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Communication for the staff and faculty of
The University of Texas at Dallas |
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Wednesday, October 20, 2021 |
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COVID-19 Information, Resources
During the disruption of regular services due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Office of Communications is maintaining a collection of information and resources for staff, faculty and students. For the latest information, visit the COVID-19 website, which will be updated frequently with FAQs and the latest information.
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Summit To Explore Accessible Approach to Math
Register to attend the DiversAbility Summit from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 20 in the TI Auditorium (ECSS 2.102). The summit will feature a panel discussion on a new approach to making mathematics more accessible to students with disabilities.
The event, part of National Disability Employment Awareness Month, will feature a presentation on how process-driven math, a novel method for teaching and assessing mathematics skills, can translate into increased workforce opportunities for all students pursuing STEM-related careers.
“Not until fairly recently have disability and accessibility been a significant part of mainstream DEI conversations, and honestly, we are still working to tear down some barriers in that regard. That is why recognitions such as National Disability Employment Awareness Month are so important,” said Dr. Yvette E. Pearson, vice president for diversity, equity and inclusion at The University of Texas at Dallas.
Panelists will include Pearson, Dr. Ann Gulley and Logan Prickett, cofounders of The Logan Project; and Dr. Canek Phillips, a research scientist at Rice University.
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HR Forum Scheduled for Nov. 3
The Office of Human Resources will host its next HR Forum from 10-11:30 a.m., Wednesday, Nov. 3, as a Microsoft Teams live event. Please install Microsoft Teams prior to joining. If you need assistance, contact the Help Desk. Unlike a traditional Teams meeting, you are not able to “dial in” to a live event. Audio will stream from your computer. Please ensure your speakers are on or use a headset connected to your device. Closed captioning is available, and there will be a moderated Q-and-A forum. If you have questions for the HR Forum, send them to [email protected].
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Nominate Colleagues for CARE Awards by Oct. 31
CARE Awards — which stands for Celebrate Achievement, Reward Excellence — recognize staff who have demonstrated superior performance, offered outstanding customer service, and performed acts that have enhanced the image of the University.
The deadline to make a nomination for fall 2021 is Sunday, Oct. 31. Anyone can nominate a staff member for this award. Nominations are reviewed and held in confidence by a committee comprised of a representative from each Staff Council district and appointed by the Staff Council president.
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Register To Participate in Dallas College Recruiting Event
The UT Dallas Office of Community College Relations and the Office of Graduate Studies are pleased to offer an opportunity for UTD faculty, staff and students to be considered for a wide range of part-time teaching opportunities at Dallas College.
Dallas College deans and department chairs will meet and pre-qualify interested candidates for possible opportunities from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 27, in the Founders Building (second floor atrium). To participate, please fill out the UTD-Dallas College Recruiting Event form.
This effort is strongly aligned to the UT Dallas Community College-Outreach Partnership for Teaching Initiative (OPT-IN). UTD faculty (all ranks), graduate students and qualified staff are encouraged to apply for potential teaching positions at Dallas College with the purpose of building stronger transfer connections for Dallas College students. UTD faculty and others may incorporate participation in OPT-IN on their CVs as “Visiting Faculty, Transfer Partnership Program.”
Read more |
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State Employee Charitable Campaign Strengthens Nonprofits
The University recently launched its annual State Employee Charitable Campaign. The campaign, which raises funds for a number of local, national and international nonprofit organizations, will run through Sunday, Oct. 31. Two UT Dallas programs are eligible for support — the Academic Bridge Program and the Callier Center for Communication Disorders.
The SECC is a wonderful opportunity for faculty and staff members to give back and help strengthen organizations that make a difference for Texans. This year’s campaign includes virtual events that employees are encouraged to join. Each event includes an opportunity to win fun prizes:
- Virtual Trivia, noon, Friday, Oct. 22 on Microsoft Teams.
- Halloween Photo Contest: Submit your photos by Friday, Oct. 29 and be sure to vote for your favorite picture on the UT Dallas Alumni Facebook page.
RSVP for these online events. As in previous years, gifts can be set up online using payroll deduction.
For more information, email Aisha Dibaki. |
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RSVP for Northside Dedication, Ribbon-Cutting on Oct. 28
The Office of Facilities & Economic Development invites students, faculty and staff to celebrate the completion of Northside, the mixed-use residential and retail complex at Synergy Park Boulevard that broke ground in 2015.
A dedication and ribbon-cutting ceremony will be from 10:30-11:30 a.m., Thursday, Oct. 28, at Northside Plaza. Please make a reservation so you can receive more information.
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Facilities & Economic Development News
Jenny Mizutowicz Elected to UEDA Board
Jenny Mizutowicz, manager of economic development initiatives for the Office of Facilities & Economic Development, was recently elected as an at-large board member of the University Economic Development Association (UEDA). UEDA works to advance regional economic prosperity fueled by higher education, which complements F&ED’s goal of helping to make The University of Texas at Dallas an economic engine for the region. Read the official announcement.
Dallas-Fort Worth Labor Market Update
Dallas-Fort Worth recorded a net gain of 23,000 jobs in August, bringing the region to 23,900 short of February 2020 pre-pandemic levels. The unemployment rate has continued to see a decline from previous months, bringing the current regional rate to 4.7%. For more details, see this month’s DFW Labor Market Update.
UTD To Host Annual Economic Development Summit
Local business leaders, government officials and economic developers will gather at UT Dallas in November to discuss the economic state of our region with University leadership, and to find ways to partner together to drive economic development in North Texas. The ongoing market impact of the COVID-19 pandemic is expected to be an important topic, as will UTD’s latest research and emerging technologies that benefit regional businesses.
For more information on how UT Dallas and our local economy affect each other, please contact the Economic Development team. You can also subscribe to biweekly updates on the latest analysis and news. |
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Last Chance To Register for Swim Class
University Recreation offers swimming lessons for all proficiency levels, ages 4 and up. Classes focus on four competitive strokes: front crawl, back crawl, breaststroke and butterfly. Classes develop a training and workout methodology based on individual needs.
Member price is $80 per session/participant; nonmember price is $95 per session/participant. The deadline to register yourself, partner or child is 5 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 2.
For more information, private lesson pricing and class schedule, visit the UREC Aquatics website or email [email protected].
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Office of Information Technology Events
Desk Reservation System Training, 2 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 9 — Let your team determine where they work by offering a flexible workplace experience through this new desk reservation system. This intuitive system allows you to build a custom floorplan for your office suite and set up how spaces can be reserved. Register to attend the Teams Live event.
Enlist: List Tips, 2 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 16 — Do you have information you need to track? The Lists app in Microsoft Teams helps you track information, organize work and manage workflows. You can quickly create a list from scratch or get inspired by ready-made templates to help you track events, inventory, routines, contacts and more. Register to attend the webinar.
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Center for BrainHealth Events
Sips & Science - Not Just Games: VR to Boost Brain Health, 7 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 21— Virtual reality is impacting our world in a profound way, especially in the medical field. Dr. Walter Greenleaf, a neuroscientist and medical technology developer working at Stanford University will share how virtual reality is increasingly used for education and treatment in the fields of health and medicine.
The Cerebellum: Contributions to Cognition and Implications for Psychopathology, noon, Friday, Oct. 29 — Dr. Jerillyn Kent, assistant professor of psychology at UT Dallas, will review the evidence of cerebellar contributions to higher-order cognitive functions and present her work investigating cerebellar abnormalities in individuals with psychotic disorders. She will also briefly review evidence of transdiagnostic cerebellar abnormalities. For more information or to receive credits and a certificate of attendance for your records, email [email protected].
Inside The BrainHealth Project — Learn how you can “Be Your Best Self” with The BrainHealth Project, a free, online, self-paced, interactive program that is entirely grounded in demonstrated science. The Center for BrainHealth will host two 30-minute virtual information sessions each month through December.
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Center for Vital Longevity Events
Jean and Bill Booziotis Lecture Series, 7 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 10 — Guest speaker Dr. David Badre, professor of cognitive, linguistic and psychological sciences at Brown University, will discuss the neuroscience of cognitive control and how our brain gets this done. Seating is limited.
7th Biennial Dallas Aging & Cognition Conference, Jan. 29-31 — The DACC is focused on the cognitive neuroscience of aging and is organized by the Center for Vital Longevity with co-sponsorship by the Office of Research and Innovation and the School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences. The conference will honor the scientific contributions and impact of the CVL’s founding director, Dr. Denise C. Park. Reflecting her diverse interests, the platform presentations will be along four themes: Culture and Social Class Sculpt the Mind; Transitions to Cognitive Frailty with Increasing Age; New Advances in Theories of Cognitive Aging; and Interventions to Maintain Cognitive Vitality. |
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Center for Teaching and Learning Event
Understanding Student Procrastination, noon-1 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 21 — What can faculty do to intervene and prevent student procrastination, and in turn, teach students to improve their self-regulation? Dr. Salena Brody, assistant director, and Dr. Karen Huxtable-Jester, interim director, will provide an overview of research and theoretical perspectives on procrastination, and a discussion of possible preventive and remedial strategies. RSVP for Understanding Student Procrastination. For more information or special accommodations, please contact [email protected]. |
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Office of Research and Innovation Events
UT Dallas Women’s Summit, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Tuesday through Thursday, Oct. 19-21 — The summit seeks to foster innovation, support aspiring entrepreneurs and inspire the next leaders in business. Keynote speakers will include Kendra Scott, fashion designer and executive chairwoman; Trisha Cunningham, CEO of North Texas Food Bank; and Kelly Burton, CEO of Founders of Color. The summit is presented by the UT Dallas Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship and the Jindal School of Management Career Management Center. For more information, visit the UT Dallas Women’s Summit site or email Dresden Goldberg.
Research 411 Talk Show: The North Texas COVID Data Viewer, 3-4 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 20 — Dr. Rafael Martín, vice president and chief of staff at UT Dallas, and Dr. Timothy Bray, director of the Institute for Urban Policy Research, will discuss the North Texas COVID-19 data system that Bray created. For more information, visit the Research 411 listing or email Tiffany Willoughby.
Comet Corner Series: Centering Humanity in Medicine, noon-1 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 21 — In honor of Arts and Humanities Month, alumna Dr. Suzanne Cole BA BS ’99 will talk about her decision to double major in arts and humanitie,s and sciences and mathematics for the benefit of her premedical career path. Cole is a hematologist and serves as medical director at the UT Southwestern Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center. A&H Advisory Council member Dr. Marvin Stone, retired oncologist, will moderate this discussion. Dr. Nikki Delk, associate professor in biological sciences, will join as discussant to share how dancing and painting have had an impact on her cancer research. For more information, visit the Comet Corner Series listing or email Anricka Ziller.
RCR Development Series, noon-1 p.m., Tuesday and Thursdays, Oct. 21, 26 and 28 — For Responsible Conduct of Research Development Series certification, you must attend all classes and complete the online training module and assessment. For more information, visit the RCR listing or email Tiffany Willoughby.
IRB Book Study: Dopesick by Beth Macy, 4-5 p.m., Thursdays, Oct. 21-Nov. 11 — Interested in the details surrounding the rapid rise in opioid addiction and the impact it has had on society over the last few decades? Join the Office of Research and Innovation for a book study on Dopesick. Faculty researchers and subject matter experts will facilitate conversations at each of the six sessions to discuss topics from alternative therapeutics to mental illness and substance abuse to conflict of interest and patents. For more information, visit the IRB Book Study listing or email Tiffany Willoughby.
Question, Persuade, Refer Suicide Prevention Training, noon-1 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 27 — Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR) training describes behavioral, verbal and situational indicators of suicidality, explains how to approach someone who may be thinking of suicide and how to persuade and refer them to helpful resources. Participants will receive an in-depth overview of mental health resources. For more information, visit the QPR listing or email Dani Lamb.
Functional Assays for Flow Cytometry, Presented by Thermo Fisher Scientific, noon-1 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 28 — This talk will review common types of fluorescent assays that can be used to measure cellular health and function, including underlying biological principles, basic chemistry, and mechanism of action. Functional assays can be used to measure specific cellular processes, such as viability, apoptosis, proliferation, and metabolic health. For more information, visit the Functional Assays for Flow Cytometry listing or email Anricka Ziller. |
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Reminders
Emotional Wellness Month & EAP NewsletterEmotional wellness refers to our ability to process feelings in a healthy, positive way and manage stress. How you feel can affect your ability to carry out daily activities, your relationships and your overall mental health. How you react to your experiences and feelings can change over time.
Emotional wellness is the ability to handle life’s stresses and adapt to change and difficult times. Deer Oaks EAP highlights Six Strategies for Improving Your Emotional Health. Cope with loss. Strengthen social connections. Visit Deer Oaks EAP and enter utdallas for the username and password to access an online seminar.
In the October EAP Newsletter, the following topics are discussed:
- Embracing Diversity and Differences Seminar — Learn about how to live and work in a way that is respectful, kind, and embraces diversity in all walks of life. Available on-demand starting Oct. 19.
- The Power of Gratitude.
- Emotional Wellness Month October 2021 — Emotional Wellness Toolkit.
- Homework Tips.
VOYA Financial Webinar: Is TRS Enough, 11 a.m.,-noon, Wednesday, Oct. 20 — TRS will only replace a portion of your income at retirement. Now is a good time to learn more about your retirement benefit options and how the UT voluntary retirement plans can help you in your preparation toward retirement. Before embarking on your retirement journey, join VOYA for an in-depth seminar to be sure you understand how your income sources work together and what roadblocks may lie in your path including retirement risks. In addition, begin to plan your retirement roadmap to plan out the journey ahead.
View the 2021 VOYA-UT Financial Webinars flyer and register for the Oct. 20 webinar. |
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About This Newsletter
InterCom is the official University-wide newsletter for UT Dallas faculty and staff members. This periodic publication is designed to provide University employees with important information necessary for the workplace, as well as community news that supports the University's mission. Guidelines about content and submissions can be found here or contact Robert Tracy at [email protected] or ext. 3521. |
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