MavWire 2015 Archive » MavWire — Monday, February 2, 2015

Lynne T. Waters

UTA welcomes new vice president for University Communications

Lynne T. Waters, associate vice president for external affairs and university relations for the University of Hawai’i System, has been named vice president for University Communications.

Waters, a native Texan, is a former television news anchor and reporter who owned a comprehensive communications consulting firm before joining the University of Hawai‘i System in 2011. During her tenure in higher education, she has directed strategic communications planning, community relations, creative services and marketing, and brand management for the UH System, including its 10 campuses and some 59,000 students.

At UT Arlington, Waters will work closely with President Vistasp Karbhari and the senior leadership team to direct the University’s global marketing and communications efforts, institutional marketing and brand positioning, internal communications, media relations, and community relations initiatives.

“UT Arlington is positioned to become an even greater catalyst for positive economic change and a hub for intellectual pursuits as the Dallas-Fort Worth region continues its trajectory toward becoming one of our nation’s great megacities,” President Karbhari says. “Lynne Waters shares that vision and brings tremendous depth of experience in strategic communications, community engagement, and brand management.”

Waters was recruited through a highly competitive, national search. Her first day will be Feb. 27. 

Read more about Waters' appointment. 

Dr. Haiying Huang

New research aims to improve safety and efficiency of coal-fired boilers

Engineering Professor Haiying Huang is developing a distributed wireless antenna sensor system to monitor conditions of coal-fired boilers that will lead to making the units safer, more efficient, and eventually producing better designed units. 

Dr. Huang, professor of sensor technology in the Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Department, says a $399,311 Department of Energy grant will fund the study of sensors to monitor the integrity as well as the heat transfer of the coal-fired boilers. The distributed system employs wireless microstrip patch antennas as sensors and is much more accurate than traditional devices.

“The benefit of using these new sensors is that it allows for in-process control of the boilers,” she says. “We’ll not only measure temperature but strain distribution within the boiler and soot accumulation. It allows for real-time health assessment of structural components.”

Huang is teaming with co-principal investigators Jian Luo, a professor in the Department of Nanoengineering at the University of California San Diego, and Ankur Jain, a UT Arlington assistant professor in the Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Department.

Read more about Huang's grant.

Beware of latest phone scam asking for money

A recent phone scam involves the caller claiming to be a police officer collecting debts, according to the UT Arlington Police Department.

The caller tells people they owe money for unpaid "Homeland Security" taxes and other debts. He threatens the individual with arrest and solicits immediate payment for the alleged debts. The telephone number used has been cloned from a legitimate agency.

The scam is similar to one used in the fall claiming to be a UTA official collecting unpaid tuition and other school debts.

University officials, law enforcement, and government officials will not contact you in this manner or threaten arrest for non-payment of debts.

If you encounter this or similar scams or have information about them, contact the UTA Police at 2-3381.

Friendship program seeks to partner international faculty, students with community members

International students and faculty members can link up with Arlington community members through The Link International Friendship Program, sponsored by the Office of International Education.

The Link program fosters an appreciation for how others live and view the world by matching international students and scholars with families and individuals from the Arlington community. Ideally, friendship partners will meet at least once a month for a year. Common activities include conversations over coffee or tea, preparing dishes from each other's cultures, celebrating a birthday or holiday, visiting a local park, or attending a local festival, museum, or film.

Apply online to be a community friend or if you are an international faculty member. For questions, contact Josh Garcia at joshg@uta.edu.

Institutional Review Board mini-conference

Faculty, staff, and students can learn the basics of regulations and more at the Institutional Review Board Mini-Conference 9:30 a.m.-3:45 p.m. Friday, Feb. 13, in Room 215 of the Center for Innovation, 202 E. Border St.

Sessions include the IRB review process, how to prepare a protocol for submission, a mock IRB board meeting, and a panel discussion. One session can earn you credit for human subject training requirements.

See the conference schedule. RSVP to marycolette.lybrand@uta.edu.

Regulatory Services and Research Administration sponsor the conference.

Next MavAlert is Wednesday

The next monthly test of the MavAlert Emergency Notification System is at 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 4.

The MavAlert system rapidly notifies faculty, staff, and students in the event of a campus emergency via registered email addresses and text message devices.

Faculty, staff, and students should update their personal contact information through MyMav. You must enter a mobile phone number in your online MyMav record and label it "Mobile" to enable MavAlert emergency notifications via text message.

Nominations needed for student employee awards

Nominate your outstanding student employee for a chance to win $1,000 or $500 in financial awards. All nominations are due by Monday, Feb. 16.

For questions, contact the Career Development Center at 2-2932.

Vote today for UTA

Vote daily to help UT Arlington win the Stanley Security Together for Safer Schools grant. The grand prize is $200,000 in security equipment with a runner-up prize of $75,000. 

Vote every day, but only one vote per email address, phone number, or Twitter account. Vote from all your email addresses and cellphone numbers. Ask family, friends, and UTA fans to vote, too.

Go online to vote at stanleysaferschools.com, text utaedu to 334455, or tweet using hashtags ‪#‎stanleysecurity and ‪#‎utaedu.

Voting ends at midnight Friday, Feb. 13. See official rules at stanleysaferschools.com.

Duo form Cancer Support Network at UTA Faculty and staff who have experienced or are in treatment for cancer now have an on-campus support group. The Cancer Support Network at UTA will hold its inaugural meeting 11 a.m.-noon Wednesday, Feb. 11, in Room 314 of the Central Library.  Jody Bailey, a breast cancer survivor and director of grants and research for UTA Libraries, pictured above on left, and Bruce Bower, assistant professor of social work, pictured on right, will facilitate the group. “When I was going through chemotherapy and working full time, I desperately wanted to participate in a cancer support group. But I was too sick and exhausted at the end of a work day to attend meetings," Bailey says. "A campus organization would have been ideal, but nothing existed at UTA. So I decided to start a support group.” Bower has more than 25 years of experience as a clinical social worker and has a family member with breast cancer. For more information, contact Bailey at jbailey@uta.edu or Bower at bower@uta.edu.

Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act Notification

UT Arlington seeks to provide its faculty, staff, and students with a drug-free environment. In accordance with the Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act, the University is required to notify faculty, staff, and students each semester about:

Health risks associated with drug and alcohol abuse

• Alcohol and Drug Awareness
• Illicit Drugs and Alcohol Abuse (Brochures are at UT Arlington Police Department and Health Services)

University policies related to the illegal possession, use, or distribution of drugs or alcohol

• Drug and Alcohol Testing Policy
• Alcohol and Drug-Free Workplace Policy
• Drug-Free University Community and Workplace Policy
• Drugs and Alcohol Policy

Availability of treatment for drug or alcohol problems

Employees — Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is provided through UT Arlington’s Office of Human Resources at 1-800-343-3822 or visit alliancewp.com.

Students — Drug and alcohol counseling and referral services are available through UT Arlington Health Services at 2-2771 or visit uta.edu/healthservices.

Internal sanctions and federal, state, and local legal penalties that may result from the illegal sale, possession, consumption, or distribution of drugs or alcohol

• Disciplinary Penalties
• Student Conduct and Discipline
• Standards of Conduct Guide
• Illicit Drugs and Alcohol Abuse (Brochures are at UTA Police Department and Health Services.)

For more information, contact UT Arlington's Health Services at 2-2771 or visit uta.edu/healthservices.

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.

Wednesday, Feb. 4

A Quick Look at Engineering Student and Faculty Achievements Two examples of achievements by student teams and faculty members: an award-winning real-time monitoring system that enables better vehicular flow and a project to solve water-related challenges some cities face due to urban population growth and climate fluctuations. Light breakfast provided. RSVP. Free. 7-8 a.m., Room 100, Nedderman Hall. Arlington Technology Association.

Women Go Red Learn about heart disease and how it affects women. 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Palo Duro Lounge, E.H. Hereford University Center. Health Services.

Study Abroad Fair Learn about the more than 500 study abroad programs in 62 countries where Mavericks can earn credit toward their degrees. Free. 11 a.m.-2 p.m., Bluebonnet Ballroom, E.H. Hereford University Center. Study Abroad.

The New Black: Examining Racial Identity from a Contemporary Perspective Jason Shelton, associate professor of sociology, and Dante’ Bryant, social work doctoral student, detail racial identity from a contemporary perspective. Free. Noon-1 p.m., Carlisle Suite, E.H. Hereford University Center. Center for African American Studies.

Thursday, Feb. 5

Qualitative Research Brown Bag Faculty and graduate students present their qualitative methodologies. Register online to present. Free. Noon-1 p.m., Suite 415, Central Library. Qualitative Research blog.

Friday, Feb. 6

Writing Effective Email Register online. 10-11:30 a.m., Room 202, J.D. Wetsel Service Center. Human Resources.

Wednesday, Feb. 11

Coaching Skills for Supervisors Register online. 9-11 a.m., Room 202, J.D. Wetsel Service Center. Human Resources.

Coming up

Human Resource Training Register online. Managing Across Generations, 9-11 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 17; Dealing Effectively with Conflict and Confrontation, 10 a.m.-noon Friday, Feb. 20; Professional Telephone Techniques, 9-11 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 26. All at Room 202, J.D. Wetsel Service Center. Human Resources.

(For an expanded list of events, see the UTA calendar.)

Monday, Feb. 2

Wheelchair Basketball Tournament Free. Physical Education Building and Maverick Activities Center. Movin' Mavs.

Guest Artist Recital The Mount Vernon Music Association performs. Free. 7:30 p.m., Irons Recital Hall, Fine Arts Building. Music.

Wednesday, Feb. 4

Tail Waggin' Wednesday Paws with Partners will bring registered therapy dogs to campus for some doggy de-stressing. Free. 10 a.m.-2 p.m., second floor, Central Library. Also Wednesdays, March 4 and April 1. UT Arlington Libraries.

Bassoon Week Recitals Bassoon students perform. Free. 7:30 p.m., Irons Recital Hall, Fine Arts Building. Also, Thursday, Feb. 5, and Saturday, Feb. 7. Music.

Friday, Feb. 6

UT Arlington Wind Symphony Concert Conductor Douglas Stotter leads a concert of band classics from around the world. Tickets $9 adults, $6 students, seniors. 7:30 p.m., Irons Recital Hall, Fine Arts Building. Music.

Flight 12 Improv! An evening of funny and oh-no-you-didn't moments presented by 12 members of the Maverick Theatre Company. Free. 8 p.m., Studio Theatre, Fine Arts Building. Also, Saturday, Feb. 7, Theatre Arts.

Saturday, Feb. 7

Men's Basketball on ESPN Mavericks vs. Louisiana-Lafayette game televised from the Cajundome in Lafayette, La. 1 p.m., ESPN or ESPN2. The network will be announced one week in advance. Athletics.

Coming up

Spring Concert with Jessie J British singer and songwriter Jessie J is recognized for an unconventional musical and performance style, mixing soul vocals with contemporary R&B, pop, electropop, and hip-hop beats. Tickets $20 UTA faculty and staff, $15 students; $25 general admission. 8 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 10, at Texas Hall. EXCEL Campus Activities.

Ongoing

Special Collections: The Price of Manifest Destiny Discover how maps and war interlocked in the 19th century. Hours 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Mondays, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays, sixth floor, Central Library. Through Feb. 7. UT Arlington Libraries Special Collections.

The Gallery at UTA: Gyorgy Beck and Sylvia Plachy Two Hungarian-born artists share space in both the literal and metaphysical sense. Through Feb. 14. The Gallery at UTA.

Visual Resource Commons and Gallery The African Art Collection is a multi-dimensional collection of 11th- to 20th-century art and artifacts. Free. 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Mondays-Fridays, Suite 2109, Fine Arts Building. Art and Art History.

Planetarium The spring schedule features Black Holes, Dynamic Earth, Pink Floyd, Secret of the Cardboard Rocket, and Spacepark 360: Infinity. Planetarium.

(For an expanded list of events, see the UTA calendar.)