Dear faculty colleagues,
I hope you are staying healthy and that your semester is going well.
This newsletter starts below by sharing some featured News and Stories and then the Updates section includes some information and important reminders for faculty about the following:
- Accepting Nominations: UT Austin Sidney E. Mezes Award
- NSF CAREER “Ask Us Anything” Panel Discussion
- Fall 2024: New Academic Appointment Dates
- The Plan II Honors Program Proposals
- Free Open Science Course Available
- UT Launching SERU Survey to Undergraduates
- CHIPS Semiconductor Research Opportunities
- Center for Teaching and Learning Updates: February 2024
- International Travel Policies and Protocol Updates
- IT Reminders for Spring
- Data Management and Sharing Practices for Federally Funded Research and Beyond
- New Faculty Lightning Talks
Please share what might be relevant with fellow colleagues and those you mentor. 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
Senior Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs
Featured News & Stories
‘Year of AI’ Faculty Recruitment Initiative Aims to Bring More World-Class Professors to UT
The University is launching a bold new faculty recruitment program to help bring more of the world’s best and brightest AI professors to the Forty Acres.
Celebrating Black History Month
Find stories, news, and events around campus that celebrate and explore Black history and culture.
Two Faculty Members Win Inaugural Hill Prizes for Research With Significant Real-World Impact
Two UT Austin faculty members have been awarded with 2024 Hill Prizes, which accelerate research with significant potential for real-world impact.
4 Longhorns Recognized With University’s Presidential Citation Award
Four members of the UT Austin community have been recognized by President Hartzell with the Presidential Citation Award.
Faculty Central is the new online hub for faculty resources. As you use the site, feel free to ask questions and offer suggestions through the site’s feedback form, located in the footer.
Faculty Updates
Accepting Nominations: UT Austin Sidney E. Mezes Award
Each year, the Sidney E. Mezes Faculty Donation Committee recommends monetary awards to provide financial support for faculty members who may be in need of assistance due to unexpected circumstances, such as an illness, accident or other calamity. To find out more about the award, apply for yourself, or nominate a colleague experiencing hardship, please visit the faculty awards website or email facultyaffairs@utexas.edu. Nominations are due by Mar. 22, 2024 and can be submitted here.
NSF CAREER “Ask Us Anything” Panel Discussion
The Office of the Vice President for Research, Scholarship and Creative Endeavors is hosting an “Ask Us Anything” panel discussion on the NSF Faculty Early Career Development Program (CAREER) with UT Austin awardees.
All assistant professors interested in applying for this award are invited to attend. The panel will be held on Wednesday. Feb. 28. 2024, from 2–3 p.m. via Zoom.
Fall 2024: New Academic Appointment Dates
Effective Fall 2024, UT Austin is aligning our academic appointment dates with the start of the academic year. Academic appointments will begin on Aug. 16. Faculty, TAs, and AIs will receive their first paycheck on Sept. 1. Faculty will experience no delay in TA engagement on the first day of each academic term and will have earlier access to all university systems needed for instruction. Both faculty and graduate student employees will have medical coverage and workers’ compensation coverage effective Aug.16. For more information, see the recent message from Provost Sharon Wood to all faculty.
New Academic Appointment Dates FAQ
The Plan II Honors Program Proposals
Plan II is conducting its an annual call for new course proposals from faculty interested in teaching for Plan II. If accepted, courses will be offered during the 2025 – 2026 academic year or a future year. The program is seeking faculty from all disciplines and all colleges to teach exceptionally bright and motivated students with a wide variety of interests. The proposal submission deadline is Monday, Mar. 18, 2024. More information about the program can be found on the Plan II website.
Submit your course proposal for Plan II
Free Open Science Course Available
Addressing an increase in interest in Open Science practices both nationally and across the University, UT Libraries is promoting a free course developed by NASA, Transform to Open Science for faculty and students interested in developing expertise in Open Science, Open Access publishing, and Open Data. This course can be done online or asynchronously. Those who complete the course can receive a digital badge. A link to this course is also available on Faculty Central.
UT Launching SERU Survey to Undergraduates
Starting Feb. 26, undergraduate students will be invited via email to voice their opinions using the 2024 Student Experience in the Research University (SERU) Survey. The Survey is confidential and offers students the chance to share their opinion on critical issues. Insights gained from past surveys have helped shape student mental health support, campus security, and measures against food scarcity, as well as refine the University’s approach to calculating the Cost of Attendance (COA). Please encourage students to participate (students completing the survey are entered into a drawing for 1 of 10 Big Tickets from Texas Athletics). The survey closes Apr. 30.
More Information on the SERU Survey
CHIPS Semiconductor Research Opportunities
The OVPR will host representatives from the CHIPS Research and Development (R&D) Office to discuss opportunities emerging from the 2022 CHIPS and Science Act. Attend this informational webinar to learn more about CHIPS R&D. The event will be held on Thursday, Feb. 15, 2024, from 1–2 p.m. via Zoom.
Center for Teaching and Learning Updates: February 2024
The CTL February newsletter includes the following highlights:
New Teaching Resource
Please see this new “Teaching during Times of Crisis: Course Facilitation” resource for strategies to implement if you need to unexpectedly pivot your teaching methods while centering instructor and student wellness this semester. Keep an eye on our future newsletters for the forthcoming and related “Teaching during Times of Crisis: Course Design” resource, which will include a sample “Crisis Preparedness” syllabus statement and tips for planning and revising future courses with crisis preparedness in mind.
Fractalizing Pedagogy Fellows Grants
Fractalizing Pedagogy Fellows (FPF) is a CTL collaborative, community-focused program that hopes to implement strategies that break down barriers to teaching and learning for UT’s student population. Through their pilot projects, Fellows will consider how we benefit from integrating Care in the Academy (CITA) into our workspaces, learning spaces, and everyday practice. Coming together with a focused goal while sharing and critically reflecting on various pedagogical theories and strategies, we aim to continuously build upon effective practices in every learning environment. Proposals are due Feb. 12.
Community of Practice: Collaborative Teams
This community of practice is for instructors who are designing assignments that require students to work in teams over several weeks. We will meet Feb. 14, Feb. 28, and Mar. 20 to share ideas and strategies to discuss logistics of building teams and classroom management, student engagement, and assessing teamwork.
Graduate Teaching Showcase
Please share with graduate students in your networks. UT graduate students, would you like to be a featured presenter in our 2024 Graduate Teaching Showcase? We cannot wait to learn from you once again at this annual showcase in March. You will become inspired by viewing previous awardees from past years. Submit your proposal by Feb. 16 and share your story.
Texas Teach-Up
Texas Teach-Up (TxTU), formerly Eyes on Teaching and Online Teaching Days, is the signature event of the Provost’s Teaching Fellows program and brings instructors from all colleges and schools together to celebrate and reflect upon their teaching practices. This year’s event takes place over two days (Feb. 28-29) and will include a mix of both in-person and online courses. Sign up to observe a course today.
International Travel Policies and Protocol Updates
The Global Risk and Safety (GRS) team in Texas Global has several important updates.
Updated Restricted Regions Approval Process
Global Risk and Safety and the UT Austin International Oversight Committee (IOC) maintain a Restricted Regions List of locations that pose a heightened travel risk. Students, faculty and staff are not permitted to travel to locations on the Restricted Regions List unless approval is granted by the IOC.
International Travel Registration Reminders
All students and employees are required by the UT System International Travel Policy (UTS 190) to register their university-related international travel, regardless of destination, in order for the trip to be registered with On Call International. This requirement applies regardless of whether the traveler completes the RTA process. Personal travel does not need to be registered in the ITR.
UT Austin Export Control Reminder
If you are traveling abroad with any equipment owned by UT Austin, you must complete the TMP License Exemption form and carry a copy with you while traveling. Please note: this form does not require approval by UT Austin; it is self-effectuating upon your completion and signature of the document. Contact the UT Austin University Export Controls Officer with any questions.
Health and Safety Resources
The GRS team maintains a curated list of health and safety resources available for any UT Austin students or employees who plan to travel abroad.
GRS Information Sessions and Presentations
The GRS team regularly hosts drop-in Q&A zoom sessions for anyone seeking assistance or guidance navigating the UT Austin International Travel Process. If you are interested in scheduling a meeting with a presentation by the GRS team, please complete this brief survey.
Global Risk and Safety Website
IT Reminders for Spring
The Information Technology Services (ITS) is sharing several campus community updates and upcoming changes to important technology tools. Recent updates include best practices and information on services to help you in your work. Please review the latest message from ITS here.
Data Management and Sharing Practices for Federally Funded Research and Beyond
Representatives from the UT Libraries will provide an introduction to data management planning resources, data management best practices, tips for publishing research data (including selecting a repository and sharing sensitive data), and an overview of the evolving data management and sharing requirements of federal research funding agencies, like those of the NIH which were updated in January 2023. This workshop will take place via Zoom on Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024 from 1-2 p.m.
New Faculty Lightning Talks
The Office of Academic Technology (OAT) and the Office of Academic Affairs have refreshed best practices for faculty who wish to require the use of generative AI tools in their classrooms. If you have questions about these best practices, please contact the OAT at oat@utexas.edu
Access past issues here.