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Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2024
News for the staff and faculty of The University of Texas at Dallas
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Rade Milovanović, who coached the UT Dallas chess team for 20 years, passed away on Feb. 3, at age 69.
Milovanović emigrated to the U.S. from the former Yugoslav republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1998. He held the rank of international master, the second-highest honor to grandmaster in chess. UT Dallas won the President’s Cup four times and the Pan-American Intercollegiate Team Championships 10 times during Milovanović’s tenure.
“Rade Milovanović was a highly respected member of the U.S. college chess community,” said Jim Stallings, director of the UT Dallas chess program. “For over two decades, his leadership and development of the chess team resulted in many championships that made the University a preeminent name in the sport.”
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HR Forum Scheduled for March 6
The Office of Human Resources will host its next HR Forum on March 6, from 10 to 11:30 a.m., as a Microsoft Teams live event. Closed captioning is available, and there will be a moderated Q&A forum. If you have questions or would like to be added to the meeting invitation distribution list for the HR Forum, please email hrforum@utdallas.edu.
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Compete in Raising Cans To Help Stock Comet Cupboard
Who will be the next Raising Cans champion to help ensure a #HungerFreeUTD?
Register your team of students, colleagues or friends (external groups are welcome) for Raising Cans, on March 21, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., in the VCB Atrium. Winning teams receive prizes and bragging rights for collecting the most items and for submission creativity.
Last year’s teams included colleagues from the Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science, the School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, and several campus departments. Don’t let your school or department miss out on the friendliest competitive tradition of the year that stocks the Comet Cupboard with food and personal care items.
The deadline to register is Feb. 29. For more information, email cupboard@utdallas.edu.
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February Benefits Flash
The Benefits Flash highlights benefits information to UT Dallas employees. It was started in response to employee feedback from the Climate and HR Forum Survey.
Learn about the latest topics on the Benefits Flash site:
- Best Retirement Strategy
- Weight Management & Nutrition Counseling at UTD
A new Benefits Flash topic will be featured each month during the HR Forum, in the HR Campus Connection Teams Channel and in Intercom. Recommend a topic by emailing benefits@utdallas.edu.
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Performance Appraisals Due May 31
The CY2023 Performance Appraisal process has begun, with appraisals due by May 31. All staff performance appraisals must be submitted using the Electronic Performance (ePerformance) Appraisals portal. Supervisors can choose to utilize the annual form in the portal or upload an HR-approved departmental form or memo. Instructions on how to access, complete, upload, submit and review forms can be found on the Human Resources website.
Please note the following:
- Annual appraisals should be completed for all classified and administrative and professional (A&P) staff employees who worked in CY2023 and are currently employed.
- Probationary appraisals due and submitted in the fourth quarter of CY2023 (October, November or December) will meet the requirements for the annual appraisal process. Supervisors do not need to complete both an annual and probationary appraisal in this case.
- Supervisors should submit the appropriate probationary appraisal form (i.e., at 30, 90 and 180 days following the date of hire) for all employees newly hired to UTD in CY2024. The option to upload a memo or different form is not available. One must use the probationary forms in the ePerformance portal.
Please contact appraisals@utdallas.edu with any questions regarding classified and administrative and professional (A&P) staff appraisals.
Appraisals for faculty will continue to be submitted via Box accounts. HR will set up the account and provide access to the appropriate person(s). For questions regarding faculty appraisals, please email Dr. Sean Cotter, associate provost.
Graduate students (RA/TA/GA) appraisals will continue to be managed through the Office of Graduate Education. For questions regarding graduate students, please email Krystel Kaloust.
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UTD Dining Offers Lunch Deal at Dining Hall West
Wear your orange and green UT Dallas spirit wear on Fridays and eat lunch at Dining Hall West for only $6 (plus tax). For more information, visit the UT Dallas Dining website.
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Wellness News and Events
UT Dallas Health Fair
Join the Student Wellness Center for wellness activities, vendors and giveaways — Feb. 28, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., in the Galaxy Rooms (SU 2.602). Clothes courtesy of the Life Transitions Closet will be available, and you can enter to win free Texas Rangers tickets at the event. For more information, download the Health Fair flyer (pdf).
Mobile Mammography
The UT Southwestern mobile mammography unit will visit the loading zone north of the Activity Center (AB), March 8, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Call 214-645-2560 or 866-277-0710 with your health insurance information to schedule an appointment. 3D scans will be available, and most insurance plans are accepted. CDC safety precautions will be followed. For more information, download the Mobile Mammography flyer (pdf).
BCBSTX Fitness Program: New Member Special
The Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas (BCBSTX) Fitness Program is offering a new member special. UT SELECT and UT CONNECT members can join the program in February and March without paying the usual $19 enrollment fee.
The fitness program offers flexibility, convenience and ease for a low monthly fee. Members have access to a nationwide network of more than 10,000 participating facilities so they can work out whether traveling, at home or at work.
Other features of the Fitness Program include:
- Online enrollment and tracking.
- Automatic monthly payment withdrawal.
- A choice of gym networks and studio classes to fit your budget and preferences.
- Access to thousands of digital fitness videos, live classes and fitness programs.
- Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) discounts through the WholeHealth Living Choices Program.
To enroll, eligible employees can log in to Blue Access for Members at bcbstx.com/ut or bcbstx.com/utconnect and search for the Fitness Program under Wellness. To avoid the enrollment fee, enter the code WOTENROLL4FREE. You also can enroll by calling 888-762-BLUE (2583), Monday through Friday, between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. The special ends on March 31. Download the BCBSTX Fitness Program flyer (pdf) for additional information.
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Center for Teaching and Learning Events
Book & Action Club: Relationship-Reach Education — Join the Faculty Book and Action Club focused on the book Relationship-Rich Education: How Human Connections Drive Success in College by Peter Felten and Leo M. Lambert.
- Session 1: Feb. 23, noon to 1:30 p.m., lunch provided
- Session 2: March 1, noon to 1:30 p.m., lunch provided
- Session 3: April 12, 9 to 10:30 a.m., bagels and coffee provided
Limited to 20 faculty participants. Register for the club.
Enhancing Discussions, Increasing Engagement: Creating Cultures of Discussion in the Classroom, Feb. 27, 11:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m., CTL Classroom (MC 2.404) — When discussions don’t go as planned, it’s easy to blame students for their lack of engagement. But we can control engagement through discussions that get students talking and ensure that everyone has a chance to participate. This session will introduce participants to a framework for understanding the question-asking process and to strategies for getting students involved in discussions. Facilitated by Dr. J.D. Thomas, assistant dean, Office of Undergraduate Education. Lunch will be served while supplies last. RSVP by Feb. 21.
Gentle Introduction to AI: Encore Edition Online, 9 to 10 a.m., Feb. 29, Microsoft Teams Meeting — Delve into the basics and explore the possibilities that artificial intelligence (AI) brings to education. This will be a hands-on introduction to ChatGPT and other generative AI tools so you can consider how — or if — to incorporate these innovations into your teaching toolkit. RSVP for a Calendar Invite.
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Lecture on Recovery from Adolescent Brain Injury
The Frontiers of BrainHealth lunchtime lecture series will offer a hybrid talk on Long-Term Recovery of Adolescents Following Brain Injury with Dr. Lori Cook, March 8, from noon to 1 p.m., at the Brain Performance Institute.
Cook is director of clinical research at the Center for BrainHealth. She focuses on the long-term recovery of youth after brain injury, including supporting athletes with persistent effects of concussion.
Register to attend virtually and receive access to the full virtual season. No registration is required to attend in person. Lunch is provided and begins at 11:30 a.m.
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RSVP for Dedication, Ribbon-Cutting for Sciences Building, Landscape Enhancement
The Office of Facilities & Economic Development and the School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics invite the UTD community to the dedication and ribbon-cutting for both the Sciences Building and the third phase of the Campus Landscape Enhancement Project.
Please join colleagues in giving these campus additions the dedication we couldn’t give them during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. The ceremony will be March 6, from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Sciences Building (SCI), near the main entrance facing the Pedestrian Promenade.
RSVP for the dedication by Feb. 28.
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Office of Research and Innovation Events
Richardson Rotary Club @ the IQ, 5 p.m., Feb. 21, Richardson Innovation Quarter Headquarters — During this session, Dr. Walter Voit BS’05, MS’06 will highlight his emergent artificial intelligence research. Attendees will have the opportunity to engage in a Q&A session and tour Voit’s Center for Applied AI with UT Dallas Expertise (CAIQUE). A light dinner will be served. Presentations begin at 5:30 p.m. Registration for Richardson Rotary Club @ the IQ is required. For more information, email Arietha Lafayette.
Research Days 2023: Research Security Series, noon to 1 p.m., Feb. 28, Microsoft Teams — The UTD Office of Research and Innovation will provide a primer on the use of controlled unclassified information (CUI) in federally funded research at UT Dallas. The presenters will introduce federal CUI policies and the CUI compliance process at UT Dallas. The presentation will guide attendees through a real-world example to illustrate how CUI can be used in research at UT Dallas. For more information, email Arietha Lafayette.
OHSP: ClinicalTrials.gov Protocol Registration & Results System, 10 to 11 a.m., Feb. 29, Microsoft Teams — The Office of Human Subjects Protections invites you to join a virtual meeting about the ClinicalTrials.gov protocol registration and results system. Learn how to register protocol, update modifications, and submit results for your clinical study. Presenters will be Krupa Ghaghda, regulatory specialist, and Justin Mpanga, research data specialist III. For more information, email Arietha Lafayette.
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Reminders
Register To Attend Black History Month Event
RSVP for The Big Dinner, the annual Black History Month celebration hosted by the Office of Campus Resources and Support. The celebration will take place Thursday, Feb. 22, from 5 to 7 p.m., in the Student Union Galaxy Rooms. Guest speaker Dr. Nikki Delk, Fellow, Cecil H. and Ida Green Professor in Systems Biology Science, will provide a keynote address centered on the importance of embracing African American culture and definitions of what it means to be Black today. A traditional soul food dinner will be served. For more information, please email Alexander Leyva.
FY24 Required Annual Compliance Education
UT Dallas is committed to continuing to be a place where all members of our campus community are welcomed, treated fairly, encouraged and supported in their pursuit of excellence. We encourage our campus community to exhibit the highest standards of honesty and integrity. To advance this goal, all employees must complete Annual Compliance Education to ensure awareness of all University policies and relevant state and federal laws. Please complete all FY24 Annual Compliance education modules assigned to you before March 6. For more information, see the Annual Compliance Education email.
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About this Newsletter
Intercom is the official University-wide newsletter for UT Dallas faculty and staff members. This periodic publication is designed to provide University employees with valuable information necessary for the workplace, as well as community news that supports the University’s mission. Visit the Intercom website for guidelines about content and submissions.
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