University Selects Bill Petitt to Lead Athletic Department

Bill Petitt
Bill Petitt has been named athletic director of The University of Texas at Dallas.

Petitt has served as the University's interim athletic director since the retirement of longtime director Chris Gage in February. Petitt joined the UT Dallas athletics staff in January 2008 as the University’s associate athletic director for external affairs.

As the University's primary athletic development officer, Petitt oversaw a 400 percent growth in external revenue since 2008 and ensured that athletics reached its goal as part of the University’s $200 million Realize the Vision: The Campaign for Tier One & Beyond. Read more

Help Drive UT Dallas Pride, Pick Favorite License Plate Design

The Office of Development and Alumni Relations is seeking votes on the best design for a University license plate. The top choice will become the official license plate of UT Dallas. Thanks for voting, and share this poll link with colleagues and co-workers. Vote online
     

Dining Services Offers Discount Program to Faculty and Staff

Participants in the UT Dallas Dining Services Dining Dollars program will now receive a 10 percent discount on food purchases at all on-campus dining locations.

Faculty, staff and students can purchase Dining Dollars online at any time in $20 increments. The balance is automatically loaded to the purchaser’s Comet Card and can be used as a debit card for food purchases. Read more

Volunteers Sought to Help Students Make the Move for Fall

Volunteers helped students move in to University residence halls last year.
Move-in days for the fall semester are right around the corner, and Residential Life needs staff volunteers to help roll out the “green and orange carpet” to welcome students and their families. Help is needed on the following days:

  • Saturday, Aug. 16 — Apartment Phases 1-9 and Residence Hall North.
  • Wednesday, Aug. 20 — Residence Hall West and Residence Hall South.
  • Thursday, Aug. 21 — Residence Hall Southwest and Residence Hall Northwest.
Volunteers will greet residents and their families as they arrive and help move their belongings into their residence hall suites or apartments. Water will be provided. To participate, email Assistant Director of Residential Life John Carrillo with the days you can help.

Mobile Version of Orion Launched for Wireless Use by Students

The Office of Information Resources — Enterprise Application Services has launched a mobile version of Orion for students. The new site, called Orion Mobile, lets students add or drop classes, view their grades, check their class schedules, apply for graduation and all of the other Orion functions from the convenience of a mobile device. To log in, simply visit utdallas.edu on a mobile device and click on the Orion Mobile icon.

IR-EAS is also developing a mobile site for staff and faculty members to make leave requests, view payroll information and update personal information.

Corporate Challenge Ice Cream Fundraiser Set for July 31

Students, faculty and staff are invited to support Special Olympics and enjoy an ice cream treat at The Plinth from noon to 1 p.m. on Thursday, July 31. Donations benefit the Special Olympics as part of the 2014 Richardson Corporate Challenge.

Benefits-eligible faculty, staff, retirees and spouses can sign up online to participate in the 2014 Richardson Corporate Challenge, an Olympic-style competition in which area companies compete in events ranging from softball and cycling to dominoes and golf. The Opening Ceremony is Aug. 15. All proceeds from the challenge benefit the Special Olympics.

Mail Services Offers New Online Features

Mail Services has created new online tools to help simplify the shipping process for faculty, staff and students. Customers can now track packages in real time, as well as search mail stops and mail carriers for each building. Requests for bulk mail estimates and eShipGlobal accounts can also be submitted online. For more information, visit the Mail Services page on the Auxiliary Services website.

Office of Sponsored Projects: Seminars and Certificate Series

The Office of Sponsored Projects holds midday discussions of various research-related topics, with lunch provided. Register online. Email Vanessa Kirk or call ext. 4750 for more information.

  • Decoding Administrative Forms — July 22, noon (ECSS 3.503)
    This session will review the internal forms required by the Office of Sponsored Projects and explain how each relates to grant proposals and research contracts.
  • Demystifying a Grant Proposal Solicitation and Award Document — Aug. 4, noon (ECSS 3.503)
    The Office of Sponsored Projects takes an in-depth look at a proposal solicitation, highlighting where to find key information about the funding program that all investigators need to know.
  • National Institutes of Health Update — Aug. 19, noon (ECSS 3.503)
    Join us for a discussion of changes in the process of handling National Institutes of Health investigations.
Registration is required. Call Rebecca Everett at 972-883-2313 for more information.

Reminders

UT Dallas Annual Benefits Enrollment Ends July 31 - The annual benefits enrollment period begins July 15 and ends at midnight July 31. Consult the Benefits Services pages for more information.