Shredding Service to Destroy Data on Hard Drives, Digital Media

Information Security will collect employees’ personal hard drives, cellphones and external storage media on Thursday, Jan. 29, for safe disposal by the University’s Inventory Control department. The service will be available from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Gemini Room (SU 2.504).

All collected items will be taken to an industrial hard drive shredder at the UT Dallas Inventory facility. The shredder destroys the devices and makes the data inaccessible.

Information Security is offering the service to promote home digital security. All items to be collected must be privately owned. To dispose of University-owned items, email Surplus at [email protected].

Hard drives should be removed from computers. Personnel will not be able to remove the drives on site or dispose of laptop or desktop units.

Career Center is Looking for the Year’s Best Student Worker

Amanda Pereira, who worked as a tutor in the Naveen Jindal School of Management Business Communication Center, was selected as UT Dallas' Student Employee of the Year in 2014.

The Career Center is gearing up for National Student Employment Week by seeking nominations for the annual Student Employee of the Year Award.

Work-study and non-work-study student employees are eligible. Nominees must have been employed for at least three months full time or six months part time from June 2014 through May 2015 (anticipated).

The recipient will be announced during National Student Employment Week, April 12-18, when the Career Center plans events to honor all student employees for their contributions to the University.

Nominations will be accepted through Feb. 11. See the Career Center’s Student Employment Week page for more information. Nomination materials are also available online.

The Career Center also needs volunteers to serve on the nomination review committee. Contact Tracy Diaz at [email protected] or 972-883-4265.

Retired Prof Remembered as Champion of Undergrad Education

Dr. John Jagger, a longtime biology professor at The University of Texas at Dallas who made groundbreaking discoveries about sunlight’s ability to delay bacterial growth, died on Dec. 27 at the age of 90.

Jagger came to Texas in 1965 as an associate professor in the newly established Laboratory of Molecular Sciences at the Graduate Research Center of the Southwest, the institution that later became UT Dallas. Jagger served as department head in biology from 1975 to 1977, when UT Dallas began accepting upper-level undergraduate students. He took a strong interest in undergraduate education, helping develop courses for the incoming juniors and seniors. Read more

Info Security Classes Offer Tips for Peace of Mind Online

Information Security resumes its awareness training series this week. The newly revised, shortened classes begin Jan. 29 and run throughout the semester. They are free for all University employees and students.

In-person classes are set for Wednesday. Webinar classes will be offered on Thursdays. Upcoming classes include:

Check out the full Security Awareness Calendar for more information.

Comet Cupboard Issues a Call for More Can Openers

Comet Cupboard volunteers are hoping to collect 100 non-electric can openers this month.

Donation boxes can be found in the Administration Building, Residence Hall South, Student Union, Activity Center and Office of Student Volunteerism (SSB 3.600).

More than 250 UT Dallas students use the Comet Cupboard every week.

New Recycling System Makes it Simple to Find the Right Bin

UT Dallas has changed its process of collecting recyclables to a “single stream” system.

Items such as aluminum cans, plastic bottles and paper no longer have to be separated into different recycling containers. All recyclables may now be placed into any blue recycling receptacle on campus. It will still be necessary to separate out such trash items as food waste, food wrappers and Styrofoam, as well as any confidential materials, which departments should continue to shred.

The change comes just before the start of RecycleMania, an eight-week competition and benchmarking tool for colleges and universities to promote waste reduction and increase recycling within their campus communities. UT Dallas will participate in the competition, which runs from Feb. 1 to March 28 with a goal of increasing the current recycling rate of 28 percent.

Faculty and staff can request office recycling bins by emailing [email protected]. For more information about UT Dallas recycling, visit the Sustainability website.

Resource Adds New Care and Coping Options for Faculty, Staff

UT Dallas has contracted with Workplace Options resource and referral service to help employees balance the responsibilities of work and everyday life. Workplace Options is free and provides a range of resource and referral services to address dependent care and daily living needs, including:

  • Child or elder care
  • Pet sitters
  • Travel information
  • Volunteer opportunities
  • Relocation information
  • Health/wellness services
  • Summer camp options
  • Information on consumer issues
To use the program, call 866-607-4536 or visit the website through Galaxy by selecting the “Child Care & Life Resources” section. From there, use the site’s online forms or LiveConnect webchat feature to be served by a Care Consultant.

Workplace Options serves as an additional resource to the University’s Employee Assistance Program. If you have general questions about Workplace Options, contact Lauren DeCillis at the Galerstein Women’s Center at 972-883-6555.

CERT Training Teaches What to Do When Disaster Looms

The UT Dallas Campus Emergency Response Team (CERT) works with the University’s Office of Emergency Management and the University community to produce a pool of faculty, staff and students trained in disaster preparedness.

CERT has meetings once a month and provides training at least once each semester. The next classes are as follows:
  • Disaster Preparedness – Feb. 10, 6-9 p.m.
  • Disaster Fire Suppression – Feb. 12, 6-9 p.m.
  • Disaster Medical Operations Part I – Feb. 17, 6-9 p.m.
  • Disaster Medical Operations Part II – Feb. 19, 6-9 p.m.
  • Light Search and Rescue Operations – Feb. 24, 6-9 p.m.
  • Disaster Psychology and Team Organization – Feb. 26, 6-9 p.m.
  • Course Review and Disaster Simulation – Feb. 28, 8 a.m.-noon
Read more about the CERT program and classes, and email [email protected] to attend.

Faculty and Staff Invited to Women’s Center Events in February

The Carolyn Lipshy Galerstein Women’s Center at UT Dallas welcomes faculty and staff members to two events in February.

  • Thrive: Redefining Success through Wonder and Giving — 5:30 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 4, in Galaxy Rooms B and C (SU 2.602)
    The program is part of the Galerstein “Empower and Connect Women Series,” which is designed to provide women with tools and confidence for success and connect them with resources and mentors. Join the Galerstein Center for dinner, conversation and a panel discussion. Register by Wednesday, Jan. 28. Read more
  • SAFE ZONE Ally Training — noon-5 p.m. Friday, Feb. 13 in the Faculty/Staff Dining Room (SU 2.905)
    Ally Training provides a venue for LGBTQ people, their allies and other participants to express concerns, ask questions, and learn about issues affecting the LGBTQ campus and surrounding community. SAFE ZONE Ally Training is open to all UT Dallas as well as community members. Register by Feb. 6. Lunch will be provided. Read more

Microsoft Office Classes to Teach Skills in Word, Excel and More

Information Resources is offering Microsoft Office training again this semester. Classes include Beginner Office, Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint. The schedule is posted on the Human Resources Training Calendar. For the details of what is covered in each course, click on the Microsoft Office topic on the PeopleSoft and Related Training page. Call trainer Patricia Roffe at 972-883-5227 for more information.

Pub Open for Happy Hour Thursdays 5 to 7 p.m.

Join your colleagues for happy hour 5-7 p.m. every Thursday at The Pub. The Pub is featuring two new beers — Day Break and Pretzel Stout — brewed by Martin House Brewing Co., of which alumnus David Wedemeier BS’02 MBA’05 is a co-founder and director of business development. Half-price chips and salsa and other weekly specials are also available during happy hour.

Save the Date

  • UT Dallas Wellness and Retirement Fair
    Learn how to become “Fit for Life” at the UT Dallas Wellness and Retirement Fair, hosted by the Office of Human Resources and the UT Dallas Wellness Committee, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 29, in the Student Union Galaxy Rooms (SU 2.602). The fair is an opportunity to learn more about benefits offered at UT Dallas, discover on-campus wellness services, obtain information on retirement planning and get free health screenings and flu shots. View the registration information and schedule of events here.
  • HR to Host Informational Forum
    The Office of Human Resources will host a forum next Wednesday on policy and procedure updates in benefits, employee services, employee relations, institutional equity, organization development and training.  Attendees will be able to learn about new programs, ask questions, offer feedback and network with colleagues. The event is 10-11:30 a.m., Wednesday, Feb. 4, in JSOM 2.115.

Reminders

  • Surplus Sale
    The University will hold a Surplus Sale today from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Surplus Warehouse, located near the Facilities Management, Police and Service buildings. The event will give students, faculty and staff an opportunity to buy used furniture at a discount. Cash or check only.
  • 2015 Faculty and Staff DART Passes Now Available
    UT Dallas employees may purchase discounted annual Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) passes for $300 until Feb. 13. To purchase a pass, complete a pass application, take it with your Comet Card and payment to the Parking and Transportation Services window at the Bursar's office. For more information, visit the Parking and Transportation website or call 972-883-2344.
  • Registration for Wellness Challenge Open Until Feb. 6
    There is still time to sign up for the Live Healthy North Texas 2015 10-Week Wellness Challenge. Online registration will remain open through Feb. 6. Team captains should go to Live Healthy North Texas website, click “Join Today” and enter LHDUTD for the group ID to create a team with up to 10 members. Team members will receive via email user names and passwords to log in and complete their profiles. For updates and more information, visit the UT Dallas Wellness website.