NEWS FROM THE OFFICE OF COMMUNITY RELATIONS A CITY OF ARLINGTON AND UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT ARLINGTON PARTNERSHIP FALL 2010 NEW ADDITIONS Welcome to the Neighborhood uilt in 1919 and named after a former English professor, Ransom leave this building without someone understanding their problem and at least starting toward a solution.” Hall recently underwent a $1.7 million remodeling to give it a University College’s breadth of services allows it to function B as an active partner in students’ academic success from the completely modern feel while maintaining its historic facade. The three- moment they start at UT Arlington. As they progress through their degree program, they can return to University College for story building is now the home of University College, UT Arlington’s help with difficult subjects, for advice on tackling new obstacles, and for guidance on finding their future career. new one-stop shop for services essential to student success. “The support services offered here will make a very real difference in the college experience for many students,” University College consolidates a number of offices that even if you’re not really sure what kind you need—this is the Chancellor Cigarroa said. “It speaks volumes about previously were scattered across campus, including academic place to ask.” UT Arlington’s commitment to its students.” advising, tutoring, supplemental instruction, and counseling. Inside the newly revamped building, Maverick orange and The renovation of Ransom Hall is part of the University’s It was created to promote student learning and development blue motifs mix with celadon green counters and contemporary larger effort to recruit top scholars, improve student retention, by providing coordinated and centralized academic resources furnishings. The main entrance shares a plaza with the E.H. and help more students earn their undergraduate degrees in a and support services that help students define their educational Hereford University Center, a prime student hangout. timely manner. goals and pursue a path toward graduation. Audio/visual equipment, Wi-Fi, and Internet access aid the Dr. Bobbitt said UT Arlington will do what it takes to help “On a large campus like this, one can sometimes feel instructional process. A large conference room is available for first-year students achieve a grade-point average that will help uncertain about where to seek guidance,” said UT System group sessions, while private tutoring and counseling suites them advance toward whatever major they choose. Chancellor Dr. Francisco G. Cigarroa at the building’s provide quiet space for one-on-one interaction. “If we can get them to their sophomore year,” he said, “we dedication. “Offering so many services in one location simplifies “This is a welcoming place for students,” said Donald Bobbitt, know they can succeed.” the process and sends the message that if assistance is needed— provost and vice president for academic affairs. “They won’t CAMPUS CONNECTION staffed with UT Arlington students who will be the first in UT Arlington and AISD their families to earn bachelors degrees. collaborate in the classroom The University is also addressing the growing shortage of mathematicians in the United States through its GK-12 MAVS ach year, more than 100 UT Arlington undergraduates program, which aims to get students interested in high- head to Arlington classrooms to serve as student E level math. Named for the combination of graduate and teachers. But that’s only one of the many ways the school K-12 students, the program targets schools with minority district and the University collaborate. groups that are traditionally underrepresented in math “We’ve always had a good working relationship,” says graduate studies. UT Arlington math graduate students have Arlington Superintendent Jerry McCullough. One that he’s been placed in classrooms at Sam Houston High School and sought to strengthen even more. “I just think it is very Carter and Workman junior highs. They help AISD teachers important. UT Arlington is a resource that we can use and explore new teaching strategies and introduce their research benefit from.” concepts to students. Among the more notable AISD-UT Arlington A final example of UT Arlington’s partnership with AISD collaborations is the establishment of “GO Centers” at was recently seen at Martin High School. An advanced Arlington, Lamar, and Seguin high schools. UT Arlington’s placement chemistry teacher and several Martin students College of Education and Health Professions has been using spent the summer working in Assistant Professor Jian Yang’s the centers to help students at the schools plan for college. bioengineering lab at UT Arlington. Yang is developing The program—funded by a $388,000 grant from the a new education model for introducing college-level Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board—is intended fundamentals to high schools. The students worked on to encourage first-generation, minority college students to research concerning drug delivery methods for cancer. view higher education as an attainable goal. Centers are The UniversiTy of Texas aT arlingTon volume i • issue 1 VISIT US ON THE WEB: UTA.EDU/COLLEGETOWN AROUND ’TOWN JOB MAGNET PERFECT MATCH TechComm brings new Ron Elsenbaumer, UT Arlington vice president for research and University leverages royalties to opportunities to downtown co-chair of TechComm, says the increase endowment new initiative has the opportunity Arlington t Arlington’s successful Maverick Match program has to become a true driver of economic helped give students and faculty a richer, more vibrant owntown Arlington residents and businesses have a development. U academic environment to work in. Dnew neighbor. But instead of bringing moving trucks or “We love the collaborative The program doubles endowment gifts of $25,000 or more a cup of sugar, it’s bringing jobs. strength of the network,” with royalties from the University’s natural gas program. It TechComm (Technology, Commercialization, and Elsenbaumer says. “Universities has been a huge success since its launch in 2009, helping to Manufacturing) is the latest manifestation of the Center for and businesses in the eight-state bring new professorships, endowments, scholarships, and Innovation at Arlington, a cooperative high-tech business region can share information. They more. accelerator. Its mission is to move ideas and technologies from can team up to finish out and bring Earlier this year Betty Ruch donated $580,000 on behalf concept to market. Located on Border Street, it’s run jointly by a technology to market. We are of herself and her late husband, Roger, to establish the the Arlington Chamber of Commerce and UT Arlington. Wes Jurey (above), hopeful that with the availability of Ron Elsenbaumer Charles T. McDowell Center for Critical Languages and “We will become a catalyst for high-paying jobs,” says Wes these technologies, UT Arlington Area Studies. Dr. McDowell, who died in 2007, was a Jurey, president and chief executive officer of the chamber will be able to draw top-research professors and students.” distinguished UT Arlington professor who established the and chairman of TechComm. “The reason we’re important Elsenbaumer believes that one strength of the technology Center for Post-Soviet and East European Studies at the to downtown Arlington is because by creating these jobs, we transfer could be that someone in the network might see University in 1968. The Ruch endowment gives the new create opportunities for people to work and live in this area. specific research as answering a certain need in the market, center within the College of Liberal Arts a global focus, That in turn creates the demand for retail, restaurants, and while another business could see a totally different application. including Russia, the Baltic States, the Caucasus, Central shops that everyone has said they want.” “Developing these technologies across different platforms Asia, Eastern and Central Europe, and the Balkans. TechComm is a technology transfer agent and matchmaker for different uses in the market would make this technology Dionex Corp. recently donated $500,000 to create funded through a five-year, $2.7 million grant from the transfer network even more valuable,” he says. “Plus, the Hamish Small Chair of Ion Analysis. Small invented suppressed ion chromatography, a process that enables the “By CREATING THESE JOBS, WE CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE separation of ions based on their charge. It is widely used in TO woRK AND LIVE IN THIS AREA. THAT IN TURN CREATES THE diverse industries, from power generation to water analysis to pharmaceuticals to semiconductor fabrication. DEMAND FOR RETAIL, RESTAURANTS, AND SHOPS THAT EVERYONE Morgan Woodward, best known for his portrayal of HAS SAID THEY WANT.” the chain-gang guard behind the mirrored shades in the 1967 filmCool Hand Luke, established a $500,000 endowed professorship for the Film Studies Program. U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) to market and license UT Arlington researchers would be able to license and market “Mr. Woodward strongly desired to give back to his intellectual property. It is one of six intermediary network their technologies through the partnership.” alma mater and was prompted to make this generous gift partners that the Defense Department has contracted Jurey says TechComm will also represent multiple federal now in order to take advantage of the Maverick Match nationwide. TechComm’s main goal is to match DoD agencies, including the U.S. Departments of Agriculture, program,” says Jim Lewis, UT Arlington’s vice president for technologies with businesses that can commercialize them, Homeland Security, and the National Institutes of Health. development. and identify research from universities and industries it can “Today’s true economic development driver is innovation,” Other recent donations include Mustaque Ahmed’s accelerate. Jurey says. “We have to innovate to grow.” $125,000 gift to establish an endowment to support the new Festival of Ideas Global Research Institute and Carrizo Oil and Gas’ $1 million commitment toward a new graduate research fellowship program.