We need your vote in the People’s Choice video competition for the 2016 Utah Entrepreneur Challenge. Help U student startups beat all the other schools in the state and win the $2,500 prize, and watch their videos to learn more about their amazing inventions.

The public may vote from March 14 to April 8. The team with the most votes will win.

The winning team will be announced at the UEC Public Showcase and Awards Ceremony on April 9 the University of Utah. All are welcome to attend the showcase event! It’s a great opportunity to meet the best student entrepreneurs in the state and see who wins the $100,000 in cash and prizes, including the $40,000 grand prize. The program is managed by the Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute at the U and sponsored by Zions Bank.

Vote and learn more here: lassonde.utah.edu/vote2016.

The University Distinguished Teaching Award honors significant contributions to the teaching mission of the University of Utah. Nominees for the Distinguished Teaching Award must maintain a consistent record of outstanding teaching performance and implement effective and innovative teaching methods which demonstrate exceptional abilities to motivate student learning. Nominees must show a concern for students and their wider education as well as their career preparation and must also contribute to the educational process outside of the classroom.

The recipients for the 2015-16 Distinguished Teaching Award are Karen Gunning, professor (clinical), pharmacotherapy; Heather Melton, associate professor, sociology; Leslie Sieburth, professor, biology; and Timothy Smith, distinguished professor, psychology.

Dr. Sabine Klahr, deputy chief global officer, Office for Global Engagement, was honored with the Timothy J. Rutenber Award in Recognition of Her Outstanding and Dedicated Service over many years to the Association of International Education Administrators (AIEA) at the recent AIEA annual conference in Montreal, Canada. AIEA is the leading association in the world focused on professional development, advocacy, information-sharing and networking for leaders in the field of international higher education.

Dr. Darla Deardorff, executive director of AIEA, stated that “Dr. Sabine Klahr is most deserving of the Rutenber Award, given her leadership within AIEA and her extraordinary commitment of service to the organization and to colleagues.”

Klahr’s contributions to AIEA and the profession are many and varied, including the presidency of the organization in the presidential stream from 2012 – 2015. Klahr’s vision and voice continue to guide the profession at the highest levels. This award recognizes Klahr’s long-term service and outstanding contribution to the Association of International Education Administrators.

University Information Technology (UIT) has launched a new information email service open to all faculty, staff and students. You can subscribe by entering your email address in an online form and opt out at any time.

Subscribers receive monthly Node 4 newsletter emails as well as occasional UIT announcements, including planned service downtime notices. Those who are interested in the U’s most critical common IT resources may wish to subscribe. Services covered include the campus network; the Campus Information Services (CIS) portal; UMail, telephone and online collaboration services; information security; software licensing; research computing; teaching/learning technologies; and a range of other IT systems and applications.

The new email list provides non-urgent UIT information only. Staff and faculty who wish to receive active incident/outage information may subscribe to receive NotifyIT alerts via SMS/email; anyone, including students, can find active incident information on the UIT website and via Twitter.

Fossil of the month: Salad forks, not carving knives
These are manal, or hand, claws from the dinosaur Nothronychus graffami. Its claws can be nearly a foot long. Nothronychus is a theropod dinosaur, the group containing all the famous predators like Tyrannosaurus rex. Unlike its ferocious, meat-eating relatives, however, Nothronychus consumed plants. Paleontologists think it used its huge claws for either intimidation or grasping vegetation. You can see a full skeletal reconstruction of Nothronychus in the Natural History Museum of Utah’s Past Worlds Gallery on Level 2.

Insect of the month
Monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus) have one of the most amazing migration stories on earth. Each individual butterfly only completes a portion of the journey but over generations they cover thousands of miles.

This particular specimen from our collection was collected in 1953 right here in Salt Lake City. We have thousands of butterflies and moths in our entomology collection and the data about when and where they were found provides valuable historical information to researchers.

Gear up for the outdoor climbing season with any of our classes or clinics at The Summit. “Learn to Belay” or “Learn to Lead Belay and Lead Climb” are just a couple of the classes
and clinics we offer.

Check out campusrec.utah.edu for a full list.

Dates and registration fees vary.

A Utah Museum of Fine Arts educator is being recognized for her dedication, creativity, and resourcefulness in bringing meaningful art experiences to students and teachers across the state.

Annie Burbidge Ream, assistant curator of education and public school programs at the Utah Museum of Fine Arts , was named 2016 Utah Museum Educator of the Year by the Utah Art Education Association in February. This month she was awarded the 2016 Pacific Region Museum Education Art Educator Award from the National Art Education Association.

For more information, click here.

Associate Director of Trademarks and Licensing Richard Fairchild has been reelected to the Fair Labor Association board and now begins his fourth year of service to the organization.

Initially elected in 2013, Fairchild will begin his second term as a Fair Labor Association, or FLA, board member in June and serve though May 2019. He is one of six university representatives from higher education institutions throughout the United States to sit on the board.

The FLA is a collaborative group of universities, civil society organizations and socially responsible companies dedicated to protecting workers’ rights around the world.

The University of Utah is a member of the FLA and requires all of its licensees to also be members.

The FLA board is composed of 19 members and includes six universities, six brands, six civil societies and one chair. Board members are tasked with making important decisions that impact employment practices, policies and standards throughout the world.

Read the full article here.

Each year, the University of Utah’s Office of Undergraduate Studies and the Office of Student Affairs recognizes people, programs and projects committed to creating a transformative, undergraduate educational experience.

Beacons of Excellence awards celebrate “best practices” found across campus, including labs, student clubs, individuals, centers and more. Since the award was created in 2012, hundreds of nominations have been submitted by students, faculty, staff and community members.

Nominations are currently being accepted and are due by Thursday, April 14 at 5 p.m.

Recipients of the 2016 awards will be honored throughout the year in print and other media outlets on campus and in the community.

More information about the award and past honorees is available online.

The University of Utah Staff Council is pleased to announce that applications are now being accepted for staff development scholarships for the summer 2016 semester.

Each scholarship is worth up to $500 and can be used towards the employee’s tuition bill.  Scholarships can be used towards professional trainings, symposiums, conferences or workshops and their associated expenses.

The committee will process the scholarship applications in the most fair and judicious manner to benefit the employee, according to the procedures directed by the University of Utah policy. UUSC is an equal opportunity provider.

Qualified applicants must meet the following criteria:

• Currently working at 75 percent or above Full Time Equivalency (FTE) position (30-40 hours per week).
• Maintained 75 percent or greater Full Time Equivalency (FTE) in a benefits eligible position for two consecutive years as of Feb. 29, 2016.
• Have not received a Staff Council Scholarship within the past two years.

*Current Staff Council Members are not eligible.

Click here to apply.

Applications are due by 5 p.m. on April 15, 2016, and incomplete applications will not be considered.

The University of Utah Staff Council is currently looking for positive, service-minded individuals to join. The UU Staff Council is an organization established by University Policy 5-003 to make sure the interests of staff on campus are represented. The University of Utah Staff Council had several achievements and was involved in many events during the 2016-2017 AY.

• Awarded 13 scholarships at $500 each (summer, fall and spring)
• Members participated in the District and Staff Excellence Award selections
• Sponsored several events for staff including Shred Day where staff were able to shred personal documents and dispose personal eWaste at no charge, U-Nights at Real Salt Lake, Utah Grizzlies discount tickets and Salt Lake Bees discounted tickets
• Members actively represent staff interests on several committees across campus
• Members participated in the legislative process as advocates for staff of the U
• Staff Council continues to co-sponsorship Employee Appreciation Day

If you are interested in making a difference here at the U by participating on Staff Council, submit an application before 5 p.m., April 15, 2016.  Incomplete applications will not be considered.

For detailed information and qualifications for being a part of the University of Utah Staff Council, please visit: Staffcouncil.utah.edu.