University Communications » Internal Communications » TrailBlazer » TrailBlazer 08-02-2011

Signs of fresh air: Banners around campus and signs at building entrances remind the campus community that UT Arlington became tobacco free Monday, Aug. 1.

Campus is now tobacco free

Following almost two years of campus-wide discussion, input, planning, and preparation, UT Arlington officially became a tobacco-free campus Monday, Aug. 1.

This change was made to improve the overall health of the University community by restricting the use of cigarettes, smokeless cigarettes, chewing tobacco, or any product containing tobacco on campus.

"The use of tobacco is a serious issue that affects the health and well-being of our entire University community," says President James D. Spaniolo. "UT Arlington is taking an active and positive step toward creating a healthier environment for our students, faculty, staff, and visitors."

Two important resources are offered as the University becomes tobacco free. Health Services offers the Fresh Start from Tobacco program, which is free to any students, faculty, and staff interested in quitting tobacco use. See the schedule for classes. And the Office of Human Resources is available to help explain the policy and answer questions at organizational meetings. Contact Jeff Jones, manager of learning and development, at 817-272-5554.

Read more about UT Arlington's tobacco-free policy.

Free charging station added for electric vehicles

The University will make going green a little easier for motorists with the addition of a free public charging station for electric vehicles.

The station—which is likely to be Arlington’s first public station—is being installed in the new, north College Park garage at UTA Boulevard between Pecan and Center streets. The parking structure opens for campus use Monday, Aug. 22, and is one of two that will serve the College Park residential and retail center. The full development is scheduled to open in August 2012.

The charging station was donated by City Electric Supply’s Arlington office. City Electric Supply is a distributor for General Electric, the maker of the EV charger.

“UT Arlington is committed to environmentally sustainable practices, and this donation from City Electric Supply helps us take that commitment a step further," says John Hall, UT Arlington vice president for administration and campus operations. “With City Electric’s generous gift, we can encourage car buyers in our community to consider new, energy-efficient vehicle options.”

Read more about the electric vehicle charging station.

Superintendent certificate program new addition for educators

UT Arlington and Academic Partnerships have created a new online Superintendent Certificate Program tailored to professional school administrators and offered through the University’s College of Education and Health Professions.

This non-thesis certificate program complies with Educational Leadership Constituent Council standards and is designed for administrators who want to advance in the K-12 education arena. The program is intended for current administrators, principals, and others with at least two years of administrative experience and a master’s degree.

The program was developed by UT Arlington faculty and area school district leaders to ensure that participants acquire the skills and knowledge necessary to become school superintendents. The first cohort will begin Monday, Aug. 15, with five start dates planned per year.

“UT Arlington has offered an outstanding superintendents’ program for more than a decade, and the AP program allows us to extend our proven curriculum beyond the traditional campus,” says Jeanne Gerlach, dean of the College of Education and Health Professions.

Read more about the Superintendent Certificate Program.

Dr. Julian Hurdle

Biology professor to study widespread hospital infection with $1.9 million NIH grant

Julian Hurdle, an assistant professor of biology, has been awarded $1.9 million in funding from the National Institutes of Health’s National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine to develop a treatment for one of the most widespread hospital infections in the United States.

Dr. Hurdle plans to study the effect of reutericyclin compounds on the bacteria Clostridium difficile or C. difficile. His co-investigator on the project is Richard Lee, a medicinal chemist and faculty member at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tenn.

C. difficile is the leading cause of diarrhea in elderly hospital and nursing home patients. It also affects cancer patients and others with compromised immune systems. There are more than 500,000 cases each year and 15,000 to 20,000 deaths.

“Developing treatments to combat serious public health threats such as hospital infections is the type of research that occurs at national research universities like UT Arlington,” says Ron Elsenbaumer, vice president for research. “Dr. Hurdle’s work could be the first step toward a valuable new therapy that will help save lives.”

Read more on Hurdle's study.

Renew or clean out your MAC locker

Locker users at the Maverick Activities Center should renew their lockers or empty them by Monday, Aug. 15.

To renew, go to the MAC Services and Information Desk. If you are not renewing, clean out your locker and secure it with the MAC-issued lock.

She's bubbly Talaya Clanton, kinesiology sophomore, blows bubbles at the "Lazy Luau" recently on the Central Library mall. EXCEL Campus Activities sponsored the event.

Chemistry organizes bone marrow donor registration drive

The Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry hosts a bone marrow donor registration drive 11 a.m.-3 p.m. today, Tuesday, Aug. 2, in the main lobby of the E.H. Hereford University Center.

A match is being sought for Ani, an 18-year-old Indian boy, who has been recently diagnosed with myelodysplastic syndrome and needs a bone marrow transplant.

The registration involves a simple, painless swab taken in the cheek and less than five minutes for procedures and paperwork. Representatives from Baylor Medical Center will answer questions about bone marrow donations and the drive.

For more information, contact Subhrangsu Mandal, assistant professor of chemistry, at smandal@uta.edu or 817-272-3804, or Mayank Raj at mayank.raj@mavs.uta.edu or 817-994-8580.

Summer issue of Environmental Health and Safety newsletter now online

Stay out of the heat and read the summer issue of the Environmental Health and Safety newsletter. Find articles about avoiding heat stress, how to handle suspicious mail, and helpful guidelines on how to set up the ideal ergonomic workstation.

Order parking permits online

Plan for parking during the 2011-12 academic year by ordering your permit online at uta.edu/mymav. All students need a permit to park on campus and must have their permits no later than Thursday, Aug. 25.

Sign in on the MyMav page, click on Order Permits Now for Fall 2011, indicated by the big blue-and-white P, and follow directions.

Reduced pricing on remote parking is available.

Call the Parking Office at 817-272-3907 or email mabry@uta.edu for more details.

Volunteer to welcome and help students at annual Residence Hall Move-in Event

Volunteer for the Residence Hall Move-in Event 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday, Aug. 22, and help students get situated in their new on-campus home. The Move-in Event is a campus-wide initiative to assist more than 1,500 residence hall students who will be living on campus this fall.

Use the volunteer registration online for two-hour shifts.

The event is sponsored by Apartment and Residence Life in the Division of Student Affairs. For more information, contact Mari Duncan, director of Residence Life, at mari@uta.edu.

Get your tickets for UT Arlington Student Night with the Rangers

Celebrate Welcome Week at the UT Arlington Student Night at Rangers Ballpark, as the Texas Rangers take on the Los Angeles Angels. The game starts at 7:05 p.m. Friday, Aug. 26.

Block seating for current UT Arlington students is available for $5 per ticket. Tickets can be reserved at utatickets.com and then picked up at the Student Activities Office in Room B140 of the E.H. Hereford University Center. Tickets can also be purchased at the Student Activities Office. Tickets are on a first-come, first-served basis. A notification will be posted on utatickets.com when the tickets sell out.

Tickets are limited to two per student and must be picked up by noon Friday, Aug. 26, in the Student Activities Office. Tickets are not available at the ballpark. No refunds or exchanges.

For more information, contact the Division of Student Affairs at 817-272-6080 or visit utatickets.com. This event is sponsored by the Division of Student Affairs, University Events, EXCEL Campus Activities, and the Texas Rangers.

The night at the ballpark is one of many events during Welcome Week for UT Arlington students. See the events calendar at maverickstampede.com.

Last day to drop is today, Aug. 2, for 11-week term

The deadline to drop courses is 5 p.m. today, Tuesday, Aug. 2, for the summer 11-week term. After this date, students may not drop a course except with special permission. All students must meet with their academic adviser or designated representative in the major academic unit to drop one or more courses or to withdraw (resign) from all courses. A list of advising offices is online.

Impact of dropping on freshmen and sophomores: Undergraduate students who entered college for the first time in fall 2007 are limited to a total of six dropped courses during their undergraduate career. Read more about this state law and procedures for its implementation at UT Arlington.

Impact of dropping if you receive financial aid: Students receiving financial aid must meet the Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements established by UT Arlington. Please refer to the SAP policy on the Office of Financial Aid website, uta.edu/fao, to ensure that you are meeting the requirements. Students who do not meet the minimum standards outlined will lose eligibility to receive financial aid. For questions, make an appointment to see a financial aid counselor by calling 817-272-3561 or sending an email to fao@uta.edu.

Order your transcript and avoid end-of-term lines

Order your end-of-summer transcripts online. You can order transcripts online and request to hold for grades or for your degree posting if you are graduating this summer.

Registration for fall semester continues

It's not too late to register for the fall semester. Registration timetables are online.

To determine if you need adviser clearance, check your portal page at MyMav and click on Student Center. You will see a section on the right titled Holds. Click the details link for specific hold information. If your academic department requires advising, you will see an academic department service indicator (hold).

A list of advising offices is online. Check the fall schedule of classes and the graduate catalog.

Campus cools down with Watermelon Wednesday With temperatures this week close to 110 degrees, everyone needs some water—as in water guns, water slides, and watermelon, of course. Watermelon Wednesday includes snacks, popsicles, and prizes, too. Student Congress Vice President Jeff Hazelrigs is all wet as the dunkee for the dunk tank. Join the free fun noon-2 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 3, on the Central Library mall. For more details, contact EXCEL Campus Activities at 817-272-2963.

Wednesday, Aug. 3

$2 Movie: Rango A sheltered chameleon, living as an ordinary family pet, faces a major identity crisis. Rated PG. 5:30 p.m. Also 5:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 5, and 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 6. Planetarium, 817-272-1183.

Thursday, Aug. 4

Free Movie: Rio A domesticated macaw who never learned to fly enjoys a comfortable life until kidnapped by bungling smugglers. Rated G. Bring lawn chairs and blankets. Refreshments at the concession stand. Beginning after dusk, approximately 9 p.m., lawn west of Maverick Activities Center. EXCEL Campus Activities.

Wednesday, Aug. 10

$2 Movie: Tron: Legacy The son of a virtual world designer goes looking for his father and ends up inside the digital world that his father designed. Rated PG. 5:30 p.m. Also 5:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 12, and 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 13. Planetarium, 817-272-1183.

Thursday, Aug. 11

Free Movie: Thor A powerful but arrogant warrior's reckless actions reignite an ancient war. Rated PG-13. Final presentation of the summer series. Bring lawn chairs and blankets. Refreshments at the concession stand. Beginning after dusk, approximately 9 p.m., lawn west of Maverick Activities Center. EXCEL Campus Activities.

Ongoing

Exposure: Photos from the Second Battle of Fallujah Photographs taken by UT Arlington student and Marine Corps veteran Joel Chaverri. Free. Through Saturday, Aug. 6. Sixth floor parlor, Central Library.

Six Flags Over Texas Exhibit Celebrate 50 years of an Arlington landmark with this interactive exhibit. Free. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays. Through Saturday, Aug. 13. Special Collections, sixth floor, Central Library.

Influence Exhibit Three members of the Department of Art and Art History faculty—Marilyn Jolly, Sedrick Huckaby, and Carlos Donjuan—combine their talents for this painting exhibit. 3-9 p.m. Tuesdays-Fridays, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturdays. Free. Through Friday, Sept. 9. Oak Cliff Cultural Center, 223 W. Jefferson Blvd., Dallas.

Texas Rangers Baseball Get tickets for students, faculty, staff, alumni, family, and friends. Access texasrangers.com/uta and use the password rangers for designated games through Wednesday, Sept. 14.

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. See the summer shows in the Planetarium schedule, 817-272-1183.

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

Wednesday, Aug. 3	The Development of an Arc Flash Safety Standard Wei-Jen Lee, professor of electrical engineering and director of the Energy Systems Research Center, highlights the activities and results of a $4 million, multiyear arc flash study funded by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers and the National Fire Protection Association. Co-sponsored by the College of Engineering. Light breakfast provided. Reservations. Free for Arlington Technology Association members, first-time guests, students. Others $5. 7 a.m., Room 601, Nedderman Hall. Arlington Technology Association, Roger Tuttle, 817-924-1850.
Thursday, Aug. 4	Ref Works I Discover how to export article citations and sources from databases and Google and use RefWorks to create a list of references for your bibliography, formatted according to your choice of style. Explore how Microsoft Word and RefWork's Write-N-Cite software work together to create a polished paper with minimal effort. Reservation. Free. 2-3 p.m., Room B20, Central Library. Graduate Studies, Michael Saenz, saenz@uta.edu.
Saturday-Sunday, Aug. 6-7	Vintage Computer Festival Southwest This second annual festival celebrates the history of computing and includes speakers and videos each morning, exhibits each afternoon, and special events throughout the weekend. $10 per day or $15 for both days. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, and 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday, Bluebonnet Ballroom, E.H. Hereford University. Engineering, Office of Information Technology, Museum of Information Technology at Arlington.
Tuesday, Aug. 9 / Thursday, Aug. 11	Sell That Junk! Learn how to register on eBay as a seller, open a PayPal account, research your items, write a great title and description, take photos that will catch your buyers' attention, and pack and ship your items like a pro. Fee includes required text. $140. 6-9 p.m., Room E200C, Continuing Education and Workforce Building. Continuing Education.
Wednesday, Aug. 10	Government Procurement Conference 2011 Small businesses can meet local, state, and federal government buyers and their prime contractors. $90. 8 a.m.-4 p.m., Arlington Convention Center. Automation and Robotics Research Institute, Jennifer Wilson, jennifer.wilson@uta.edu, 817-272-5909.
(For an expanded list of events, see the UT Arlington Calendar.)

Turning pro: Tennis titan and senior Daiana Negreanu is training for a professional career.

Tennis champ training for pro debut

Daiana Negreanu is on her way in professional tennis. It promises to be a long and difficult road, but she knows that and is prepared to put in the work.

Negreanu did just that at UT Arlington.

"She can go as far as she wants," Mavericks tennis coach Diego Benitez says. "She has the game to dominate on the tour. She has the capability of making a serious living out of this. She's still young and has a great game. She's long and has every shot in the book. She is going to take this as far as she wants to go."

Negreanu, 23, completed her UT Arlington singles career in the Southland Conference finals and helped the team reach the first round of the NCAA's. After going home to Romania for a couple of weeks, she returned to Arlington this summer to begin training for her pro debut.

Read more about Negreanu's tennis career.

Philosophy change leads to more intense practices for basketball Mavs

The summer tour in Canada is enabling basketball head coach Scott Cross and the Mavericks to get a head start on practice for the 2011-12 season.

Cross has changed his practice philosophy from last year. Gone are the long, drawn-out practices. In their place are shorter, more intense workouts designed to get the most out of his players.

So far, the fifth-year coach likes what he has seen.

Read more about the Mavericks' summer practice.

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