Category: Campus News
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NSM, ECS create new degree plan
Beginning in the spring of next year, UTD will become the second university in Texas to offer an undergraduate degree in data science, a joint effort between the School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics and the School of Engineering and Computer Science. Data science combines statistics and computational skills to extract useful knowledge from “big…
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The parking structure that never was
Editor’s Note: A previous version of this story incorrectly reported Melissa Wyder’s staff title and tenure on the Parking Committee. Wyder is the administrative assistant for the Science and Mathematics Education Department. She is a voting member of the Parking Committee, but is not its longest-serving member. The Mercury regrets these errors. There are…
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University hosts first women’s summit
The first annual Women’s Summit held at UTD took place in the Davidson-Gundy Alumni Center earlier this month. The Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship held the event on Oct. 15. Female entrepreneurs were invited to share their stories of success. The Women’s Summit was also used as a launchpad for the GalXc Women’s Accelerator, which…
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Counseling Center starts online therapy program
Editor’s Note: This story has been updated to include additional information from the SCC and to clarify that the SCC’s waitlist for services was eliminated last year. In anticipation of the release of its fiscal year report, the Student Counseling Center is looking for solutions to challenges such as a shortage of personnel and a…
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Survey shows dissatisfaction with mandatory freshman group project
A survey conducted by The Mercury revealed that Comets to the Core — a six-week group project required for all freshmen to complete their UNIV1010 graduation requirement — has sparked controversy in its second year of operation, with 100 of 109 respondents saying they would not want to see the program as it is now…
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Water in Richardson: What’s behind its taste?
Kathryn Vos said she finds herself not drinking as much water as she should be. Instead of filling her water bottle in the morning as she would usually do, she waits to find a working water fountain throughout the day. “I just don’t (drink from the tap) because of the taste,” Vos, an undecided freshman,…
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Professor develops AI essay grading program
For professors struggling to cope with stacks of papers to grade, new software — developed by a UTD researcher and powered by artificial intelligence — may offer a long-term solution. Vincent Ng, a computer science professor who works with UTD’s Human Language Technology Research Institute, is developing an automated grading system for longform essays. Ng…
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West Nile virus cases reported in local area
Editor’s Note: An earlier version of this story incorrectly reported that the city of Richardson uses agent orange in mosquito adulticide sprays. The Mercury regrets this error. After a Richardson resident contracted an aggressive form of West Nile virus last month, the city’s health department officials ordered mosquito adulticide spraying in nearby neighborhoods. However, there…
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Mandatory sexual assault modules: are they effective?
UTD requires every new student to complete a series of web-based sexual assault prevention modules. A survey of 94 students conducted by The Mercury revealed 86 percent of participants do not believe the modules are effective in educating students about sexual misconduct. UT System implemented the sexual assault prevention course to inform and educate incoming…
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Startup suspended from internship fairs
Editor’s Note: This story has been updated to include the date of a Facebook post and to correct the name and title of a Tech EdVentures employee. Her name is Brittany Nicole Jones, not Brittney Nicole, and she is listed as a curriculum development associate. The Mercury regrets this error. A startup that once employed…