Feb. 6, 2023--Student Affairs Weekly Update

Vice President for Student Affairs

On Feb. 3, Senator Royce West and Representative Angie Chen Button each filed UTD student fee legislation. The bill numbers are SB 696 and HB 1912 They are identical bills that increase the Student Union fee to $100 for each regular semester and $50 for the summer semester. Next steps are as follows: Senator West will wait until SB 696 is referred by Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick to the Senate Education Committee and then to the Senate Higher Education Subcommittee. Senator West will then request a hearing for the bill in the subcommittee. Once the bill is set for hearing, UTD will be asked to appear as a resource on the legislation. This will likely happen in March. Representative Button will wait until Speaker Dade Phelan appoints committees and then refer HB 1912 to the House Higher Education Committee. Rep. Button will request a hearing where UTD will again be asked to appear as a resource. This will likely happen in March but on a different date than the SB 696 hearing. More details will be provided as the legislation advances.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Athletics

Dean of Students

Activities for the week of Jan. 23: Students referred to BAIT (9). Student/staff meetings (24).

Health & Wellness Initiatives

Counseling Center

The SCC has several open support groups for students to visit on a drop-in basis, including the Family Re-Imagined Support Group, Tuesdays, 4-5 p.m.; the Pomegranate Collective Reproductive Health Support Group, Tuesdays, 3-4 p.m.; the Mandarin Support Group, Wednesdays, 3-4 p.m.; the Graduate Student Support, Thursdays, 5-6 p.m.; OUTerSpace, Fridays, 2-3 p.m.; and the Self-Compassion Group Fridays, 11 a.m.-noon.
Center for Students in Recovery activities for the week of Jan. 23:12-Step (3), Nourish (4), community (16), Creative Recovery (10), Stillness Meditation (5).

Health Center

The Student Health Center will host free vision and dental screenings on March 1 and April 5. Screenings are by appointment only and will take place in Galaxy Room C. Students should contact the center to schedule an appointment.

University Recreation

Feb. 15: Homecoming 5K. Check in begins at 5:30 p.m., race starts at 7. Open to all. Sign up here.
Feb. 17: Cardboard Boat Regatta.

Student Engagement Initiatives

Intercultural Programs

Feb. 7: Intercultural Iceberg, 1 p.m., Instagram.
Feb. 8: iFriend Welcome Party, 3 p.m., Galaxy Rooms A/B/C.
Feb. 9: Dating Around the World, 1 p.m., Instagram.
Feb. 10: McDermott Library Resources for International Students, 1 p.m., Instagram.

Student Development

Feb. 7: Student Government senate meeting, 5:30 p.m.
Feb. 13: Registration for the Homecoming Tailgate closes, 5 p.m.
Feb. 15-18: Homecoming.
If you’re interested in sharing your time advising a student group, consider completing the SOC Advisor Interest Form.

Student Union

The SU now has 14 high-top tables available for use in the Galaxy Rooms, Artemis Hall (former the Faculty/Staff Dining Hall) and the SSA Gaming Wall.

Student Volunteerism

Feb. 8: EngageUTD info session for students, 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Feb. 10: EngageUTD info session for community partners, 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Feb. 14: UTD Homecoming Campus Cleanup 3-4:30 p.m.
February Donation Drive: Cleaning supplies, benefitting the CitySquare Transition Resource Action Center (TRAC).

Student Transition Initiatives

Military and Veteran Center

Feb. 28 and March 2: Staff/faculty Green Zone training. Training takes place over two sessions, 10 a.m.-noon, SSA 14.245.
Feb. 6-10: Student veteran virtual resume review. Register online.
The MCA Innovation and Entrepreneurship Lunch Speaker Series is planned for noon-1:30 p.m. on Feb. 6 and 24, March 6 and 27 and April 19.

Student Transition Programs

University Career Center