CALL FOR NOMINATIONS: IVORY PRIZE FOR EXCELLENCE IN STUDENT LEADERSHIP

Former chair of the University of Utah Board of Trustees Clark Ivory established the U’s most prestigious student award last year, the Ivory Prize for Excellence in Student Leadership. Nominations are now being accepted for the 2015 award.

In an effort to enhance the undergraduate experience and encourage student involvement and leadership, the prize recognizes one to two students each year with a $2,000 prize along with a $10,000 donation to the recipient’s cause. The prize recognizes students for demonstrating a positive influence on student success and/or fostering efforts that have enabled meaningful change.

Nominations are due by March 2 and should include a completed nomination form, a nomination letter up to two pages in length and up to two letters of support. Awardees can be currently enrolled undergraduate or graduate students or those who have graduated within the past five years.

ENGAGEMENT DAY SCHOLARSHIP DEADLINE UPON US

Do you know a student who is engaged in community service and could benefit from a $2,500 scholarship? Please encourage them to submit an application by this Friday for the Community Engagement Day Scholarship at engagementday.utah.edu/scholarship  or stop by Room 209 in the Park Building and pick up an application form today.

The University of Utah wishes to strengthen its commitment to community service by providing scholarship funds to current U students who have demonstrated an active interest in community engagement. The Community Engagement Day Scholarship program ultimately provides additional support to academically qualified students with financial need to gain access to the great educational opportunities the U provides.

These scholarships will be funded by money raised through the annual Community Engagement Day Walk-a-Thon along with corporate support by Zions Bank.

The application deadline is this Friday, Feb. 13, 2015, so act now and encourage worthy students that you may know to apply here.

CHANGES TO UNIVERSITY LOG IN PAGES

Come Feb. 18, the way you log in to many University of Utah web-based services will look a little different. University Information Technology will roll out a redesigned, mobile-friendly log-in screen at go.utah.edu, the primary place many users enter their uNID and password to access university information and resources.

The new screen updates the simple interface to look more like other official university websites and it will display better on smaller screens. Students, faculty and staff will see the redesigned single sign-on Central Authentication Service (CAS) page when logging in to services such as the Campus Information System, Box.utah.edu, Canvas and more.

If you have any questions about the updated page, please contact your respective help desk or the campus help desk at 801-581-4000.

TEDX SALT LAKE CITY 2015 IS LOOKING FOR STORYTELLERS AND ENLIGHTENERS

The deadline for proposing a TED talk for the third annual TEDxSaltLakeCity event is fast approaching. Submissions must be made by Feb. 21, and the first round of selections will be made mid-March. The event will be held Sept. 19 at Kingsbury Hall. This year’s theme is Upcycled Thinking, or a way to reuse, repurpose or revitalize to create a new product of a higher quality or value than the original.

“Some of the best innovations in technology, entertainment and design come from simply repurposing,” a TEDxSaltLakeCity press release reads. “The word upcycle is fairly new in today’s lexicon, but the concept is showing up in people and places that astound and inspire.” To submit your idea, go to the TEDxSaltLakeCity website.

TED audiences have high expectations of the speakers; the TED speaker team works with speakers well in advance of the conference to help shape a presentation that will succeed on the TED stage. TEDxSaltLakeCity follows the TED format of promoting talks that are free from political boundaries, economic expectations, personal biases, and hidden agendas. For more information about how to make a successful submission, review TED’s resources, or contact steering committee member Jason Shepherd, an assistant professor in the University of Utah School of Medicine, at Jason.Shepherd@neuro.utah.edu.

CAMPUS MEETING PLANNING CLASSES
Thursday, Feb. 19 | 9-10:30 a.m.

How would you like to become a campus meeting planning expert in 2015? The University Guest House & Conference Center is holding a series of three comprehensive meeting planning classes, culminating with the 4th Annual Planning Successful Meetings on Campus Conference. Based on feedback from the annual conference, additional training has been requested by many. Each class will focus on one major aspect of the planning process.

The first class will be held on Thursday, Feb. 19 and will focus on venue selection. The class will be held at the Guest House from 9-10:30 a.m. and there is no charge to attend. If you attend all four sessions this year, the University Guest House will award you with a completion certificate. Your knowledge and expertise on the meeting planning process will be recognized by your department and your peers.

2015 CLASS SCHEDULE:

• 19 − Venue Selection: Available Campus Meeting Space
• April 15 − Contracts: What you Need to Know When Booking Hotel/ Meeting      Space
• 16 − Risk Management Issues for Meetings on Campus
• 4 − 4th Annual Planning Successful Meetings on Campus Conference.

Mark your calendar for all four classes. Register online here or if you have questions, please call 801-587-2980.

THEATRE DESIGN PROGRAM NAMED TOP FIVE IN THE NATION

On Stage Critics recently ranked the best Theatre Design and Technology BFA programs in the U.S. and the University of Utah Department of Theatre’s Performing Arts Design Program (PADP) came out near the top with the #4 ranking.

PADP earned its ranking in part to the close mentoring among faculty and students, and was noted for its comprehensive curriculum that places students in core theatre courses, as well as courses in scenic, costume and lighting design. The optional study abroad program in London was also mentioned as a valuable educational experience.

Additionally, the ranking considered performance spaces, cost to attend and notable alumni. The Babcock Theatre was touted as a wonderfully intimate space; tuition costs deemed reasonable; and notable alumni including Anthony Gaskins, Kenneth Washington and Klea Blackhurst complimented the program’s history.

Even more complimentary, On Stage Critics concluded, “This is by far the best theatre program in the Southwest corner of the country.”

Congratulations, Department of Theatre faculty, students and staff.

Visit the Department of Theatre’s Flickr page to see photos of past and current productions.

U collaborates to create “Music for Healing”

As a philanthropist and entrepreneur, Emily Richards, a U alum, musician and CEO of the nonprofit music community ccMixter.org, is hoping to use music to change the lives of people battling neurological diseases.

Richards is teaming up with the University of Utah on a project called “Music for Healing.” In collaboration with the School of Medicine, School of Music, Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute and the Marriott Library, the project will allow students, physicians, musicians, professors and librarians to create music and language pieces that can be used to help patients with Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, autism, epilepsy and other ailments.

The J. Willard Marriott Library will be providing free recording sessions to students. The public is invited to learn more about the project, tour the library’s sound studio and record a piece of music at an open house, Feb. 19, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. To learn more about the project and to schedule a recording session, visit lib.utah.edu/music4healing/.

DISTINGUISHED TEACHING AWARD RECIPIENTS

The Distinguished Teaching Award recipients for 2014-15 are:

David Derezotes professor, social work

David Gard professor, biology

Bill Richards professor (clinical), law

Kenneth Spitzer professor, internal medicine
(cardiovascular medicine)