• To access the online information session click thishttps://utd.adobeconnect.com/_a816504638/class2/, select “Enter as a Guest,” type your name and click “Enter Room.”
• Before participating in the session, you can run a connection test at this http://na1cps.adobeconnect.com/common/help/en/support/meeting_test.htm.

     Biology presents us with an array of design principles. From studies of both simple and more complex systems, we understand some of the fundamentals of how Nature works. We are interested in using the foundations of biology to engineer cells in a logical and predictable way to perform certain functions. By necessity, the predictable engineering of biology requires knowledge of quantitative behavior of individual cells and communities and the ability to construct reliable models. By building and analyzing synthetic systems, we learn more about the fundamentals of biological design as well as engineer useful living devices with myriad applications.

For more information please view flyer.

This occasion will involve hooding the doctoral candidates to signify their
success in completing the requirements of their specific graduate program. The
hooding will officially recognize their passage from being our students to
faculty colleagues. Each doctoral candidate will invite a UT Dallas faculty
member (normally the supervising professor) to assist the Dean of Graduate
Studies in the hooding.

The ceremony will be similar to a graduation in that faculty and students are
dressed in academic attire. Diplomas will not be presented at this ceremony but
will be at the Commencement.

Following the ceremony, President Daniel will host a reception in the
lobby.

In order to continue our move to becoming one of the best public research universities in the nation UTD must continue to attract and keep the brightest and best students, faculty and researchers. We must also work to continue to be a positive influence in our community. For all these things to happen we must be the best in providing responsive quality service. Catching Comet Pride is a certificate series designed to provide tools that will equip the trainees in developing the skills, behaviors, and attitudes which provide the very best customer service to our potential students, current students, their families, the faculty and researchers, the community, and co-workers.

• Session 1 (February 23): Providing rationale and reasoning behind customer service and to communicate the " Guiding Principles" behind excellent customer service.

Target Audience: This class is designed for all UTD employees.

Click Here to Register for Session 1

The "Catch Comet Pride" certificate program consists of four (4) sessions. The sessions are approximately 2-2 ½ hours in length. Once a new series is launched, a session will be offered approximately every every two weeks. Listed below is a brief description for each session in the series.

Session 1 (May 17): Catching Comet Pride -- The participants will begin to understand the rationale and reasoning behind providing excellent customer service in higher education. They will also be introduced to five (5) Guiding Principles that were created to shape and direct the services we provide to both internal and external customers of UT Dallas. The participants will also be introduced to our service model, which will serve as our framework for series and the sessions that follow.

Session 2 (May 31): Practice Makes Perfect (I) --The participants will be re-introduced to the customer service model and exposed to customer service best practices & common barriers to providing good service. This session will also discuss and practice simulated customer service transactions and situations with special focus on welcoming behaviors.

Session 3 (June 14): Practice Makes Perfect (II) -- Participants will continue to look at how to deliver good service to both happy and angry customers. Building on the skills emphasized in
session 2, participants will learn about delivering good customer service under stress (i.e. when the customer is frustrated, upset or angry). Additional topics of discussion will focus on customer service etiquette skills--in person, by email and over the phone We will also identify important transitioning behaviors for those times when we must refer a customer to someone else or are unable to deliver what the customer expects or wants from us.

Session 4 (June 28): Making It Work, Making It Personal – The participants will identify and create strategies for ensuring ongoing, excellent customer service at UT Dallas (start to finish.) This will include learning a model that can be used to evaluate our customer service efforts in each department and work unit. Then each participant will be asked to develop a personal action plan they can implement immediately to provide excellent customer service in their work area. This session also includes certificate presentations to class participants who have attended all four (4) sessions.

Click Here to Register for This Class or the Complete Series

The ISSO would like to take you on a cultural trip to Six Flags Theme Park on Thursday, May 17. The ISSO will provide the bus, and you will be responsible for purchasing your ticket ($33.48 for students at the Comet Center). We will leave campus at 9:30am and return around 6:00pm. To sign up for this trip, complete the online form. You will receive a reply with information about how to reserve your seat and purchase your ticket.

The Speak Up! Speak Out! (SUSO) Civics Fair is the culmination of this youth-driven, project-based civic education program for middle and high school students.  Students who have formed teams to research a local social problem and develop their own unique solution to address it will present their proposals to community leaders at the Civics Fair on May 17, 2012.  Winning teams will be awarded funds to use toward the implementation of their solutions.  To learn more, visit www.speakupspeakout.org, find us on facebook at SpeakUpSpeakOutTX, or contact sinda.nichols@mail.utexas.edu.

May 14th

MERCURY MONDAY - Graduation Tabloid - Pick up a special graduation edition of The Mercury from news racks around campus or at the newsroom in the Student Union (SU), room 1.601

May 15th

TEMOC TUESDAY - Pictures with Temoc 12noon-2p.m. at the Ping Pong Table - lower level of the Student Union. Get your photo taken with Temoc. First 100 get an alumni T-shirt and a free mini-Temoc plush toy.

May 16

WHOOSH WEDNESDAY

Ring Ceremony 6-7pm at The Mall. The UT Dallas ring serves as a tangible reminder of a student's achievement and college memories. Join this special celebration where Participants of the ceremony will be formally presented with their UT Dallas ring.

Senior Send-Off 7-11pm at the Intramural Fields (rain location: JSOM Parking Lot M). Join Us as we send our seniors out at the annual Senior Send-Off Carnival. There will be good, music, drinks and a photo booth.

May 17th

THRILLING THURSDAY

Honors Convocation - 4pm. at the Activity Center

Flexible Comedy with Jonathan Burns at 8pm in The Pub. Combining comedy, contortion and unique stunts, Jonathan Burns performs an act unlike any other. His interactive comedy act is a hit on stages across the globe. For audiences of all ages.

May 18th

FAREWELL FRIDAY

Commencement Ceremonies 10am, 1pm, and 4pm. - Visit the Graduation Website for more information about commencement ceremonies.

Memoires on the Mall - Immediately following each commencement ceremony. Stop by the chess plaza on the campus mall for light refreshments, photo opportunities and a special gift.

May 19th

SO LONG SATURDAY

Commencement Ceremonies 10am, 1pm, and 4pm. - Visit the Graduation Website for more information about commencement ceremonies.

Memoires on the Mall - Immediately following each commencement ceremony. Stop by the chess plaza on the campus mall for light refreshments, photo opportunities and a special gift.