Dear faculty colleagues,
I hope everyone enjoyed the Labor Day weekend that already seems long ago. Please review the information below for a few updates and important reminders for faculty. Please share what might be relevant to you, those you mentor and fellow colleagues.
- COVID-19 Guidance Reminder
- Accepting Nominations — Teaching Awards
- Workshop: Demystifying NIH Grants for Humanities Researchers
- Introducing Our New UT Honor Code
- Center for Teaching and Learning Update and Upcoming Events
- Applications Open — Actions that Promote Community Transformation (ACT)
- Upcoming Security Changes to Duo Multi-Factor Authentication
- Notice of Non-Discrimination on the Basis of Sex/Gender
- Non-partisan Student Organization — TX Votes
COVID-19 Guidance Reminder
As a reminder, a message was sent to faculty regarding UT’s Exposure Action Chart for COVID-19. The Exposure Action Chart follows current recommendations of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Please review this chart along with referencing the Guidance for Ending Self-Isolation to inform your expectations around student attendance if they have tested positive. Further, as has always been the case, please refrain from classroom notifications about exposure to COVID-19 as you would not share notifications for any other illness.
It’s important that we all follow this guidance to maintain consistency across campus. We want to ensure students have a clear understanding of how they can manage possible infection and when they should return to class.
Accepting Nominations — Teaching Awards
The call for nominations for various faculty teaching awards can be found here. Please use these opportunities to recognize the teaching excellence and contributions of your professional-track, tenured and tenure-track faculty. Please reach out with any questions to the Faculty Awards staff.
Workshop: Demystifying NIH Grants for Humanities Researchers
Dr. Elizabeth Barr, programming officer at NIH, will conduct a workshop for faculty titled “Demystifying NIH Grants for Humanities Researchers” on Tuesday, Sept. 26. The workshop will be held in person at FAC 2.236 in the Texas Career Engagement Suite from 12:00-1:30 p.m. with lunch provided. Please RSVP to attend by Sept. 18.
Introducing Our New UT Honor Code
Students, faculty and staff received information about the establishing of the new University of Texas at Austin honor code and UT’s unwavering commitment to the highest standards of academic honesty and integrity. The affirmation is meant to be incorporated into your classrooms, events, websites and other communications, where appropriate. Be on the lookout for tools you can use with the honor code, like a quiz-bank question that allows you to have students acknowledge the honor code when taking assessments in Canvas.
Learn More about the New Honor Code
Center for Teaching and Learning Update and Upcoming Events
The CTL September newsletter included updates for the first full month of the semester. Highlights include the following:
- Dynamic Lecturing Book Discussion
Based on strategies in Dynamic Lecturing (by Christine Harrington), we will have a series of discussions about well-structured, interactive, and engaging lectures which can be particularly useful for instructors teaching large classes. RSVP soon to receive the book and read the initial section before the first meeting on Sept. 12. - Sustainability Across the Curriculum Workshop
This two-day workshop is designed to help instructors add sustainability-related outcomes and assignments to their courses. The workshop will be held on Sept. 20 and 27. - Came to Listen
This event was inspired by our dear colleague Shavonne Coleman, who will be departing CTL at the end of the month for a new adventure. Come hear amazing stories and wish Shavonne well! This semester’s theme is Genuine Intelligence: Demystifying Technology as a Teaching Tool. Join us on Sept. 29.
Applications Open — Actions that Promote Community Transformation
The call for proposals for the 2023-2024 Actions that promote Community Transformation (ACT) Award has opened. Seed grants ($3,000-$5,000) will support faculty-led initiatives that encourage community development, mentorship, and sense of belonging. Applications for the 4th cohort of the ACT program will be accepted until Sept. 15, 2023, and awards will be announced at the beginning of October.
You may find additional information, such as who may participate and the project requirements, on this website.
Submit Your ACT Application
Upcoming Security Changes to Duo Multi-Factor Authentication
Starting Sept. 26, Duo Mobile push approval and SMS passcodes will no longer be available when signing into official University accounts, such as Outlook and Workday. This is due to an increase in Duo “fatigue attacks,” including payroll theft, which have led to compromised University accounts. Therefore, Duo Mobile push approvals will automatically be replaced by Verified Duo Push. Verified Duo Push will require you to enter a three-digit verification code when approving a Duo request.
For a step-by-step walkthrough with screen shots of this process, visit the “How Do I Use Duo Verified Push?” section of this IT@UT webpage.
View the Step-by-Step Guide
Notice of Non-Discrimination on the Basis of Sex/Gender
The Title IX office sent a reminder about UT Austin’s commitment to maintaining a learning and working environment that is free from discrimination based on sex in accordance with Title IX, Title VII, and the SaVE Act requirements. Definitions, information on how and where to report, along with mandatory reporting requirements and more were included on the email.
| Read the full email here |
Non-partisan Student Organization — TX Votes
Housed in the Annette Strauss Institute, TX Votes is a student organization dedicated to increasing electoral participation across campus. They are a scrupulously non-partisan group whose goal is to provide UT Austin students with the information and access they need to register, become educated and vote in every election. At the invitation of faculty, TX Votes deputized registrars go into classes and register voters. Last semester TX Votes was invited into over 100 classrooms. Interested faculty can reach out to the organization directly to find out more.
Learn More about TX Votes
If you have any faculty-related questions, concerns, and solutions please feel free to contact the Faculty Affairs team. We’re here to support you in any way we can.
Stay well,
Tasha Beretvas