Upper-division credit requirement to be lowered
The change will take effect after two years on the docket
The minimum upper-division credit required for graduation will be lowered from 51 credit hours to 45 starting in fall 2023. The push to lower upper-division credit requirements started two years ago. The academic senate gathered on Jan. 26 and approved administrative legislation that allows for the required credit hours for...
The academic war on artificial intelligence
Programs like ChatGPT may change education forever
The rise of artificial intelligence is sparking discussion between educators about how to proceed in the classroom — work with AI or against it? ChatGPT, the newest trending AI chatbot, restarted the controversy over AI in education. Reaching 1 million users in its first five days ChatGPT is a language...
Comets help fellow students plan their degrees with Nebula Labs
Following its beta release in fall 2022, Nebula Planner, an interactive degree planner that supports any combination of degree plans, hopes to launch its full release later this semester. The Nebula Planner is an initiative by Nebula Labs, a former project from the Association for Computing Machinery’s engineering division (ACM)....
Museum shows legacy of Jim Crow
The Shotgun House tracks the evolution of the prominent Black community in Dallas
The Jim Crow exhibit in Old City Park is open until Feb. 23, revealing the history behind the pre-gentrified Black community of Dallas. Old City Park houses a collection of historic houses, including the Shotgun House, where the exhibit is located. The exhibit was developed under Assistant Professor of History...
UTD student, cofounder and CEO of tech startup helping drivers save gas
Since its inception, the route optimization system has saved users from driving approximately 600,000 miles
Junior computer science major Tom Vazhekatt balances a full college workload along with being the cofounder and CEO of his startup route optimization company, Routora, ambitiously taking on a route that propels his career and education. Vazhekatt launched Routora on March 30, 2022. The business’s primary goal is decreasing the...
Accessibility promises, mandated senator meetings and advisory council report
Accessibility Resolution In their most recent senate meeting, Student Government (SG) passed a resolution emphasizing the shortcomings of accessible infrastructure on campus. Examples discussed included lack of sufficient accessible parking, braille signage and poorly maintained infrastructure. The resolution aims to allocate SG efforts to advocate for the betterment of accessible...
Semiconductor institute projects 5,000 new jobs
UTD engineering students will benefit from partnership
UTD has opened the North Texas Semiconductor Institute (NTxSI), which will provide job support for students in preparation for the fastest growing industry in DFW. Semiconductors are one of the most valuable commodities in the modern world. These materials are fabricated into transistors and integrated circuits, producing technology required for...
SG promises increased student advocacy, resource promotion and internal reform
The Mercury sat down with Student Government (SG) President Kruthi Kanduri and Vice President Margaret Belford to discuss progress on their campaign promises made in April 2022. Kruthi and Belford, who ran on separate tickets, expressed a uniform interest to put student needs at the front of their goals last...
Third head coach in history of women’s soccer
Stephen Shirley replaced Kanute Drugan as head coach of the UTD women’s soccer team, becoming the team’s third ever head coach. After a 7-7-2 record in 2022, the program hopes this change will boost them to their first championship since 2002. Shirley spent most of his life playing and coaching...
TikTok banned on Wi-Fi, devices
Website blocked on CometNet but not in University housing
Chief Information Officers Frank Feagans and Nate Howe informed all Comets via email on Jan. 17 that UTD would block TikTok on devices connected to the university’s “wired and Wi-Fi networks.” After banning the app on state devices in December, Gov. Greg Abbott asked all public universities in Texas to...