UT Dallas

April 6, 2020

Vice President for Student Affairs

  • Colleagues, this is a difficult time for all, including for our students. UTD has responded by creating an emergency assistance fund to help students contending with financial challenges such as the elimination of jobs, housing or food insecurity, medical care, or other unplanned expenses. The Student Emergency Fund donation site allows individuals to contribute to that fund. I encourage you to assist in any way you can.
 

Athletics

  • Head strength and conditioning coach Jami Clinton is developing at-home workouts for the more than 300 student-athletes.
 

Dean of Students

Community Standards and Conduct

  • Conduct and BAIT meetings and discipline hearings are being held through Teams.
 

Health & Wellness Initiatives

Counseling Center

  • The center is providing therapy using tele-mental health, via Teams. This includes individual check-ins/counseling, WPATH support services and psychiatric services. There also are weekly online webinars on YouTube. 
  • The Center for Students in Recovery is offering individual recovery planning and support meetings via Teams.
  • The 24/7 crisis line is still open for all students to utilize for support at 972-UTD-TALK.
  • For general information or scheduling, students may contact [email protected]. For CSR services, contact [email protected].
 

Student AccessAbility

  • The OSA is providing virtual appointments, 1:1 virtual training and assisting faculty and students with trainings about how to use accessibility tools for online courses, presentations and live lectures.
  • The center has teamed with SOARS to provide extra support for students with disabilities who are at risk academically.
  • If students are unsure about non-academic withdrawal, Keri Tate is available to assist them in processing this request.
 

University Recreation

  • URec has set up online fitness and esports classes.
  • Vfit classes are M/W/F, 8-9 a.m. and T/Th, 12:15-1 p.m.
 

Wellness Center

  • Staff are meeting with students virtually for BASICS, nutrition consultations, stress management and BAIT. PHEDs are creating virtual content for April events. Exploring opportunities to conduct health events via Teams. 
  • Upcoming social media events: Alcohol, drug, tobacco and cannabis education throughout April; Wellness Wednesdays, April 8, 15, 22, 29; Cotton Candy, Cream Soda and Climax, April 8; It's On Us, April 9; Take Back the Night, April 10-12; Party Foul Carnival, April 14; sexual health discussion, April 21 (Instagram Live); stress management and self-care posts ongoing throughout April; public health and COVID-19 posts ongoing throughout April.
  • The Campus Wellness Committee will host Watercooler Wednesdays via Teams every Wednesday in April beginning April 8. This provides faculty and staff an opportunity to engage in a 15-minute wellness activity with colleagues. Hosted 10-10:15 a.m. and 3-3:15 p.m. More information is online. Contact [email protected] with questions.
 

Student Engagement Initiatives

Fraternity and Sorority Life

  • FSL is maintaining monthly one-on-one virtual meetings with its 26 fraternity/sorority chapter presidents. For the March meeting, provided tips and resources for organizations to operate virtually and connect with members in meaningful ways even though we are not physically connected at this time. Also holding virtual meetings with the four governing councils. 
  • Starting the week of April 6, the office will host virtual office hours via WebEx. These two-hour blocks will allow students to chat with staff about the operation of their organizations.
  • The weekly newsletter FSL Fun Friday is ongoing and provides resources about how organizations can cope and navigate while planning/preparing for life after Covid-19.
  • Check Instagram (@UTDFSL) to see the winners of the Greek Awards.
 

Intercultural Programs

  • Week of April 6: The International Student Support Webinar will be posted. A collaboration with the Student Counseling Center, ISSO and Intercultural Programs, it provides resources and support services available to students. 
  • April 13-17: iWeek Virtual Edition. Offered through Facebook and Instagram, iWeek will include activities to engage students, staff and faculty.
 

Student Development

  • April 6-9: Spirit Programs will participate in the NCA and NDA Social Media Showcase.
  • April 7: SG meeting, 5:15 p.m., via Teams.
  • April 7: SOC monthly meeting, 7 p.m., Blackboard Collaborate.
  • April 9: Netflix watch party with Leadership Programs: Brene Brown, The Call to Courage, 3 p.m.
  • April 9: Virtual Elections 101: Setting Up Elections Using Presence, 4 p.m., Blackboard Collaborate.
  • April 10: Leadership Award nominations open through 5 p.m.
  • Leadership workshops are available via Blackboard. Anyone interested in attending should email [email protected].
 

Student Union

  • Student Union student employees working remotely are divided into clusters among professional staff, participate in weekly virtual meetings and have access to professional development curriculum.
  • SUAAB and Meteor Theater students take part in weekly virtual group and one-on-one meetings. Both groups are creating virtual programs for the campus community.
  • The Student Union is using social media to create positive messaging and is offering virtual EMS training for registered student organizations.
  • April 9: Live Virtual DJ (DJ B-Rockin' from Chicago).
  • April 14: Meteor Theater movie trivia game show.
  • April 21: Live Virtual DJ (DJ Dom from Dallas).
  • April 27-May 1: SUAAB Artist Alley (originally part of Comet Con; a virtual marketplace for student-made arts/crafts).
  • April 30: Meteor Theater Virtual Cosmic Film Festival.
  • Legacy event reservations are underway as usual. Refer to April 6 email for instructions.
 

Student Volunteerism

  • April 10: Virtual Volunteer Chat. Learn about volunteering virtually, followed by a discussion about available opportunities, 2 p.m., via Teams.
  • Collecting videos about the environment, sustainability and more for Digital Earth Day on April 22. If departments or students want to participate, contact Anne Hart for details.
  • Those looking for virtual volunteer opportunities or wishing to collaborate on virtual programming: OSV is happy to educate about ways to get involved. Some of our favorites are listed below.
    • 7 Cups provides free, 24/7 emotional support via online chat. All you need is an internet connection and to sign up for some training.
    • Discover tools, resources and virtual volunteer opportunities from the Points of Light global network of affiliates.
    • In order to help healthcare workers and others, we encourage sewing and donating surgical masks. Resources to get started are available here and here. This link provides a list of addresses to donate your face masks.
 

Student Transition Initiatives

Military and Veteran Center

  • Video/audio appointments with the center are available through Webex and Teams.
  • Created a Team called MVC Virtual to mimic the MVC reception area. It is monitored during business hours by MVC student and/or professional staff for questions/camaraderie.
  • Weekly "UTD Vet Connect" email.
  • The Veteran Breakout Session presentation for Transfer Orientation has been converted to a handout that will be emailed to incoming transfer student veterans.
  • The MVC has a veteran benevolent fund to provide limited financial support to currently enrolled students who are unable to meet essential expenses due to temporary or unexpected hardship. Students can contact MVC staff for more information/application.
 

Student Transition Programs

  • April 7: Comet Credit webinar, 5:30 p.m. Students can RSVP by emailing [email protected].
  • Freshman and Transfer Orientation will be changing to an online format. More details TBA.
 

University Career Center

  • UCC Virtual Power Hour Series: Join this weekly webinar Wednesdays 12-1 p.m. to hear about trending career development topics.
  • ExP Virtual Seminar Series: Every Tuesday in April, the experiential programs team will be discussing various topics around internships in the digital world.
  • Virtual Resume Lab: This digital alternative to drop-in resume critiques provides the opportunity to meet one-on-one with a career peer educator to discuss resume documents. Sessions take place daily, 10-11 a.m.
  • Virtual Office Hours: Daily, 2-3 p.m.
 

Marketing and Student Media

Marketing

  • If your area is planning to produce/offer videos, please be aware that accessibility requirements call for them to include accurate closed captions. Email Jenni Huffenberger for details, and check out these resources: Siteimprove tutorial about accessible video, guidelines from the University of Washington, with information about adding captions to Zoom, Facebook, etc., and WCAG 2.1 standards for time-based media.
 

Student Media

  • Staff at The Mercury are sharing new stories in regular bi-weekly format since moving to an online-only model.
 

University Housing

Residential Life/LLC

  • The LLC program has set up an eLearning page and is enrolling all students into groups. Virtual engagement is expected to launch the week of April 6.
 

Galerstein Gender Center

  • The center hosts a weekly virtual watch party on Tuesdays. Each staff member picks a film and moderates a discussion. Participants are able to talk about issues throughout the viewing. Follow the center on social media for details and updates. April 7 will feature the Academy Award-winning film Moonlight.
  • Every Friday, the assistant director of LGBT+ programs reads a children's book. Books are selected to align with the values of the GGC in an effort to educate and promote positive discussion. Follow the center on social media for details and updates.
 

Multicultural Center

 
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