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A Publication of UHD Public Affairs Aug. 20, 2010 |
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 Coming up at UHD..... The
Student Life Center will be closed Friday, Aug. 20, for staff training.
The Planning Committee seeks
volunteers to welcome new and returning students back to campus Monday and Tuesday,
Aug. 23 and 24.
The Institute for Financial Literacy is seeking staff
volunteers for a one-hour focus group, "Tell Your Money Where to Go," at noon Aug. 26.
Renew your parking permits. See story below.
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Board confirms Dressman appointment
The UH System Board of Regents confirmed Michael R. Dressman as UHD's Interim Vice President of Academic Affairs and Provost at its quarterly meeting Tuesday.
Michael
Dressman came to the University of Houston-Downtown in 1982 as
chair of the Department of Arts and Humanities, a position he held until 1989
when he became the first dean of the College of Humanities and Social
Sciences. He
served for 14 years as dean and helped create the department of urban
education. Dressman also oversaw planning efforts to split the college and
create the new College of Public Service. Before coming to UHD, he worked at
the University of South Carolina, Spartanburg, where he served for two years as
the chair of the English department. He also served as an instructor at the
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, and as an English teacher in
Detroit. He has also worked at the Detroit Free Press and as a VISTA volunteer. Dressman
holds a bachelor's degree in Latin and a master's degree in English from the
University of Detroit. He earned a Ph.D. in English from the University of
North Carolina at Chapel Hill. His research and publications are in the area of
American Literature specializing in Walt Whitman and the history of the English
language. |
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'Oleanna' opens in the O'Kane Thursday
The University Theatre will present, 'Oleanna' in the O'Kane Theatre at 8 p.m., Aug. 26, 27 and 28 and at 3 p.m. Aug. 29. Admission is free and seats are available on a first-come, first-seated basis. The play, by David Mamet, revolves around a student and a professor caught in a compelling dram of power and betrayal.
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Wolfe appointment confirmed
The UH System Board of Regents Tuesday confirmed the appointment of Johanna
Wolfe as UHD's Vice President for Advancement and External Relations.
She comes here from the University of
Houston where she served as assistant Vice President for Advancement and
External Relations, and brings more than 20 years of experience in non-profit management and
development to the University.
She is the UHD's first vice president for
advancement and external relations. Wolfe's accomplishments at UH have
created many new opportunities for UH students. She secured a $20 million gift
to establish the Cynthia Wood Mitchell Center for the Arts, a premier venue and
educational center featuring visiting faculty, post-doctoral fellowships,
dedicated courses, scholarships, performances and community outreach. She
staffed the $2.8 million campaign for the Jack L. Valenti School of
Communication and the $20 million campaign for expanding and renovating the
M.D. Anderson Library and Honors College. |
Student Life Center will be closed Friday for staff training
The
Student Life Center will be closed Friday, Aug. 20, for staff training.
The center is following semester break hours through Monday, Aug. 23. The
center will be open 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 9 a.m. to 7
p.m. Fridays through Aug. 22. The center will be closed Saturdays and
Sundays.
For
information, call the center at 713-221-8225 or email
sportsandfitness@uhd.edu. |
Institute for Financial Literacy seeks volunteers for focus group
The Institute for
Financial Literacy is seeking staff volunteers for a one-hour focus group,
"Tell Your Money Where to Go," at noon Thursday, Aug. 26, in Room
602-North, to discuss topics for the institute's website and seminars. Bring your own lunch and
drinks will be provided. Questions and discussion topics are welcome. For
information, contact Jim Kane, institute director, at kanej@uhd.edu. |

Reception celebrates Mexican heritage
The Consulate General of
Mexico and UHD's Cultural Enrichment Center hosted an opening reception Wednesday in the Special Events Center in
commemoration of the Bicentennial of the Independence and Centennial of the
Revolution in Mexico. The
"Pabellon del Bicentenario y Centenario" exhibit will be on display
from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. through Friday, Aug. 27, in the Special Events Center. The event drew a large crowd to meet Mexican consular officials and to view the panels depicting great moments in Mexican history.
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System Board of Regents approves FY holiday schedule
The UH System Board of Regents approved
the University System's FY2011 holiday schedule, as outlined below, at
their meeting of Aug. 17, 2010.
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Monday,
Sept.6, 2010
Labor
Day
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Thursday,
Nov. 25 and Friday, Nov. 26, 2010
Thanksgiving
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Friday, Dec.
24, 2010 through Friday, Dec. 31, 2010
Winter
Holiday
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Monday,
Jan.17, 2011
Martin
Luther King Day
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Monday,
May 30, 2011
Memorial
Day
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Monday,
July 4, 2011
Independence
Day
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IT Training for Faculty/Staff/Alumni
Register for IT training
opportunities at the links below. To schedule
a one-on-one appointment or other
assistance, please call 713-221-8200.
Blackboard Vista
Monday, Aug. 23 10-11:30 a.m. -Blackboard
Vista: Getting Started Tuesday, Aug.24 1-2 p.m. -Blackboard
Vista: Group Manager Wednesday, Aug. 25 10-11a.m. -Blackboard
Vista: Gradebook Setup Tuesday, Aug. 31 1-2 p.m. -Turnitin
See all current
IT training available |
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Stories from previous Skylines
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Fall Hispanic Film Series begins Sept. 9
The
Fall 2010 Hispanic Film Series begins Thursday, Sept. 9, with a screening of "Cronicas:Ecuador"
at 6:30 p.m. in Room 405-A in the Academic Building.
The
2004 film is directed by Sebastian Cordero and follows a television journalist
as he investigates crimes against children in rural Ecuador. The series is
sponsored by the Department of Arts and Humanities in UHD's College of
Humanities and Social Sciences. For information contact Ana-Maria Medina,
visiting assistant professor, at medina@uhd.edu.
A flyer is available here.
Other
films are:
Rosario
Tijeras: Columdia - Sept. 23
Virgen
de los Sicarios: Columbia - Oct. 7
Bombon:
El Perro: Argentina - Oct. 14
Intacto:
Spain - Nov. 4
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Fall Convocation set for Sept. 1
President
Bill Flores invites faculty and staff to attend
the President's Fall Convocation at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 1, in the Academic Building, Cullen Robertson Auditorium.
Cake and coffee will be available following the
Convocation in the
Special Events Center.
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Make sure your new HealthSelect insurance card information is correct
On Aug. 20, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas
(BCBSTX) will begin mailing medical ID cards to people enrolled in HealthSelectSM
of Texas as of Sept.1. Your ID card includes the health insurance copays that
begin Sept. 1.
If you or your dependents are new to HealthSelect,
and you have not chosen a primary care physician (PCP), call BCBSTX Customer
Service toll-free at 800-252-8039. If you picked a PCP
during Annual Enrollment, BCBSTX has the PCP information that was entered in
your ERS OnLine account.
Employees or dependents are considered new to
HealthSelect if they:
- changed to HealthSelect during Annual
Enrollment,
- added dependents to your HealthSelect during
Annual Enrollment
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State offers tobacco cessation program for employees, retirees and dependents
Texas
Department of State Health Services Tobacco Prevention and Control Program is
pleased to announce state employees, retirees and their dependents are
now eligible for a new tobacco cessation program that offers free nicotine
replacement therapy and free telephonic counseling.
These services
are being made available through a partnership of the DSHS Tobacco Prevention
Program, the Statewide Wellness Coordinator and the Employee Retirement System
of Texas utilizing American Recovery and Reinvestment Act dollars.
Employees
can call the Quitline at 1-877-YES-QUIT for access to over-the-phone counseling
as well as up to eight weeks of nicotine replacement therapy (such as the
patch, gum or lozenges). The free nicotine replacement therapy will be
available through December 2011. The Quitline counseling services will continue
to be available past this date.
Currently
an estimated 45,000 state employees use tobacco products, and nearly seven of
every 10 of these employees want to quit. Quitline users will double their
chance of quitting by utilizing the free counseling and nicotine replacement
therapy. According to the American Cancer Society, within 12 hours of quitting
the carbon monoxide level in your blood drops to normal. Within nine months of
quitting, shortness of breath and coughing decrease, and the lungs have
repaired their ability to
function.
After just one year of not smoking, the risk of coronary heart disease
decreases by half, compared to a smoker's risk according to a study in 2006 by the
Center for Health Research at Keiser Permanente. Additionally, a smoker who
quits will personally save at least $2,100 per year.
This
program offers a unique opportunity for state employees, retirees and their
beneficiaries to take advantage of expanded tobacco cessation services. Make
the call today - 1-877-YES-QUIT. A flyer is available here.
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Fall Blood Drive set for Sept. 21 and 22
The Fall Blood Drive will be from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday, Sept. 21 and 22, in the third
floor Coffee House area (next to Smoothie King).
How
can you sign up to donate blood? · Visit www.eblooddrive.org
· Enter your Log-In ID or create an ID if you are a new user · Follow the instructions to schedule an appointment (Enter Sponsor Code 3731) What do you do if you don't
know what time you will have available until the day of the Blood Drive? · Go to the donation center at the Coffee House to sign-up.
Visit
the website www.giveblood.org for
information about donating blood. If you have any questions or problems
scheduling an appointment, contact Liza Alonzo at AlonzoL@uhd.edu.
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Vendors, exhibitors needed for Fall Family Festival Arts and Craft Show
The Fall Family Festival Arts and Craft Show sponsors are seeking exhibitors and vendors for the event which is scheduled for noon to 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 23, on the UHD Portico, (the covered area between the North and South Decks. Note the date is incorrect in yesterday's edition).
The rental fee is $20 and vendors/exhibitors also have the use of a 6-foot table and two chairs for the day. Deadline to register is Sept. 3.
Event sponsors are seeking vendors selling candles, jewelry, Tupperware, handmade crafts, home designs, and holiday items.
For registration information contact AlonzoL@uhd.edu.
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Peak flu season is around the corner, protect yourself and your family
Universal flu shots will be available at the UHD
Student Health Services, Room 320N, for $20 starting in September.
The vaccination will be given for the 2010-2011 Flu
Season and will be the H1N1 and the Seasonal Flu Vaccine in one shot. Separate
vaccine will not be needed nor given.
NO APPOINTMENTS WILL BE REQUIRED. Shots will be
given on a walk-in basis. Specific
times and dates will be provided at a later date.
Flu vaccines are currently NOT available at this time. We will update everyone when they
become available.
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Renew parking permits online by Sept. 7
Renewal
of Faculty/Staff parking permits for FY10-11 will begin Wednesday, August 4, 2010.
All current permit holders, full or
part-time, are eligible to renew their permit online. Those choosing to
use the on-line option will be asked to verify mailing address information via
PeopleSoft Advantage Self Service (PASS). Permits will be mailed, via US postal
services within 3-5-business days, to the address specified.
To avoid deactivation of proximity
cards, employees must purchase their permit by Tuesday, Sept. 7.
To
register for parking using the on-line option, go to www.uhd.edu
Select (Register & Pay here)
Select
Faculty/staff eServices
Go to
My Online Transactions
Select
My Payment
Select
Parking
The payment options offered are
payroll deduction (three monthly deductions), credit card (AMEX, Visa,
MasterCard, Discover), and eCheck. Customers are encouraged to purchase
permits online,
as only cash and check transactions can be accepted in the Parking and
Transportation Service office.
An added benefit of the monthly
payroll deduction plan is that when full-time faculty or staff members purchase
their permit in this manner, the deductions are made on a pre-tax basis. For
monthly employees, deductions will be taken equally for three months starting
on October 1st, which is actually the September paycheck.
Employees paid on a bi-weekly basis will see the deduction on the first
paycheck of each month. Permits ordered online between Aug. 4th and
Sept. 10th will have deductions of three installments beginning with
the first paycheck in October. After Sept. 10th, payroll deductions
will be taken out in two equal installments only.
The breakdown by permit type is shown
below.
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Permit
Type
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Oct
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Nov
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Dec
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Tier
I (formerly 'Gold') - $190
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$63.33
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$63.33
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$63.34
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Tier
II (Reserved - Commerce Bldg Only) - $135
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$45.00
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$45.00
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$45.00
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Regular
Faculty/Staff - $85
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$28.33
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$28.33
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$28.34
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Buddy
Parking - $85
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$28.33
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$28.33
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$28.34
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Disabled
Parking - $50
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$16.66
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$16.67
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$16.67
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Adjunct
professors and part-time employees will be able to request parking online and
pay in full with credit card or eCheck. Employee classification is
obtained through PeopleSoft HR, which is maintained by Employment Services and
Operations (ESO). If an employee has questions about their employee
classification, please contact your unit business administrator or ESO.
Disabled parking privileges are for
the benefit of the registered permit holder only. UHD requires that a UHD
disabled parking permit be displayed along with a valid state issued disabled
parking placard or state license plate whenever a vehicle is parked in a
disabled parking space in any faculty/staff or student lot.
Motorcycle permits must be purchased
in the Parking and Transportation Services Office. Motorcycle permits allow
parking only in designated motorcycle areas and the permit holder is subject to
the same parking regulations as motor vehicles.
As always, employees are asked to
report lost, stolen, or damaged hang-tags/permits or proximity cards
immediately to Parking and Transportation Services. The owner may obtain a
replacement permit or proximity card for a fee of $10.00.
The mission of Parking and
Transportation Services is to provide the highest possible level of service and
convenience to the campus community - students, faculty and staff. Please
feel free to contact Parking and Transportation Services with any questions or
comments by e-mailing us at parking@uhd.edu or by calling ext. 8127.
Click
here to register now! https://global.dt.uh.edu:8585/eservices/es/login.asp?MySelection=F
For
more information, contact Vanessa Turner, Manager, Parking and transportation
Services, at 713-221-8947 or turnerv@uhd.edu
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Eastbound San Jacinto Entrance on I-10 Closed through Oct. 20
The Eastbound Entrance Ramp from San Jacinto Street will be closed continuously for construction until 5 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 20.
The detour route is to turn right on Rothwell and follow the curve, turn left on
Nance, right on Jensen and left to Interstate-10 eastbound.
The San Jacinto exit ramp from I-10 westbound will be closed continuously for construction until 5 a.m. Oct. 20. The detour route is to take U.S. 59 south to the Jackson Street exit and go west on Commerce Street to San Jacinto. Note this is a change from earlier editions. Franklin Street is one-way eastbound in that area.
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The Skyline eNews is produced daily during the school year and twice weekly during the summer by the Office of Public Affairs, and
you will receive the Skyline eNews via email while you are a UHD
employee. We update our email list weekly. The eNews is a University faculty and staff newsletter and is designed to keep employees informed of university activities, policy changes, human resources issues, business office information and security information.
The deadline for submitting items is 9 a.m. the day before publication. Past issues are archived on UHD's website. The archive link is in the lower right column.
We are always interested in your activities. Let us know at least 24 hours in advance so we can include your event in the Skyline eNews. We also try to photograph University activities, but we need to know when and where your event is taking place. Email skylinenews@uhd.edu or call Public Affairs at 713-221-8010. |
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