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Communication for the staff and faculty of
The University of Texas at Dallas |
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Wednesday, February 26, 2020 |
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Employee Schedule for FY21 Has 14 Holidays
The Office of Human Resources has announced the Fiscal Year 2021 University Employee Holiday Schedule.
- Labor Day: Monday, Sept. 7
- Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, Nov. 26
- Day after Thanksgiving, Friday, Nov. 27
- Winter Holiday (1), Tuesday, Dec. 22
- Winter Holiday (2), Wednesday, Dec. 23
- Christmas Eve, Thursday, Dec. 24
- Christmas Day, Friday, Dec. 25
- Winter Holiday (3), Monday, Dec. 28
- Winter Holiday (4), Tuesday, Dec. 29
- Winter Holiday (5), Wednesday, Dec. 30
- Winter Holiday (6), Thursday, Dec. 31
- New Year’s Day, Friday, Jan. 1, 2021
- Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Monday, Jan. 18, 2021
- Memorial Day, Monday, May 31, 2021
Employees who are appointed to work at least 20 hours per week for a period of at least 4½ continuous months are eligible for holidays. Faculty must be appointed for at least 50% time for at least 4½ continuous months to be eligible, and students employed in positions that require student status as a condition of employment are not eligible for holidays.
The Texas Legislature sets the number of holidays each year and allows universities the flexibility to set a holiday schedule compatible with the academic calendar. |
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University Recognizes CARE Award Winners for Fall 2019
President Richard C. Benson recently presented the Celebrate Achievement, Reward Excellence Awards — or CARE Awards — established by the Staff Council to honor staff members whose commitment to quality work serves the University’s mission.
This fall’s recipients are (from left) Lindsey Boeshans, Hobson Wildenthal Honors College; Debra Boss, Procurement Management; Mark Powell, Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science; Nora Pena, Human Resources; Gail Cepak, Center for BrainHealth; and Cynthia Sorto, Community Engagement.
Faculty, staff, students, visitors and customers may nominate staff for the honor. The deadline for the spring awards is Tuesday, March 31. |
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Vote in the 2020 Primary Elections on Campus
For the first time, UT Dallas will serve as a polling location in the primary elections for the two counties in which the University resides. All registered Dallas County and Collin County voters will have the opportunity to vote on Tuesday, March 3 at one of two campus locations.
Both Dallas County and Collin County are now countywide vote centers, which means that all registered voters in each county may vote on election day at any polling location within their county of registration.
On the UT Dallas campus, the March 3 polling locations, open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., will be:
- Dallas County Registered Voters: Visitor Center and University Bookstore Atrium (VCB). Parking for visiting voters will be available in Lot F. For more information, visit dallascountyvotes.org.
- Collin County Registered Voters: Callier Center Richardson (CR) with entrance at 811 Synergy Park Blvd. Parking for visiting voters will be available in Lot N. For more information, visit collincountytx.gov/elections.
For more information, email [email protected] or call ext. 2106. |
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Hear the Latest HR News at Forum on March 4
The Office of Human Resources will host the next HR Forum from 10 to 11:30 a.m., Wednesday, March 4, in the TI Auditorium (ECSS 2.102). Agenda items include:
- Welcome
- General Announcements
- eCAT vs ePAR Submission
- Worker’s compensation
- Student employment
- FY21 staff promotion process
- Talent Development
- Admin U Travel request, March 18
- Handling Conflict in the Workplace, March 23
- Four Disciplines of Execution, April 2
- Other Talent Development Opportunities
- Emotional Intelligence Series continues
- Dignity and Respect Series continues
- Wellness update
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Complete Annual Compliance Training by April 7
All employees are required to complete Annual Compliance Training to ensure awareness with pertinent University polices and relevant state and federal laws. The deadline to complete training is Tuesday, April 7.
Training Instructions:
- Log in to eLearning with your NetID and password.
- Select “FY20 Annual Compliance Training” from the “My Organizations” section.
- Complete all the training modules assigned to you in “Training Content”
For more information or assistance, contact the Office of Institutional Compliance, Equity, and Title IX Initiatives at [email protected] or ext. 2306.
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Register for OIT’s Innovation and Technology Summit
The Office of Information and Technology invites staff, faculty and community members to attend its Innovation and Technology Summit, from 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Tuesday, April 21, in the Davidson-Gundy Alumni Center. Seating is limited to 350 attendees. Registration is required.
At the annual summit, innovators and consumers of information technology engage with attendees in enriching conversations and learning opportunities about teaching, community IT research, and collaborative partnerships. A variety of notable subject matter expert will make presentations and participate in leadership panels.
OIT hosts a variety of forums and lunch and learns throughout the year. For a complete list of OIT events, visit Comet Calendar. |
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UT Dallas Earns Gold Certification for Sustainability
The University of Texas at Dallas has received Gold Certification from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE). The new sustainability excellence certification aligns UT Dallas with peer institutions.
The association’s Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS Report) is the gold standard for higher education and measures sustainability in four categories: academics, engagement, operations, and planning and administration.
UT Dallas has risen from Bronze Certification a year ago because of tracking metrics in areas such as construction of LEED buildings, waste reduction and composting, community partnerships, student engagement programs and curriculum.
“Achieving a STARS Gold status in the University’s brief history is remarkable,” said Gary Cocke, associate director of energy conservation and sustainability. “Sustainability is going to be the lens through which many of our students apply their education. We are proud of all we do to graduate citizens who are committed to environmental responsibility.”
The University’s sustainability emphasis aligns with its Strategic Plan, which outlines efforts “to ensure a sustainable, rewarding campus environment by taking care of our people, our campus and our environment.”
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Groundbreaking Marks Next Phase of Landscape Enhancement
Students, faculty and staff are invited to the groundbreaking for the third phase of UT Dallas’ Campus Landscape Enhancement Project (CLEP III) from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Wednesday, March 25, in the Axxess Atrium (ECSW 1.100).
Join University and civic leaders in celebrating a project that will make for a greener and more walkable campus.
For more information, email [email protected]. |
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Use Weather Station Site To Monitor Campus Conditions
The Office of Emergency Management & Continuity Planning (OEMCP) reminds the campus community to bookmark the campus weather station page to receive current and localized weather information for the campus.
There are three live weather cameras available on the site as well. OEMCP also has installed a weather station at the Brain Performance Institute with one live weather camera pointing toward downtown Dallas.
For more information, call OEMCP at ext. 4355. |
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Revamped Comet Calendar Is Packed with Features
The University of Texas at Dallas has updated Comet Calendar.
The updated calendar was developed by Localist, a vendor used by several other University of Texas institutions. New features include social media components that will improve campus engagement with events.
Users can indicate their interest in attending an event, see which events are trending and even crowdsource an event by inviting friends and sharing on social media. All locations listed on the calendar have the ability to link to the campus map.
All events entered into the old Comet Calendar publishing interface will be synced with the new Comet Calendar once every 24 hours. The old publishing interface will continue to be operational until Wednesday, April 8, at which point it will be decommissioned. Please make plans to transition to the new platform at calendar.utdallas.edu/admin.
If you need access or have questions, please contact [email protected] for assistance. |
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Translation Studies to Host Writer, Poet Balaban
The Center for Translation Studies invites you to attend two free readings and conversations with writer, poet and translator John Balaban.
At noon, Wednesday, March 11, in the Special Collections and Archives (MC 3.504), Balaban will read from Ca Dao Viet Nam, his translations of Vietnamese folk poetry. At 5:30 p.m., on March 11, in the Jonsson Academic Center (JO 4.122), the poet will read from Empires, his new book of poetry.
In addition to writing poetry, fiction, and nonfiction, John is a translator of Vietnamese poetry. In 1999, with two Vietnamese friends, he founded the Vietnamese Nôm Preservation Foundation. In 2008, he was awarded a medal from the Ministry of Culture of Vietnam for his translations of poetry and his leadership in the restoration of the ancient text collection at the National Library. |
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Office of Research Seminars and Events
The Social Impact of your Research, 1-3 p.m., Friday, March 6, Blackstone LaunchPad (PS3 1.540) — This training will outline methods for bringing research out of the ivory tower and into the public domain as well as do's and don'ts when discussing the social impact and relevance of research. Registration is required and seating is limited. For more information, email Tiffany Willoughby or call ext. 4577.
Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR) Suicide Prevention Training, 3- 4 p.m., Tuesday, March 10 (MC 2.404) — The Student Wellness Center invites you to learn how to detect when someone may be considering suicide and acquire the skills to prevent it. Information about resources and suicide among college students will be included. Registration is required and seating is limited. For more information, email Tiffany Willoughby or call ext. 4577. |
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Center for BrainHealth Events
The Center for BrainHealth hosts a variety of events and workshops throughout the year.
Sips & Science: Do Something New - Play, Compassion & Acceptance, 6:30-8 p.m., Thursday, March 12, Brain Performance Institute — Imagine doing something new every single day. You could explore a different place to eat, meet a new friend or go on a sound walk. Bonnie Pitman, director of art and brain innovations at the UT Dallas Center for BrainHealth, adopted her daily practice, Do Something New, over eight years ago. She will share her personal journey of living with chronic illness and how transforming an ordinary day to an extraordinary day has helped her live life with joy, compassion and acceptance. Learn how this practice can boost your brain performance and build resilience while developing a practice of your own.
Charisma Informational Webinar, noon and 6 p.m., Wednesday, March 4 — Does your child or young adult struggle in social settings? The Charisma program provides a safe place to practice social scenarios in a virtual world. Charisma is delivered remotely by trained coaches through live, interactive social conversations with real-time feedback and recommendations. Register for a complimentary 30-minute parent presentation with a Charisma coach. RSVP for the noon session or the 6 p.m. session.
For a complete listing of BrainHealth events, visit Comet Calendar.
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Center for Teaching and Learning Events
The Center for Teaching and Learning hosts a variety of events and workshops throughout the year.
6th Annual CTL All-Campus Workshop - Innovations in Teaching Large and Introductory Courses, 8:30 a.m.-noon, Friday, March 6, Student Union Galaxy Rooms (SU 2.602) — This workshop will expose participants to cutting-edge solutions to the challenges offered by large and introductory courses. These challenges include use of technology, recitation sections or teams, coordination of common syllabi or assignments across sections, deployment of graduate TAs or undergraduate teaching interns, active learning, blended learning, and a variety of other approaches designed for practical adoption, student success, and instructor efficiency. The lecture is open to faculty, postdoctoral and graduate teaching assistants. A light breakfast and refreshments will be served. RSVP by Friday, March 6. For more information or special accommodations, email [email protected].
Guiding the Mentoring Relationship Between Faculty and Graduate TAs, noon-1 p.m., Monday, March 9 McDermott Auditorium (MC 2.410) — During this discussion of the mentoring relationship between graduate TAs and their supervising faculty members, participants will examine expectations, boundaries and ways to ensure the relationship is mutually beneficial. Lunch will be provided while supplies last. RSVP by Friday, March 6. For more information or special accommodations, email [email protected].
Classroom Considerations for Student Veterans, noon-1 p.m., Wednesday, March 11, McDermott Auditorium (MC 2.410) — Lisa Adams, director of the UT Dallas Military and Veterans Center, will detail issues students face when they transition out of the military and into the college environment and civilian life. She also will share ways to assist students still serving in the National Guard or Reserves. The lecture is open to faculty and teaching assistants. Seating is limited to 105 attendees. Lunch will be provided while supplies last. RSVP by Friday, March 6. For more information or special accommodations, email [email protected].
For a complete listing of CTL events, visit Comet Calendar. |
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Reminders
Deadline for Diversity Awards Nominations Is March 6
The Office of Diversity and Community Engagement is accepting nominations for the 2020 Diversity Awards Ceremony. This annual recognition event honors faculty, staff, students and community partners who work to make UT Dallas an inclusive and welcoming campus. Download and complete a nomination form and submit to [email protected] or complete a form electronically. Nominations will be open through Friday, March 6.
Help UT Dallas Win RecycleMania Competition
UT Dallas is participating in a nationwide competition that encourages college campuses to reduce landfill waste and recycle more mindfully. The goal is to increase our recycling rate and decrease overall waste. From Feb. 2 to March 28, the Office of Sustainability will report the amount of recycling and waste campus-wide. UT Dallas will be ranked among other participating schools.
Learn how to recycle on campus. For more information about the competition, visit RecycleMania.
Plan to Attend Book Club Discussion on March 31
Students, faculty, staff and members of the community are invited to discuss the second book of the 2020 Reading the World Book Club series: Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata, translated from Japanese by Ginny Tapley Takemori.
The brown-bag discussion will be from noon-1 p.m., Tuesday, March 31, in the conference room of the administrative suite in McDermott Library (MC 4.2).
The book is available for loan from the UTD library and will be available for purchase from the campus bookstore. The book club is free.
7 LilyPad Lactation Spaces Available on Campus
There are seven LilyPads (lactation spaces) across the UT Dallas campus. These rooms are clean, secure and user-friendly environments for students, staff and faculty who need to express breast milk during their work shift or school hours.
A complete list of LilyPad rooms is available on the Galerstein Gender Center website.
UTD Upgrading from Skype for Business to Microsoft Teams
The Office of Information Technology is upgrading the Skype for Business communication client that you currently use to Microsoft Teams. Teams offers a new way to work by bringing together new and innovative tools that will be available to use if you desire. Beginning at 7 a.m. on Monday, March 16, Skype for Business users will be upgraded to Microsoft Teams.
OIT will provide in-person training for Microsoft Teams and Office 365 to ensure you have the skills and resources you need to be successful, while minimizing any disruption to your daily routine. Register for trainings or request departmental trainings at [email protected]. Read more |
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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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