UTA'S E-NEWSLETTER FOR FACULTY AND STAFF

MONDAY, OCT. 13, 2025

🍗 Over 500,000 pounds of pre-consumer food waste has been composted from campus since collection started in 2017.

Today's MavWire is 980 words, a three-minute read.

University News

UTA re-certified for the Seal of Excelencia

U T A president Jennifer Cowley accepting the Seal of Excelencia during an event in Washington D.C.

Excelencia in Education, a national leader in catalyzing institutional transformation for student success in higher education, announced that UTA has earned the Seal of Excelencia re-certification. UTA is one of 18 institutions to earn the Seal in 2025, reaffirming its place in a group of nearly 50 institutions that are taking responsibility for improving student success.

“Seal of Excelencia certified institutions are investing in transformation, ensuring access to excellence,” said Deborah Santiago, co-founder and CEO of Excelencia in Education. “These institutions have made demonstrable efforts to ensure students’ return on investment in a degree while cultivating talent that fuels our country’s future,” Santiago added.

The UTA Mavs RISE program was cited in the Seal of Excelencia re-certification for success in serving, supporting, and empowering first-year students who are conditionally admitted to UTA. The goal of Mavs RISE is to provide early intervention along with individualized and tailored support to help students stay on track toward earning their degree.

“Excelencia is proud to continue to catalyze and support colleges and universities that earn the Seal of Excelencia for their impact and intentional efforts to deliver on the promise of higher education for all students. Through our collaboration, we build talent for our country’s workforce and civic leadership,” said Sarita Brown, co-founder and president of Excelencia in Education.

Around Campus

Volunteer for Friends and Family

Family members of a U T A student pick up t-shirts from a volunteer

Friends & Family Weekend is one of UTA’s signature events and is open to families of current UTA students. This year we're hosting friends and families Oct. 17-18.

Why it matters: UTA colleagues can serve as volunteers during Friends & Family Weekend to ensure our students and their families have the best possible experience.

Get involved: Whether you sign up, break down, or check in, there are many roles for which volunteers are needed.

Sign up for any volunteer slot; training will be provided on site. Please contact Lauren Puls with questions.

Traditions

Follow the yellow brick road to Homecoming 2025

Stock image of the yellow brick road leading to the emerald city

There's no place like home(coming). Get ready for a week of fun Wicked-themed events Nov. 9-15 that the entire campus can enjoy.

Why it matters: This week is all about connecting as alumni, faculty, and staff while celebrating our collective Maverick spirit with an Oz twist. Some events alumni and employees should look out for this year include:

Homecoming Golf Tournament: Join your fellow Maverick colleagues and alumni for a wonderful morning at the golf course. Your entry includes a light breakfast, lunch, refreshments, door prizes, green fees, golf cart, range balls, and more. Submit your team or individual entry by Tuesday, Oct. 28. The tournament will be held on Monday, Nov. 10.
Homecoming 5K: This year’s 5K route is a scenic one throughout the UTA campus. Walking, running and rolling entries are accepted. All proceeds will go to the UTA Emergency Assistance Fund. Race day is Saturday, Nov. 15.
Homecoming Street Festival and Pep Rally: Before the big game against the Missouri State Grizzlies, let's help our Maverick men's basketball team defy gravity at the Homecoming Street Festival and Pep Rally. There will be food, music, and performances from our Maverick Marching Band and Spirit Groups. Saturday, Nov. 15.

Stay tuned and get ready to fly this homecoming season.

Campus Technology

Upcoming Fiber Optic Network Installation

Pardon our dust! The Office of Information Technology is installing new fiber optic networks across various areas of campus to improve resilient connectivity.

Why it matters: These installations may require sidewalk closures and other physical barriers. The scheduled work timeline is from Oct. 8 to Oct. 24. Currently scheduled work paths include:

Intersection of S Cooper and UTA Blvd.
Engineering Research Building (ERB)
S Oak St. (North of UTA Blvd) to Finance and Administration Annex (Watson Building) (FAAA)
S Oak St. between W 1st St. and W 4th St.

If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, contact the IT Service Desk by chat, submit a self-service ticket, or call.

Campus Feedback

Undergraduate and Master's exit surveys

U T A graduates celebrate during the spring 2025 commencement ceremony

We're getting closer to fall graduation and we need your help to raise awareness of the importance of the University exit survey for graduating students.

Why it matters: The exit surveys provide data on the overall student satisfaction with the services and opportunities provided by UTA, including its Colleges and Programs, and how they can be improved.

Going deeper: The results gives us a better understanding of students' sense of preparedness and plans for employment and education after graduation, and how well we are achieving those outcomes as an institution. This data has been used to inform program accreditation, policies, and initiatives that are aligned with best practices in undergraduate and graduate education.

Students will receive an invitation from gradteam@uta.edu with the link to the survey. The link will also be available in Canvas. The survey is available from Oct. 7 through Dec. 19.

Mav Bites

📚Join the Open Educational Resources and Digital Scholarship team at the Central Library for Open Access Week beginning Monday, Oct. 20. This year's theme is "Who Owns Our Knowledge?"

🎃 Pumpkin season has arrived in the glass studio, and the UTA Art and Art History Department invites you to the 12th Annual Glass Pumpkin Sale and Fundraiser. Each pumpkin is handcrafted by our students and faculty and available for purchase. Saturday, Oct. 18

🌐 Attend October's Faculty Voices session to learn how to navigate the complexities of Regular and Substantive Interaction (RSI). Large asynchronous courses can be a challenge and this workshop will share strategies to help you implement RSI framework. This session is hybrid and a light lunch will be provided for in-person attendees. Wednesday, Oct. 15.

♻️ October is Campus Sustainability Month. Join the Department of Sustainability to celebrate sustainability successes and raise awareness of the value of sustainability at UTA.