UTA In The News — Friday, December 17, 2021
Job prospects improving
Despite the pandemic, thousands of college graduates this week will be crossing over into a more promising job market, KXAS NBC 5 reported in a story featuring UT Arlington’s Lockheed Martin Career Development Center. “Our graduates definitely have a bright future,” said Nicole Philip, associate director of employer relations at the career center. The market is hot. Lots of opportunity. I definitely recommend being open minded because there are several opportunities out there that are very competitive. So, utilize the career center, we are here to help.”
Nursing graduates in demand
KXAS NBC 5 reported there are more than 2,000 students graduating from UT Arlington’s College of Nursing and Health Innovation (CONHI) this week. CONHI Dean Elizabeth Merwin said the students are being highly recruited because of existing demand in the health care system. Joyce Robinson, one of the UTA students graduating, said the pandemic has changed the nursing world.
UTA ceremonies at Globe Life
This week marks a big week for commencement ceremonies across North Texas, KXAS NBC 5 reported. UT Arlington’s ceremonies will be held at Arlington’s Globe Life Field.
Mask mandate on airlines still in effect
Erin Bowen, UT Arlington A. Dale Thompson Endowed Professor of leadership and an aviation psychology researcher, said the federal mask mandate on air travelers is still in effect, The Dallas Observer reported. Bowen also said people are risking fines and being removed if they don’t wear masks on flights.
Panhandlers/homeless have rights
Hannah Lebovits, UT Arlington assistant professor of public affairs and planning, said it isn’t illegal to not have housing and exist publicly in a Dallas Observer story about panhandling and homelessness in Dallas. “You have a constitutional right to ask people for money,” she said.
CONHI celebrates 50 years
The College of Nursing and Health Innovation is celebrating its 50th anniversary with a new 50th Anniversary webpage, where visitors can stay up to date on the latest events, submit their stories and photos and learn more about the college's rich history at The University of Texas at Arlington, U.S. Fed News reported.
New USGA president-elect
Fred Perpall, a UT Arlington alumnus, has been named the first Black president-elect of the U.S. Golf Association, The Dallas Morning News reported. Perpall will then become the USGA’s first Black president in 2023. Perpall, 47, is the CEO of The Beck Group, where he leads the firm’s domestic and international architectural design, planning, real estate consultancy and construction businesses. The Highland Park resident will also become the first USGA president residing in Texas. The USGA was created in 1894.
Opportunity grants
UT Arlington was named one of five universities to receive Collaborative Opportunity Grants from the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities and Coalition of Urban Serving Universities, Diverse Education, U.S. Fed News, Campus Technology and Thailand’s Times of News reported. The grants will be used at public urban research universities to better prepare low-income, first-time college students for a 21st-century workforce.
Contentious school board races
Rebecca Deen, UT Arlington political science associate professor and associate dean of the College of Liberal Arts, said savvy politicians often swoop in when they see a hot-button issue surface, but she worries the division and politics will scare away capable nonpartisan candidates from even running in school board elections, the Fort Worth Business Press and Texas News Today reported. The Texas Tribune published the story originally.