MavWire 2016 Archive » MavWire — Monday, February 29, 2016

Dr. Ashfaq Adnan

Engineering researcher wins Naval Research grant to measure when and how battlefield blasts injure brain neurons

Ashfaq Adnan, assistant professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering, is developing a computational model to measure how and when battlefield blasts can cause devastating damage to neurons in the brain.

The work is supported by a three-year, $386,586 grant through the Office of Naval Research’s Warfighter Performance Department and UTA.

Dr. Adnan will measure the blasts on a computer, then forward that information to partners at the Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, D.C., who will then use the data and compare it to existing soldiers’ data.

Read more about the brain injury research.

Tickets for Jane Goodall available Tuesday

Tickets to see primatologist and conservationist Jane Goodall for the Maverick Speakers Series are available starting at 10 a.m. Tuesday, March 1, at utatickets.com.

"Gombe and Beyond: An Evening with Dr. Jane Goodall" begins at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, March 31, at College Park Center. A student question-and-answer session follows the event.

A United Nations' Messenger of Peace and one of the world’s foremost experts on chimpanzees, Dr. Goodall is best known for her more than five decades of scientific exploration on the behavior of wild chimpanzees at Gombe National Park, which redefined the relationship between humans and animals.

She is the founder of the Jane Goodall Institute and its environmental and humanitarian youth program, Roots & Shoots.

Today Dr. Goodall travels nearly 300 days each year, devoting herself to conservation and animal welfare issues while sharing stories of hope and inspiring millions globally to make the world a better place for all living things.

General admission is free, but tickets are required. Preferred ticket packages are available and include reserved seating, parking, and more. For all these ticket options, go to utatickets.com.

For VIP packages, contact Mark LaVelle at mlavelle@uta.edu or 2-5235.

Presenters needed for inaugural student leadership conference

The Vice President for Student Affairs and the Leadership Center invite faculty and staff to present a session topic at the inaugural "Expressions in Leadership Conference" on Saturday, March 26, at the Hilton Arlington.

Expressions in Leadership represents the next generation of student leadership development by mixing basic leadership tools with creativity. Presentations needed include:

Foundational leadership sessions—Solid, foundational leadership information to assist students in their roles as new leaders.

Creative/experiential leadership sessions—Non-traditional presentations that employ movement, reflective learning, and strong participant interaction.

Choose a presentation time of 10:30-11:15 a.m., 11:30 a.m.-12:15 p.m., or 1:45-2:30 p.m.

Submit a program proposal by Friday, March 4. Presenters will be notified by Monday, March 14.

For questions, email Loretta Pequeno-Griffin at lgriffin@uta.edu.

Political party Donna Brazile gave an inside look at politics and life Thursday at Texas Hall for the Maverick Speakers Series. After her lecture, the CNN political commentator answered students' questions and signed autographs for fans of all ages. See more photos.

Tax time is no time to take phishing bait

Scam artists are taking advantage of tax season to steal identities and income.

Whether by phone or computer, scammers try to access personal payroll and tax information. Many of the messages will have an urgent tone in the subject line and content, such as "Final reminder: Tax Refund Notification" and "Your IRS tax bank transfer is not approved."

The IRS has recognized this problem and has published Security Awareness Tax Tips.

The IRS does not initiate contact with taxpayers by email, text, or social media.

University officials, law enforcement, and government officials will not contact you by email, text, or social media or threaten arrest for non-payment of debts.

UT Arlington and legitimate organizations will never ask you to send your password in an email.

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

Follow these tips for information security:

• Never click on links sent to you by individuals you do not know.
• Never open any attachments you’re not expecting. Instead, contact the sender by phone to determine the legitimacy of the message.
• Never divulge your password to anyone. Pay close attention to the web address of any website requesting you to log in.
• Do not reply to emails asking you to send personal information.
• Do not respond to emails threatening to close your account if you do not provide personal information.
• Do not provide personal or financial information to any one calling you. Always offer to call the published number of the organization to resolve any matter.
• Keep your computer’s operating system up-to-date by applying recommended updates.
• Keep your antivirus software up-to-date and run scans frequently.
• Don’t use the same password for all of your online accounts, particularly those with access to funds or confidential information.

Contact the Office of Information Technology's Helpdesk at 2-2208 if you are unsure about an email asking for personal information related to any UT Arlington resource. Send a copy of the message to phish@uta.edu.

Read more about phishing, social engineering, and identity theft.

See the Information Security Office's advisory page for phishing and online scam alerts.

Complete conflict of interest form by March 25

Go to the Outside Activity Portal to disclose potential conflicts such as service on a board or uncompensated activity outside of UTA, significant interest in a business, or gifts received. Approval is not required for immediate family members, but disclosure may be required.

Log into the portal and click on the Make New Disclosure tab to complete the form.

If you did not participate in any outside activity, click on the Report No Activity tab.

To request approval for outside activities, use the Request Approval tab.

If you have any questions, contact Jennifer Chapman in University Compliance Services and Legal Affairs at 2-2080 or compliance@uta.edu.

Celebrate Social Work Month at Tuesday basketball game

Join the School of Social Work in honoring its students, staff, alumni, and all social workers at the men's basketball game Tuesday, March 1.

Tickets are $5 in advance with promotion code UTASSW at utatickets.com. Student tickets are $3.

The Mavericks play Texas State at College Park Center. The women's game begins at 5 p.m., and the men's game starts at 7:15 p.m.

Internet upgrade set for early Saturday morning

The Office of Information Technology will perform an upgrade to the campus’ Internet address management system midnight-4 a.m. Saturday, March 5. The upgrade will improve the overall security and reliability of UTA's network.

During the maintenance, there may be an interruption in accessing UTA resources. Visit the system status page for details.

If you experience issues after the upgrade, contact the Help Desk at 2-2208 or helpdesk@uta.edu.

NetIDplus registration needed to access UTShare on or off campus

All employees who have not signed up for NetIDplus will now be prompted to set up an account when attempting to connect to VPN or UTShare, on or off campus.

UTShare will continue to redirect to the NetIDplus sign-in screen until you set up your account.

You do not need to use NetIDplus when accessing UTShare on-campus. However, NetIDplus must be used to access VPN or UTShare when off campus.

Visit the NetIDplus website for details about setting up an account. For questions, contact the Help Desk at 2-2208 or helpdesk@uta.edu.

Buy tickets for UTA Night at the Rangers to reserve unique cap

A UTA-themed Texas Rangers cap is waiting for you when you buy tickets now for the game Friday, Aug. 26, when the Rangers take on the Cleveland Indians.

Get your ticket before Tuesday, March 15, to guarantee your one-of-a-kind cap.

Buy tickets online for the promotion. Claim your cap on game day at Globe Life Park.

More caps will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis for fans purchasing after March 15.

MavsArt exhibit deadline extended to today

Whether you paint, take photos, sculpt, or merely doodle, show your artistic side in UTA Libraries' MavsArt spring exhibit.

Artwork in two- and three-dimensional forms will be accepted. Submission deadline is today, Monday, Feb. 29.

Questions? Email janeth.colmenero@uta.edu or visit the MavsArt website.

You can help with transition to new email system

Volunteer to be part of the Office of Information Technology's email service upgrade. If you would like to have your email and calendar moved early to the new system, fill out the Request to Move Early form on the Exchange upgrade website.

On Monday, March 21, the Office of Information Technology will begin migrating email and calendars to the new system.

Prepare your mailbox for the switch by organizing your current mailbox.

Delete—Quickly review your inbox and determine which messages you do not need to keep. This may include calendar invites, email chains, or random subscription-based advertisements.

File—Organize files in folders or use flags to indicate the importance of the emails.

Archive—Archive files in a location on your computer or inbox.

For updates, detailed instructions, recommendations, and more information, visit the Exchange upgrade website. For specific questions, contact the Help Desk at helpdesk@uta.edu or 2-2208.

Sign up to volunteer at ACES

Lend a hand at the Annual Celebration of Excellence by Students (ACES), a University-wide symposium highlighting the best in student research and creativity.

Faculty, staff, and students can serve as volunteers. Shifts for morning or afternoon sessions are available. Register to volunteer.

ACES is Wednesday, March 23, in the E.H. Hereford University Center.

Plan now for power outage March 18-20

Facilities Management has scheduled an electrical outage to complete major electrical upgrades/modifications Friday-Sunday, March 18-20.

Buildings affected include the Architecture Building, Engineering Lab Building, Fine Arts Building, Geoscience Building, Nanofab Building, Nedderman Hall, and Woolf Hall.

Emergency generators will support egress lighting, life safety, and all research facilities currently connected to a generator. All buildings will remain locked during the outage.

On Thursday, March 17, clean out all refrigerators and freezers and turn off and unplug electrical devices. Many devices remain in a standby mode or use power even when turned off. If items are plugged into power strips, simply turn off the power strips.

Questions? Contact Toby Buhrkuhl at 972-832-1490 or Jeff Johnson at 817-798-8456.

Changes in withholdings part of IRS updates

The IRS tax changes for 2016 have been updated in UTShare. You may notice a change in your federal withholding tax beginning with the monthly payroll issued Tuesday, March 1, and the semi-monthly payroll issued Monday, March 7.

The social security taxable wage base limit for 2016 is $118,500, unchanged from 2015.

SAC Benefits Fair includes blood drive, health screenings

Bring your Mav ID and join the Staff Advisory Council at the ninth annual Celebrating Maverick Spirit Benefits Fair 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 16, in the Bluebonnet Ballroom of the E.H. Hereford University Center.

Meet with vendors and organizations that provide services or discounts for the UTA community. Giveaways, door prizes, and free food—first come, first serve—await all employees.

Register online for food allergy testing and a cardiovascular screening with 100 percent coverage by insurance. Bring your insurance and ID cards. Sign up for the Carter BloodCare blood drive.

If your department would like to have a booth at the Benefits Fair, please follow this link: http://www.uta.edu/sac/registration/

A Benefits Value Adviser can lower costs on UT SELECT Medical plan

The UT SELECT Medical plan includes a copayment of $100 for MRI and CT scans except in medical emergencies.

You can have the $100 copay waived by calling and speaking with a Benefits Value Adviser (BVA) in advance of the MRI or CT scan. The BVA will review the difference in estimated costs of several different in-network providers with you and then you can decide which provider to schedule your appointment with.

Learn more about how a Benefits Value Adviser can help you save money.

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. 29

Unit Effectiveness Process Refresher Register online. 11 a.m.-noon, fourth floor conference room, Wade Building. Also, 1-1:45 p.m. Tuesday, March 22; 10-10:45 a.m. Monday, March 28; 2-2:45 p.m. Thursday, March 31; 9-9:45 a.m. Tuesday, April 5; 3:30-4:15 p.m. Wednesday, May 4; all in Room E200E, Workforce Development Building. Institutional Effectiveness and Reporting.

Diversity Week: Support the Trans Community Free. Noon-1 p.m., Concho Room, E.H. Hereford University Center. Multicultural Affairs.

Tuesday, March 1

K-12 Focused Technology Series Explore online learning in K-12 and higher education. Harrison McCoy, connecting globally with technology, noon-1 p.m., Room 111, Trimble Hall. Also, Makerspaces and UTA FabLab, March 8; and Jim Holland, Google Classroom, Canvas, and anything related to LMS/CMS, March 22 and 29. Education.

All-Majors Job Fair Students and alumni meet with company representatives looking for new employees. 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Maverick Activities Center. Career Development Center.

Diversity Week: Addressing Islamophobia Amer Ahmed of University of Massachusetts-Amherst, “Addressing Islamophobia: Dispelling Myths of Break Down Barriers.” 6:30 p.m., Rosebud Theatre, E.H. Hereford University Center. Multicultural Affairs.

Wednesday, March 2

Arlington Technology Association Sahadat Hossain and Melanie Sattler of UTA’s Solid Waste Institute for Sustainability, “Making Landfills More Useful: Giving Worth to Trash.” Light breakfast provided. RSVP. Free. 7-8 a.m., Room 100, Nedderman Hall. Arlington Technology Association.

Health Fair Prepare for spring with free health screenings for vision, blood pressure, glucose, dental, mental health, and more. Refreshments, carnival-style games, prizes, interactive activities, and music. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Bluebonnet Ballroom, E.H. Hereford University Center. Health Services.

Finance Lab Register online. 8:30-11:30 a.m., Room E200C, Continuing Education Building. Business Affairs.

Diversity Week: 'The Kids Are All Right' This half-hour documentary follows a renegade Jerry's Kid, Mike Ervin, a Muscular Dystrophy Association poster child in the 1960s and now an outspoken disability rights activist. A discussion about charities follows. Free. Noon, Concho Room, E.H. Hereford University Center. Office for Students with Disabilities, Disability Studies.

Women’s History Month Lecture Lisa Tetrault of Carnegie Mellon, “The Myth of Seneca Falls.” Noon, sixth floor parlor, Central Library. Women’s and Gender Studies, Women's History Month.

Thursday, March 3

Travel and Expenses Register online. 1:30-4:30 p.m., Room E200C, Continuing Education Building. Business Affairs.

Film Screening: 'Subversive Aesthetics' London-based video artist Michelle Atherton discusses and shows her video on a deep-sea submersible trip in Roatan. Free. 4-5:45 p.m., Room 148, Fine Arts Building. Institute for Sustainability and Global Impact, Art and Art History, Liberal Arts.

Ben and Trudy Termini Distinguished Anthropologist LectuRe Douglas Owsley, head of physical anthropology for the National Museum of Natural History for the Smithsonian Institution, "Forensic investigation of the 17th Century Chesapeake." Free. 7 p.m., auditorium, Architecture Building. Also, "Seriously Amazing Moments in Smithsonian Forensic Anthropology and Skeletal Biology," noon, Friday, March 4, Room 108, University Hall. Sociology and Anthropology.

Friday, March 4

Crash Course on Research Grants for Small Businesses Jacob Setterbo, director of grants at HIREtech, familiarizes entrepreneurs with the variety of grants available for research and development and the steps to obtain funding. Also covered are federal registration requirements, budget preparation tips, and grant-writing advice specific to small business grants. Register online. 2-4 p.m., StartUp Lounge, NanoFab Building. Research Administration.

Psychology Colloquium Chandramallika Basak of UT Dallas, “Devising the Best Strategies to Improve Cognition Through Cognitive Training.” Noon, Room 110, University Hall. Psychology.

Saturday, March 5

CPR/AED/First Aid Class A single, five-hour class covering the American Red Cross first aid basics, medical and environmental emergencies, adult CPR, and AED use. Registration at MAC Services and Information desk. $50. 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Room 223, Maverick Activities Center. Also, Saturdays, April 9 and May 21. Campus Recreation.

Monday, March 7

Exercise Science Seminar Tiffany Ryan, director of therapeutic services at Advanced Arm Dynamics and UTA alumna, “Upper Limb Prosthetics: Current and Emerging Technology and the Importance of Skilled Clinical Interventions.” Kinesiology.

Tuesday, March 8

ProCard Register online. 1:30-3:30 p.m., Room E200C, Continuing Education Building. Business Affairs.

Women's History Lecture Amy Richards, activist and author, “Enough: The Good Enough Woman.” 7 p.m., sixth floor atrium, Central Library. Women's and Gender Studies.

Coming Up

Film Screening: 'Age of Champions' A screening of the documentary Age of Champions , an award winning and inspiring documentary following five older adults who sprint, leap, and swim for gold at the National Senior Olympics. A discussion follows with panelist Chris Ray, associate dean for research for the College of Nursing and Health Innovation; Clay Krames, a gold medal senior Olympian; Chelsea Couch of Texas Department of Disability and Aging Services; and Sydney Farrier, a social worker. Register online by Monday, March 7. 5-8 p.m. Thursday, March 10, Room 109, Social Work Building A. Social Work.

Introduction to TracDat Register online. 4-5 p.m. Friday, March 11; 1:45-2:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 22; 10:45-11:30 a.m. Monday, March 28; 2:45-3:30 p.m. Thursday, March 31; 9:45-10:30 a.m. Tuesday, April 5; 4:15-5 p.m. Wednesday, May 4; all in Room E200E, Workforce Development Building. Institutional Effectiveness and Reporting.

Annual Celebration of Excellence by Students The University-wide symposium highlighting the best in student research and creativity. Wednesday, March 23, E.H. Hereford University Center. Annual Celebration of Excellence by Students (ACES).

RAD Self Defense Class Self-defense course for female faculty, staff, and students. Register online. Free. 9 a.m.-6 p.m., March 26, April 9, Room 102-B, Maverick Activities Center. UTA Police.

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

Echosmith performs Friday at College Park Center   “Cool Kids” Echosmith is set to bring its dance-rock influenced sounds to UTA at 8 p.m. Friday, March 4, at Texas Hall. The American indie pop band–four siblings from Chino, California—is best known for the hit song "Cool Kids", which reached number 13 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was double platinum in the United States and Australia. The band's debut album, Talking Dreams, was released in October 2013. Tickets are available now to UTA students, faculty, staff, and the community at utatickets.com, at the UTA Tickets Box Office at College Park Center, or by calling the box office at 2-9595. Tickets are $15 faculty/staff, $10-25 for students, and $25 for the general public. Tickets are limited to four per person. The Spring Concert is sponsored by University Events, EXCEL Campus Activities, and Division for Student Affairs.

Monday, Feb. 29

Vocal Division Recital Free. Noon, Irons Recital Hall, Fine Arts Building. Music.

Percussion Ensemble Concert Free. 7:30 p.m., Irons Recital Hall, Fine Arts Building. Music.

Tuesday, March 1

Basketball Doubleheader Mavericks vs. Texas State. Foam hats, Texas trivia game, Texas music. Tickets $7-20 general public, $3 students. Maverick women's game 5 p.m., men's game 7:15 p.m., College Park Center. Also, vs. South Alabama, Military Appreciation Night, dog tag giveaways, Thursday, March 4; and vs. Troy, Senior Night, Faculty/Staff Night, Saturday, March 6. Athletics.

Opera Performance of Johann Strauss' 'Die Fledermaus' A joint production of the music and theatre arts departments. Tickets $12 general public, $9 students, seniors, faculty, staff. 8 p.m., Irons Recital Hall, Fine Arts Building. Also, Thursday, March 3. Music.

Wednesday, March 2

Trumpet Studio Recital Free. 7:30 p.m., Irons Recital Hall, Fine Arts Building. Music.

Friday, March 4

Baseball Mavericks vs. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. Tickets $5 general public, $3 students. 6:30 p.m., Clay Gould Ballpark. Also, noon and 3 p.m. Saturday, March 5, and 1 p.m. Sunday, March 6. Athletics.

Saturday, March 5

UTA Symphony Orchestra Concert Clifton Evans, associate professor of music and director of orchestras, directs. Tickets $9 general public, $6 students, seniors. 7:30 p.m., irons Recital Hall, Fine Arts Building. Music.

Sunday, March 6

Symphonic Band, Symphonic Winds Concert Douglas Stotter, associate professor of music and director of bands, and John Zastoupil, lecturer, conduct. Free. 5 p.m., Irons Recital Hall, Fine Arts Building. Music.

Monday, March 7

Honors Recital Free. Noon, Irons Recital Hall, Fine Arts Building. Music.

Jazz Bass Guest Artist Concert Performances by the Eddie Gomez Trio with Stefan Karlsson and Ed Soph. Tickets $10. 7:30 p.m., Irons Recital Hall, Fine Arts Building. Music.

Tuesday, March 8

Faculty Percussion Recital Andrew Eldridge, senior lecturer of music, performs. Free. 7:30 p.m., Irons Recital Hall, Fine Arts Building. Music.

Wednesday, March 9

Wind Symphony Concert Tickets $9 general public, $6 students, seniors. 7:30 p.m., Irons Recital Hall, Fine Arts Building. Music.

Ongoing

The Gallery at UTA: 'Whew…That’s a Relief! The Madcap World of John Hernandez' A retrospective exhibition by San Antonio artist John Hernandez that spans four decades. Gallery hours 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Mondays-Fridays and noon-5 p.m. Saturdays. Through March 30. The Gallery at UTA.

UTA Libraries: 'Score' Using Special Collections photos, the exhibit showcases the early days of baseball, basketball, and track; the end of Maverick football; and Olympians and Paralympians from UTA. Through April. Also,"Academic Evolution: The University of Texas at Arlington” runs through August. Sixth floor, Central Library. UTA Libraries.

Planetarium Explore the secrets of the universe in the new show Dark. The spring schedule includes Astronaut, Cosmic Colors, From the Earth to the Universe, Pink Floyd, and SpacePark 360: Infinity. Through May 29. UTA Planetarium.

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