Campus News
News of broad interest to the campus community and general public about UT Dallas and its accomplishments.
Weekend Events to Strike a Chord With Classical Music Fans
The School of Arts and Humanities has scheduled back-to-back classical music concerts this weekend with performances by a guitar virtuoso and a piano duo on separate nights. Guitarist Javier Calderón plays Friday, Feb. 3. The music continues Saturday, Feb. 4, with a piano concert for four hands by the Euphonia Duo, made up of Fenia Chang and Evelyn Chen. read more
Students, Faculty and Staff Encouraged to Provide Mobile Numbers for Campus Text Emergency System
Students, faculty and staff are encouraged to sign up for UTDAlert, the University’s text messaging system, by entering or by updating their cell phone numbers in the University’s information system. All are asked to supply or verify their numbers by Tuesday, February 7. When emergency situations alter normal campus operations or affect safety, the University will use the cell phone numbers to send text alerts. read more
Electronic Course System to Get a Technological Makeover
An upgraded electronic learning system that UT Dallas classes will start using later this year features a mobile application that will send notifications to students when updated grades, discussions and announcements are posted in the class Internet network. The next-generation system will be tested in selected summer and fall classes in preparation for a campuswide rollout next spring.“The new system is not going to be as much of a walled garden as now,” said Dr. Darren Crone, UT Dallas eLearning director. “It will reach out to students where they are via Facebook, email and text messaging.” read more
Envoy Hopes to Put Africa on the Map for Business Students
Extolling the virtues of her home continent and her home country, the Zambian ambassador to the U.S. recently exhorted a largely student audience at UT Dallas to “think of Africa as your next employer.” “This is the continent people are calling the next frontier,” Ambassador Sheila Siwela told listeners who had come to the Naveen Jindal School of Management to hear her speak on the business outlook in Africa. “There’s more to it than the Lion King and Tarzan.” read more
New Chair Brings Tech Expertise to Jindal Council
For incoming Naveen Jindal School of Management Advisory Council Chairman Skip Moore, staying ahead of the technological curve will be the key to continued success for the school. Moore, a partner at Deloitte Services LP, leads the firm’s technology, media and telecommunications practice in the Mid-America region. He is excited to continue building the symbiotic relationship that the advisory council has helped to develop during the past few years between the Jindal School and the business community. read more
Lecture to Explore Influence of Politics on Science
UT Dallas continues its yearlong public lecture series on science and culture with a look Wednesday at the influence that politics wields over research funding. The talk, “Science vs. Politics: The Battle for Integrity,” featuring Dr. Heather Douglas of the University of Waterloo in Ontario, starts at 7:30 p.m. in the Jonsson Performance Hall. read more
MLK's Legacy, Monument Focus of UT Dallas Event
UT Dallas senior Jeffrey Okonye says he witnessed Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy first-hand last August when he volunteered at the dedication of the civil rights leader’s memorial in Washington D.C. Okonye spoke at a gathering of 250 people at a celebration breakfast held in King’s honor at UT Dallas. read more
BrainHealth Lecture Series to Launch in February
The Center for BrainHealth at The University of Texas at Dallas has announced the lineup for its sell-out February lecture series, The Brain: An Owner's Guide. The lectures will be held every Tuesday during the month of February.
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UT Dallas Athletes Set to Spring into Action
The UT Dallas men’s and women's basketball teams hit the court the first week of the year to kick off the spring semester's schedule of sporting events on campus. The teams started play for this school year in the fall, as did the men's and women's golf teams. read more
UT Dallas Featured Again in Kiplinger’s Top 100
The University of Texas at Dallas has been named again as one of the top 100 best values among the nation’s public colleges, according to Kiplinger’s Personal Finance magazine. The University climbed eight spots in the annual public school rankings, going from 54th last year to 46th this year. UT Dallas is one of three schools in Texas to make the 2012 list, which will appear in Kiplinger’s February issue. read more
Student Team Learning Program Wins State Recognition
A UT Dallas program that boosts academic success with student-to-student study teams has won a 2011 Star Award from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. The award recognizes contributions toward one or more of the goals of the “Closing the Gaps by 2015” initiative adopted by the Coordinating Board. The initiative has four key goals: to increase student participation, student success, academic excellence and research. read more
Container Store CEO Pitches ‘Conscious Capitalism’
When Kip Tindell says, “Fill the other guy’s basket to the brim,” he’s not talking about a basket at the Container Store, the retailer that he heads as CEO and that specializes in selling storage products for the organizationally challenged. Tindell spoke last week about “Conscious Capitalism at the Container Store” at the Andrew R. Cecil Lecture Series, held at the Naveen Jindal School of Management. read more
UT Dallas Closing Dec. 22 Through Jan. 2 for Winter Holidays
The University will officially close for the winter holidays on Thursday, Dec. 22, and reopen Tuesday, Jan. 3. Some offices and venues will remain open to students throughout the semester break; others have limited hours of operation. The University Police Department will remain open 24/7. All food service venues will be closed Dec. 23 until Jan. 2; a few venues will reopen on Jan. 3 with limited service hours until Jan. 13. read more
Expert Offers Tips for the Smartest Toys for Under the Tree
Parents beware: Buying your child the “must have” toy of this holiday season might result in excited yelps initially, but the thrill may be gone long before the first change of batteries. Choose toys that are safe, developmentally appropriate and engaging enough to keep your child interested over a longer period of time, suggests Lyn Rodriguez Neisius of UT Dallas’ Center for Children and Families. read more
Student Services Building Wins Multiple Sustainability Honors
The Student Services Building, the University’s “one-stop shop” for help on enrollment matters, financial aid, career services and more, has won a new sustainability award. The building, which opened last fall, has won five major awards for sustainability. The Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education, in conjunction with the Center for Green Schools at the U.S. Green Building Council, honored the structure’s design with its 2011 Innovation in Green Building award. read more
Author's Talk to Conclude Minority Finance Series
Author Dr. Dennis Kimbro will discuss the keys to success for people like Oprah Winfrey, Jesse Jackson and Spike Lee during an appearance at the UT Dallas Naveen Jindal School of Management. Kimbro’s talk, “Strategies for Extraordinary Achievement,” is the culminating event of a wealth management workshop series at UT Dallas. read more
Cottonwood Creek Temporarily Dyed Blue by Drainage Testing at UT Dallas
Last Wednesday, concentrated dye was placed in three storm drains on campus for the purpose of checking for leaks in UT Dallas campus utility tunnels. read more
NanoExplorers Program for High-Schoolers Lauded with Award
A UT Dallas program aimed at igniting interest in the sciences among high school students earned a Tech Titan award from the Metroplex Technology Business Council. The George A. Jeffrey NanoExplorers program at UT Dallas was awarded the annual Tech Titan of the Future award from the council. Dr. Ray Baughman, director of the Alan G. MacDiarmid NanoTechnology Institute at the University, founded the NanoExplorers program in 2002 as a way to bring in promising pre-collegiate students to conduct lab work during the summer. read more
CentralTrak Resident’s Exhibit Maps Sound to Image
Shannon Novak began his artistic career as a pianist – he composed and performed his own music at an early age. When he started working in the visual arts, however, he didn’t anticipate that his musical training would inform his craft. Novak’s exhibit at the CentralTrak gallery, One Song, Three Composers, uses geometric forms to represent the intersections of sound, color, form, time, space and social context. read more
Grant Aids Push to Train Math and Science Teachers
UT Dallas’ efforts to train and support top-notch science and math teachers in traditionally underserved areas has received a big boost. The Teacher Enhancement Academy in Mathematics and Science (TEAMS) provides tuition support of $480,000 for 30 educators currently teaching in high-needs schools who have committed to remaining with those schools an additional two years after completing their master’s degrees. read more
Legislators Discuss Politics During Campus Visits
This fall, five state legislators visited the UT Dallas campus to talk to students about politics and how decisions are made in the Texas Legislature. The undergraduate course was offered through the School of Economic, Political, and Policy Sciences. Several of the legislators also had the opportunity to tour campus and to visit with Dr. Daniel. read more
Comet Spirit Captured in Homecoming 2011 Images
Homecoming 2011 brought out the best in Comet spirit last week all over campus. The four-day celebration concluded with two victorious basketball games and a new homecoming couple. The four-day celebration concluded with two victorious basketball games and a new homecoming couple. Godswill Ugwa was named King and Jessica Rodriguez was named Queen at the Orange, Green and White Ball on Nov. 19.
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Garages, More Lot Space to Add Nearly 1,700 Parking Spaces at UT Dallas
Construction projects scheduled at UT Dallas will add nearly 1,700 parking spaces to the main campus. To ease immediate concerns, the University is expanding two parking lots on its north side. Parking garages eventually will anchor the north and south ends of campus, thanks to the support of the UT System Board of Regents. The governing body approved the garage projects for inclusion in the University’s portion of the UT System’s Capital Improvement Program at their November 10 meeting.
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Fourth Residence Hall Brings Amenities to Students’ Doorsteps
The UT System Board of Regents gave preliminary approval to UT Dallas for the residence/dining hall at its Nov. 10 meeting to help address a growing student population, which is up approximately 27 percent in the last four years. Expanded amenities, including a recreation center and a parking garage, will be just steps from students’ residences. “We’re building additional dining and recreation facilities into the fourth residence hall project to support the phenomenal growth the University is experiencing,” said Dr. Calvin D. Jamison, senior vice president for business affairs. read more
UT Dallas Hosts the Best of the Robots at Tournament
UT Dallas hosted the Texas BEST Regional Robotics Championship over the weekend, with more than 3,000 people attending. More than 50 robots built by middle school and high school students were entered in the competition.
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Environmental Expert Suggests Sustainable Ways to Give Thanks
UT Dallas Sustainability Manager Thea Junt offers tips to conserve and save energy during the holiday season. It's easy to make little changes at work and at home to do what you can for the environment. “Before you leave work for Thanksgiving, or any holiday break, remember: Turn off before you take off,” Junt says. “Turn off all lights, unplug electronics and appliances, and roll back the thermostats.”
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Inclement Weather and Emergency Closing Procedures at The University of Texas at Dallas, Updated November 2011
In case of inclement weather, the University of Texas at Dallas is open for normal business operations and scheduled instructional activities unless indicated otherwise on the UT Dallas home page. All employees and students are expected to exercise individual judgment regarding their ability to travel safely to campus when the campus is open and inclement weather is in the area.
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Sci-Fi Writer Imagines a Future Without Capitalism
A look at capitalism's future by science fiction writer Kim Stanley Robinson leads off a series of UT Dallas arts events in a week that also includes a dance performance, jazz concert and an art exhibit opening. Best known for his award-winning Mars trilogy, Robinson will give a talk Wednesday, Nov. 16, titled Valuing the Earth and Future Generations: Imagining Post Capitalism. read more
Comet Pride in High Profile for Homecoming 2011
Comet pride was on full display as homecoming festivities kicked off at UT Dallas. There has been a lot to get orange and green about as the university marked its 18th homecoming celebration, which packed a wide range of activities into four spirited days. Among the events: car painting, car smashing, a poetry circus, late night float building, cardboard boat races, a parade and a ball and coronation.
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IT Industry Leaders Urge Focus on Business Acumen
Local technology industry leaders stressed a lack of business acumen among IT graduates recently at the Management Information Systems conference held for faculty and directors at the UT Dallas Naveen Jindal School of Management. read more
Growth, Greenery and Greatness: State of the University ‘Outstanding’
Superlatives peppered President David E. Daniel’s State of the University speech as he described unprecedented UT Dallas successes in research, fundraising, and student growth. Harnessing growth, diversifying faculty, and increasing graduation rates in critical fields such as science and engineering topped the list of issues to be addressed. The event is an annual tradition that includes elected leadership of the faculty, student government and staff. read more
Broadway Tune Fest is Back for a 4th Year
The UT Dallas Chamber Singers and students from the Musical Theatre Workshop will take a trip to Broadway this week with a family-friendly concert, Best of Broadway IV. The performance will feature songs and choruses from the shows Chicago, Fiddler on the Roof, Annie Get Your Gun, State Fair, A Little Night Music and Legally Blonde. Kathryn Evans, head of vocal and choral music at UT Dallas, has directed the performance since its inaugural season. read more
Former Director of Census Bureau to Speak
The population of Texas is changing in ways that will influence the educational system, job force and financial health of the state. Dr. Steve Murdock, former state demographer and director of the Hobby Center for the Study of Texas at Rice University, will examine dramatic population shifts between 2000 and 2010 during a talk Friday titled, “The Texas Challenge: Implications of Demographic Change for Education, the Labor Force and Economic Development.” read more
‘I Know He Would Have Been So Proud’
Karen Clark, the widow of Dr. Alexander L. Clark, was the honored speaker at the ceremony renaming the Conference Center in recognition of his service to the University. Mrs. Clark, who is the director of the Deaf Education Division at the UT Dallas Callier Center for Communication Disorders, said her husband would have been pleased by the honor. read more
Center Renaming Honors Key Figure in UT Dallas' Growth
In a ceremony filled with both reverent and light moments, the Conference Center was formally renamed the Alexander L. Clark Center on Monday in honor of a longtime vice president of academic affairs and one-time acting president of UT Dallas. “Dr. Clark set the tone for excellence in academics that carries through to this day,” said UT Dallas President David E. Daniel. “This new name is meant to be a reminder of the quality that he embodied.” read more
Confucius Institute Events to Explore China's Culture
China’s breathtaking mountains, graceful visual arts and historic emergence from a feudal past are all subjects to be explored during Chinese Culture Week. Visiting Chinese scholars will shed light on their country’s cultural and aesthetic traditions in a series of events organized by the UT Dallas Confucius Institute. Delivering the first lecture will be Chinese cultural scholar Kam Louie, dean of the Faculty of Arts of the University of Hong Kong. Louie will discuss “Confucius in China and Abroad” on Thursday, Nov. 10, at 7:30 p.m. in the Jonsson Performance Hall. read more
University Clamps Down on Water Usage to Help City Conserve
The University is taking tougher measures to conserve water and asking students, faculty and staff to help out as the city of Richardson moves to Stage 3 restrictions. Sustainability Manager Thea Junt cites several ways students – especially those living on campus – can save water. The North Texas Municipal Water District, the city’s water supplier, asked that all its customer cities move to emergency Stage 3 restrictions. read more
Students are Creepy, Kooky and Creative for Halloween
Students were as colorful and as they were creative for Halloween 2011. Events of the night and the days leading up to it included "trunk-or-treating," a pumpkin decorating contest and tours of three specially designed haunted houses. read more
Philosophers' Lessons on Aging Lead Off A&H Events
What do the sages of antiquity have to tell a modern audience about growing old? More than we may realize, says William B. Irvine, author of A Guide to the Good Life: The Ancient Art of Stoic Joy. read more
Sustainability Chief Offers Tips for a Green Halloween
With a little planning, families can celebrate Halloween on a budget and have an Earth-friendly holiday at the same time, says UT Dallas Sustainability Manager Thea Junt. She offers parents a series of tips to take the ecological and economic fright out of October 31st. read more
Border Expert to Examine Drug Cartel Problem
Sylvia Longmire, a former Air Force special agent and a senior intelligence analyst for the state of California, will shed light on a timely, violent issue when she presents a lecture Wednesday, Oct. 19, based on her new book, Cartel: The Coming Invasion of Mexico’s Drug Wars. The consultant and writer speaks at 8 p.m. in the Jonsson Performance Hall. The event is free and open to the public. read more
Exhibit Seeks the Beautiful Amid the Bureaucratic
There is the business of art, but then there's art about business. On Saturday at 7 p.m., CentralTrak will host the opening reception for CIncArt: The Convention on Incorporated Art. “It has become commonplace for artists to create work in the form of bureaus, laboratories, museums, companies, etc.,” said Tom Russotti, CentralTrak resident and curator of the exhibition. “Artists, artist groups, and art projects variously employ the forms and techniques of organizational structures in both their work and practice. CIncArt examines this phenomenon.” read more
New Names for Management School, Management Honors Program Recognize Record Alumni Gifts
The University of Texas at Dallas joins the ranks of named business schools across the nation in honor of the generosity of three alumni who contributed an unprecedented combined gift of $30 million. Theirs is the largest alumni gift in the University’s history. The School of Management will now be known as the Naveen Jindal School of Management. The Management Honors Program will be known as the Charles and Nancy Davidson Honors Program. read more
Law School Fair to Host Reps From 80 Universities
UT Dallas students — and anyone else interested in learning more about law school — are encouraged to attend the Law School Caravan on Thursday, Oct. 6. Admissions officers and representatives of an estimated 80 law schools will be at the University to meet with anyone interested in studying law. read more
University Marks Campus Growth in Twin Ceremonies
A crowd gathered at UT Dallas on Wednesday to celebrate two more milestones in campus growth: the official start of construction on the new Arts and Technology building and the successful opening of the Visitor Center and University Bookstore. Off-campus guests, including local elected officials, joined faculty, staff and students at the 9 a.m. groundbreaking ceremony for the Arts and Technology (ATEC) building. Construction of the 155,000-squre-foot facility is scheduled for completion in 2013. read more
Event to Guide Execs Wrestling With Tech Issues
Corporate strategist Dan Burrus, author of Flash Foresight, will talk to C-suite officers and corporate board members about their rapidly changing responsibilities related to technology as he kicks off the 9th annual Institute for Excellence in Corporate Governance conference on Thursday, Sept. 29. The University of Texas at Dallas hosts the daylong event. read more
$55 Million: One of Many New Records in Fundraising
Donors to UT Dallas shattered records in nearly every measure used to gauge private support for the just-ended fiscal year. More than $55 million in total gifts and pledges were received, eclipsing the previous year’s $40.6 million total, the largest total to date at that time. “We’re very grateful to our donors who have enabled the University to move forward on so many fronts,” said President David E. Daniel. The final tally, $55,158,983, was celebrated at an event Sept. 15 hosted by the UT Dallas Development Board.
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Cell Phone Numbers Sought for Campus Alert System
Students, faculty and staff are encouraged to sign up for UTDAlert, the University’s text messaging system, by entering or by updating their cell phone numbers in the University’s information system. When normal University operations are altered or when a situation affects campus safety, the cell phone numbers will be used to send text messages to the UT Dallas community. All are asked to supply or verify their numbers by Friday, Oct. 14. read more
University Takes Car-Sharing Program for a Spin
In an arrangement billed as both convenient and Earth-friendly, the University has contracted with a car-sharing network that lets students rent vehicles right on campus. Members of the Zipcar service reserve a car online and pick it up from Lot I near the Alexander Clark Center. read more
CentralTrak Invites Weekend Visitors to Look, Listen
CentralTrak, the University of Texas at Dallas artist residency and gallery, will offer art to be seen as well as heard in two free events this weekend. “I hope for a good turnout,” said Heyd Fontenot, the director of CentralTrak. “We want people to come see the space where UT Dallas students live and work.” read more
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