Jazz Professor in Latvia for Fulbright Experience

Recently named as one of the top producers of Fulbright Scholars in the nation, UNT has a proud heritage of faculty who serve as cultural ambassadors through the exchange of educational innovations and research. Lynn Seaton, professor of Jazz Studies, was recently awarded a Fulbright, allowing him to teach and perform at the Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music in Riga, Latvia during fall 2014. Seaton is one of six UNT-system employees to receive a Fulbright in 2014, putting UNT on the map among top research universities. If you are interested in learning more about the Fulbright Scholar Program, contact UNT-International (Mary Beth.Butler@unt.edu) for application forms and upcoming workshops. Enjoy learning more about Seaton’s Fulbright here.

Mentoring Grant Deadline Approaching

Funding for the 2015-16 Mentoring Grant Program is available to all full-time faculty for both individual and team grants. To learn more about how these grants can help improve your teaching or scholarly efforts, please attend an information session on March 25, 2015, 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m., BLB 050.  Proposals are due on April 3, 2015.  Specific questions may be directed to faculty.success@unt.edu.

From Poignant Thought to Published Article

Back by popular demand, this workshop draws upon the expertise of UNT's most prolific writers, editors, and editorial board members from top journals who will offer practical advice for getting articles out the door and into print. Panel members are:

• Bruce Bond, Regents Professor, English
• Weston T. Bordon, Distinguished Research Professor and Welch Chair, Chemistry
• Victor Prybutok, Regents Professor and Associate Dean, Information Technology & Decision Sciences
• Richard Rogers, Regents Professor, Psychology

The workshop, moderated by Angela Wilson, Regents Professor of Chemistry is scheduled for March 27, 2015, 1:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m., Gateway 42. Register here! First 10 registrants will receive a copy of Jim Denney's book, Writing in Overdrive: Write Faster, Write Freely, Write Brilliantly.

'Get Funded' Workshop Rescheduled for April 16th! 

Learn how to write a successful grant proposal from UNT's top researchers. Topics will include insights into the peer review process, addressing 'broader impacts,' as well as insider tips for creating a competitive application. Panel members are:

• Bill Buckles, Professor, Computer Science & Engineering

• Niki Dash, Associate Professor, Sociology; Associate Dean, College of Public Affairs & Community Service

• Jincheng Du, Associate Professor, Materials & Science Engineering

• Rick Nader, Vice Provost for International Affairs

• Marco Nardelli, Distinguished Research Professor, Physics & Chemistry

• Yong Tao, Distinguished Research Professor and Chair, Mechanical & Energy Engineering

The workshop, moderated by Angela Wilson, Regents Professor of Chemistry, is rescheduled for April 16, 2015, 3:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m., BLB 260. Register here. If you have questions, please contact faculty.success@unt.edu or Angela.Wilson@unt.edu.  

New Publishing Services for UNT Faculty

Faculty, students, and staff at UNT have a new option for publishing their works of scholarship. Eagle Editions, an imprint of the UNT libraries, offers works free to read online and allows authors and editors to sell print and e-book versions as well. The cost to publish varies depending on the services desired and the length and complexity of the work. Please visit the Eagle Editions website or contact Kevin.Hawkins@unt.edu for more information.

The Charn Uswachoke International Development Fund

The 2015 Charn Fund Request for Proposals seeks projects that will contribute to the comprehensive globalization of UNT. Competitive proposals will have broad impact on the internationalization of UNT's curriculum, enable capacity building that aids UNT in becoming a leader in global education, and demonstrate measurable learning outcomes. Preference will be given to proposals that demonstrate measurable impact and involve collaborative efforts across academic and support service units. UNT full-time faculty, lecturers, and staff  are encouraged to apply. The proposal submission deadline is March 23, 2015 by 5:00 p.m. Please direct any inquiries to Amanda White Bennett at Amanda.White@unt.edu or (940) 369-5292.  

Save-the-Date for Upcoming CLEAR Events!

• TWU's Annual Academic Success Lecture:  UNT faculty and staff are invited to TWU's Annual Academic Success Lecture on Friday, March 27, 2015, from 9:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. Dr Rena Palloff of Fielding Graduate University will present a lecture in the morning session, followed by lunch and a presentation from Blackboard. The afternoon session will include a hands-on workshop lead by Dr. Palloff. Registration and details are provided here.  
   

• University Forum on Teaching & Learning:  Save the Date for this half-day event designed to enable faculty, graduate teaching fellows, and staff involved in supporting teaching and learning. Participants will engage in open dialogue about the challenges of teaching and share ideas and practices that improve teaching effectiveness. The forum will feature keynote speaker George Seimens (digital learning expert). on April 10, 2015 from 8:30 a.m.  - 12:00 p.m. in Gateway Ballroom 035. Registration is now open and can be found here.
   

• Call for 2015-16 Proposals for NextGen Course Redesign Grants:  NextGen utilizes an innovative three-tier model of student learning outcomes, outcome-based instruction, and assessment that promotes deeper connection with course content, instructors, and peers. Beginning in February, CLEAR will be accepting applications on a rolling basis until April 30, 2015. For additional information, questions, or concerns, please contact the NextGen Program Manager at Jenna.Ledford@unt.edu or our website here.

Coffee & Convos: Connect with Non-Traditional Students

Did you know that UNT offers services targeted specifically for non-traditional students?  At UNT, we consider non-traditional students to be undergraduates who possess one or more of the following characteristics:  

• is older than the perceived 'traditional' college age
• has returned to higher education after time away from initial enrollment
• has enrolled in higher education after time away from secondary education
• has dependents other than a spouse (usually children, family members or others)
• is a single parent (either not married, or married but separated and has dependents)
• works at least 35 hours per week
• commutes to campus
• is enrolled in 100% online or off-campus courses. 

Chances are you have many non-traditional students in your classes who may face significant challenges making campus connections and engaging with faculty. The Student Activities Center is offering "Coffee & Convos,"  an innovative  program to encourage relationship building between professors and students.  For more information, refer students to Stovall Hall 117 or offcampus.unt.edu.

Academic Leaders Corner

Building, strengthening, and sustaining UNT's administrative leadership is an important part of the work that we do in the Office for Faculty Success.  Upcoming events are listed below:

Please send your good ideas, comments, and/or suggestions for the next Faculty Newsletter to faculty.success@unt.edu.