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A new shuttle route running through the center of campus is now operational. The Trax-Union route, which connects the South Campus Drive TRAX station with the Union area of campus, will be utilized by an electric shuttle, reducing auto emissions throughout campus while making the train-bus-class or work path much quicker and easier. Students and staff alike can step off the train, catch a shuttle and get to the Campus Store, Union, Library or any of the surrounding buildings in minutes.

The Union-TRAX route, completed in January of 2018, bisects campus from north to south and links the Business Loop roadway to the Union Building, providing faster service between these two major campus destinations. The electric shuttle will operate on this route from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. every weekday and is carefully timed to arrive shortly after trains arrive at the South Campus Drive TRAX station.

Commuters can follow the electric shuttle route on Commuter Services’ live shuttle tracker, noting its mauve-colored path.

For additional information, please visit the Commuter Services website or call 801-581-6415.

The next meeting of the Academic Senate is Monday, Feb. 5 from 3-5 pm. The following items will be discussed, among others:

• New graduate certificate in statistics
• Two new minors in information systems (School of Business) and games (Entertainment Arts & Engineering)
• An update on the implementation of the tobacco-free rule

The meeting will be in the Moot Courtroom (6th floor) of the College of Law. Meetings are open to the public.

The agenda will be posted approximately one week before here.

In 2013, the U’s Board of Trustees approved changes to a policy that enhances safety for pedestrians across campus. The changes aim to make sidewalks safer by increasing fines and other consequences for safety violations, such as speeding or not yielding to pedestrians.

The policy applies to non-motorized riding devices, such as bicycles, skateboards, roller skates, rollerblades and scooters, but does not include wheelchairs or strollers.

 

The policy enforces a 10-mph speed limit for all motorized and non-motorized vehicles, prohibits skateboarders from riding in parking lots or roadways, requires riders to yield to pedestrians, bans non-motorized vehicles from stairways, grass, benches, etc., among other precautionary measures.

The university’s policy for non-motorized riding devices is available here.

Do you know an academic advisor who has made a positive impact on campus and for students?  Nominations are now being accepted from students, staff and faculty for the Outstanding Advisor Award and Outstanding New Advisor Award. Nominations are quick and easy. The deadline to nominate is Feb. 9, 2018.

The awards recognize U of U academic advisors who have demonstrated qualities associated with outstanding advising of students such as:

• Approaches advising as teaching
• Strong interpersonal skills
• Available to advisees
• Reaches out and supports underserved populations
• Makes appropriate referrals
• Uses and disseminates appropriate information sources
• Caring, helpful attitude toward advisees, faculty, and staff
• Works with students outside of office in formal University-related activities
• Monitors advisee progress toward academic and career goals
• Mastery of institutional regulations, policies, and procedures
• Participates in and supports advisor development programs
• Proactive; builds relationships with advisees and follows up
• Practices developmental advising

It only takes a few moments to complete the nomination process. Click here to nominate your favorite advisor.

Additional questions can be addressed to Nicole O’Shea (nicole.oshea@utah.edu) or Michelle Brooks (michelle.brooks@utah.edu). Consider recognizing an outstanding advisor at the U by submitting a nomination today.

Radon is a radioactive gas that can cause lung cancer. But how do you protect yourself from a gas you cannot see, taste or smell?

Testing is the only way to know if you and your family are at risk from radon.

 

Click here for more information.

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for the 2018-19 academic year is available at fafsa.gov. Students that want to be considered for the maximum amount of aid programs, including grants, need-based scholarships, and work-study need to complete the FAFSA and their financial aid file by the Feb. 1, 2018, Financial Aid Priority Date. Students can complete the FAFSA after the priority date and will still be considered for some aid options.

Here’s some helpful FAFSA hints:

• Use school code 003675 on the FAFSA
• Utilize the Data Retrieval Tool (DRT) in the application. It will securely transfer your federal tax information from the IRS to the FAFSA.
• After submitting your FAFSA, consistently check your UMail account and financial aid status in CIS. The University Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid (UOSFA) may require additional information. Not following up on requests in a timely manner will delay your financial aid award letter.
• Financial aid award letters for 2018-19 are expected to be available in late March-early April.
• Financial aid is available for the 2018 spring and summer semesters. Students will need to complete the 2017-18 FAFSA. The separate summer application will be available on the UOSFA website in the next few months.

The University Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid is here to help you. If you need assistance completing the FAFSA, have financial aid or scholarship questions, visit our website.

The Office for Global Engagement is requesting pre-proposals for the Global Learning Across the Disciplines (GLAD) Grants offering up to $10,000 for faculty teams to internationalize the curriculum by developing global learning outcomes and an assessment process. Global Learning is defined as “the knowledge, skills, and attitudes students acquire through a variety of experiences that enable them to understand world cultures and events; analyze global systems; appreciate cultural differences; and apply this knowledge and appreciation to their lives as citizens and workers” (Olson, Green and Hill, 2006).

Instructions and background information for the pre-proposals can be found here. Please carefully review the purpose of the GLAD Grants and the instructions. If you have any questions or would like to receive feedback on your proposal idea, please contact Sabine Klahr, acting chief global officer, at 7-8888 or s.klahr@utah.edu.

DEADLINE: Feb. 9.

The Beehive Honor Society was established at the University of Utah in 1913 and is the oldest and most prestigious honor society on campus today. The Beehive Honor Society is looking to acknowledge and honor graduating University of Utah seniors who have excelled in scholarship, leadership and service to the university and the community.

The application is due Feb. 12 and can be found here.

The University of Utah is partnering with Alta Ski Area to recognize students, faculty and staff with the fourth Alta Sustainability Leadership Awards. The awards recognize members of the university community who demonstrate leadership in sustainability education, research or campus/community initiatives. An award of $2,500 is given in four award categories.

The application deadline is Jan. 31, 2018.

The awards will be presented on Feb. 15, 2018, at the Environment and Sustainability Research Symposium.

For more information on applying, or to nominate yourself or a colleague, click here.