UTA’S E‑NEWSLETTER FOR FACULTY AND STAFF

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2024

Black History Month events

Student and campus groups are hosting a series of fun and educational events to celebrate Black History Month and Black culture at UTA.

Watch the first episode of BuckEm - Inside UTA Athletics

Watch the first edition of BuckEm - Inside UTA Athletics, hosted by the Voice of the Mavs Josh Sours and shot live at the University Center. This week, women's basketball Head Coach Shereka Wright, men's basketball Head Coach KT Turner, and softball Head Coach Kara Dill joined the show. UTA Athletic Director Jon Fagg wrapped up the show with an overview of the department in his second year leading the Mavericks.

Filling a gap in the knowledge of drug addiction

Linda Perrotti, professor and chair of the Department of Psychology at UTA, is a senior author on a study that is focused on why women are more likely than men to develop a cocaine addiction, use larger amounts of the drug, and suffer from overdose.

FAFSA Updates

Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is operating on a delayed schedule, and it is estimated that UTA and other organizations will begin to receive completed FAFSA forms from the Federal Department of Education in mid-March. The delay originates from updates made to the FAFSA process that were implemented to improve the user experience and expand eligibility for financial aid, while also accounting for inflationary adjustments.

Students who have not already completed the FAFSA form should do so at studentaid.gov. When UTA receives completed FAFSA forms from the Department of Education, the UTA Office of Financial Aid will begin contacting students’ UTA email addresses if any missing documents are needed to complete their files. The Office of Financial Aid is actively strategizing how to best support students during this time and thanks students for their ongoing patience.

free tickets, volleyball player, baseball player, softball player

Cheer on the Mavericks

Attention all faculty and staff: You can receive two free tickets to any UTA regular season home sporting event (excluding men’s and women’s basketball games). To claim your free tickets, simply present your staff ID to the box office for the sport of your choice, and you are good to go! To see game schedules, visit utamavs.com.

Colloquium highlighting creativity in academia

Amy Tigner, professor of English, will give a presentation titled “The Creative Practice: Academics and Artists” today, Monday, Feb. 5, 12-1 p.m. in University Hall, Room 418. Dr. Tigner will describe what artistic and academic pursuits have in common and reflect on how her own scholarly writing has informed her life as a fine-art painter.

IRB mini conference

The next virtual Institutional Review Board (IRB) mini conference for UTA faculty, staff, and students will be held on Thursday, Feb. 8, at 9 a.m. If you conduct human subject research or are interested in learning about the IRB application process, register and submit questions for the conference.

Heart Walk 2024

Wear red and flowers in support of Heart Health Awareness Month and this year's theme of belongingness and connection. Participate in the annual Heart Walk Friday, Feb. 9, at 10 a.m. in the Library Mall. You can also join online through the Living Well Platform. Point tracking will be available for a week starting on the day of the Heart Walk. Participant photos can be shared on social media with #UTHeartWalk or via wellness@uta.edu.

UTA Career Development Center Division of Student Affairs, Handshake Supervisor Training

Career Development Center webinar

Are you new to Handshake? This Handshake workshop for faculty and staff will cover how to create an account, post a job, review applicants, and more. Join the Handshake supervisor training virtually on Monday, Feb. 12, 11 a.m.-12 p.m.

Ask ISO all your cybersecurity questions

Meet the employees of UTA’s Info rmation Security Office (ISO) on Wednesday, Feb. 14, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., on the first floor of the University Center. Enjoy giveaways at a table decked out in Valentine’s Day décor. ISO will be happy to answer any cybersecurity questions you may have.

Wellness Connect, UTA Wellness, MavWell symbol

Wellness Connect “Maximize your Benefits”

Join your fellow Mavericks in learning more about what wellness resources are available on Monday, Feb. 12, 9 a.m.- 2 p.m., on the second floor of the University Center in Red River/Concho. There will be free onsite health screenings and vaccinations. Learn more and register at Wellness Connect.

Building Emergency Safety Team

To provide a safe environment for UTA students, faculty, staff, and guests, the Office of Emergency Management (OEM) has created the Building Emergency Safety Team (BEST) program. OEM is asking deans, directors, and department heads to appoint a primary BEST program coordinator, who will serve as the point of contact for a unit, department, or building in the area of emergency preparedness and safety. Reach out to your supervisor if you are interested in becoming a BEST coordinator. For more information, email aurora.some@uta.edu or oem@uta.edu.

Play 4 Kay, donate today! Kay Yow, play- win, images of Lady Mav basketball player

Play for Kay

UTA Lady Mavs have partnered up with the Kay Yow Foundation in the fight against breast cancer. Join in on the fight and help donate to the cause. For more information or to donate, click here.

Thursday Think Tank

From 6 to 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 15, the UTA Veterans Business Outreach Center is hosting its Third Thursday Think Tank event that is open to the local community, all UTA employees, and students interested in entrepreneurship and business ownership. Guest speaker Tim Ackermann, Navy veteran and lawyer at the Ackermann Law Firm, will discuss intellectual property basics for business owners. In-person attendance for this workshop will be located at the UTA College of Business, Room 609, and virtual attendance will be available via Microsoft Teams. Registration is required.

UTA Maverick Speaker Series Platon March 5, 7:30 p.m.

Maverick Speakers Series event

Hear world-renowned photographer Platon present “Powerful Portraits” at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 5, at Texas Hall for the Maverick Speakers Series. Tickets are free for faculty, staff, and students. Learn more about Platon and past Maverick Speakers.

Excelencia in education, images of two graduates

Examples of Excelencia

Excelencia in Education is calling for nominations and submissions for its annual Examples of Excelencia. For nearly two decades, Examples of Excelencia has brought national attention to programs that are increasing Latino student success. The UTA Department of Hispanic Serving Institution Initiatives is available to provide assistance with applications or nominations. Nominations Close Friday, March 15, and submissions close Monday, April 1. Contact hsi@uta.edu with any questions.

Educating on the need for conservation

Earth Day is an annual celebration acknowledging environmental accomplishments while emphasizing the necessity of preserving natural resources. By grasping the importance of environmental protection, we secure a healthier, sustainable future for future generations. Earth Day underscores each individual's significant part in sustaining our planet's well-being. The theme for this year's Earth Day is planet vs. plastics. It calls attention to the health risks of plastics and pushes for an end to fast fashion and single-use plastic products, and for a United Nations treaty on plastic pollution. The Office of Sustainability invites you to register your departments or organizations to exhibit at the Earth Day Fair, which will take place on Tuesday, April 23, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. at Brazos Park.