Longtime Teaching Center Lecturer Nancy Van Passes Away

Nancy Van

Nancy Van, a lecturer in the Teacher Development Center for 18 years, died on Oct. 6. She was 71.

Van taught classroom management, reading and communication in the classroom, and also supervised student teachers. Before joining UT Dallas, she taught for 22 years in the Dallas Independent School District and for eight years in the Garland Independent School District.

“Nancy was very loved by all of her students,” said Laurie Pollock, assistant director of the Teacher Development Center.

Van was known for using puppets, hats and other props in her lessons to demonstrate how to help children learn. Her daughter, Kim Van, called her mother a “sassy, hardworking, persevering, joyful and faith-filled woman.” She recalled how her mother would wear a ring with two eyeballs that she would show to students.

“She would say, ‘I’ve got my eyes on you,’ ” Kim Van said. “She was full of joy. That was her passion — she loved to teach.”

McDermott Library Needs Feedback in New Survey

McDermott Library

Through Friday, Nov. 17, the Eugene McDermott Library will conduct the LibQual Assessment Survey, developed by the Association of Research Libraries. The five-minute survey will help the library administration understand what it is doing well and what it can do to improve library operations. Staff is working to make the library a better place with numerous renovations, upgrades and additions to the library’s expansive collection.

Professional Development Fair Set for Nov. 17

The UT Dallas Trainer Alliance will present its fourth annual Professional Development Fair from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 17, in the Faculty/Staff Dining Room (SU 2.905) in the Student Union. Representatives of various campus departments will be on hand to connect employees with the training that is available from these groups. There will be games, prizes and giveaways.

Participants will include the offices of Institutional Compliance, Title IX, Information Technology, Information Security, Emergency Management, Budget and Finance, Procurement Management and Human Resources; as well as the Military and Veteran Center, Police Department, McDermott Library, Multicultural Center, Galerstein Gender Center, University Toastmasters of Dallas and eLearning.

The event is sponsored by Human Resources, the Office of Information Technology and eLearning. For more information, contact Terry Cartwright at [email protected] or 972-883-5328.

Workshop on Writing Teaching Philosophy Statements

The Center for Teaching and Learning invites faculty to a workshop on “Writing a Statement of Philosophy,” designed to assist faculty members in preparing high-quality teaching statements. All faculty members who will be undergoing performance reviews in the coming year or two are strongly encouraged to attend.

The workshop will be held from noon to 1 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 29, in the McDermott Library (MC 2.410). Dr. Paul Diehl, director of the CTL, and Dr. Karen Huxtable-Jester, associate director, will share requirements and recommendations for this key component of a faculty candidate’s file for mid-probationary, tenure and promotion reviews.

RSVP here. For more information or special accommodations, please contact [email protected].

On-Campus Mammograms Available on Nov. 28

Mobile Mamogram Unit

The UT Southwestern Mobile Mammography Unit will visit the loading zone of Residence Hall South (RHS) off Rutford Avenue on Tuesday, Nov. 28, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. To schedule an appointment, faculty, staff and spouses may call 214-645-2560 or 866-277-0710 with their health insurance information. Sponsored mammograms are available for patients without health care coverage. For more information, email Nora Pena at [email protected].

Dining Services Seeks Input

Faculty and staff members are invited to participate in UT Dallas Dining Services’ online survey. Visit the Chartwells survey website and select the location for which you would like to provide feedback. The survey ends Thursday, Nov. 30.

Lunch Discount at American Tap Room at Northside

American Tap Room

American Tap Room at Northside offers a 10 percent lunch discount to faculty and staff members who present their Comet Card when ordering. The new restaurant offers handcrafted food, and happy hour and brunch specials.

Comet Cupboard Food Drive

The Office of Human Resources is sponsoring a food drive to collect cereal, peanut butter and jelly for the Comet Cupboard this month. Please drop off items in the HR collection bins in AD 2.208 and SPN 1.127. All donations benefit UT Dallas students in need.

OSV Pet Food Drive

Join the Office of Student Volunteerism in collecting food and treats for cats and dogs at the Second Chance SPCA, which serves pets in transition. Dry and canned food and treats for dogs and cats will be accepted throughout November. Collection bins are in the OSV office (SSA 14.431T), the ECSS Student Services office (ECSS 2.502), the Student Union first-floor lobby and the Administration Building second-floor lobby near the elevators.

Healthy Eating for the Holidays

Employee Wellness is sponsoring a Lunch & Learn on “Healthy Eating for the Holidays” from noon to 1 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 4, in the Galaxy Rooms (SU 2.602). Dietitian Katie McKee, a program coordinator at Dairy MAX, will present on keeping the traditional holiday menu from wrecking your dietary plans.

To reserve a spot, email Taylor Tran by Nov. 27.

Reminders

Poinsettia Sale, Fundraiser to Benefit Staff Council Scholarships
Staff Council’s annual scholarship fundraiser has begun. A variety of poinsettias, cacti and teddy bears, ranging in price from $8 to $13, are available for purchase online. The deadline for ordering plants is Wednesday, Nov. 22, and the deadline for ordering teddy bears is Friday, Dec. 15. Orders will be delivered to your office. All proceeds benefit the staff scholarship fund.

Fall Commencement Volunteer Registration
Staff members interested in volunteering at the fall commencement ceremonies are invited to sign up online by Friday, Dec. 1. Shifts are available for commencement and Memories on the Mall. Volunteers will be contacted to confirm shift scheduling after signing up.

Annual Service Awards Set for Nov. 17
Faculty and staff are invited to attend the annual Employee Service Awards presentation from 2 to 3 p.m., Friday, Nov. 17, in the Edith O’Donnell Arts and Technology Lecture Hall. The University will honor staff and faculty members who have reached service milestones of five, 10, 20, 30 and 40 years during the 2017 fiscal year. In a separate event, employees who reach their 25-year service anniversary will be inducted into the Quarter Century Club. The Employee Service Awards website lists this year’s recipients. For questions about the website, email [email protected].

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 important information necessary for the workplace, as well as community news that supports the University's mission. Guidelines about content and submissions can be found here or contact Stephen Fontenot at [email protected] or ext. 4405.