University Communications » Internal Communications » MavWire » MavWire 02-18-2013

Dr. Vistasp M. Karbhari

Dr. Vistasp M. Karbhari finalist for president

The University of Texas System Board of Regents has named Vistasp M. Karbhari the sole finalist for the presidency of UT Arlington.

The board announced Dr. Karbhari after interviewing candidates and considering recommendations of an advisory committee that reviewed nominations and applications for the position. The candidates recently met with constituent groups at the University as part of a series of campus visits.

Karbhari is the provost and executive vice president for academic affairs at the University of Alabama in Huntsville. Prior to his current position, he served as professor and vice chairman of the Structural Engineering Department at the University of California-San Diego.

“Extraordinary leadership is crucial for our institutions, and the unique and innovative environment at UT Arlington calls for an effective and visionary leader,” Chancellor Francisco G. Cigarroa says. “Dr. Karbhari is extremely well suited to lead UT Arlington, and I am thrilled to welcome him to the UT System.”

Read more about Karbhari.

Full house for Mark Kelly lecture

All tickets have been claimed for Mark Kelly's appearance in the Maverick Speakers Series at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 19, at Texas Hall.

If you would like to attend this lecture but did not reserve a ticket, non-ticketed patrons will be seated as space permits.

No bags larger than 8.5x11-inches will be allowed in the building. Metal detectors and bag searches also will be used. Tickets are not valid after 7:20 p.m. the night of the lecture.

Kelly is an astronaut, retired U.S. Navy captain, best-selling author, and an experienced naval aviator who flew combat missions during the Gulf War. As an astronaut, he flew his first of four missions in 2001 aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour, which he commanded on its final flight in May 2011. Kelly's identical twin brother is also an astronaut, and they are the only twins and only siblings to have both traveled in space.

He became the center of international attention after the 2011 assassination attempt on his wife, former U.S. Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords.

Whoop and holler at Mavs' next games at College Park Center

Lend your voice to the cheering crowds when the Maverick basketball teams compete Wednesday, Feb. 20, at College Park Center. Tickets are available online at utatickets.com.

The women's team takes on New Orleans at noon while the men face UT Pan American at 7 p.m.

The men defeated Idaho 71-68 Thursday night in Moscow, Idaho. The Mavericks improved to 13-9 overall and 8-5 in Western Athletic Conference after their fifth win in the last six games. The team is 9-3 on the road this season, including 5-1 in the WAC.

The women claimed their first home win of the season by defeating Idaho 60-58 Thursday night at College Park Center. The win came after a mid-week coaching change with former assistant coach Karen Blair named interim head coach.

On the road again, the women head to San Jose State for a Feb. 28 game, followed by play March 2 against Utah State. They wrap up their seaon at home against Denver March 7 and New Mexico State March 9.

The men take on UC Irvine in the Ramada Worldwide BracketBusters at 5 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 23, in College Park Center. The 11th annual BracketBusters pits potential NCAA championship hopefuls against each other.

More men's home games include San Jose State Feb. 28 and Utah State March 2. The last scheduled conference games are at Denver March 7 and at New Mexico State March 9.

Grab tickets for the 2013 WAC Tournament March 12-16 in Las Vegas. All-session tickets, which are good for both men's and women's games, are $165 and are available at utatickets.com, by calling 2-9595, or at the College Park Center box office. All WAC men’s and women’s teams qualify for the postseason event.

How sweet Athena Seaton, administrative assistant in facilities management, samples free confections at ChocolateFest, a Valentine's Day gift of sweet treats from the Central Library.

Open house for Canon Print Center on Thursday at City Hall

An open house for the Canon Print Center is set for 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 21, at Arlington City Hall, 101 West Abram St. It is hosted by UT Arlington and the city of Arlington.

Meet the Canon Print Center staff, discuss your department’s printing needs, and see how easy it is to submit a print job into the dedicated web portal. Submit your name for a chance to win a gift.

For more information, contact Julia Cornwell, Procurement Services, at 2-3002.

Linguistics, TESOL conference starts Thursday, marks 20th year

Robert Fiorentino of the University of Kansas is the keynote speaker at the 20th annual Student Conference in Linguistics and TESOL, on Thursday-Friday, Feb. 21-22.

Dr. Fiorentino will speak at 1 p.m. Thursday in Room 303 of the Chemistry and Physics Building. His research involves psycholinguistics and neurolinguistics and uses experimental techniques including MEG, EEG, and fMRI.

The best presentations will be awarded the Yumi Nakamura Memorial Prize in Linguistics, named for a late UT Arlington student.

Some lots close Wednesday

Two parking lots will be partially closed on Wednesday, Feb. 20, for activities.

Lot 33—north of the Maverick Activities Center–will be closed 7 a.m.-4 p.m. for the Spring Job Fair.

Lot F13—on the east side of campus—will be closed at 7 a.m. for the women's and men's basketball games in College Park Center.

From 11 a.m to 2 p.m., watch for a large number of school buses on Spaniolo and Center streets. They will drop off and pick up about 1,500 Arlington schoolchildren for the women's game.

18th Annual NASA Scholarship Pow-wow set for Saturday

Come to the 18th Annual NASA Scholarship Pow-wow for traditional dances, music, vendors, frybread, and performance competition on Saturday, Feb. 23, in the Bluebonnet Ballroom of the E.H. Hereford University Center.

The Pow-wow starts with gourd dancing at 11 a.m. The grand entry begins at 5 p.m. Albert Old Crow returns as emcee. Admission is free.

New this year is a juried art show, part of an international Idle No More movement that began in Canada in response to changes in government policies affecting First Nations, or Native American, people.

All proceeds benefit Native American Student Association scholarships.

Sex talk Jay Friedman educated and entertained during his presentation "The J-Spot: A Sex Educator Tells All" Thursday in the Rosebud Theatre. His apperance was sponsored by the Relationship Violence and Sexual Assault Prevention Program in the Division of Student Affairs.

New e-learning group for faculty formed; mini-conference Friday

A new faculty group called Professional e-Learning Community hosts a mini-conference on campus for its inaugural event.

PLC's Connection conference is 12:30-3:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 22, in the Rady Room on the sixth floor of Nedderman Hall.

Conference topics include:

• Flips, Blends, and the Flying Trapeze: Acrobatic Models of Instruction
• Strategies for Learning Hands-on and in the Cloud
• MOOCs: Accessible Education for All or Questionable Teaching on a Massive Scale?
• Speed Networking and PLC Spring projects

Register by emailing Laurel Mayo at lauram@uta.edu.

Elect Her program seeks students

Do you know any students interested in running for Student Congress or other campus leadership positions? Encourage them to apply for a free student leadership training, Elect Her: UT Arlington Women Win, set for 4-9 p.m. Wednesday, March 6, in the Concho Room of the E.H. Hereford University Center.

Elect Her encourages and trains young women to run for student government on campus, but men are welcome to apply. Students will learn the nuts and bolts of a student government campaign, how to develop and communicate an effective message, how to reach out to a constituency, how to win a campaign, and key leadership skills.

Applications are due Friday, March 1. Space is limited.

For questions, contact Kendra Kliesen at 2-2128 or kendrak@uta.edu.

Healthy design Richard Jackson, author of Designing Healthy Communities and host of the 2012 PBS series of the same name, spoke at a Vision North Texas conference Friday in the School of Architecture's auditorium. Dr. Jackson, chair of UCLA’s Environmental Health Science Department, contends that if America builds communities that encourage walking, exercise, and being outdoors, many health challenges would vanish or at least subside.

Ramp replacement set for Davis Hall

The accessible ramp at the south basement entrance of Davis Hall will be replaced next month. The south entrance to the building will be closed Saturday, March 9-Friday, March 22.

All other building entry and exit points will remain open. Temporary signage will direct visitors to the north entrances of the building.

Volunteer for Health Fair

Volunteers are needed for the Health Fair on Tuesday, March 5, in the Palo Duro Lounge and Bluebonnet Ballroom of the E.H. Hereford University Center.

Health Services sponsors the fair, which runs 10 a.m.-2 p.m. and includes screenings, vendors, and more.

Volunteers are needed for one-hour increments starting at 7 a.m. Tasks range from setting up and taking down booths to decorating and handing out brochures.

Complete the volunteer form and fax to 2-0492 or drop off in the Health Services Center.

Campus network upgrade due March 10

The Office of Information Technology will conduct maintenance on network equipment connecting the main UTA campus and the Arlington Regional Data Center (ARDC) between 2-7 a.m. Sunday, March 10.

Any service interruption should last between five and 15 minutes.

Campus Internet connections and student email will not be impacted.

Connectivity to resources housed at ARDC—MyMav, access to campus web pages, faculty/staff exchange email, and file servers—will be affected.

Police escort service available any time

The UT Arlington Police Department offers escort service at any time requested. To request a security escort, call 2-3381.

The Green/South shuttle route runs until 10:30 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays, including faculty/staff lots 13 and 17.

New benefit offers online health help, rewards

UT System has partnered with Provant Health Solutions, an independent health and wellness company, to provide the new health platform to UT SELECT Medical plan members. UT Arlington's Wellness Committee will start training classes on how to use this tool in March.

The new online program offers a variety of health and wellness resources and assistance programs. Track your nutrition needs, physical fitness, have access to health coaches, and more through the website.

Complete the online health assessment and an annual physical, and you will receive a $25 gift card.

Read more about the new Living Well program. For questions about creating an account, email livingwell@provanthealth.com or call at 1-888-703-2296.

Look for more details at the Benefits Fair on Wednesday, March 13. For questions, contact the Wellness Committee at wellness@uta.edu.

Service award recipients should check info

Employees who have completed 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, or 45 years of service should make sure their names are on the list of 2013 Service Award Honorees. Department supervisors and employees should review the list and report any missing names by Thursday, February 28.

The University will host a dinner Thursday, April 4, in honor of employees with 25 years of service. Included in this celebration are employees who have 30, 35, 40, and 45 years of service.

On Wednesday, April 10, the University will honor employees who have 10, 15, and 20 years of service.

Time Management: Keys to Everyday Office Success

If your office is a mess and you are drowning in your to-do list, then this class is for you. Understand how backlogs happen, how to manage paperwork, how to eliminate clutter, and discover the benefits of organization. Free. 9-11 a.m., Wednesday, Feb. 20, Room 200, Wetsel Service Center. See a list of HR training classes.

Customer Service 101

Cover the basics of customer service skills including handling difficult customers, making customers the first priority, and improving listening skills. Free. 9-11 a.m., Wednesday, Feb. 27, Room 200, Wetsel Service Center. See a list of HR training classes.

Introduction to Adobe Premiere

Learn the basic setup and utilization of professional video editing. Explore proper setup techniques for projects and how to import, edit, and share your digital video. Free. 2-4 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 21, B29, Central Library. Media Studio Workshops.

Introduction to Mosaics

Explore mosaic design, terminology, resources, and types of materials available in the mosaic world, and create two items to take home. Fee includes cost of materials. Call 2-2581 for faculty, staff discount fee of $84.50. 9:30 a.m.-noon Saturdays, March 2-16, Room A101, Continuing Education and Workforce Development Building. Continuing Education.

Rape Aggression Defense

The Rape Aggression Defense System is a program of realistic self-defense tactics and techniques developed for women. Register. Free. 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 23, Room 102, Maverick Activities Center. UTA Police.

Performance Review Training for Supervisors

Performance Management Forms and Procedures for supervisors is offered 2-3 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 19; 9-10 a.m. Friday, Feb. 22; 4-5 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 28; noon-1 p.m. Monday, March 4; and 10-11 a.m. Monday, March 25. All classes are in Room 200 of the Wetsel Service Center. Annual performance reviews for all employees—except faculty, GTAs, and GRAs—must be completed by Friday, March 29. Evaluation forms can be accessed online. For questions, call 2-5554.

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.

Monday, Feb. 18

Solar Energy: Answers for Those Who Don't Even Know What to Ask Presentation and discussion about solar energy and its use in urban America. Includes tour of solar shuttle. Register. Free. 3 p.m., University Hall. School of Urban and Public Affairs.

Tuesday, Feb. 19

Assistive Robotics Symposium Rory Cooper, director of the University of Pittsburgh’s Human Engineering Research Laboratories, is the keynote speaker. Open to campus community plus industry and government representatives. Program schedule. Register. Free. 1-6:30 p.m., UT Arlington Research Institute, 7300 Jack Newell Blvd. South, Fort Worth, 2-5900.

Friday, Feb. 22

Psychology Colloquium Marion K. Underwood of UT Dallas speaks on “Social Aggression, Gender, and Digital Communication.” Free. Noon, Room 10, University Hall. Psychology.

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

Wednesday, Feb. 20

Spring Job Fair Faculty and staff can visit the job fair for students and alumni seeking full-time positions and exploring internships, part-time jobs, and field placements. Free. 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Maverick Activities Center. Career Center.

Women's Basketball Mavericks vs. New Orleans. Arlington Independent School District Field Day with approximately 1,500 sixth-grade students and teachers attending. $6 tickets. Noon, College Park Center. Athletics.

Men's Basketball Mavericks vs. UT Pan American. Coaches vs. Cancer Awareness Night. $6-$15 tickets. 7 p.m., College Park Center. Athletics.

Your Journey, Our Legacy Journey through the different paths of famous Africans and African Americans and learn how they defined success. An open discussion about different paths is facilitated by Schnavia Hatcher, director of the Center for African American Studies. Free 7 p.m., Bluebonnet Ballroom, E.H. Hereford University Center. Black History Month.

Friday, Feb. 22

Friday Night Film: Red Dawn Free popcorn; other concessions available. $1 cash, $1.50 with credit card. 8 p.m., Rosebud Theatre, E.H. Hereford University Center. EXCEL Campus Activities.

Baseball Mavericks vs. Northeastern. $6 tickets. 6:30 p.m.; noon and 3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 23; Clay Gould Ballpark. Athletics.

Coming Up

Black History Month Wolf premiere, 7 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 26, Planetarium; and "Exploring Our Legacy," 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 27, Rosebud Theatre, E.H. Hereford University Center. Black History Month.

National TRIO Day Celebration The week-long celebration is culminated on the UT Arlington campus by the DFW Alliance of TRIO programs. Schedule. 7 a.m.-2 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 23. UT Arlington TRIO program.

Native American Student Association Pow Wow Gourd dancing at 11 a.m., open dancing at 2 p.m., grand entry at 5 p.m. Free. Noon-10 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 23, Bluebonnet Ballroom, E.H. Hereford University Center. Native American Student Association.

Military Science Hall of Honor The Cadet Corps Alumni Council Hall of Honor ceremony recognizes outstanding alumni Sunday, Feb. 24. The Carlisle Cannons will fire three volleys at approximately 1:45 p.m. Military Science.

Ongoing

Self-congratulatory Nonsense A solo installation by Joshua Elliott. Gallery hours 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Saturdays; 4-8 p.m. Thursdays-Fridays. Through Saturday, March 30. Fort Worth Center, Gallery 76102.

Planetarium Take a trip in the universe to discover how scientists use the entire electromagnetic spectrum to view the universe in Cosmic Colors. 1 p.m. Saturday. Planetarium.

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