Category: News
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‘If those 90 days pass, they lose their status and they’ll have to go home’
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 (OPT), designed to complement their…
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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 and my dog barking obnoxiously…
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What does the fight for civil rights look like in 2020?
After the events surrounding George Floyd’s death and the subsequent protests that erupted in nearly all states across the nation, the Black Lives Matter movement has taken the world by storm. People have gathered to protest and express solidarity not only in the U.S., but in the U.K, Hong Kong and South Korea as well.…
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Designing flexible, effective virtual courses
As online classes continue into the summer semester, professors are learning to make adjustments to online schooling. Based on feedback from students and faculty about online classes, associate provost Paul Diehl said issues tended to arise from a lack of accessibility. In addition to already existing accommodations, he said he wants to see the university increase…
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A community that CARES
The CARES Act and two student emergency funds are major sources of financial aid to UTD students struggling financially during this time. The CARES Act — the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act — was signed into law on March 27 in response to the economic impacts of COVID-19. According to the U.S. Department…
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‘Everyone is in a dilemma. Everyone has doubts.’
Akshat Bhati, an international supply chain management graduate student, said it was a dream to come to the United States. After coronavirus forced classes to an online format in March, however, his dream became a nightmare: he lost his shifts at the on-campus Starbucks, where he had recently been promoted to manager. His internship with…
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24/30 with COVID-19
As coronavirus shifts students’ academic plans, the 24-in-30 rule remains relevant to ensure graduation. This rule says that students have to complete 24 of their final 30 hours at UTD. Most students have not struggled with this graduation requirement in the past, Associate Dean of Undergraduate Advising John Jackson said. Even those planning on pushing…
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‘Coexist with COVID-19’
Beginning early May, Texas Governor Greg Abbott began the process of the gradual reopening of Texas. By now, the state has moved on to Phase III of reopening, and COVID-19 cases are still on the rise. Orders to open businesses were released in a staggered manner, with the first wave effective May 1, and the…
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Debate camp transitions online
Camp leadership navigates software to shift workshops to remote format Despite being miles apart, students discuss strategy in separate virtual rooms for one round of a debate competition. This is how students will practice debate this summer at the Mean Green Comet Debate Institute, which is transitioning to an online format due to COVID-19. Bringing…