More than 1,000 middle and high school students from Texas and New Mexico competed in the annual Texas BEST robotics competition Nov. 14-15. Texas BEST — Boosting Engineering, Science and Technology — aims to inspire students to pursue careers in technology and science. Participants had to build and operate a robot that would assemble an airplane. Texas BEST is hosted by UNT and the College of Engineering. (Photos by Michael Clements)

International Education Week, Nov. 17-21, included a variety of crafts, film screenings, dancing lessons, foreign cuisine and other activities reflecting the international flavor of campus. From left, the Japanese Festival featured calligraphy, the art of the kimono and traditional dancing.The national week focuses attention on the importance of international education and intercultural understanding, and is sponsored by the U.S. Departments of State and Education. (Photos by Michael Clements)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Information sessions about the new Flexible Work Schedule are scheduled Dec. 1-5 at several campus locations. The new policy to provide flexible work schedules to eligible staff members begins Jan. 1.

Who is eligible for flexible work schedule?
Full time, regular staff that are not on probation.

Who should attend?
Employees interested in learning more about the new Flexible Work Schedule Policy.

Scheduled Sessions
Employees must register to attend a classroom session. Find registration information. However, due to anticipation of a high turnout in a number of these information sessions, Human Resources encourages viewing the session from via web stream on the dates and times listed below that are marked with asterisks. No registration is required for those viewing via web stream because occupancy is unlimited.

To view the video stream, go to web3.unt.edu/vcstream in your Web browser and click on “View Stream.” You must have Real Player installed on your computer to see the video. (Go to www.real.com  to download and install the free player.) The broadcast will also be saved for later viewing and it will be available on the Human Resources Web page after it has been processed. 

Flexible Work Schedule Policy – Employee Information Sessions

Dec. 1	2-3:30 p.m	Marquis Room 118	Max occupancy 50
Dec. 2	8-9:30 a.m.	Marquis Room 118	Max occupancy 50
Dec. 2	8-9:30 a.m.	Eagle Student Services 255	Max occupancy 315
Dec. 4	9:30–11 a.m.	Eagle Student Services 255	Max occupancy 315
Dec. 4	9:30-11 a.m.	Gateway, Room 049*	Max occupancy 30
Dec. 4	9:30 -11 a.m.	Discovery Park B155*	Max occupancy 60
Dec. 5	9:30 a.m.–11 a.m.	Gateway Room 049*	Max occupancy 30
Dec. 5	9:30-11 a.m	Discovery Park B155*	Max occupancy 60
Dec. 5	1-2:30 p.m.	Eagle Student Services 255	Max occupancy 315

 
*These sessions will be available via videoconference in the rooms listed and broadcast via video stream.
 

Two programs -- Enrollment Management and the Next-Generation Course Redesign Project™ -- have been named finalists for the Texas Higher Education Star Award, which recognizes contributions toward achieving the goals of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board’s Closing the Gaps program.

The board recognized that the number of college graduates in Texas was not keeping pace with the demands of a robust economy, and in October 2000 adopted a revolutionary program -- Closing The Gaps by 2015: The Texas Higher Education Plan. The program is aimed at increasing the number of college graduates in Texas, and at ensuring that all qualified Texas students have an opportunity to earn a college degree. One of the critical goals of the program is to have 630,000 more students enrolled in Texas colleges and universities by 2015.

UNT’s Enrollment Management program efforts have been key to the university’s being among the leaders in Texas in increasing enrollment and the number of degrees awarded. Since Closing the Gaps began in 2000, UNT ranks:
• first in the state for increased number of degrees awarded, 39 percent
• second in the state for increased total enrollment, 26 percent/ and 7,000students, or 9 percent of the growth in university enrollment in the state.

Additionally, UNT has performed at the top in the critical areas of increasing participation and success of African-American, Hispanic and transfer students.

Star Awards finalist must also demonstrate cost effectiveness. UNT decreased its administrative cost ratio during this time of dramatic growth.

UNT’s Next-Generation Course Redesign Project is aimed at maintaining quality learning while enrollment figures break records and class sizes grow. Colleges nationwide are working to find a way to fight the listen-memorize-regurgitate doldrums of large lecture learning.

Prospective Mean Green students and their families enjoyed campus tours, below, at the Nov. 8  UNT Preview. UNT Preview, hosted by the Office of Admissions, is one of the university’s largest recruitment programs.  Students and family members can tour campus and residence halls, learn about academic programs, speak with admissions and financial aid staff and learn about campus activities. More than 5,000 people regularly attend. (Photos by Vanessa Mendoza)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Many low-income families in North Texas do not own a book, according to Valeria Gallardo, literacy coordinator for Success for Life Through Reading program.

George Morrison, professor of early childhood education, created Success for Life Through Reading to give the gift of reading and book ownership to North Texas’ youngest residents. The literacy project is a branch of the  Success for Life program, which Morrison designed to help preschool age children gain the knowledge and skills needed to succeed in school and life.

The program is struggling to keep enough books on the shelves. In previous years, books have been donated by  College of Education grants, the Denton Benefit League and the Denton Kiwanis Club, but as the program has expanded, the stock of books is dwindling. If the program does not have enough books for each student, volunteers have to resort to leaving one book per class. Donations to support the program may be made by check to:

University of North Texas
LITERACY -
OFFICE OF DEVELOPMENT
P.O. Box 311250
Denton, TX 76203

Books also can be donated in a set of at least 23 new books. The program emphasizes the idea of ownership; each book is stamped with the phrase “just for you.” Books can be mailed to the above address or delivered to the Success for Life through Reading office in Chilton Hall, Room 238A.

Gallardo estimates that the program has donated more than 6,000 books to low-income children in Denton County since the Success for Life program began. During the spring 2008 semester, 1,026 books were distributed among 343 children. This semester, the program is reaching 622 students.

The UNT System Board of Regents is meeting today (Nov. 20) and Nov. 21 in Denton at the Gateway Center, Board Room.

While conducting its quarterly meeting, the board will consider a variety of items related to construction and renovation on the UNT campus. The items include:

• delegation of authority to negotiate, approve and execute sorority lease agreements
• selection of an engineer and approval of a project budget for mechanical, electrical and plumbing renovations to the Biology Building
• amending the project budget and selecting a construction manager at risk for the Business Leadership Building
• amending the project budget for the Life Sciences Building.

In addition, the board’s consent agenda includes approval of tenure for new faculty appointee Alan Needleman, left, professor of materials science and engineering. Needleman has served as a visiting professor at UNT since 2007 and will be joining UNT as a tenured professor in 2009. Needleman, who is a member of the National Academy of Engineering, was elected last year to the prestigious American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

In its business for the UNT Health Science Center, the board will consider approving tenure recommendations for five faculty members. The board also will consider establishment of the Department of Public Health in the School of Public Health at UNTHSC and adoption of the Thirteenth Supplemental Resolution to the Master Resolution authorizing general authority under the Revenue Financing System to proceed with the financing of the purchase of property and construction for the Public Health Education Building at UNTHSC.

Two alumni were honored at a White House ceremony Nov. 17. President George W. Bush presented the 2008 National Medal of Arts to Jesús Moroles, right, “for his enduring achievements as a sculptor of stone.” The National Medal of Arts is a presidential initiative managed by the National Endowment for the Arts. Robert Martin, left, received the Presidential Citizens Medal for his work as director of the Institute of Museum and Library Services, a federal agency that provides grants to the nation’s 15,000 museums and 122,000 community libraries. (Photos by James Kegley for the National Endowment for the Arts and for the National Endowment for the Humanities.)

 Congratulations to winners selected in last week’s InHouse Fun Fact, concert and sports ticket giveaways.

• Jenne Turner, library specialist,Government Documents Department, UNT Libraries.
• Ashley Shinn, service representative, Eagle Student Services and graduate school
• Shelly Beattie, administrative assistant, College of Business
• Nancy Dru Flowers, secretarial assistant, North Texas Community College Consortium
• Naomi Alvarado, senior accounting technician, Purchasing and Payment Services
• Emily Richards, research administrator, Office of Research Services
• Randi Johnson, student services coordinator, Office of Disability Accommodation
• Frank Gosnell, computer systems manager, UNT Libraries
• Joshua McGee
• Diane Charles, service representative, Eagle Student Services
• Jesse White, programmer analyst, Discovery Park
• Jillian France, student assistant, School of Merchandising and Hospitality

Somebody wins; why not you? Read inHouse and find opportunities to win a UNT T-shirt gift pack, and free tickets to concerts, sports and other campus activities. InHouse is the electronic newsletter that is always online and is regularly updated with news about events and strategic activities at UNT. The formatted version is e-mailed to faculty and staff each week, usually on Wednesdays. InHouse will not be published Nov. 26 during Thanksgiving week.

InHouse photos and graphics should be clearly visible in your Outlook e-mail. If you cannot see photos and graphics, be sure to set the View to HTML to see the newsletter’s color and photos. If you have difficulty, ask your department’s system administrator for assistance. Click on headlines, which link to continuously updated postings, to find the complete article and photos on inhouse.unt.edu.

Tickets and prizes are generously provided by event sponsors and departments. Winners are randomly selected from all e-mail responses.

"Planning Your Future 2008," a Human Resources Department-sponsored conference about retirement planning, will be from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Dec. 3, in University Union, Room 411.

The session is free, but pre-registration is required; use the Human Resources online registration form or call call 940-565-4246.

The seminar is suitable for employees of all ages and employees with all lengths of service. Presentations will provide information and answer questions about savings, investments and retirement planning.

The agenda is:

Check-In/ Continental Breakfast
8 a.m.-8:20a.m.

ERS Insurance Benefits
8:30a.m.-10 a.m.
Want to know what benefits you can take with you when you retire? Learn more about group insurance programs and benefits. Lisa Cazacu, Employees Retirement System of Texas, will facilitate the session.

TRS Presentation
10:15p.m.-12 p.m.
If you are enrolled in TRS (Teacher Retirement System), come learn about your benefits! JoAnn Holshouser, Teacher Retirement System, will review all aspects of TRS benefits as outlined in the TRS Benefits Handbook.

Social Security Benefits
1 p.m.-2:15p.m.
Glorilu Maldonado, Social Security Administration, will explain the different social security
benefits available, the requirements for receiving benefits, special options for spouses and changes in the minimum age limits.

CNA Long Term Care
2:30p.m.-3 p.m.
Do you want to know more about long-term care coverage? Will you need long-term care in your lifetime? Could you save enough money to pay for long-term care costs? Get the answers to these questions and more. Facilitated by Mike Clark, CLU, CNA Group Long Term Care.

Modified Service for Faculty
3:15p.m.-4 p.m.
Donna Asher, assistant vice president for Academic Affairs, will review the policies and procedures related to modified service for faculty.

When Lois Smith, left, graduated from high school, college wasn’t in her future. But over the years, Smith found a way to earn a bachelor’s degree.

Smith, an administrative assistant in the Division of Advancement, says she wanted to set an example for her children and to enjoy the personal accomplishment. “It was important to me, and I will never take it for granted,” she says of her degree. Smith was helped by a faculty/staff scholarship and utilized UNT’s tuition benefit for faculty, staff and alumni. Her adult daughters and husband proudly attended Smith’s commencement in August 2008. She received a bachelor of arts in sociology.

Managing a family and a career while simultaneously pursuing a degree wasn’t easy, but Smith knows that  scholarships eased the financial burden. So she began a monthly paycheck deduction to help other students. Smith’s donations have totaled about $1,000 per year, making her a member of UNT’s premier giving club, President’s Council.

Those monthly donations, targeted for sociology majors, have become the Lois and Keith Smith Scholarship. She and husband Keith established the scholarship to support students who, as did Lois, face financial barriers to higher education.

“College gives you so much, and I really believe that it builds your self esteem and broadens your mind,” she says. “To me, this is the perfect way to give back.”

The Division of Advancement has launched the university’s first formal faculty-staff giving campaign, We Care We Count. The campaign, which will be permanent and ongoing, is expected to help fund scholarships and programs in all colleges and departments. Donations are tax-deductible as defined by the Internal Revenue Service.

The campaign is not a replacement for donations made through the State Employees Charitable Campaign or to the alumni association, says Meg Weber, senior director for annual giving. Those campaigns are independent of We Care We Count, and faculty and staff donors and giving amounts are not usually disclosed to UNT fundraising officials. Additionally, the state campaign does not allow donors to give to a specific department or center.

Financial support from faculty and staff supports lecture series, professional education, campus organizations and technology along with scholarships, and has been a valuable supplement to departments and divisions, says Weber. Faculty-staff support is also key to attracting corporate and individual gifts, since most external donors ask if the university community helps support campus programs. Learn more about how faculty and staff can support UNT:

• About the campaign 
• Frequently asked questions 
• Donate online 
• Contact Weber 

A recently-formed Policy Advisory Group has launched a project that will review and revise university policies, the policy process and the policy website.

The group, comprised of 18 representatives from departments around the campus, will be led by Bonita Hairston, chief of staff in the Office of the President, and Paulette Jones. Jones, left joined the Chief of Staff’s office as policy specialist on Sept 23.

Jones previously was a planning and performance analyst with the Kentucky Housing Corporation, Frankfort, Ky. She also has worked as a program coordinator for the Office of Employment and Training for the State of Kentucky. She facilitated the comprehensive review of all welfare-to-work employment policies, and implemented a standard job-training curriculum for welfare recipients in collaboration with the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services. Jones received a bachelor’s degree in communications and a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Kentucky.

Hairston and the policy group are responsible for reviewing UNT policies to ensure that all are in compliance with federal and state laws, and with Regents Rules established by the UNT System Board of Regents.

“Of course it’s important for the university to have policies that meet legal and regulatory guidelines,” says Hairston, left. “It’s also important to have policies that are reasonable, easy to understand and make sense to the campus community. The Policy Advisory Group will provide valuable ideas and assistance,” says Hairston. “We will be able to utilize their vantage point, their experience and knowledge as we review and discuss policies that impact the entire university.

The board previously adopted Regents Rule 2.205, which requires standardized policies, and in 2007, adopted Rule 2.208 that sets a format and deadline for that standardization. The Office of the General Counsel has prepared a policy template to conform to the Regents Rule.

All policy revisions, drafts of new policies and substantially revised policies will be reviewed by Hairston and the group to determine content, comprehensiveness and compliance. Jones’ duties include:
• managing the policy website
• creating and managing a new web site
• facilitating Policy Advisory Group meetings
• facilitating the flow of policies through the revision and review process
• working with departments as policies are transferred to the new template
• creating an index, search engine and archive processes for policies
• publicizing and disseminating information about new policies
• creating an archival process for policies.

Members of the Policy Advisory Group are:

• Ginny Anderson, associate vice president, Finance and Administration, and Controller
• Mike Ashbaugh, associate director, Athletics
• Reggie Bond, executive director, Student Health and Wellness Center
• John Booth, professor of political science
• Anissa Breaux-Schropp, compliance officer
• Reata Busby, associate vice president, Research
• Kevin Carreathers, director, diversity planning, Institutional Equity and Diversity
• Susan Edwards, director, Internal Audit
• Charlie Fox, assistant director, Risk Management Services
• Steven Hill, director, institutional compliance
• Paulette Jones, policy specialist
• Donna Keener, assistant vice president, Human Resources
• Liz Linder, director, Financial Reporting and Compliance
• Bernest J. Lott, internal auditor
• Amy New, senior director, Development
• Marty Newman, assistant vice president, University Relations, Communications and Marketing
• George Niebling, administrative services officer
• Karin Riley, assistant general counsel
• Charlotte Russell, director, Computing Information and Technology Systems, administration and compliance
• Bobbie Tassinari, associate director, Facilities Business Services
• Celia Williamson, deputy provost and dean, undergraduate studies

UNT has been named to the list of America’s 100 Best College Buys® for the 13th year.

The report compiled annually by Institutional Research & Evaluation, Inc. showed UNT’s cost of $12,793 to in-state students is the lowest among Texas’ three “best buy” schools. The other Texas universities cited in the report are Abilene Christian University and Texas A&M University.

Survey results were based upon the out-of-state cost at public institutions for 2008-09. The estimated cost for an out-of-state undergraduate student who enrolls at UNT for 30 semester hours in a year and lives on campus is $21,223 – roughly 25 percent less than national average of $28,051.

Troy Johnson, associate vice president for enrollment management, says the university’s tuition ranks “below the average for Texas’ emerging research universities.”

UNT’s in-state tuition and fees cost of $3,383.40 for 15 credit hours in Fall 2008 is also the second lowest among peer universities.

Gabriel Carranza, left, director of the Office for Latin American programs at Texas A&M University, will be assistant vice provost of international cooperation beginning Jan. 6.

Carranza will lead in the development, coordination and management of academic centers, institutes and programs with an international focus. He will develop initiatives to advance research internationally and expand UNT’s reach in Mexico, Chile and other Latin American countries.

“The relationship with Mexico is a centerpiece of every Texas university’s international connections,” says Earl Gibbons, vice provost and associate vice president for international education. “UNT’s long history of partnerships with Mexican institutions of higher education is an area we hope to build upon and strengthen with our new global strategy. Dr. Carranza, with his strong network of connections in Mexico and his long experience building academic bridges between our two countries, will help us accelerate the expansion of these efforts.”

M. Jean Keller, right, professor of education in the Department of Kinesiology, Health Promotion and Recreation, will serve as UNT’s P-16 Coordinator, says Provost Wendy K. Wilkins. P-16 initiatives focus on building a seamless and well-integrated educational experience for students from preschool through college.

UNT faculty and staff have established strong and innovative P-16 initiatives with public schools, community colleges, four-year higher education institutions, businesses and community agencies which promote the importance of going to college and describe what it takes to be successful in college and beyond.

UNT’s P-16 efforts are numerous and varied, such as Emerald Eagle Scholars, early college high schools, middle and high school outreach programs, projects that support academic success, college student transfer and graduation best practices and preparation of math and science educators. A challenge for UNT is how to optimize these outstanding programs and demonstrate their successes in such a way that UNT is recognized for its strong P-16 efforts, says Wilkins.

The future viability of the North Texas region depends on a well-educated citizenry that is prepared to fully contribute to the workforce and engage in civic life. UNT created the North Texas Regional P-16 Council for this purpose. The council was founded in 2002 and serves Collin, Dallas, Denton and Tarrant counties. UNT has held a leadership role in this council since its inception.

Wilkins says, “Professor Keller is familiar with many P-16 programs at UNT and the North Texas Regional Council. Her experience will be especially helpful as we coordinate efforts to make UNT a recognized leader in P-16 initiatives in our region and in the state.”

Keys to successful P-16 initiatives include setting clear and realistic goals; identifying essential and engaged participants; and harnessing resources, both human and financial. These strategies will enable UNT to be successful in its P-16 efforts over time. “Adding Jean Keller as a point person will help everyone involved coordinate efforts that benefit our students and fit well with the state’s and nation’s educational goals,” says Wilkins.

Wen Chyan, left, a student at the Texas Academy of Mathematics and Science, will advance to the national Siemens Competition in Math, Science and Technology Dec. 5-8 at New York University. He will compete for scholarships from $10,000 to $100,000. Chyan was awarded the top prize for his work engineering new antimicrobial coatings for medical devices that could prevent hospital infections caused by the formation of bacterial biofilms.

The Siemens Competition, formerly called the Siemens Westinghouse, was established in 1999 and recognizes achievements in mathematics, science and technology research. It is one of the most prestigious high school-level competitions in the country. Chyan won regional competition at the University of Texas at Austin.

Chyan created a polymer that prevents and kills bacteria. The polymer is adhesive and can be used on catheters, breathing tubes and other medical devices that have contact with patients. The bulk of the work is complete, and Chyan hopes to begin field testing the coating soon.

The annual holiday tree lighting will be at 4 p.m. Nov. 20 in the University Union courtyard. Which religious and cultural traditions are celebrated at this time of year?

A. Kwanzaa
B. Hanukkah
C. Ramadan
D. Christmas

The correct answer is A, usually B and D. Christmas, of course, celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ on Dec. 25, and is arguably the most celebrated holiday in the world. The traditions of gift-giving, bright lights and general goodwill are enjoyed by people of many faiths. The Christmas tree has its origins in Germany in the 16th Century when decorated trees became part of the holiday. Trees were brought to the United States in the1830s by German settlers in Pennsylvania. President Franklin Pierce, who served in1853-57, is credited with putting a Christmas tree in the White House, and In 1923, President Calvin Coolidge lit the first national Christmas tree on the White House lawn. The 2008 national tree lighting ceremony will be Dec. 4.

Enter to win a UNT T-shirt gift pack. Send an e-mail to inhouse@unt.edu with “Tree” in the subject line by 5 p.m. Nov. 21. Five winners will be selected at random from all responses.

Some UNT trees have been live evergreens, but, says Mark Packer, assistant director of the union, “Over time, the expense and safety concerns of having a real tree, not to mention the environmental impact, led the union to purchase artificial trees.”  Left, lighting ceremony in 2005.

The 29-foot tree is a Roman Inc. brand Giant Everest Pine. The tree has seven levels of steel framing, 218 branches and 15,210 lights. The union staff decorates the tree with traditional wreaths and garlands.

About other holidays
Kwanzaa began in 1966 when then-UCLA faculty member Ron Everett, also known as Ron Karenga, created a week for African Americans to celebrate their African roots. The secular week is dedicated to seven principles with Swahili language names: unity (umoja), self-determination (kujichagulia), collective work and responsibility (ujima), cooperative economics (ujamaa), purpose (nia), creativity (kuumba) and faith (imani). Kwanzaa is Dec. 26-Jan. 1.

Hanukkah is celebrated in November or December of the Gregorian calendar and commemorates the eight-day rededication of the Jewish temple in Jerusalem in the 2nd Century BCE. Hanukkah features gift-giving, children’s activities and daily prayers. Hanukkah begins at sunset Dec. 21 and ends at sunset Dec. 29.

Ramadan is a religious holiday celebrated during the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. Ramadan includes fasting, prayer and reflection. Ramadan commemorates the revelation of the Quran to Mohammed. Ramadan will be observed Aug. 21-Sept. 19, 2009.

Three student entrepreneur projects received a total of $50,000 in prizes in the 2008 New Venture Creation Contest sponsored by the Murphy Enterprise Center. The winners of the annual contest were announced at the BDO Seidman, LLP Leadership Luncheon Nov. 14.

• First place, $25,000 -- Nature’s Freedom Wildlife Sanctuary was created by seniors Jeremy Dean, Blaire Chilcoat and Amanda Stewart. The mission of Nature’s Freedom is to “rescue and rehabilitate animals, while educating youth about wildlife conservation.” The trio has selected a site in Sanger for the sanctuary and expects to be fully operational within the next five years.
• Second place, $15,000 -- The Tax Brothers, a financial services company created by College of Business senior Edwin DuBois, College of Education senior Arnel Rolfe and their associate Allen Cater. The Tax Brothers provides tax preparation services to college students and small businesses. The Tax Brothers has offices in Dallas.
• Third place, $10,000 -- Figlist.com, a web site that will house a searchable database of local churches with links to parishioners’ businesses and advertisements. The site is intended to foster a sense of community between the church community and the business community. Figlist.com was created by Paul Passmore, a graduate student in the College of Business and associate Joel Harrison. The duo expects to have the site operational by summer 2009.

The New Venture Creation Contest provides seed money to student entrepreneurs who submit business plans to judges. Judges were Jay Duke, a partner with BDO Seidman, LLP; Mike Zampino, owner and manager of El Guapo’s restaurant in Denton; and Don Powell, professor of management.

Eliot Jennings, lecturer and Emergency Operations Center lab coordinator in the Department of Public Administration, uses his experiences in emergency management to educate students how to respond to disasters. Hhis education is his biggest source of accomplishment.

What is your title and department?
I am a lecturer and EOC (Emergency Operations Center) lab coordinator in the Department of Public Administration/Emergency Administration and Planning Program.

How long have you taught at UNT?
I’m starting my third year.

What are some of your most memorable moments working in emergency management?
I remember watching the Tropical Storm Allison floods unfold from the Houston/Galveston National Weather Service Forecast. The meteorologist in charge, Bill Read, now the director of the National Hurricane Center, explained that we were watching a once in a lifetime weather event unfold in front of us. Working the Hurricane Rita evacuation was a memorable event simply due to the sheer magnitude of the evacuation. I can also remember the simple thanks I received from a group of residents in Port Bolivar following Hurricane Rita. I happened to be at the volunteer fire station at the same time their first water and ice delivery arrived.

What do you enjoy most about teaching emergency management versus working full time in it?
I certainly don’t miss getting paged in the middle of the night or going to work and not getting to go home for several days. I enjoy getting to interact with students that have a genuine interest in emergency management and the belief that they can make communities safer places to live, work and visit.

How were you rinvoved with the recent Texas hurricanes, Gustav and Ike
Although I do maintain contact with emergency management personnel with the city and county of Galveston, my primary involvement is to use the events to facilitate discussions in my classes. My familiarity with the Galveston area and their emergency management programs certainly allows me to focus on some specific items. For example, using satellite imagery and photos, I am able to discuss the impact of the storm on the geotubes (a type of artificial sand dune) which were installed after Tropical Storm Frances to mitigate against storm surge and coastal erosion. The geography of Galveston Island also presents specific challenges. Galveston is essentially a city that is 30 miles long and only a couple of miles wide, much different than most cities of 60,000 residents. This presents unique issues in handling the response and recovery functions. An example is the delay in restoring utilities such as water and sewer. Miles and miles of main and arterial piping must be cleared of sand which enters the system when damages compromise the integrity.

How do you spend your free time?
I am also working on my PhD which consumes most of my time. I do like to spend time with my family consisting of my wife, a 6-year-old son, a son who is a sophomore at UT-Dallas and a 25 year-old-son in Houston. We try to concentrate on memorable vacations in the mountains in Colorado and New Mexico.

Who are your heroes?
My father is my hero. That might seem mundane, but he taught me the value of education and hard work. He grew up in a family that didn’t place much value on education but valued hard work. He worked to put himself through college and went on to obtain his PhD. He is a professor at Texas Woman’s University.

What is your favorite expression?
Emergency management is a job where you hope you never find out how good you are. By this I mean we don’t wish disasters upon communities, and yet the public will judge emergency managers based on how well the response appears. They may do a fantastic job mitigating and preparing their community, but the public will not generally recognize that accomplishment if the disaster does not occur, which ironically is what mitigation and preparedness try to minimize.

What accomplishment are you most proud of?
I would say I am most proud of obtaining my bachelor’s degree. I went back to school after the military and completed my degree while working full time. It was something that I truly wanted for myself. I remember my last semester I commuted to UNT from Galveston every week, completing my last six hours while working full time in Galveston.

What was your first job?
My first job, other than mowing lawns and delivering papers,  was busing tables at the Ramada Inn restaurant in Oxford, Miss.

(Interview by Megan Beck, student assistant, University Relations, Communications and Marketing)

Awards were presented to outstanding employees and departments at the President’s Staff Sack Lunch Nov. 5. President Gretchen M. Bataille answered questions involving the new football stadium, flex time policies, university finances and construction. 

Employees received these awards:

• Outstanding Employee, Academic Affairs – Margaret Vestal, administrative services officer, Office of the Provost
Outstanding Department, Academic Affairs – Emerald Eagle Scholars Action team, represented by Pam Milner, senior academic officer, College of Business, and Neil Brand, professor of mathematics
• Outstanding Employees, Finance and Administration – Debra Khoury, accountant, Purchasing and Payment Services; Kay Johnson, above left with Bataille, administrative assistant, Risk Management/Athletics; Elizabeth Hinkle-Turner, computer systems manager, Computing and Information Technology Center
Outstanding Department, Finance and Administration - Management and Construction and Structural Maintenance areas of Facilities, represented by Helen Bailey, senior construction manager, and Keith Cook, structural services manager
• Outstanding Employee, Student Development – Herschel Voorhees III, MD, medical director, Student Health and Wellness Center
• Outstanding Department, Student Development – Career Center, represented by Dan Naegeli, director.

Photos: Top left, Bataille and Johnson; top right, Vestal; middle left, Khoury and Hinkle-Turner; middle right, Voorhees; below left, Milner and Brand; below center, Bailey and Cook, below right, Career Center; bottom, Management and Construction and Structural Maintenance. (Photos by Jonathan Reynolds) 

Career Center, from left: Alison Delicati, Shaun Stoehr, Rosalyn Smith, Dan Naegeli, April Kuykendall, Christine Ellis, Glenn Jensen, Janet Denny, Rachel Smith.

Management and Construction and Structural Maintenance: Left to right, front: Mala Sambasivan, Amanda Wimberley, Lacey Almager, Helen Bailey, Keith Cook, Terri Pierce, Sarah Lippert; middle, Lynda Martin, Matt Payne, Ellen Frenkel, Randy Salsman, Lee Upshaw, Byrle Roberts, Joseph Boerner, Delbert Phillips, Jeff Moran; back, Neely Prestemon, Tessa Ryles, Rod Moran, Sammy Williams, Gary Dillon, Michael Byrom, Johnny McDaniel, Dusty Hicks, John Green, Peter Palacios.

The University Program Council and the North Texas Energy and Environment Club are co-sponsoring “Campus Climate Action and Green Jobs: Solving the Climate Crisis, Training for the Future,”a lecture by sustainability expert Joshua Skov, right. The free event will begin at 6 p.m. Nov. 20 in the Environmental Education Science and Technology Building, Room 130.

Skov’s lecture will highlight cost-saving efficiency measures and the training and skills needed to realize those savings. Skov is co-founder and principal director of the Oregon-based Good Company, a research and consulting firm focused on sustainability and climate change.

“Universities and colleges have a pivotal role in setting aggressive targets, demonstrating new technologies and management techniques, and raising key issues that can be solved only with public-private collaboration,” he says.

Skov adds that these "environmental" activities are in fact part of the solution to recent economic woes. “As many decision makers reassess economic and policy priorities, many are saying that this downturn is the ideal moment for new incentives for investment in capital and infrastructure.”

Skov has conducted dozens of sustainability assessments and greenhouse gas inventories for private and public sector organizations and is a regular instructor in the Sustainability Leadership Program, a training program for professionals in business and government covering a wide range of sustainability issues. He is adjunct faculty at the University of Oregon and the University of California of San Diego where he teaches MBA courses in sustainable business.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Student and alumni members of Omega Psi Phi celebrated the 40th anniversary of the fraternity at UNT on Oct. 25. A commemorative plaque, above, marks the location of the original fraternity house, which was demolished in 1985. Fraternity members at the dedication, right. (Photos by Angilee Wilkerson)

 

President Gretchen M. Bataille met with students around campus on Oct. 4-5. The president's "Really, Let's Talk" sessions, scheduled each semester, allow students to ask questions about the university's academic and operational goals. (Photo by Angilee Wilkerson)

 

 

 

 

 

 

NTTV broadcast live from the University Union courtyard on Nov. 4. Eagle Election Night 2008 featured interviews with President Gretchen M. Bataille, Provost Wendy K. Wilkins and faculty experts. Student journalists reported live from the Denton County Democratic and Republican party headquarters, among other locations. (Photo by Jonathan Reynolds)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Homecoming 2008 featured a parade with recyclable floats, flags, the annual bonfire, class reunions and a bubblegun-toting provost, Wendy Wilkins, left. Right, the Texas Great Pyrrenees Rescue Inc. which rescues those big white dogs (Great Pyrenees) in the photo, won first place in the friends of UNT float competition.(Photos by Angilee Wilkerson and Rebecca Petrusky.) 

 

 

Congratulations to winners selected in last week’s InHouse Fun Fact, concert and sports ticket giveaways.

• Katie Johnston, financial aid counselor assistant, Student Financial Aid and Scholarships
• Golda George, programmer, Computer Information and Technology Center
• Jenne Turner, library specialist, UNT Libraries
• Brian Salmans, doctoral candidate, Information Technology and Decision Sciences, College of Business
• Pamela Koch, student assistant, Risk Management
• Donna Cain, administrative assistant, Engineering Technology
• Ann Howington, program coordinator, Willis Library
• Judy DeLay, executive administrative assistant, International Programs and Studies
• Julie Howell, secretarial assistant, College of Business
• Jenna Elliott, administrative assistant, Counseling and Testing Center
• Michael McPherson, associate professor, Department of Economics

Somebody wins; why not you? Read inHouse and find opportunities to win a UNT T-shirt gift pack, and free tickets to concerts, sports and other campus activities. InHouse is the electronic newsletter that is always online and is regularly updated with news about events and strategic activities at UNT. The formatted version is e-mailed to faculty and staff each week, usually on Wednesdays. InHouse will not be published on Nov. 26, Thanksgiving week.

InHouse photos and graphics should be clearly visible in your Outlook e-mail. If you cannot see photos and graphics, be sure to set the View to HTML to see the newsletter’s color and photos. If you have difficulty, ask your department’s system administrator for assistance. Click on headlines, which link to continuously updated postings, to find the complete article and photos on inhouse.unt.edu.

Tickets and prizes are generously provided by event sponsors and departments. Winners are randomly selected from all e-mail responses.

The second official UNT Class Ring Presentation Ceremony will take place at 7:15 p.m. on Nov. 20 in the Gateway ballroom with a reception at 6:30 p.m. before the ceremony. Students who have earned 60 or more credit hours are eligible to purchase a ring and participate in the ceremony.

Derrick Morgan, executive director of the alumni association, will present the rings to the students. Family and friends are welcome to attend the ceremony. In conjunction with the ring ceremony, the McConell Tower, right, at the Hurley Administration Building will be illuminated with green to celebrate an academic victory as it is lighted after an athletic victory.

“Students and families are encouraged to walk over to the library mall after the ceremony to enjoy the green tower and the fountain,” says Susan Williamson, below left, director of marketing and membership for the alumni association.

For more information, contact Williamson at 940-369-8506.

If a student is unable to attend the ceremony, their rings will be held for about a week at the Alumni Center office, located on the first floor of the Gateway, Suite 170, before they are mailed out to individual students.

“If a student can’t make it to the ceremony, we like for them to our office and pick up their rings,” Williamson says. “That gives us an opportunity to meet them and congratulate them on their academic accomplishment.”

Prior to graduation, it is tradition to wear the ring with the University of North Texas name facing toward you. This reminds you of your goals and achievements on the horizon. At your graduation ceremony, you may turn your ring around when you move your tassel, for the world to see that you are a graduate of UNT.

The ring presentation ceremony is a biannual tradition which takes place in November and April.

Symbols of the UNT Ring:

• The top of the UNT ring is adorned with the Lone Star, representing Texas, and an optional green stone – school color.
• One side of the ring features the university seal. The university seal includes the lamp of learning, symbolizing academic achievement and the continuous pursuit of excellence; elements of the State of Texas seal — the Lone Star encircled by olive and live oak branches signifying peace and strength.
  At the bottom of the UNT seal is the university’s founding year 1890.
• The McConell Tower, rising above the Hurley Administration Building is featured on the other side of the ring. The hands of the first clock face on the tower are set at one o’clock, honoring the internationally recognized One O’Clock Lab Jazz Band. The hands of the second face are set at seven o’clock, recalling the evening curfew for students in Texas Normal College and Teacher Training Institute in 1892.
• The Eagle, official university mascot, is below the seal and the tower on both sides of the ring. The Eagle is shown with soaring wings spread from side to side. Its talons, to which we pay tribute through the eagle claw hand signal, are also shown.

Rings may be personalized for each individual student and may be ordered through Jostens Inc.

For 20 years, researchers have studied the dried plant specimens of Fort Worth’s Botanical Research Institute of Texas, which houses more than one million specimens and is the largest independent herbarium in the southwestern United States. Its specimens date back to the 18th century.

UNT’s Texas Center for Digital Knowledge is partnering with the institute, known as BRIT, to develop and integrate technology that will transform data from the printed or handwritten labels on the institute’s specimens into a form that is processable by computers. The center, or TxCDK, and BRIT have received a $738,075 National Leadership Grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, a primary source of federal support for the nation’s libraries and museums, for the project, “High-Throughput Workflow for Computer-Assisted Human Parsing of Biological Specimen Label Data.”

BRIT and other botanical researchers rely on each plant specimen’s label – for the oldest as well as newer specimens — to provide the names of collectors, the date the specimen was collected and other descriptive and ecological data. The institute plans to put the data from these labels into an online database that will be used by botanists and other scientists.

Older specimens may have labels that are difficult to decipher — at least for a computer using optical character recognition technology. In a preliminary survey of BRIT specimens, only 41 percent of the specimens’ labels could be translated into error free, computer readable text with the off-the-shelf OCR software. The remaining 59 percent were older and hand typed or handwritten, and could not be digitized by machine alone.

William E. Moen, left, TxCDK director, says the project will speed up the process of converting the label data “in a cost- and time-efficient manner.”

“This is an essential step in helping museums to make their valuable biodiversity data available to more researchers, as well as to government agencies and others involved in conservation planning,” says Moen, the primary investigator on the project and an associate professor in the College of Information, Library Science and Technologies, where TxCDK is housed.

UNT is proud to recognize employees who reached a milestone in November. To learn more about the service recognition program, contact Beth Bates-Verges in Human Resources, at 940-565-4817.

25 Years of Service
Denise Galubenski, left, academic advisor, College Of Business Administration

20 Years of Service
Maryellen Y. Bisset, administrative assistant, Learning Center
Linda L. Holloway, department chair, Rehabilitation, Social Work and Addictions

15 Years of Service
William Earl Camp, professor, Teacher Education and Administration
Cheryl McQueen, senior assistant to the dean, College of Business Administration

10 Years of Service
Jerri D. Duncan, assistant director finance and support services, Risk Management Services
Kurt Nelson Krause, associate director, Cooperative Education
Kimberly Bryant Manzer, administrative assistant, Finance, Insurance, Real Estate and Law
Marsha Ann Parr, data entry operator, Computing and Information Technology Center

Five Years of Service
Maria G. Anaya, custodian, Facilities and Construction
Kathy L. Bomar, administrative assistant, Mechanical and Energy Engineering
Joel P. Brown, communications officer, Police, Parking & Transportation
Lisa A. Cuevas, library specialist, UNT Libraries
Esmer L. Davis, prepress manager printing, Printing Services
Dana Dean, administrative assistant, Human Resources
Howard Archie Draper, computer systems manager, Computing and Information Technology Center
Yide Gao, postdoctoral research associate, Chemistry
Andre Albert Geoffrion, facilities technician, Housing Maintenance
Billy E. Huber, programmer analyst, Computing and Information Technology Center
Mary Elizabeth Lamprecht, program/project specialist, Center for Lifelong Learning
Shawn A. Metcalf, grant accountant, Research Services
Zachery B. Sneed, assistant professor, Rehabilitation, Social Work and Addictions
John Eric Thompson, academic counselor, Arts and Sciences Student Services
Sharon L. Wilson, administrative assistant, Electrical Engineering

(Editor's note: Jennifer Pritchard will be unable to attend the Nov. 17 event. Other Fossil executives will participate, including Steve Woodward, who is a member of the School of Merchandising and Hospitality Management Board of Governors and Fossil’s senior vice president of product development.) 

During a decade when one Rolex watch cost several thousand dollars, Fossil Inc. was founded to fill a department store void for moderately priced fashion watches, with some models priced around $100. Since the Richardson-based company was founded in 1984, it has expanded to sell handbags, leather accessories, sunglasses, jewelry and clothing.

Jennifer Pritchard, the first retail division president for Fossil Inc., and three vice presidents for the company will discuss Fossil’s brand management, consumer studies, merchandising processes and customer experience management during the free Executive-in-Residence Lecture Series presented by the  School of Merchandising and Hospitality Management.

The panel discussion, “Fossil: Building a Global Brand,” will begin at 11 a.m. Nov. 17 in the University Union, Silver Eagle Suite.

The discussion will be preceded by a fashion show of new Fossil merchandise. The fashion show will be produced by members of Merchandising Inc., a professional development organization for undergraduates.

Pritchard will be joined by Steve Woodward, Fossil’s senior vice president of product development; Dean Carter, the company’s vice president of human resources; and Tim Hale, senior vice president and image director of Fossil. Woodward  is a member of the School of Merchandising and Hospitality Management Board of Governors for the merchandising program. Board members guide the merchandising program in its development and fundraising activities.

In her position as retail division president, Pritchard oversees all of Fossil’s multiple retail concepts in North America and Europe as well as direct involvement in retail development in Asia.

International Education Week 2008 will include a Japanese fall festival, international film screenings, dancing lessons, foreign cuisine and a student photo exhibit, among other activities Nov. 17-21.

President Bill Clinton initiated the week in 2000 to focus attention on the importance of international education and intercultural understanding. The national week is sponsored by the U.S. Departments of State and Education. UNT has also celebrated International Week: Celebration of World Cultures in April for the past 32 years. 
 
“As the world is becoming more interconnected, we are expanding our international themed events for the UNT community in order to emphasize the importance of becoming global citizens,” says Olga Grieco, director of UNT’s International Welcome Center. Events include:

Nov. 17
• 10:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. Guatemala lunch at Victory Hall Champs cafeteria; guest price $5.20 plus tax.
• 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. – World Cultures Tour Fest and Bhangra dancing instructions, featuring international music, educational displays and exhibits by students from 20 countries, Library Mall. Co-sponsored by the India Students Association.

Learn how cities and counties use geographic information systems, or GIS, at the annual North Central Texas GIS Day Nov. 18. The day is part of the National Geographic Society’s Geography Awareness Week.

Geographic information systems, which link items displayed on a map to records in a database, are used by city and county managers to route sanitation and emergency vehicles, replace water mains, view aerial photography of a city or county and support property records management and taxation services, among other applications.

North Central Texas GIS Day events are scheduled from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the first floor of the Environmental Education, Science and Technology Building. Events include:

10 a.m. -- Tim Nolan, GIS administrator with Collin County and a UNT alumnus, will discuss how the technology has changed since he began working in GIS in 1992. He will discuss the role of local government GIS in the age of Google Maps and Microsoft’s Virtual Earth and trends in spatial technology.

10:45 a.m. -- Fred Souza, a project engineer for the City of Garland and a UNT alumnus, will discuss the Garland Water Utilities’ work management system that is integrated with the city’s interactive mapping system, and how that approach has kept pace with rising citizen expectations for service and saved money.

Avesta Fine Dining, located in the University Union, offers its annual Thanksgiving Gourmet To Go meal. Chef Joe Rosenthal, left, has created the meal, which is influenced by what popular cuisine?

A. Tex-Mex
B. Asian fusion
C. French fare
D. Soul food

The answer is A: Tex-Mex. Rosenthal, executive chef of Verde Catering and overseer of Avesta, says Tex-Mex is “very dear to my heart.” One of the more spicy dishes is the stuffing with chorizo, which Rosenthal says is his favorite item on the menu. Rosenthal, a San Antonio native, says he loves big flavors and ethnic cuisine from all over the world.

The to-go meal costs $59.95 and serves about eight people. The meal includes:
• herb roasted turkey breast with brown gravy or apricot chipotle sauce
• baked ham with brown sugar mandarin orange glaze

This is served with fresh cranberry relish with cinnamon and clove and is accompanied by a choice of:
• roasted garlic and rosemary whipped potatoes
• rice pilaf with dried fruit and toasted pecans

Each meal comes with:
• cornbread
• chorizo stuffing with roasted jalapeño and cilantro
• southern green beans with bacon
• candied sweet potatoes
• assorted rolls or sweet potato bread

Avesta also offers cherry, apple and pumpkin pies for $10. To order a pie or the entire Thanksgiving meal, contact UNT Dining Services at 940-565-2462 or visit dining.unt.edu/togo. Meals are $59.95.

Orders may be placed until Nov. 21. Orders must be pre-paid, and will be available for pick-up from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 25 and from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 26.

Avesta has generously donated six pies for InHouse readers. Enter to win a Thanksgiving pie by sending an e-mail to inhouse@unt.edu by 5 p.m. Nov. 14 with “Pie” in the subject line. Winners will be selected at random from all responses. Winners will receive a certificate that must be redeemed at Avesta on Nov. 25-26.

(Photo, Thanksgiving meal circa 1940, courtesy of the Library of Congress.)

Faculty and staff can now go online and order university brochures and other student recruiting material from University Relations, Communications and Marketing. The web site was created to make university marketing materials easily available to the university community.

The publications are separated into categories and organized by specific audience: high school, community college, prospective graduate student and general community audiences. There are also recommended publications for national searches for faculty and key administrative staff.

Nancy LeMay, recruitment marketing manager, says “We developed this web site to make it easy for people on campus to obtain materials to take to recruitment events or hand out to prospective students who visit the campus.”

If you are interested in any of these recruitment materials, place your order online with Amy Kious, URCM administrative assistant, and she will make sure you receive the publications. There is no charge for the materials if you pick them up at Printing Services, located in the University Services Building. Or you may choose to have your materials delivered (must have an account number). For more information, call Amy Kious at 940-369-7723 or go to http://web3.unt.edu/urcm/marketing.

The 2008 State Employee Charitable Campaign exceeded its $190,000 goal by more than $20,000.

As of today (Nov. 4), the campaign total was $210,077.89 with 36 percent participation, says Hillary Talatzko, right, program coordinator for the Department of Rehabilitation, Social Work & Addictions. Campaign co-chairs were Talatzko and Peyton Foster Roden, Regents professor of finance, in the College of Business Administration.

“This is an amazing response,” says Talatzko. “This shows that UNT faculty and staff care about their community and are willing to help others even during a slow economy.”

Talatzko says there were a total of 1,236 forms collected for a total of 36 percent faculty and staff participation. The number of participants is 3,416.

The total includes $17,000 from the annual golf tournament on Oct. 20 and $380 from the President’s Kick-Off Picnic on Oct. 1.

The campaign started Oct. 1 and gave employees on campus the opportunity to make charitable contributions to more than 400 local, state and national organizations. In 2007, the state campaign raised $9.74 million for Texas organizations. Learn more about the campaign in Denton County.  and about activities at UNT.
 
Donating to the campaign can make a difference to people in the North Texas community. For example, campaign officials say that $5 a month for one year:

• helps to fund three days of a support group for teens having experienced domestic or
• sexual abuse.
• provides five elderly people with the help they need to gain income security.
• provides adaptive aids for personal care to make life easier for ALS patients.
• will pay for 10 trees to be planted in an inner-city neighborhood.
• provides teaching materials for 30 at-risk students for one school year.

Joey Saxon, left, (’92, M.B.A. ‘96, Ed.D. ‘04), director of purchasing and payment services, earned three degrees from UNT. He achieved two of his degrees by taking advantage of the educational benefit offered to faculty and staff.

“I’m a three-time graduate,” Saxon says. “I was the first in my family to graduate with a four year degree and had no plans for another degree when I graduated in 1992. I never thought about obtaining a doctorate until I witnessed other employees and colleagues pursuing the terminal degree. I realized that I could help my chances of advancement with an earned doctorate.”

The scholarship pays the UNT System Board of Regents designated tuition plus mandatory fees. Students must pay the $50 per credit hour state mandated tuition plus any instructional fees. Terri Miller, assistant director of Student Accounting, says the scholarship applications increased from 238 last fall to 255 this fall and the number of drops by this group decreased  — 21 last fall and 15 this fall. 

Find an application at http://essc.unt.edu/saucs/Forms/FacultyStaffApplicationREV04262007.pdf or contact Student Accounting and University Cashiering Services at 940-565-3225 or http://essc.unt.edu/saucs/.

Applications must be received by the 12th class day of each semester or term. All students are encouraged to take advantage of early enrollment which ends Dec. 8. The 12th class day of the spring semester is Feb. 2.

Saxon says, “The employee scholarship program allowed me to continue my education without carrying a high level of debt from student loans.”

In the coming Legislative session that begins January 2009, legislators will determine funding for UNT and Texas’ other public universities for the 2009-10 and 2010-11 fiscal years. The funding will be determined using state formulas and the enrollment figures from this base year, which began in Summer 2008 and ends in Spring 2009. This fall’s enrollment and semester credit hour numbers will be key in determining how much funding UNT receives from the state for general operations.

This means UNT will benefit from the employees who use the educational scholarship, much as those employees benefit from the financial savings.

“This is an employee benefit just like our insurance,” Saxon says.

Those eligible for the tuition benefit include: individuals affiliated with UNT; UNT Health Science Center at Fort Worth; UNT Foundation; Professional Development Institute; and the UNT Alumni Association.

Two students from the Texas Academy of Mathematics and Science were named regional finalists and 14 were named semifinalists in the 2008 Siemens Westinghouse Competition in Math, Science and Technology.

The academy has more semifinalists than any other school in Texas.

The Siemens Westinghouse Competition was established in 1999 and recognizes high school achievements in mathematics, science and technology research. It is one of the most prestigious high school-level competitions in the country.

Wen Chyan and Sameer Deshpande, both second-year TAMS students, were among the 13 Texas students and nearly 100 across the country chosen as regional finalists. Both students will present their research projects at the Region Two Competition Nov. 14 -Nov. 15 at the University of Texas at Austin.

Congratulations these winners selected in last week’s InHouse Fun Fact, concert and sports ticket giveaways.

• Christina Spurgeon, accountant, Payroll Office
• Steve Timmons, scientific instrument shop supervisor, Departments of Biology/Chemistry
• Betty Anker, processing clerk, Undergraduate Admissions
• Rebecca Petrusky, clerical, Institute of Applied Science
• Rang Wong, senior analyst, Computer Information and Technology Center 
• Rhonda Ratliff, accountant, Purchasing and Payment Services

You, too, can win a UNT T-shirt gift pack, and free tickets to concerts, sports and other campus activities. Read InHouse, the electronic newsletter that is always online and is regularly updated with news about events and strategic activities at UNT. The formatted version is e-mailed to faculty and staff each week, usually on Wednesdays.

InHouse photos and graphics should be clearly visible in your Outlook e-mail. If you cannot see photos and graphics, be sure to set the View to HTML to see the newsletter’s color and photos. If you have difficulty, ask your department’s system administrator for assistance. Click on headlines, which link to continuously updated postings, to find the complete article on http://inhouse.unt.edu.

Tickets and prizes are generously provided by event sponsors and departments. Winners are randomly selected from all e-mail responses.

The Chemistry Department is selling sections of concrete with element symbols from the periodic table for $5,000 each to raise funds. The department wants to have each element represented on the sidewalk around the Chemistry Building. How many elements are in the periodic table?

A. 87
B. 150
C. 118
D.120

The correct answer is C: 118 elements. An element is a basic substance that can’t be broken down to a simpler form. Symbolized by two or three letters, each element has an atomic number, symbol and mass. The first periodic table, arranged by Dmitri Ivanovich Mendeleev in 1869, contained nearly 60 elements and has since doubled in size. It is often introduced in grade school and used in the most complex laboratory. Learn about the history of the periodic table.

Enter to win a UNT T-shirt gift pack. Send an e-mail to inhouse@unt.edu by 5 p.m. Nov. 7 with “Periodic Table” in the subject line. Winners are selected at random from all e-mail responses.

All 118 will be engraved in concrete on the sidewalk of the Chemistry Building, right, which was completed in 2004, in an area facing Mulberry Street. Each inlaid element is 10 square inches, including the donor’s name(s), the element’s symbol and atomic number. Once all elements have been adopted, the proceeds will go towards new instrumentation and equipment for chemistry labs.

An element can be dedicated in honor of a loved one, current student, favorite professor or the donor specifically. The maximum space available for personal information on the element is three lines with approximately 16 characters per line. The tax deductible donation of $5,000 can be paid in full or split in half and paid within a year. Find a chart of available elements.

For an order form and more information, contact Betty Norwood, administrative assistant, at norwood@unt.edu or 940-565 3515.

The College of Education held its sixth annual "Education: The Key to Success for North Texans" luncheon Oct. 27. Dallas Mayor Tom Leppert who has publicly supported education programs since his election in 2007, was featured speaker. The event has raised more than $200,000 for scholarships. Verizon received a commemorative eagle, left, for its luncheon sponsorship. Right, Dallas businessman Stan Levenson, President Gretchen M. Bataille and Leppert, left.

Staff Contribution Awards were presented on Oct. 27 to 

individuals who have made noteworthy contributions to UNT business and academic success and strategic goals. The presentations launched Staff Appreciation Week 2008, which featured workshops, entertainment and prizes. Find some events online at web3.unt.edu/vcstream. 

These employees received awards:

• Nanette Behning, administrative assistant, Jewish Studies Program
• Michelle Bennett, administrative services officer, Department of Finance, Insurance, Real Estate and Law
• Paul Goebel, director, Student Money Management Center
• Barbara MacDonald, assistant director, Student Financial Aid and Scholarships, photo, above left, with President Gretchen M. Bataille and Celia Williamson, deputy provost
• Melissa McGuire, student life director, Student Development
• Anneke Feenstra-Miller, assistant director recreational sports, Student Recreation Center
• Theresa Jackson, administrative assistant, Library and Information Sciences
• Cheryl Martin, senior budget officer, College of Business Administration
• Janet Rogers, administrative assistant II, Counseling and Higher Education, above right, with Bataille
• Debra Griffin, administrative services officer, College of Arts and Sciences Student Services
• Glen Haubold, associate director, Facilities Maintenance
• Elizabeth Hinkle-Turner, computer systems manager, Academic Computing and User Services , Computing and Information Technology Center

Below, from left: Bataille and Griffin, McGuire, Miller, Goebel, Rogers, Hinkle-Turner and Haubold (Photos by Angilee Wilkerson)

 

 

 

 

 

Jazz stars from across the country will return to their roots at UNT to Nov. 22 to pay tribute to two recently retired directors.

Neil Slater, left, and James Riggs, right, retired in August after lengthy careers leading UNT’s two top jazz bands — the One O’Clock Lab Band and Two O’Clock Lab Band. UNT will honor Slater, a noted composer, and Riggs, who also served as regents professor of saxophone at UNT, in a special jazz reunion concert in the UNT Coliseum. Paris Rutherford, director of the UNT Jazz Singers, is scheduled to retire at the end of the 2008-09 academic year and will be honored in May.

The event begins with a dinner at 6 p.m., followed by the concert at 7:30 p.m. To win a pair of $20 tickets, send an e-mail to inhouse@unt.edu with "Reunion" in the subject line by Nov. 7. The winner will be selected at random from all responses.

Ticket prices are:

• $60 per person for floor seating at tables set for eight; includes dinner
• $20 for lower-tier seating, central sections
• $15 for lower-tier seating, outside sections
• $5 student upper tier seating
• $10 non-student upper tier seating

To purchase $20 and $60 tickets and group ticket sales in all categories, contact the Jazz Studies office at 940-565-3743. To purchase $5, $10 and $15 tickets, contact the University Union at 940-565-3805.

The evening includes performances by four alumni bands, organized by decade from the 1970s and earlier to the 2000s. See the Extended Entry to learn more about UNT alumni and Jazz Studies.

An interdisciplinary team of UNT researchers has received $393,688 from the National Science Foundation to examine how federal science agencies try to make their research relevant to society.

The team received the funding from a new NSF program known as the Science of Science and Innovation Policy, or SciSIP. SciSIP’s purpose is to fund research into how publicly funded science can be made more relevant to the challenges facing society in the 21st century. 

The team will study how five science agencies use the process of peer review to ensure that the research they fund is socially relevant. The researchers are calling their project Comparative Assessment of Peer Review, or CAPR, pronounced “caper.”

Robert Frodeman, left, professor of philosophy and religion studies, will be the principal investigator for CAPR. Co-principal investigators are Britt Holbrook, research assistant professor in the Department of Philosophy and Religion Studies; Warren Burggren, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and a professor of biological sciences; William Moen, associate professor of library and information sciences; and Carl Mitcham, professor of liberal arts and international studies at Colorado School of Mines in Golden, Colo.

The agencies chosen for the study are the NSF, the National Institutes of Health and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, as well as the Natural Science and Engineering Research Council of Canada and the Dutch Technology Foundation.

Other universities that received SciSIP grants from NSF include the University of California at Berkeley, Duke University, Harvard University and Northwestern University.

Holbrook says peer review of grant proposals “entails a responsibility of scientists not only to other scientists to conduct the reviews fairly, but also to society to conduct the reviews so that society’s money is well spent.”