The Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship program at UTPA with funding from the National Science Foundation is currently recruiting science, mathematics and engineering majors to pursue a career in teaching chemistry and physics beginning Fall 2012. The scholarship pays for tuition and fees, room/board, books/supplies, transportation, and miscellaneous expenses up to student’s cost of attendance! Scholars will also be issued laptops with Wi-Fi capability for educational/teaching purposes and will be provided travel support to science education conferences. Interested students are advised to visit http://www.utpa.edu/faculty/ecorpuz/scholarship/ for further information on eligibility criteria, application requirements and process, and application deadline. Questions regarding this scholarship opportunity may be directed to Dr. Edgar Corpuz via e-mail at ecorpuz@utpa.edu or call (956) 665-2153.

Original Post by Edgar Corpuz for Academic Affairs on May, 29 2012

CODA: The Final Concert

In music and dance, a CODA simply means “the end” or the final part of a musical piece.
On June 3rd, UTPA bids farewell to the Fine Arts Complex that has served this community for more than four decades in order to welcome a new Academic and Performing Arts Center. Construction begins summer 2012 and a grand opening is anticipated for 2014.

Join us in celebrating more than 40 years of incredible performances
Date: June 3rd, 2012 at 2 p.m.
Location: UTPA Fine Arts Auditorium

Admission is free.

With Special Performances by….

• John Raimo, pianist, Faculty Emeritus
  with Dahlia Guerra, Dean, College of Arts and Humanities
• Daniel Andai, violin, and Joel Pagan, viola
  with Brendan Kinsella, piano, UTPA Faculty
• Valley Symphony Orchestra, Maestro Peter Dabrowski
• Vocal Duo from “The Atonement” by Carl Seale, Faculty Emeritus
  Linda Musollari, Soprano, UTPA Alumna, and son Laerta
  Accompanied by Quartetto Bravura, UTPA Students and Alumni
• Dr. Marian Monta, Founder, UTPA Theatre
• UTPA Dance Program presentation
• UTPA Mariachi Aztlán
  El Son de la Negra with UTPA Ballet Folklórico

AND MUCH, MUCH MORE!

For More Information please visit http://www.utpa.edu/CODA

For special accommodations call 956-665-2175.

Original Post by Kimberly Selber for Academic Affairs on May, 28 2012

Each fall and spring, students at The University of Texas-Pan American do what college students do best: ask for money.

UT Pan American’s annual phone-a-thon helps raise money for the UTPA Annual Fund, as well as provides jobs for 20 students from different majors and levels and a personal interaction between them and former students. Broncs connect with UTPA alumni who share their stories and experiences of when they were students.

“During this contact, students inform alumni about new developments at UTPA and also provide information about successes from the different colleges on campus,” said Yvette Padilla, director of Stewardship and Annual Giving at Development and Advancement Services. “Annual phone-a-thons serve as an extension of communication between UTPA, alumni and friends who now reside across the nation.”

Alexus Esquivel, a freshman and history major at UTPA, began working with this fundraising initiative two semesters ago as a caller. She is now a student supervisor with the Development and Advancement Services’ phone-a-thon.

“This is the first job I have ever worked at and it’s taught me a lot of good lessons about life and how to work with others and how to deal with people over the phone,” said Esquivel, who graduated from Weslaco East High School in 2011.

Esquivel personally experienced how fundraisers such as the phone-a-thon help students. She received a UTPA Summer 2012 grant to attend summer school sessions at the University, something she would not have been able to afford to do without those funds.

“It is a honor to have received this grant for the summer,” said Esquivel. “It takes a big weight off my shoulders because it is a large amount of money and phone-a-thons such as these give students like myself an opportunity to receive scholarships.”

Seeing how donating money to the University helps students like herself, Esquivel encouraged her peers working at the phone-a-thon to contribute as well. Her co-workers honored her plea. In addition to outside donations, 90 percent of the phone-a-thon students also gave money during the fundraising event.

If you would like to contribute to the advancement of the University, contact Padilla at 956-665-5301.

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Original Post by Javier Espinoza on May, 24 2012

In the month of May 2012, the most significant security bulletins are from the following software publishers. All the bulletins have an update that can eliminate the known vulnerability.

• Apple Security Updates: 3 (Read official bulletin)
• Adobe Security bulletins and advisories: 5 (Read official bulletin)
• Microsoft Security bulletins: 7 (Read bulletin)

Another release that is important to mention is the re-release of the Apple Flashback Malware removal tool (Read more).

Read the Information Security blog post about the Security Bulletins for May 2012 for more information.

Personally-owned computers
We recommend that you take action if your computer is not configured to update automatically.

UTPA owned computers
The process for updating computers that are joined to the UTPA domain has changed. If your computer is joined to the UTPA domain it will present a notification window on Thursday, May 17th, 2012. This notification will allow you to initiate the update process and get more information about the updates being installed. If your computers is not updated by 11:00pm it will initiate the update process automatically. If you do not update the machine through the new notification (see below), it is important that you save everything that you are working on before leaving work on Thursday afternoon. If you have any questions concerning this security updates deployment, please contact the Help Desk at (956) 665-2020.

If your computer is not joined to the UTPA domain or running Mac OS X, it must be updated as soon as possible to be in compliance with our Desktop and Portable Computer Security Standard.

UTPA Information Security Office
www.utpa.edu/infosecurity

Original Post by Victor M. Gonzalez for Business Affairs on May, 16 2012

A 15% discount will be applied to UTPA staff registrations that are paid by their departmental accounts.
Click here to register

Original Post for Academic Affairs on May, 16 2012

For eight years Veronica Gonzales has represented the Rio Grande Valley in the Texas State Legislature. Now, she will represent the Valley’s largest university, The University of Texas-Pan American, as its vice president for University Advancement.

UTPA President Robert S. Nelsen said he is thrilled and excited to have someone of Gonzales’ caliber joining the University.

“Veronica Gonzales has been a major ‘mover and shaker’ in the Rio Grande Valley and the State of Texas for years,” Nelsen said. “She is committed to UT Pan American’s mission of reaching out to the Valley and transforming the Valley through higher education. Veronica is a proven fundraiser with a brilliant mind and will make a difference at the University, just as UT Pan American is making a difference in the Valley.”

Gonzales, who will join UTPA July 1, said she is excited to serve her community in this new role and to tell the impressive story of this University, which is among the top five public universities in this state (Forbes, 2011) and one of the most affordable in the country.

As vice president of University Advancement, Gonzales will oversee the Office of Development, which is responsible for fund raising for the University, as well as the Department of Marketing and Communications, which comprises the Offices of Alumni Relations, Public Affairs and Studio Twelve01, the University’s marketing office.

Gonzales said she is looking forward to working with the advancement team to further the University’s current fundraising efforts and its renown.

“The same skills I developed in elected office – networking and fostering relationships to garnish support – will be instrumental in working for the University. The story I want others in our state and nation to know is that we are doing great things here in South Texas, that we are a growing University, one with extremely high rankings and that an investment in this University is a sound one that will reap benefits for generations to come.”

Gonzales graduated cum laude from her hometown university — Southwest Texas State University in San Marcos — in 1986 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and Spanish. She earned her law degree from The University of Texas School of Law in 1991.

Upon graduating from law school, Gonzales moved to McAllen, where she began practicing law at Jarvis & Kittleman, P.C., now Kittleman, Thomas & Gonzales, LLP. She became a partner in four years and is currently a name partner.

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Original Post by Jennifer Berghom on May, 15 2012

The Oracle e-Business Suite (EBS) will be unavailable while important maintenance patches are being applied.

Downtime: Sunday, May 20th, 2012 from 4 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Services Impacted: Employee Self Service, Employee Time Entry and On-Line applications

Cause: The updates are required to maintain the functionality of EBS.

For more information, please contact IT Help Desk at 956-665-2020 or email to helpdesk@utpa.edu from Monday to Thursday between 8 a.m.-7 p.m. and Friday between 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

Follow Updates at: www.utpa.edu/dit, www.facebook.com/utpadit

Division of Information Technology
The University of Texas-Pan American

Original Post by Isabel Reyna for Information Technology on May, 16 2012

The Banner Student System and ASSIST Self service will be unavailable while important maintenance patches are being applied.

Downtime: Sunday, May 20th, 2012 from 2:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Services Impacted: ASSIST Student and Faculty Self Service, Banner INB

Cause: The updates are required to maintain the functionality of Banner.

For more information, please contact IT Help Desk at 956-665-2020 or email to helpdesk@utpa.edu from Monday to Thursday between 8 a.m.-7 p.m. and Friday between 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

Follow Updates at: www.utpa.edu/dit, www.facebook.com/utpadit

Division of Information Technology
The University of Texas-Pan American

Original Post by Isabel Reyna for Information Technology on May, 16 2012

UTPA will temporarily close the dirt property lots that were allowed for temporary parking in the late fall and spring semesters. These lots are located on VanWeek street between parking lot T-2 and 2nd street and between 2nd and 4th street. Contractors will close off the area on Saturday, 05/12/2012 early morning to begin construction of the new parking lots that are scheduled to open in Fall 2012. Vehicles will not be permitted in this area during construction. Alternative parking is recommended until the new parking lots are complete. For any questions or concerns, please contact Parking Services at 956-665-2738.

Original Post by Melissa Sandoval for Business Affairs on May, 15 2012

May 12 was a day to celebrate a brighter future for 1,631 graduates of The University of Texas-Pan American as well as for their families, the Rio Grande Valley and the nation.

UTPA President Robert S. Nelsen told the graduates at three commencement ceremonies held at the McAllen Convention Center that education pays – for a bachelor’s degree, $2 million in their lifetime of working, for a master’s degree almost double that. But Nelsen said an education is more than that.

“It (an education) is something you will always have, you can’t lose it, and no one can take it,” he said. “The bottom line is that knowledge, fulfillment, self-awareness and broadening of horizons associated with education transforms lives – the lives of students and the lives of those with whom they live and work. And it will transform the Valley.”

Nelsen said as a result of the recent VISTA Summit on Education hosted by the University, where some of the country’s most powerful foundations were invited to invest in the future of the Valley and its people, UTPA graduates will have an important role to play.

“You will walk out today as role models and mentors for so many people, many who aspire to be college graduates like you. You must remember that responsibility. Help them. Don’t forget to reach back and be there at all times,” he said. “By making the most of what you are taking away from this University, will help to make that difference.”

Nelsen also saluted the nearly 1,700 veterans who have graduated since the Iraq and Afghanistan wars began by having them stand at each ceremony.

At the 9 a.m. ceremony for the graduates in the Colleges of Science and Mathematics, Engineering and Computer Science and Social and Behavioral Sciences, State Senator José Rodríguez (BA ’71) told the graduates and their family members that the memories and lessons he learned at Pan Am have been instrumental in every part of his life.

“My professors reinforced my love of learning and my drive to succeed; I am grateful for the opportunities I was offered at this institution,” he said.

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Original Post by Gail Fagan and Jennifer Berghom on May, 14 2012