University Communications » Internal Communications » MavWire » MavWire 09-13-2012

Online formula: Weichao Wang, left, a graduate student instructor, explains a software program to James Epperson, associate professor of mathematics, Friday during the grand opening of the Math Emporium in Pickard Hall.

Math Emporium supports student success in algebra

College algebra is becoming a little easier with the opening of the Math Emporium, a computer and tutorial lab as part of a new initiative to help students with the basic mathematics courses.

Rather than attending the traditional three lectures per week, students enrolled in college algebra will attend one lecture each week. The other two class periods will be in the 5,800-square-foot learning lab in Pickard Hall, working through software and video-based lessons with help from graduate teaching assistants.

The Math Emporium concept was pioneered by the National Center for Academic Transformation, a nonprofit that focuses on incorporating technology and innovative ideas to control college costs. Low passing rates for college algebra and similar lower-level mathematics classes is a national problem, with students spending time and tuition dollars on classes they must retake or risk not graduating.

"It's the first time we've done something like this for college algebra," says David Jorgensen, associate professor of math, who oversees the emporium.

Enhanced service: The MavMobile is one of several enhancements to services for the University community. The new 14-passenger mini shuttle offers rides between the College Park District garages and the E.H. Hereford University Center.

Services expanding in response to campus community needs

The University community needs more than just books and computer connections while on campus. Faculty, staff, students, and visitors need information, safety, convenience, and a bite to eat at a vareity of hours.

Campus leaders have heard requests for those issues and more and are expanding services on campus.

“Because so many people are here so many hours, where do you go to get a sandwich or a beverage?" says Frank Lamas, vice president of Student Affairs. "Or if you have to park out in a distant lot, do you walk to it at night? These were convenience and safety issues.”

Dr. Lamas, John Hall, vice president for administration and campus operations, and Student Council President Jennifer Fox formed a committee of faculty, staff, and students to examine these topics and more during the summer.

The committee identified issues that were most needed by students and others while they are on campus, during the week and on the weekend.

Dining Services expanded hours for The Plaza, Connection Café, and Einstein Bros.

Shuttle service and security escort services have been extended to nearby, off-campus apartment complexes, such as Maverick Place, CampusEdge, and MidTown, says Assistant Chief Rick Gomez of the UT Arlington Police Department. The Green south shuttle route will run through 10:30 p.m., starting within the next two weeks.

Later this semester, security escort services will expand to 3 a.m. on Monday through Friday mornings.

A new MavMobile mini shuttle offers rides between the College Park District garages and the E.H. Hereford University Center.

A student survey this fall will focus on other topics addressed by the committee, including later hours once a week for University offices most needed by students.

Lamas says work is in progress for later hours for shuttle operations, dining services available during special events and holidays, a call center to answer a broad range of questions, and a campaign on student services created by a marketing class.

Tall order Workers high above Cooper Street touched up the exterior of the Fine Arts Building earlier this week.

Friday deadline for International Friendship Program

International students and faculty members can link up with Arlington community members through The Link’s friendship program, sponsored by the Office of International Education. The purpose is to foster an appreciation for how others live and view the world. This is achieved by matching international students and scholars with families and individuals from the Arlington community.

Friendship partners will meet at least once a month for activities together, such as conversations over coffee, dinner, playing sports, or attending festivals.

Apply online by Friday, Sept. 14.

Register now for nonstop action at Cyclethon for World Heart Day

Put the pedal to the metal—and the mettle—for the Cyclethon for World Heart Day. Together with your teammates you must keep your bike pedaling noon-midnight Monday, Sept. 24, at the Maverick Activities Center.

Teams of five to 20 members must have someone riding the entire 12 hours. Don't have a team? Sign up as a free agent. Cost is $25 per team with funds donated to the American Heart Association.

Registration packets are available at the MAC Information and Services Desk. For more information, call 2-3277 or email lindsay@uta.edu.

State Employee Charitable Campaign starts today

The annual State Employee Charitable Campaign begins today, allowing UT Arlington employees to donate to their favorite charities.

A kickoff breakfast for coordinators is 8-9:20 a.m. Friday, Sept. 14, in the Carlisle Suite in the E.H. Hereford University Center.

Coordinators are encouraged to attend and pick up their campaign packets.

Department heads should confirm that they have a coordinator and encourage them to attend the breakfast.

RSVP to Amber Campbell at amber@uta.edu.

Job Fair volunteers needed

Volunteers are needed for the Fall Job Fair Wednesday, Sept. 19, at the Maverick Activities Center. The fair, hosted by the Career Center, has shifts available in one-hour increments 7 a.m.-4 p.m.

Faculty and staff are needed most 7-9 a.m. during set up, and 11 a.m.-2 p.m. to allow a lunch break for the Career Center staff while ensuring the job fair is still supervised. Volunteer duties include set up, clean up, loading dock, and check-in tables.

Organizations also may volunteer. Fill out the Job Fair volunteer form or contact the Career Center at 2-2932 or careers@uta.edu.

Community Partner Breakfast matches projects and people

The Center for Community Service Learning will host its eighth annual partner breakfast 8:30-10:30 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 20, in the Carlisle Suite of the E.H. Hereford University Center.

Faculty, staff, and students can visit with nonprofit directors interested in possible collaborative projects with the University. Many faculty members have begun incorporating service learning as a result of these breakfast events.

Guest speaker is Wright Lassiter, chancellor of the Dallas County Community College District and longtime service-learning practitioner, administrator, businessman, and community leader.

Breakfast is provided, and there will be designated time to network with faculty and numerous nonprofit agencies.

RSVP online or call at 2-2124 for more details.

Piano man After classes, Cody Litton, accounting senior, tickled the ivories last week at the Connection Cafe in the E.H. Hereford University Center.

International Mystery Book Club continues with fall selections

The Department of Modern Languages' International Mystery Book Club's fall book list includes Louise Penney's Still Life (Sept. 28), Seichi Matsumoto's Inspector Imanashi Investigates (Oct. 26), and Kwei Quarty's Wife of the Gods (Nov. 30).

The club meets at noon on the last Friday of each month on the third floor of Trimble Hall. Meetings are potluck with no RSVP required.

See the club's blog for more details.

Survey invites sustainability feedback

Want to have a say in UT Arlington’s sustainability efforts? Take a brief, nine-question sustainability survey and provide feedback on economic, cultural, and environmental topics.

Annual Fire and Safety Report available from campus police

The 2012 Campus Fire and Safety Report, which includes crime statistics for the previous three years, is available from the UT Arlington Police Department.

The report includes crimes that occurred on campus, in certain off-campus buildings or property owned or controlled by UT Arlington, and on public property within or immediately adjacent to and accessible from the campus. The report also includes institutional policies about campus security.

Fire data for the past three years from the Environmental Health and Safety office is also part of the report.

The 2012 Campus Fire and Safety Report is available online or by e-mailing campus_safety_report@uta.edu.

Women's Home Improvement and Repair 101

Learn simple steps to repair most plumbing, electrical, wall, and drywall problems, and which tools to use. Examine simple tools for improving your flooring and walls. Call 2-2581 for faculty, staff discount fee of $62.50. 6-7:30 p.m., Wednesdays, Sept. 19-Oct. 17, Nuts and Bolts Hardware Store. Continuing Education.

Spanish for Educators

Communicate effectively in Spanish with parents who are not fluent in English. The course is accompanied by a CD to help educators practice and reinforce basic principles between classes. Call 2-2581 for faculty, staff discount fee of $57.50. 6-8 p.m., Fridays, Sept. 21-Nov. 2, Continuing Education Workforce Building. Continuing Education.

Customer Service 101

Explore the basic customer service skills including handling difficult customers, making customers the first priority, and improving listening skills. Register. Free. 9-11 a.m. Wednedsday, Sept. 26, Room 200, Wetsel Building.

Mindful Moments

Take a break from stress with Mindful Moments. 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.

Maverick first: Freshman Virgilio Martinez led the men’s cross country team to victory in the UTA Season Opener on Saturday.

Mav men win cross country meet

Freshman Virgilio Martinez cruised to victory in his first collegiate competition as the men’s cross country team swept the top five places en route to a first-place finish in the UTA Season Opener at Vandergriff Park on Saturday.

Freshman Craig Lautenslager was runnerup as the men outscored Baylor, North Texas, and Texas State.

On the women's side, sophomore Hannah Nilsson paced the Mavericks with a 13th-place finish, as the team was third behind SMU and Baylor, and ahead of Texas State.

Both men’s and women’s teams return to action Saturday, Sept. 15, in Ruston, La., at the Louisiana Tech Mook 4.

Basketball schedules announced

A homecoming doubleheader will begin the basketball season at College Park Center as the UT Arlington men host Oklahoma and the women entertain Oral Roberts on Friday, Nov. 16.

The men’s schedule also includes games at UT Austin and Oklahoma State while the women will face Michigan State and Memphis. Both teams begin Western Athletic Conference play on Dec. 29.

For more information on the schedules, see men's basketball and women's basketball.

Volleyball opens WAC play this weekend

The Maverick volleyball team opens Western Athletic Conference competition at Louisiana Tech on Saturday, Sept. 15.

Now 4-8 after a Tuesday loss at TCU, the team started the Hilton Classic with a win over Marist last weekend, but lost to Northwestern State and Southern Mississippi. Sophomore Taylor Gross was named to the all-tournament team.

Golfers finish second at Kiawah Island

The golf team finished second at the Invitational at Kiawah on Tuesday in its first tournament of the fall season at Kiawah Island, S.C.

Senior Paul McConnell tied for eighth individually with a three-day score of 225.

The Mavericks return to the links Sept. 24-25 in the Mark Simpson/Colorado Invitational.

Sign up for intramural bowling

Faculty and staff are invited to sign up for intramural bowling. The deadline for entries has been extended to Friday, Sept. 14, as openings are still available. League competition begins Tuesday, Sept. 18.

Registration forms are available at the services and information desk at the Maverick Activities Center. Read more about intramural bowling.

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

Hispanic Heritage Month starts with fiesta Monday An afternoon of entertainment and festivity kicks off Hispanic Heritage Month. The Kick Off Fiesta starts at noon Monday, Sept. 17, in the Palo Duro Lounge of the E.H. Hereford University Center. Sing along with a mariachi band or grab a few friends for photo opps in the interactive cut-out boards. Enjoy the Latin art exhibition and poetry readings. A revamped Carnaval/Dancing With Mavericks is 6-9 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 26, on the University Center mall. Join the masquerade with live stilt-walkers, dancers, and Carnaval queens. Stop by interactive booths, create crafts, and enjoy free give-aways. Don't miss Movie Night, 7 p.m., Monday, Oct. 1, in the Concho Room of the University Center. Stand and Deliver is the compelling true story of East Los Angeles high school calculus teacher Jaime Escalante. Free popcorn and free admission. A benefit soccer tournament is a day of fast-paced action Saturday, Oct. 6, at the Fields Complex. Register your team by Monday, Oct. 1. Games start at 9 a.m. Proceeds benefit the UTA Alumni Association Hispanic Scholarship. House Party: Dinner and a Movie at CMAS starts at 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 12, upper level of the University Center. The Center for Mexican American Studies open house includes a viewing of “Precious Knowledge: Ethnic Studies Under Attack,” a documentary film about revolutionary education. Hispanic Heritage Month is sponsored by the Multicultural Mavericks and the Office of Multicultural Affairs.

Thursday, Sept. 13

Jazz on the Lawn An outdoor performance of UT Arlington jazz bands and ensembles. Free. 7 p.m., Architecture Building courtyard. Music.

Levitt Pavilion Joe King Carrasco, the king of Tex-Mex rock 'n' roll, performs. Also Smile Smile, Friday, Sept. 14; Blaine Gray, Saturday, Sept. 15; Delta Rae, Sunday, Sept. 16. Free. 8 p.m., Abram at Pecan streets, downtown Arlington. Levitt Pavilion.

Friday, Sept. 14

Maverick Book Club "The Big Year" by Mark Obmascik. October's book is "The Namesake" by Jhumpa Lahiri. Free. Noon, University Club, Davis Hall. Maverick Book Club.

Passion Pit An American electropop band. Tickets $21.50-$29.50. 8 p.m., College Park Center, 2-9595.

Monday, Sept. 17

Barbecue Fundraiser 11 a.m.-2 p.m., Library mall. National Society of Leadership and Success.

Tuesday, Sept. 18

MAC's 5th Birthday Celebrate the fifth year of the Maverick Activities Center. Free. 4 p.m., Maverick Activities Center. Student Affairs, Campus Recreation.

Coming up

Maverick Speakers Series Sportswriter and commentator Frank Deford speaks on “Journalism: Sports and Beyond.” Free, but tickets required. Premium seating $25. 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 25, Texas Hall. Also, Cokie Roberts, "An Insider's View of Washington, D.C.," 7:30 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 4, Texas Hall. Maverick Speakers Series.

Toby Mac Christian recording artist Toby Mac with special guests Chris August and Jamie Grace, along with the Diverse City Band. Tickets $15-$40. 7:30 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 4, College Park Center, 2-9595.

Flo Rida Tickets available to UT Arlington students, faculty, and staff only through Wednesday, Sept. 19; to public 10 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 20. Tickets $35-$80; four ticket limit. 7:30 p.m., Friday, Oct. 19, College Park Center, 2-9595.

Ongoing

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.

Gallery 76102: Power Grid Greg Bahr and Josh Fletcher offer critical scrutiny of power structures in their art exhibit. Free. 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Saturdays; 4-8 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays, Gallery 76012. Through Saturday, Sept. 29. Fort Worth Center.

The Gallery at UTA: The State of Drawing Group exhibition showcasing drawing by artists living and working in Texas. Free. Gallery hours 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, noon-5 p.m. Saturdays. Through Saturday, Oct. 6. The Gallery at UTA, Fine Arts Building.

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 Spacepark 360 is an out-of-this-world entertainment experience. Get transported to surreal vistas and experience the most thrilling amusement park rides the solar system has to offer. 2:30 p.m. Sundays. Planetarium.

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