inclement weather, Graduation Celebration will move to College Park Center. Free. 7:30 p.m., Levitt Pavilion, 100 W. Abram St., Arlington. Graduation Celebration.

Saturday, May 12-Sunday, May 13

Commencement Ceremonies Tickets needed for admittance. Check with school or college for more information. Ceremonies begin at 8:30 a.m. Saturday and 12:30 p.m. Sunday. See Commencement schedule. College Park Center.

Wednesday, May 16

$2 Movie: Hugo Rated PG. 5:30 p.m.; also 5:30 p.m. Friday, May 18, and 2:30 p.m. Saturday, May 19. Planetarium.

Thursday, May 17

Baseball Mavericks vs. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. $5. 6:30 p.m.; also 6:30 p.m. Friday, May 18, and 2 p.m. Saturday, May 19. Clay Gould Ballpark. Athletics.

Ongoing

BFA Exhibition Recent work by 59 graduating seniors of the Department of Art and Art History is showcased, demonstrating concentrations in painting, drawing, sculpture, ceramics, glass, printmaking, film/video, photography, and visual communication. Free. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Mondays-Fridays, Noon-5 p.m., Saturdays. Through Saturday, May 12. The Gallery at UTA, Fine Arts Building.

India Unveiled A collection of 35 images by photographer and author Robert Arnett. Free. 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Mondays, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays. Through Saturday, May 26. Special Collections, sixth floor parlor, Central Library.

Novus Ordo Seclorum In his works, Anthony Thompson Shumate uses the design that appears on the reverse of the Great Seal of the United States. Free. 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays; 2-6 p.m. Wednesdays, Fridays. Through Thursday, May 31. Gallery 76102, Fort Worth Center.

Planetarium Dynamic Earth explores the inner workings of Earth’s climate engine with visualizations based on satellite monitoring data and advanced supercomputer simulations. Free showings during May. 3:30 p.m. Sundays. Planetarium.

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