Administrators share perspectives

Responsibilities of the President include recommending the annual budget, approving hiring of faculty and senior staff, recommending tuition and fee rates, maintaining buildings and infrastructure, serving as principal spokesperson for the university, and working with external constituents such as legislators. The President reports to the Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs of the U.T. System, and to the U.T. System Board of Regents.

UT Dallas is planning several major construction projects, and these will have a major impact on our campus. The projects include a new classroom facility, new student services building, new residential housing unit, new dining facility, and landscape enhancement project. In addition, renovation of Founders is expected to begin soon, and we are already planning the next major academic building. We will also begin a new DART shuttle bus program this academic year and complete planning on roadway and parking improvements. I am especially excited about the student-focused nature of these projects and the improvements that will result. I am especially anxious to see us improve the quality of classroom space. Our Business Affairs team is doing an excellent job of managing an exceptionally heavy work load, and is working diligently to implement these improvements as quickly as possible.

The Office of Communications provides strategic leadership to meet the challenge of shaping the character, direction and underlying principles of institutional communications at UT Dallas and takes primary responsibility for organizing university-wide resources in the areas of communication and marketing, brand identity and positioning, internal and external communications, message content, media visibility/media relations, and crisis communication.

The best advice I received as a student was to get out of my dorm room and go do something. I loved reading and writing and would have been completely content to spend every moment at my desk, but a very wise professor encouraged me to apply for a series of internships that radically changed the way I thought about my own skills and helped me to discover capabilities that might otherwise not have emerged in as timely a manner. As a result I got an early introduction to journalism that made me confident enough to turn down the first two jobs I was offered out of college and to hold out for one that offered both greater challenges and a better than average (for that time) level of salary. The experience also helped me relate more easily to the wide diversity of ages and kinds of people in the workplace when I finally arrived there as a fulltime reporter.

The Office of Public Affairs supports the University's vision to be one of the nation's best public research universities by building effective relationships with elected and appointed leaders, monitoring legislative and regulatory initiatives, and developing the University's presence among civic and community groups. In addition, the Office of Public Affairs works to promote the University's activities and interests with key officials and business organizations.

The Office of Public Affairs worked with members of the UT Dallas student government to pass SB 285 during the 80th Texas Legislature. Pending approval by the UT Board of Regents this fall, SB 285 will enable the creation of three new student fees, which were all approved by majority votes of the UT Dallas student body in 2006. In the coming year, students will see the benefits of these fees - including DART passes for all students, shuttles from the University to key surrounding locations, expansion of student services on campus, and construction plans for a new student services building.

Information Resources provides central IT support for UT Dallas. Email, web services, WebCT, the main HelpDesk(assist@utdallas.edu, x2911), networking, administrative computing, information security, and many other services are managed by IR.

We strive to achieve 24x7 service delivery and work hard toward this goal.

The most immediate impact from IR should be the re-invigorated eLearning Team operation supporting UTD's course management system, WebCT. WebCT's history over the past year or so has been on the hairy edge of marginal and we have allocated substantial resources toward improving this service. The collaboration between IR and departmental resources focused on course management and distance learning has really blossomed and we are anxious for this service to excel as a critical student engagement.

1. By continuing to improve and enhance the campus facilities. The construction of new student housing and dining facilities is scheduled to begin in early 2008. Construction on a computer center is underway in the basement of McDermott Library. Repair work is continuing on the sidewalks, roads and parking lots.

2. By improving processes to increase efficiency. The Bursar's Office has added a new phone system that allows them to handle incoming calls in a timelier manner especially during peak times. Students can now purchase their parking decals online and have them mailed to their residence.

3. By offering new services. This fall the new DART passes will be issued and in the spring shuttle bus services will commence to a DART station, the Dallas location of the Callier Center for Communication Disorders, the Center for BrainHealth on West Mockingbird Lane and other off-campus locations.

My advice to students is to dedicate themselves to their chosen course of studies, but to make the most of the opportunities that the University has to offer. Be proactive. Attend the Student Life functions. Increase your personal experiences by joining campus organizations and taking on leadership positions. Take advantage of the R.A.D. training offered by the campus police on self-defense. Make use of available university services to help you save time. Strive to become part of the campus community.

The Office of Undergraduate Education coordinates undergraduate education across the seven schools. The Council for Undergraduate Education (CUE), chaired by the Dean of Undergraduate Education, oversees freshman admissions, academic advising and degree requirements, and develops and implements educational policy. The staff of the Office of Undergraduate Education manages the freshman admission review process and Academic Excellence Scholarship programs. They coordinate academic advising, operate the Learning Resource Center, administer the teaching evaluation system, monitor academic compliance for NCAA athletes, manage pre-professional training programs in law and medicine, and supervise the Collegium V honors program, as well as all Intellectual Competition teams. In addition, all freshman and sophomore students without declared majors are advised through the Office of Undergraduate Education.

This is my advice to continuing students. Continue on. As an incoming freshman, you should consider school your job. It is full-time work so it is likely to take you 8-10 hours per day. YOU HAVE TO GO TO WORK EVERY DAY. Use recitation sessions, labs, the Learning Resource Center, RHET 1101, and other university support systems to help you adjust to university life. Remember, if you were good enough to get in, you are good enough to stay in. Your greatest lesson this first semester is to understand what it takes to be successful at UT Dallas. Now, as Larry the cable guy would say, 'Get-R-Done'.

The mission of UT Dallas is to produce engaged graduates, prepared for leadership and contribution to today's constantly changing world. The Office of Graduate Studies assists in this objective by helping to strengthen the quality and scope of existing graduate program offerings and also by acting as a catalyst in developing new degree offerings that prepare students for the challenges of an ever-increasing knowledge-based economy.

Attracting highly motivated graduate students is essential to this goal and when enrolled it is equally important that the students are mentored in both their academic and research participation. The office certifies students for graduation, approves transfer of credit and degree plans. It also monitors attrition rates of enrolled students via electronic data bases tracking of individual student progress. We also provide discussion forums for ABD (All But Dissertation) students that provide guidance, direction and encouragement on such topics as getting organized to write, on framing a viable research topic, on how best to make use of their time and library sources in developing their topic, on developing communication skills and on setting goals and milestones. Manuscript formatting completion consultation will also be provided by the office staff. Catalog listing of degree requirements and policies influencing degree completion are the responsibility of the office.

Developing, understanding and adhering to a degree plan are essential to success in graduate school. Entering students should work immediately with the academic advisor in their degree program to identify a viable degree plan as this will help in sequencing courses required for the degree completion. Be sure that you keep a hard copy of your degree plan and refer to it on a regular basis. Keep in close touch with your advisor in the event there are any changes. Get to know the Administrative Assistant in your department office as that will be the person who will be of most help to you with any problems you may encounter during your graduate career. Transfer in any credits as soon as you possibly can - don't wait until you're ready to graduate. If there is something your department cannot help you with please remember that we're here to assist you and welcome you to our office at any time.

The Dean of Students office serves as an advocate for students; provides a variety of programs and services to enhance the intellectual, social, physical, emotional, and spiritual development of students; provides experiential learning and leadership opportunities through out-of-classroom activities; helps to inform students of their rights and responsibilities; and oversees the university's discipline processes. We support the university's academic mission by helping to prepare students for leadership and civic responsibilities when the leave the university.

Get involved is the mantra of the entire student life staff. Research shows that students who find their niche in the university, whether as an athlete, a member of a student organization or the programming board, a club sport participant, a choir member, a peer adviser, a member of student government, or a participant in any of the other groups on campus, tend to persist through to graduation at a higher rate than those students who feel no particular connection or loyalty to the university. In addition to their time spent in the classroom, I would say to students to find their niche early, make friends, and partake in and enjoy all that the university has to offer!

With the input and collaboration of the management company, The Utley Foundation, student committees and other University departments, Housing Operations' focus is to create an atmosphere of community living that is affordable, safe and well-maintained. With this as our focal point, the quality of campus housing and supporting facilities will continue to improve over time and will remain at a high level of functionality. Our hope is that students will enjoy their experience living on-campus as we continue to work together to create an environment that is student-focused.

I encourage all students in on-campus housing to become involved in the community in which they reside. The more you know your neighbors, the more enjoyable your on-campus living experience will be at UTD. Be pro-active on campus and inform the staff at UTD about improvements we can accomplish to make your "home away from home" experience even better. As we look forward to several positive changes in University housing over the next several years, I am pleased with the direction of our on-campus student-led committees and how they continue to work in conjunction with our office to improve our community. I have a great deal of optimism for the future of on-campus housing at UTD, and I hope that each of you will enjoy your year on campus. Have a great semester.

The UTD Student Counseling Center supports the mission of the University in its commitment to development of well-rounded students. As a division of Student Affairs, the Counseling Center collaborates with the UTD community to aid students in their educational, social, and emotional development. Students are assisted in resolving and achieving personal and emotional well- being. Students' development is facilitated by a variety of services including personal counseling, psychiatric services, consultation, and outreach. The Student Counseling Center also serves the UTD community by providing crisis management and intervention. In addition, the Center is committed to the training and education of graduate students as future helping professionals.

Nationally, college administrators and staff are preparing for the documented increase of students with difficulties in adjustment to college life and other psychological problems. Locally, the Counseling Center is grappling with the increased demand for services.

The Galerstein Women's Center at UT Dallas works collaboratively to support and represent women on campus, in our community, in the public and in society, by increasing awareness of gender issues through transforming personal, economic, social, and cultural ideas into synergistic programs and events, and advocating for an inclusive, safe, and open environment that directly impacts, benefits and improves lives.

A warm welcome to both new and not-so-new students! The one thing that I have found so very helpful was to find a mentor.

It may be someone who is in a leadership role that you admire…it may be someone who can pass the torch to you someday and give you a lift to success. Your mentor may be a student who stops in to the Center to study or have a cup of tea. She may be a staff or faculty member who can give you a perspective you hadn't thought of. You will find leaders who pass through our doors, and find opportunities to shine as a leader yourself. The Women's Center is staffed by caring and committed women who are available to help you find support regarding the challenges that women face.

Have the best year ever…starting this year! http://www.utdallas.edu/womenscenter/

I feel that the best way to describe the Multicultural Center is through our mission. Our mission statement is:

The Multicultural Center is committed to providing a variety of quality cultural programs, educational resources, leadership opportunities and support services that enhance the ability of UTD students to achieve success in their personal and work lives to positively impact a rapidly changing and diverse world. So, what do we offer the student community as a whole? We offer a safe haven and relaxing place for all students to discuss, learn about and experience culture at its best. We invite and encourage ALL students to come and experience the MC!

The best advice that I would give a student for this coming year is the best advice that I received as a student! I was told by my counselor to "Sit in the front row of your life"! He told me that I had to actively participate in my life (make decisions for myself), participate in my education (go to class and be a participant), know a little about a lot of stuff, and if I didn't like where I was in life...to create the life and place that I wanted to be. Your college years can truly be the BEST years of your life when you "Sit in the front row of your life! Now, this is what my Momma told me…" "Everything that glitters, is not GOLD", "Everything that looks good to you is not good for YOU" and "Pay now, Play later"! Good luck on a successful year!

The intercollegiate athletics program professes as a mission statement to serve as an inspirational and promotional unit of the university to market the institution to a fan base composed of family, friends, faculty/staff, students and alumni of the university. We encourage and facilitate the opportunity of participation and competition for the student athlete as well as entertainment and traditional pride-building for the student body, faculty/staff and alumni. Much attention and effort are also focused on utilizing athletics as the medium to create community recognition and bonding. It is the responsibility of the athletic department to enhance and encourage the academic success of the student athletes.

As the university strides to develop greater recognition and develop a traditional campus atmosphere, athletics can be an agent that helps to accomplish this very important and progressive endeavor. I stress the word "help" because athletics is just one of the many arenas that can build harmony, brand recognition and a positive image of what The University of Texas at Dallas strives to exhibit. Due in part to both the athletic recognition and academic success of the student athletes, the athletics philosophy continues to support the vision and mission of the institution. With current NCAA legislation that will be considered in the next two years, UTD and Comet Athletics can posture ourselves in the forefront of NCAA reform while enhancing the ability of athletics to broaden the market of the university. In summary, the byproduct of these initiatives is to provide greater opportunities, challenges, institutional recognition and branding.

The Student Health Service at UT Dallas is a student service which has the goal of providing students with culturally sensitive health and wellness education and high quality health care for the diagnosis and treatment of acute illnesses and injuries and to assist them in maintaining the health and fitness necessary to accomplish their educational goals.

Good health is something that all of us seem to take for granted until we have problems. Be aware that your body will work for you in the efficient manner it is supposed to as long as you provide the maintenance necessary. This includes: getting sufficient rest and sleep - minimum of 7-8 hours daily, eat 2-3 well balanced nutritious meals daily, drink 6-8 glasses of water daily and exercise (such as walking) 30 minutes daily. If you don't provide the maintenance you will decrease your resistance and immune system and be more likely to develop an illness or disease that will not only make you feel badly but will also interfere with your educational desires.

As Dean of Libraries it is my function to ensure that our students and faculty have access to scholarship, literature, and information necessary to successfully meet the University's mission. The McDermott Library and the Callier Center Library both provide assistance to our patrons to allow them to make the most of these resources. Additionally, if we are unable to satisfy a patron's library needs directly, we have access to material from libraries all over the world. Because such a large percentage of the material accessible through the University's libraries is online, we seldom see many of our patrons, however, our online assistance programs are there for our online patrons. Our online resources have changed the library from being just a place; the library is now a function and is available 24-7 wherever in the world our patrons have internet access.

In 1959, when I started my college career a professor told me not to focus my interests too narrowly, but to take advantage of all the possibilities a university offers to indulge my intellectual curiosity. The university is a great feast of fascinating subjects and challenges, and by taking time to investigate a variety of subjects it is possible to find areas that will provide lifelong pleasure and satisfaction. A person's university years constitute the last great opportunity, at least before retirement, to take advantage of such freedom. Whether or not an area leads you directly to your life's profession, it would be a rare thing learned that you never find helpful to know. This approach also promotes the development of your sense of curiosity, and that I have found to be the path to great satisfaction throughout my life. Finally, it is with profound envy that I regard our new students who are just starting out on their path, for I recall all the wonder that a good university education offers.

The Career Center provides employment preparation assistance through career counseling, mock interviews and a variety of seminars. A resume editor is available to critique student resumes and professional documents. Our office coordinates career expos and on?campus interviews, part-time jobs, both on-campus and off-campus, full-time jobs, all of which are posted through UTD CareerWorks. The Career Center also manages the Internship / Cooperative Education program. We also maintain a comprehensive Career Center website. Check out everything that is available at www.utdallas.edu/career.

It can take any length of time to secure employment, but the average remains 3-6 months. You need to be prepared. Students are encouraged to contact the Career Center early in their academic careers in order to utilize the services available in the development of their long-range planning. The Career Center offers you many job-search preparation opportunities. Career counseling, career-related seminars, job search document preparation, and mock interview training are a few of the services offered to help you prepare for your job search or that on-campus interview. The staff assists students with career counseling through evaluation and testing in the areas of skills analysis, interest identification, and values clarification. Computer-assisted career information searches and a Career Resource Library are also available. Use one or use them all…just be sure to use them. There is a wonderful, professional Career Center staff just waiting to assist you! Check out our website or contact the Career Center today!

The UT Dallas Police Department is a fully functional, modern law enforcement agency committed to working with our community to address safety and any other issues perceived as concerns. The Department is open and operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. All of our Police Officers are empowered and equipped to respond and investigate all calls for service, criminal offenses and non-criminal incidents on campus; to include the nine apartment complexes of the Waterview Park Apartments. We also enjoy our interaction with the students through the officer liaison, Law Enforcement Explorer programs.

One of the most important and effective weapons people have against crime is education. Learning more about how to avoid specific crimes, how to deal with them immediately if they happen, and services offered should one become a victim. Being educated is an essential part of being aware of one's surroundings. The main crime on campuses is theft and theft often is a crime of opportunity; please secure your valuables whether you are at home, class, library or Student Union. The University of Texas at Dallas Police Department provides a range of services to the UTD community on a regular basis. We look forward to offering monthly crime awareness programs for the entire campus community; keep an eye out for our announcements. The police department offers the R.A.D. (Rape Aggression Defense) program and new this year, the Whistle Stop Program. If you would like more information on programs/services available, please view our website (including videos) www.utdallas.edu/police.

The Office of the Registrar strives for distinction in the areas of customer service, technology, retention, and security. Within this structure, the Office is charged with ensuring adherence to academic policy, preserving academic integrity, safeguarding the security of academic records, and providing accessible service to our constituents by effectively and graciously dispensing, sharing and applying knowledge.

Never think you are "all that" and remember you have a great deal more to learn. Education is a continual process of learning that doesn't just happen in the classroom. When you are in the classroom, take lots of notes - never underestimate the power of attending class and taking notes. Don't take everything so seriously. Have fun and but study hard. Finally, GET INVOLVED! Life lessons are not always learned by sitting on the sidelines.

The mission of the Office of Judicial Affairs is to promote academic integrity within the University community and to encourage students to demonstrate ethical leadership on campus and in the community at large. This mission compliments the University's Compact with The University of Texas System objectives through aiding in the education and development of leaders, increasing retention and graduation rats and enhancing the quality of UTD's graduate students.

Time is a significant factor in successfully meeting and exceeding the demands of higher education. Creating a master calendar identifying due dates for assignments, exams and research papers for all courses may prove beneficial in recognizing the necessity of scheduling dedicated preparation, research and writing periods. The process of learning requires and investment of time. Whether it's a modest homework assignment, group project, examination or major research paper, completing the task with a well-crafted scholarly product may consume more time than initially thought. Recognizing that numerous academic exercises have due dates in relatively close proximity may help prompt an early start on research or exam preparation (and, hopefully, minimize the number of all-night writing or study sessions.)