Skyline News - Gender Studies Conference

A Publication of UHD Public Affairs

April 1, 2010

Submit news items to skylinenews@uhd.edu.

Walk through Downtown Historical District leaving at 1 p.m. from South Deck.

Gender Studies Conference, 10 a.m. to 8:15 p.m. in A-300 Academic Building.

Discount tickets to Houston Dynamo game at Robertson Stadium.

T.E.A.C.H. luncheon to improve faculty pedagogy from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in room N-612.

Inter-Religious Dialogue for Peace (IRDP) Religion and Gender conference from 6 to 7 p.m. in Room A-300.

Schools to Schools video documenting work to rebuild schools and promote education for children in northern Uganda will be shown at 2 p.m. in the Robertson Auditorium and at 7 p.m. in Room A-405.

UHD history professor plans walk downtown in historical district today

UHD's Garna Christian, professor of history, will lead a walk through Houston's downtown historical district from 1 to 2:30 p.m. today with participants meeting on the South Deck.

A $2 contribution is asked as a donation to the Houston Food Bank to participate in the guided walk through some of Houston's most intriguing downtown areas.

Back to Top

45 UHD students from 14 majors present independent research at UHD Gender Studies Conference today

The Spring 2010 UHD Gender Studies Conference will take place from 10 a.m. to 8:15 p.m. today, in A-300 of the Academic Building.

This year's conference includes presentations from 45 students who represent 14 different majors across study disciplines. Attendance is free and faculty and students are encouraged to attend one or many of the hourly panels. The Department of English and the UHD Cultural Enrichment Center of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences sponsor the gender across the disciplines event.

Members of the Student Steering Committee for this year's conference are:
Rebecka Black, Lisa Day, Cynthia French, Chad Gonzales, Marco Graniel, Gustavo Jacobo, Leslie Linares, Jaime Puente, Enrique Tamez and James Turkal. A complete schedule of presentation times and topics is available here.

USA Today to visit UHD April 5 for overview on its Collegiate Readership Program

USA Today will be on campus Monday, April 5, to present an overview of its Collegiate Readership Program. Faculty members, administrators, staff and students can attend and learn more about the program and how it interfaces with classrooms, civic engagement projects and student success.

The event begins at 8:30 a.m. in the Cullen Robertson Auditorium in the Academic Building. Refreshments will be served. Those attending are asked to call Public Affairs at 713-221-8010 or to email Becky Van Meter at vanmeterr@uhd.edu to aid in planning and materials preparations.

USA Today designed the collegiate program to promoted civic engagement, global awareness and media literacy on campuses across the country by exposing students to the news in their living, learning and community spaces.

More than 500 universities across the country take part in the effort that started at Penn State about 13 years ago. By putting USA Today and sometimes one or two local newspapers on campus each day, the program has developed more engaged and informed collegiate communities that reflect student success. USA Today has worked with universities to track progress through assessment efforts.

Faculty at participating institutions can incorporate the program into a wide variety of classes, and also have access to Web resources and case studies from arts and humanities, business, health and science, and political science. Other resources are also available.

College writers and journalists at participating schools can submit work to USA Today's National Gallery of Writing. Each month USA Today professionals work with the writers of top entries chosen for publication providing critiques and professional guidance.

More information about the program will be presented at the meeting.

Road and building closures on tap this weekend to add new cooling tower to One Main Building North

UHD campus street closures and building access restrictions are scheduled over the weekend as Facilities Management adds a new cooling tower to One Main Building's north tower starting at 9 a.m. Saturday, April 3, and ending at noon Sunday, April 4.

A crane will be delivered and erected at Girard and 2nd streets early April 3 to carry out the project. Weekend visitors to the campus will need to know the following road closures and restrictions:

Starting at 9 a.m. Saturday, through traffic will be closed at Girard and 3rd Street going East. However, access to the Visitors' Lot, Faculty/Staff Garage and metered lot will remain open.

As the crane lifts the multi-ton cooling tower, safety concerns will cause further traffic and building access restrictions starting at 6 p.m. Saturday, when access to the following areas will not be allowed:

          One Main Building, with the exception of the O'Kane Theatre
          Student Life Building
          Academic Building
          Girard Street
          North Deck
          Visitor Parking Lot
          Faculty/Staff Garage

If you have any questions regarding this project please contact T.C. Wilson at 713-221-8055.

UHD eligible for ticket discounts at today's Houston Dynamo game

Members of the UHD community may purchase specially priced $10 tickets to the Houston Dynamo vs. Real Salt Lake at 8 p.m. today in Robertson Stadium on the University of Houston main campus.

Tickets are limited to four per person and are available at the UHD Student Life Center with the presentation of a UHD ID. Click on the Dynamo orange photo above to see the flier.

UHD hosts Forum on Plain English April 2

UHD's second annual Forum on Plain English will be from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday, April 2, in A-300, Academic Building.

The one-day forum aims to promote informed uses of Plain English guidelines, which are writing standards recommended by several government agencies for improved communications with the general public. Seating is limited, and early registration took place last month.

Sponsored by UHD and a grant from Humanities Texas, the state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities, the event includes speakers, small group workshops, a free lunch and question/answer sessions. Keynote speakers are Annetta Cheek, chair of the board of the private sector Center for Plain Language, and Tom Murawski, founder of the Murawski Group, which promotes writing improvement around the country.

For a more detailed flier on the forum as well as an agenda, click here. The forum is co-directed by Assistant Professor Natalia Matveeva and Associate Professor Michelle Moosally with the Department of English. Questions about the Forum can be addressed to matveevan@uhd.edu.

Natural Sciences' luncheon today is part of faculty engagement series

The Department of Natural Sciences' third and final luncheon this semester to improve faculty pedagogy within the department and throughout UHD will be from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. today in room N-612.

The T.E.A.C.H. (Trading Education And Classroom Hints) lunches this semester are designed to promote faculty engagement and cooperation in improving pedagogy and teaching effectiveness for the benefit of UHD students. The Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) committee sponsors the luncheon series.

The topic of discussion for the final T.E.A.C.H. luncheon will be "Using the Socratic Method as a Pedagogical Tool in a Diverse Classroom" moderated by Jerry Johnson, assistant professor of biology and biochemistry.

At these lunches, interested faculty discuss issues such as encouraging student participation in class, problem-based and inquiry-based learning strategies, effective exam design, use of technology in the classroom, SACS assessment and the challenges and rewards of teaching to a diverse student population.

For questions contact Johnson at johnsonj@uhd.edu or Lisa Morano, associate professor, at moranol@uhd.edu. Lunch will be provided to attendees who made reservations by the March 30 deadline.

Back to Top

Inter-Religious Dialogue group schedules events at UHD in April

UHD's Inter-Religious Dialogue for Peace (IRDP) has two upcoming events in April, starting with a Religion and Gender conference from 6 to 7 p.m. today in Room A-300.

Today's panel will include a selection of student papers that deal with the convergence of gender issues and religious belief and practice. The event is part of the UHD Gender Conference.

A second event entitled "God and the Commons: A Student Discussion of Religion and the Public Sphere" is scheduled for 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 13, in the UHD Library, N-420. Snacks and beverages will be provided for participants.

Students of various religious and belief groups will talk about how religion fits and does not fit in public spaces like universities, government, courts and the media. The guiding document for the discussion, "God and the Commons," was produced by the Kettering Foundation and is available here. The event is sponsored by the Center for Public Deliberation.

For more information or to register, contact Paul Fortunato, assistant professor of English, at fortunatop@uhd.edu.

Back to Top

Invisible Children Legacy Tour visits UHD today for 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. sessions

The international Invisible Children Legacy Tour will show a screening of its Schools to Schools video documenting work to rebuild schools and promote education for children in northern Uganda during two separate times, at 2 p.m. in the Wilhelmina Cullen Robertson Auditorium, and again at 7 p.m. in Room A-405 today.

Both screenings are free and open to the public. UHD adjunct instructor Jay Stailey, a retired school principal who teaches two Culture of Urban Schools classes within the Department of Urban Education, said the screenings by the Invisible Children staff will include question and answer sessions as well as a special guest - "Lillian," a young Ugandan woman and survivor of one of the longest running wars in Africa. She will share her story and her hopes, dreams and goals, Stailey said.

The 50 students in Stailey's two classes will attend as part of their class, but Stailey hopes the nationwide tour will attract a larger audience interested in learning more about the efforts to repair and reconstruct schools in a region still plagued by war and unrest. The Invisible Children project began five years ago when three young Californians visited Uganda and videotaped the destruction and the plight of thousands of refugee children living in fear and danger, Stailey said. That initial effort led to a campaign by schools in the United States to help rebuild the Ugandan schools and to the founding of an international nonprofit organization.

"The reason I have my students in urban education attend is they all want to be teachers, and I want them to know they can do something that's bigger than themselves," Stailey said. "It's possible for one, two or three students to make a huge impact in the world."

For more information on the Invisible Children Legacy Tour, visit the Web site here or e-mail Stailey at StaileyJ@uhd.edu.

Back to Top

Stories from previous Skylines

Shakespeare's 'As You Like It' opens April 2 in UHD's O'Kane Theatre

Director Kate Pogue rehearses with David Rainey, who plays Jacques

William Shakespeare's romantic comedy "As You Like It" opens with an 8 p.m. Friday, April 2, performance in UHD's O'Kane Theatre.

University Theatre's performances continue throughout the weekend, including an 8 p.m. Saturday, April 3, performance, and one at 3 p.m. Easter Sunday, April 4. UHD staff will be on hand to direct traffic and help with parking for the Saturday performance. Next week's performances are:

8 p.m. Tuesday, April 6; Thursday, April 8; Friday, April 9; and Saturday, April 10
1:30 p.m., Wednesday, April 7; and Friday, April 9.

Tickets are available at the university cashier's window on the third floor during regular hours of operation and at the O'Kane Theatre door one-half hour before performance, if any tickets remain. Cost is $3.

Come see the work of the 26-member cast and 10-member crew. Also see UHD's artist-in-residence and drama instructor David Rainey, a member of the Alley Theatre Company, in his O'Kane Theatre debut as the melancholy Jacques.

Back to Top

Fourth Annual Texas Hold'em No Limit fundraiser on campus April 3

The UHD Campus Activity Board (CAB) will host the fourth annual Texas Hold'em No Limit fundraiser from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, April 3, in A300, One Main Building.

The tournament to raise funds for the House of Tiny Treasures and the UHD CAB organization is open to all. Check-in starts at 10 a.m. and runs until the noon start. For more information and a flier on the event, click here for the UHD CAB Web site, or here for an additional flier. Participants can RSVP their spot via e-mail.

Back to Top

Faculty Awards Ceremony on April 6

This year's UHD Faculty Awards Ceremony is scheduled for 2:30 to 4 p.m. Tuesday, April 6, in the Wilhelmina Cullen Robertson Auditorium.

Faculty Development Leave Awards will be presented along with the Faculty Awards and Recognition of Years of Service.

Faculty Award finalists are: Teaching Award - Maria Bhattacharjee, Lisa Morano and Timothy Reid; Scholarship/Creative Activity Award - Yvonne Kendall, Floyd Newsum and David Ryden; and Service Award - Susan Henney, Larry Spears and Marvin Williams.

A social hour will follow the awards presentations in the Special Events Room.

Back to Top

Writing Center and Career Services team up for resume workshops

The Writing & Reading Center (WRoCK) will team up with Career Services for two resume workshops, with the first session set for 10 to 11 a.m., Monday, April 5, and the second from 4 to 5 p.m. Wednesday, April 7, in N-925.

No registration is required for the free open sessions, which are designed to teach participants how to create new resumes or to refine existing resumes.

Back to Top

Personal trainers and fitness tests available through Sports & Fitness

UHD Sports & Fitness offers reasonably priced personal trainers to help students, faculty, staff and alumni get in shape for the summer, and the training programs begin with free fitness assessments.

The assessments include information with general guidelines and also various evaluations, including body fat measurements, flexibility, cardiovascular and muscular strength. Following the assessments, members can buy as many sessions as they want with one of several qualified trainers on staff for $10 per hour for UHD students and $15 per hour for UHD faculty, staff and alumni.

Personal trainer profiles and schedules are available here. Sports & Fitness currently has personal trainer time slots available every hour the Student Life Center is open, except Saturdays.

The Student Life Center is open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mondays throughThursdays; from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Fridays; and from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays. To make an appointment, please complete the PAR-Q/Health History found on the Sports & Fitness Web site and stop by the third floor of the Student Life Center. Click here for a flier.

Back to Top

Great Colleges to Work for Program 2010 employee surveys distributed

The University of Houston-Downtown is participating in the Chronicle of Higher Education's Great Colleges to Work For Program, a study designed to recognize institutions that have built great workplaces. Part of the program involves an employee survey distributed to a random sample of the institution's full-time faculty, administrators and exempt professional staff.

Survey invitations have already been distributed via e-mail to several UHD employees. If you received the invitation to take part in the survey, please take a moment to complete the survey. Your honest feedback is critical to the assessment process.

This is an anonymous survey and your responses are confidential. ModernThink LLC, a research and consulting firm focusing on workplace excellence, will be processing survey results.

We encourage everyone's participation! A high response rate helps ensure accurate results and demonstrates the commitment of UHD employees.

Back to Top

The first Careers and Coffee Mixer focused on business, analytical-oriented careers in accounting, finance, CIS, math, supply chain management and risk management. The event drew 168 pre-registered students and 19 companies March 30.
Careers and Coffee Mixers focus on various career fields in April

Career Services' Careers and Coffee Mixers continue during April, with the next session on science and technology careers planned for 3 to 5 p.m. Tuesday, April 6, in the Special Events Center.

This series of networking and recruiting events is targeted to specific majors and career fields, and faculty members are encouraged to urge interested students to attend. Professional organization members and employers who are pre-registered with Career Services will be on hand.

All Careers and Coffee Mixers are from 3 to 5 p.m. and include the following career fields:

Tuesday, April 6 - science and technology careers (Engineering, Technical, IT, Math and Science)
Wednesday, April 7 - business relationship-centered careers (Marketing, Management, HR, Communications and Public Relations)
Thursday, April 8 - public service careers (Teaching, Law Enforcement, Social & Support Services)

For more information, click on the attached invitation. To register, click on the attached registration form.

Back to Top

UHD team will walk in April 25 March of Dimes 5-mile "March for Babies"

UHD has formed a team to raise funds and walk in the 9 a.m. Sunday, April 25, March of Dimes "March for Babies," which starts at the University of Houston's Robertson Stadium.

The UHD community is invited to join the walk team or donate to the walk team's efforts online here. So far, about 30 UHD employees have signed up to walk the 5-mile distance. Funds raised in the March for Babies are used for research and programs that help mothers complete full-term pregnancies and help newborns start healthy lives.

Registration for the event begins at 8 a.m. and the walk starts at 9 a.m. To read more about the annual walk, visit the March for Babies Web site.

Back to Top

UHD Sustainability's first Go Green! luncheon attracts crowd of 85 plus

About 85 members of the UHD community attended

UHD Sustainability's first "Go Green!" luncheon March 29 that featured local television personality Yolanda Green, right, community relations director and host of "Going Green with Yolanda Green" for Houston's CW39.

Local green and sustainable vendors donated door prizes for the first-of-its-kind luncheon.

Back to Top

Destination Downtown attracts about 850 prospective students and families

An estimated 850 potential UHD students and their families attended Saturday's Destination Downtown Open House, a biannual event that culminates in an outdoor party and lunch along the banks of Buffalo Bayou at Allen's Landing with food, vendor booths and UHD information tables, like the alumni table above.

UHD student ambassadors and volunteer staff directed crowds among the buildings, starting with registration at the Shea Street Building, followed by breakfast and opening remarks from President Bill Flores at One Main Building. Students and their parents then walked to the Commerce Building where representatives of UHD's colleges and programs offered information sessions to prospective students.

Saturday's sunny weather provided a perfect venue for the noon to 2 p.m. Marketplace event at Allen's Landing across from the Commerce Building.

Back to Top

Bachelor of Social Work program is now accepting applications for Fall

The Social Work program at UHD is now accepting applications for Fall 2010, and students with 27 hours of their core courses completed can apply to the program.

Students in the Bachelor of Social Work program at UHD are acquiring the knowledge, skills and strategies to make a difference in the world. They are making connections with leaders in the community and will be well prepared for a career that is in demand.

Go to the department's Web pages for complete instructions. Space is limited so students are encouraged to apply now.

Back to Top

Career Services internships and employment opportunities

Career Services has several internships and employment opportunities available. Here is just a partial list to share with students:

American Cancer Society - Communications Intern
Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston Catholic Schools - multiple
     Principal and Teaching positions
Cypressbrook Company - Controller/Project Accountant
Ensysce Biosciences Inc. - Research Scientist
Farmers Insurance Agency - Admin Assistant
Galveston County Health District - Medical Aides, Admins, Nurses,
     Account Specialists
Global Force - part-time Receptionist
Law Office of Michael D. Stein - Law Office Assistant
M.D. Anderson Cancer Center - Publications Internship
Office Alternatives - Expanded Bill Pay Agent
Peace Corps - Associate Peace Corps Director
R&M Energy Systems - International Finance Analyst, Accounts
     Receivable Specialist, Financial Analyst
SSAB - Swedish Steel AB - Inside Sales and Admin Asst. Internship
Strategic Financial Group, LLP - part-time Assistant
Sysco Corp. - Internship
U.S. Department of Labor - various positions/various languages
Weatherford - Electro Mechanical Technician

For more information or to apply for these internships and employment opportunities, students should visit the jobs4gators Web site. Career Services has more than 150 positions in its database.

Academic Assessment schedule for Spring Semester

The Office of Academic Assessment plans a series of workshops and seminars throughout the remainder of the Spring 2010 semester.

Sessions are open to faculty, department assessment coordinators, deans and department chairs. Register for assessment training at the links below. For questions or to schedule individual sessions, please call 713-226-5594. Upcoming sessions include:

Critical Thinking Workshop, presented by Ron Beebe, Viola Garcia and Sue Mahoney.
3:45 to 4:45 p.m., today, A-711. Register here.
Constructing Rubrics
3:30 to 4:30 p.m., Thursday, April 8, A-711.
3:30 to 4:30 p.m., Thursday, April 15, N-1099
3:30 to 4:30 p.m., Wednesday, April 21, N-1099 Register here.
AIM Reviewer Training
3 to 4 p.m., Thursday, April 22, all sessions in A-717
9:30 to 10:30 a.m., Friday, April 23
3 to 4 p.m., Wednesday, April 28. Register here.
Closing the Loop
3 to 4 p.m., Thursday, April 29, A-711
3 to 4 p.m., Tuesday, May 4, N-1099
9 to 10 a.m., Tuesday, May 18, N-1099. Register here.