Returning to labs
VP of Research discusses measures taken before increasing research capacity
Research labs opened under limited circumstances since campus closed this spring are now steadily increasing capacity, with COVID-19 safety measures. During the April 22 presidential town hall meeting, Joe Pancrazio, vice president of research, said the Office of Research has been fully operational — albeit remotely — after campus closed...
Professors discuss hesitations about teaching in person
Personal situations, effectiveness of social distancing measures are two common concerns mentioned
In the fall, professors will have the option to choose whether they teach face-to-face or online. The Faculty Retention and Morale Subgroup recommended that UTD “allow instructors to have the option to teach in a fully online/remote fashion without UTD administration requiring that the instructor disclose personal details that might...
Petition protesting Title IX changes garners over 2000 signatures
Scope of petition increased to include multiple UT System schools, calls for seven points of change
UTD’S chapter of the political organization Deeds Not Words is petitioning against the Department of Education’s changes to how Title IX is enforced on college campuses. In 2017, the Department of Education withdrew Obama-era sexual harassment policies under Title IX. One year later, Secretary of Education Betsy Devos released a...
Remote Learning: the benefits, the drawbacks
Faculty, staff discuss pros, cons of online classes
Spring 2020 provided a glimpse at online instruction and how students and teachers adapted to changes in learning conditions; now, instructors are facing another semester of partially — or fully — virtual classes, along with the advantages and disadvantages that come with it. At the June 24 presidential town hall,...
Student enrollment concerns in fall 2020
Survey finds that 28 out of 315 students are unwilling to stay enrolled if classes are online
For various students, changes and uncertainty about fall 2020 campus functionality brings up many unforeseen issues including financial problems and difficulty performing well in studies. In a survey conducted by The Mercury, 9% of respondents said they would not be willing to stay enrolled at UTD if the upcoming semester...
‘I feel that I’m not being seen or heard’
Deaf student shares issues she faced with online classes
When classes transitioned online, psychology junior Labiba Zarin Halim said she was not adequately accommodated and is concerned about how the OSA will function in the fall. Halim is deaf, and the OSA typically provides her with accommodations including a Signed Exact English interpreter, extra time on her exams, preferential...
‘If those 90 days pass, they lose their status and they’ll have to go home’
International graduates risk losing immigration status amidst dwindling job opportunities, increased living expenses
International students who graduated in May 2020 face questions about their employment and residency status amidst a shifting market. After completion of UTD’s graduate program, many international students choose to stay in the United States to pursue employment for up to a year past their graduation. This Optional Practical Training...
UTD Presidential Town Hall – 6.24.2020
Click here for town hall recording Note from the editor: Although the university should be providing their own recording of the town hall, we wanted to give you access to my recording in the interim. (While I tried to limit background noise as much as possible, Teams notifications, typing sounds...
‘You have a responsibility. Everyone has a responsibility.’
Q&A with black students
Tamara Havis is a computer engineering senior. Chizuruoke Ukachi-Nwata is a junior majoring in speech-language pathology and audiology. Axum Taylor is a junior majoring in interdisciplinary studies, with a concentration in public health. Taylor said she was responsible for creating a petition to UTD to stand in solidarity with black...
