Skyline News - Hear Name Recommendations Wednesday

A Publication of UHD Public Affairs

April 12, 2010

Submit news items to skylinenews@uhd.edu.

Final self-defense seminar in series set for this evening.

Self-Defense seminar on 'Confidence Conquers - Mental and Physical Balance' set for this evening

UHD Sports & Fitness plans the last in its series of self-defense seminars from 6 to 7:15 p.m. this evening in the UHD Student Life Center.

Today's seminar is the third topic in a series that included "Avoid Being a Victim" and "How to Fight Back." The series costs $5 for each session or $10 for all three courses. While each topic builds on the others, each can also stand alone. Registration is required at the Student Life Center. Click herefor a flier.

For more information call or e-mail Rhonda Scherer, assistant director of Sports & Fitness, 713-221-8481.

Humanities and Social Sciences session focuses on communication, professional writing and Spanish

The College of Humanities and Social Sciences plans its final session this semester of 3rd Thursdays with CHSS from noon to 2:30 p.m. Thursday, April 15, in the 10th Floor East Lobby, One Main Building.

The session will focus on communication, professional writing and Spanish majors, providing an opportunity for students and faculty members in these disciplines to meet, ask questions and talk to advisers. Finger sandwiches will be served. Click herefor a flier on the 3rd Thursdays session.

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Spring Health Fair offers screenings, nutrition information and more

UHD plans its 2010 Spring Health Fair from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, April 14, in the Special Events Center, A-300, One Main Building, with several basic health screenings, nutrition counseling, fitness tests and information booths.

The health fair is open to UHD staff and faculty for the first hour, from 9 to 10 a.m., then opens to the general public until 1 p.m. Free giveaways and samples will be available. For a flier, click here. For additional information, call or e-mail Vanessa Camarena, coordinator of Campus Information Systems, at 713-221-2790.

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UHD's Culture on the Bayou features student organizations on South Deck

Celebrate UHD's diversity with a wide variety of student organizations in the spring semester Culture on the Bayou festival from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Thursday, April 15.

Dancing, music and food booths are part of the outdoor festival, which will move to the One Main Building north portico (adjacent to MetroRail) in the event of rain.

For information, call Maria Garrett, coordinator of student activities, at 713-221-5386 or e-mail her.

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Stories from previous Skylines

Stamats returns to campus Wednesday, April 14, with possible names for UHD and research results

Members of the University community will have a first look at research results and name recommendations for UHD during three sessions on Wednesday, April 14, in the Cullen Robertson Auditorium in the Academic Building.

The 90-minute sessions are scheduled for 8:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Refreshments will be served.

Stamats, a national higher education communications and branding consulting company, has been working with UHD to arrive at a short list of possible new names for the institution that are strategically purposeful in advancing UHD now and in the future.

The sessions will be videotaped and available on the Web for those who cannot attend in person. Faculty, staff and students are encouraged to attend.

Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost search extended

UHD has extended its search for a new Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost, and members of the University community are encouraged to nominate and urge new candidates to apply.
Search Committee Chair Don Bates said Wednesday that he remains optimistic about the process, adding that the search remains a high priority for the University.

"Our top candidates were very interested, but there were issues that kept us from coming to a final agreement," Bates said. "This is regrettable in any search, but not unusual with positions at this level, and we remain committed to finding the right person."

He added that the candidates were impressed with UHD, and obstacles so far have not reflected on the University or the community, but were related to candidates' personal and family issues.

UHD faculty and staff are encouraged to nominate candidates by contacting Bates or any member of the Search Committee. They may also make direct applications to search firm R. William Funk and Associates.

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UHD Deans launch Molly Woods Scholarship Fund to honor provost

On behalf of the college deans, Susan Ahern, Dean of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, announced at the Faculty Awards Ceremony the deans had each made a contribution and launched the Molly Woods Scholarship Fund.

The deans invited faculty and the university community to contribute to the fund in honor of Woods who is stepping down later this year as Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs.

The goal is to build the fund and create an endowed scholarship in Woods' honor. Scholarships from the fund will not be awarded next fall as previously reported. Scholarships will be awarded once the fund reaches its endowment level. Donations may be sent to the Advancement Office, with checks made out to UHD. The notation line should indicate the money is for the Molly Woods Scholarship Fund.

Donations can also be made online here. Use the dropdown menu for "Please designate my gift to:" and select the Molly Woods Endowed Scholarship Fund.

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Fine Arts Festival featured salsa dancing and student art exhibit

UHD's Fine Arts Festival April 5-10 included dancing, above, and a reception in the O'Kane Gallery for the opening of a student art display, below. In the top photo, Dean Susan Ahern and UHD President Bill Flores dance with students in an event that included both salsa dancing and tasting. The two helped judge salsa samples with Patrick Brunelli Guerra of the Houston Hobby Airport Marriott and UHD Spanish student Steven Berkeley.

In the photo below, Susan Baker, associate professor of arts and humanities, President Flores, student artist Aaron Yee and his mother and UHD employee Diane Yee, Help Desk manager with IT User Support Services, and Floyd Newsum, professor of art, visit at the opening reception.

Harris County Judge Emmett spoke at College of Business presentation

Harris County Judge Edward M. Emmett talked about challenges and opportunities in transportation management April 8 to a packed audience of students, faculty and staff as part of the College of Business Executive Speaker Series. Emmett talked about "The Future Gateway of North America" and our region's growing impact on the nation's future and economy.

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UHD hosted Model United Nations meeting on campus

UHD hosted the second annual Houston International Model United Nations (HOUMUN) meeting, with opening ceremonies held April 8. Participants included, from left, Eduardo Landaeta, executive director of HOUMUN and UHD alum; Susan Ahern, dean of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences; Emily Ponte, executive director of the United Nations Association; and Omar Vargas, UHD student and secretary general of HOUMUN. For more information on the organization, visit its Web site here.

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The Deloitte Foundation Larry G. Jones Scholarship Endowment Fund launched with $150,000 presentation

Deloitte partners and dignitaries presented a check for $150,000 to UHD College of Business faculty, students and Dean Don Bates to endow a scholarship to honor and in memory of Larry G. Jones, who was a longtime supporter of UHD. Jones supported a number of Houston organizations benefiting young people. He chaired UHD's Red Rose Ball two years and was an active supporter of College of Business activities.

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Academic Advising Open House highlights Advising Center services

UHD will offer an Academic Advising Open House from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, April 14, in the Advising Center Offices on the third floor South, One Main Building, in rooms 360-S and 370-S.

The event targets students and faculty but is open to anyone who is interested in understanding the full range of services that Academic Advising offers. The open house will include games, prizes, giveaways, popcorn and beverages for visitors.

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Inter-Religious Dialogue student discussion set for April 13

UHD's Inter-Religious Dialogue for Peace (IRDP) group will host "God and the Commons: A Student Discussion of Religion and the Public Sphere" from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 13, in the UHD Library, N-420.

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.

Snacks and beverages will be provided for participants. For more information or to register, e-mail Paul Fortunato, assistant professor of English.

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Faculty members receive teaching, service and creativity awards

Faculty award recipients, from left, Service Award honoree Marvin Williams, Teaching Award honoree Lisa Morano and Scholarship/Creative Activity Award honoree David Ryden.

The University of Houston-Downtown honored its 2009-2010 top faculty members in its annual awards ceremony April 6, recognizing outstanding contributions in the areas of teaching, service and scholarship/creativity.

The three recipients are Lisa Morano, associate professor of biology and microbiology in the Department of Natural Sciences; Marvin Williams, professor of finance, accounting and computer information systems (FACIS) in the College of Business; and David Ryden, associate professor of history in the Department of Social Sciences.

Recipients of the 2009-2010 Faculty Development Leave Awards are: Peter J. Li, associate professor in the Department of Social Sciences; Debra Mullinnix, associate professor in the Department of Urban Education; Floyd Newsum, professor of art in the Department of Arts and Humanities; and M. Nell Sullivan, associate professor in the Department of English.

Click on the news release for the complete story.

General Education Committee seeks seniors to take assessment exams

Members of the General Education Advisory Committee seek UHD students who will graduate by December 2010 to volunteer to take online basic skills assessment tests, and the committee is offering gift card incentives to participating students.

The top 5 percent of test completers will receive $100 gift cards, and one out of every five students testing also will win gift cards. Two tests, the Computer Skills Placement Test and the MAPP exam (Measure of Academic Proficiency and Progress), take less than an hour, and their results will help the advisory committee strengthen instruction in these areas. The committee seeks 300 students to take each exam, and students may choose to take either one or both.

Scores on these exams will not affect a student's grade in any class, GPA or graduation status.

The Computer Skills Placement test measures students' technology skills, while the MAPP exam measures several basic skills. Faculty members with seniors in their classes are requested to encourage those students to participate. Testing opportunities will close by May 5.

Interested students can get more information or sign up here. Please call 713-226-5594 with questions or comments.

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International Business Association plans field trip to Port of Houston

UHD's International Business Association (IBA) plans a field trip to the Port of Houston and the Houston Ship Channel from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday, April 16, and registration deadlines vary according to participants' membership in the organization.

Anisul Islam, professor of finance, accounting and computer information systems, is faculty adviser for the IBA and conducts the event, which is free to IBA members but open to non-members for $10, which includes registration and lunch. IBA members must register by 5 p.m. Friday, April 9, and non-members and guests have until 5 p.m. Monday, April 12, to register. Capacity is limited and early registration is recommended.

The daylong event includes a presentation by Port of Houston management, lunch and a boat tour of the Houston Ship Channel. Detailed registration information is available here.

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Academic Assessment offers Constructing Rubrics on April 15

The Office of Academic Assessment will host the second of three Constructing Rubrics sessions from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. Thursday, April 15, in room N-1099.

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

Constructing Rubrics
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.