UT Dallas has received the 2016 Outstanding Government Organization award from the Clean Air Through Energy Efficiency (CATEE) organization. Each year, CATEE honors individuals, organizations and companies that have demonstrated outstanding contributions to clean air through energy efficiency and renewable energy actions or programs. Recipients are recognized for their leading efforts that contributed to improving the impact of buildings and development on cleaner air and environmental quality for Texas, especially its urban regions.

The award recognizes Facilities Management's efforts to include energy-efficient features in new campus buildings, and upgrade older energy and lighting systems to significantly reduce overall campus energy use and cost. The award adds to UT Dallas' growing list of honors for its sustainability practices.

John George, a longtime UT Dallas employee, passed away Jan. 20. George, who worked at UT Dallas for 21 years, began his career working in a warehouse and eventually became print and logistics manager for the University's print and copy services.

“John oversaw everything that was printed for the University,” said Chris Rench, assistant director of print, copy and logistics. “He was a dear friend and colleague of many of us at UTD and will be sorely missed. Printing Services will never be the same without him.”

Services for George will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 28, at New Life Church in Garland, Texas. A Go Fund Me page has been established to assist the family.

Faculty, staff and students can now get their vehicles fueled up on the University's main campus through the app Booster Fuels.

Through Monday, Feb. 6, Booster will offer an introductory rate of $1.99 per gallon for regular unleaded gas. In addition, use the promo code COMETS and receive $5 off the first two fill-ups.

Service hours are 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday-Friday. Fuel service can be completed within a five-hour delivery window at no additional charge. Request service by 4 p.m. to ensure free delivery. A $3 to $5 fee will apply if service is needed within one to three hours of the request.

To request service, download the Booster app and follow the instructions. Vehicles must be parked in a surface lot. For questions, email [email protected].

The Career Center is accepting nominations for the 2017 Student Employee of the Year award through Friday, Feb. 3. Work-study and non-work-study student employees are eligible. Nomination materials and guidelines are available online. Nominees must have been employed for at least three months full time or six months part time from June 2016 through May 2017 (anticipated). Research assistants, teaching assistants and students employed under a classification code other than S09996 or S09997 are not eligible. The recipient will be announced during National Student Employment Week, April 9-15, when the Career Center honors student employees for their contributions to the University. The Career Center also needs volunteers to review the nominations. Contact Bill Howard, associate director of student employment and operations, by email, or call ext. 6195, by Wednesday, Feb. 1.

From Sunday, Feb. 5, to Saturday, April 1, UT Dallas will participate in RecycleMania, an eight-week competition and benchmarking tool for colleges and universities to promote waste reduction and increase recycling on campus. Faculty and staff can help by making recycling part of office spring cleaning and daily practice.

Email [email protected] if you need additional recycling or shredding bins.

In addition, remember to recycle your toner and ink cartridges in the Staff Council collection bins across campus. Each donated toner or cartridge raises money for the Staff Council Scholarship Fund.

The University of Texas System has organized a systemwide Heart Walk on Friday, Feb. 10, in recognition of National Heart Month and the importance of heart health. Faculty and staff are invited to meet at 10 a.m. at the Plinth. Groups also will meet outside the Synergy Park North building's main entrance; the lobby reception desk in the Center for BrainHealth; and the main lobby of Callier Center Dallas.

In addition, a Heart to Heart Lunch and Learn will be held noon to 1 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 15, in the Student Union Galaxy Rooms (SU 2.602A). Dr. Kami Banks of UT Southwestern Clinical Heart Center will provide heart health tips and host a question-and-answer-session on heart disease. Space is limited. RSVP to [email protected] by Tuesday, Feb. 7.

The Office of Administration and the Department of Athletics will host Community Appreciation Day on Saturday, Feb. 18, at the Activity Center (AB). Faculty and staff are invited to bring their families for free lunch and two Comets basketball games. Both teams will play UT Tyler. The women's game begins at 1 p.m., and the men's game starts at 3 p.m. RSVP with your name and number of people in your group to [email protected] by Tuesday, Feb. 14.

The Veteran Services Center will hold a Green Zone training session for staff and faculty on Friday, March 10. The session will be 9 a.m. to noon in the Student Services Addition, Room 14.245. Space is limited, and registration is required. The Green Zone program is designed to establish a University-wide network of staff and faculty members to encourage a military-friendly campus culture. Email Archie Nettles or call ext. 4916 for more information.

The Eugene McDermott Library offers tours and workshops to staff members. Workshops are held at the library in MC 2.524. Register online. Upcoming offerings include:

• Graduate Workshop Series: Writing with Style, 3 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 25.
• Diving In: Beginning Research, 5 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 25.
• Refworks: Introduction and Beyond the Basics, 3 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 26.
• Graduate Workshop Series: Finding and Applying for External Fellowships/Funding, 3 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 1.
• Graduate Workshop Series: Writing a Lit Review/Going Beyond Undergrad Research, 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 4.
• Graduate Workshop Series: Writing Journal Articles, 4 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 7.
• Multimedia Sources @ Eugene McDermott Library, 5 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 8.

Tours meet at the Information Desk in the library lobby. Request a time and register on the library tour sign-up page.

Comet Cupboard Can Opener Drive
The Office of Student Volunteerism is collecting can openers this month to support the Comet Cupboard. Non-electric can openers can be dropped off at the OSV Office (Student Services Addition, 14.431T), on the second floor of the Administration Building near the elevator and at the Student Union first-floor lobby through Jan. 31. Learn More

Center for Teaching and Learning Lecture, Workshop
The Center for Teaching and Learning will present the third annual Excellence in Teaching Lecture and Workshop next month in the Faculty/Staff Dining Hall. The event will be Thursday, Feb. 2, for postdoctoral associates and graduate teaching assistants, and Friday, Feb. 3, for faculty and staff. Dr. Stephen Chew, chair and professor of psychology at Samford University, will be the featured speaker. RSVP by Jan. 30. Email [email protected] for more information.

2017 Faculty and Staff DART Passes Available
Discounted DART passes for employees are available for $300 until Feb. 10. To purchase an annual pass, download and complete a pass application and email it to [email protected]. For more information, visit the University's DART website or call ext. 7777.

• IRB Protocol Assistance Workshop, 10 a.m. to noon, Monday, Jan. 30 (ECSS 3.503)

• The Annual Performance Review, 2 to 3:30 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 26 (SPN 1.121)
• ADU 1: Admin U 1: Creating a Positive Culture of Success, 1:30 to 3:30 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 1. (FO 1.206C)
• Managers and Supervisors Certificate Series, 1:30 to 3:30 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 2 (SPN 1.121)
• ADU 2: Admin Essentials I: Getting Things Done – Part 1, 1:30 to 3:30 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 8 (FO 1.206C)