Tri-Campus Bulletin Board: a digest of important happenings

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Toys for Tots donations
Toys collected for Toys for Tots

Center for Archaeological Research collects toys for tots

(Dec. 19, 2002)--The Center for Archaeological Research staff collected more than 85 toys for the Marine Corp's Toys for Tots program. The Center thanks all of the individuals and departments who contributed toys. A special thank you goes to the academic advisers who donated several boxes and bags of toys. The toys will be given by the Marine Corps to local charity organizations for distribution to families in need.

For more information, go to Toys for Tots.

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Surplus department to suspend activities during January

(Dec. 19, 2002)--The UTSA surplus department will relocate to another building on West Campus during January 2003. Throughout January, no surplus equipment will be picked up from any departments, nor will any equipment be accepted directly from departments.

Additionally, computer equipment will not be accepted in the tunnel areas beneath the Multidisciplinary Studies Building. The campus community will be informed of revised procedures for requesting removal of surplus equipment prior to resuming operations Feb. 3.

For more information, call Gabriele Ebner, capital assets manager, at (210) 458-6130.

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Testing services offers Quick TASP test Jan. 6

(Dec. 19, 2002)--The last Quick TASP session for students who plan to enter in the spring 2003 semester will be offered Jan. 6 at the Downtown Campus location only, Buena Vista Street Building Room 1.302. Students must preregister at the testing services office (BV 1.302) and must also prepay fees at fiscal services (Frio Street Building Room 1.508).

The cost is $15 plus a separate $29 fee to NES. The NES fee must be in check or money order form, payable to NES. Bring your receipts with you on test day. Seating is limited.

Students who do not complete the test during this final opportunity may have to wait until summer or fall semester to begin class. For more information, call (210) 458-2941.

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Downtown Campus buildings closed during holidays

(Dec. 19, 2002)--Buildings at the Downtown Campus will be closed Dec. 24, 25, 26 and Jan. 1. Authorized persons needing entry into a building on one of these dates will need to use their UTSA ID card at a card-access entry.

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Intersession hours set for shuttle service

(Dec. 19, 2002)--During the period Dec. 16-Jan. 10, the UTSA shuttle service will operate on an abbreviated schedule. Regular service will resume Jan. 13: 1604 Campus, 7 a.m. - 7 p.m.; Downtown Campus, 7 a.m. - 3 p.m.

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Is honesty always the best policy? It's debatable...

(Dec. 19, 2002)--Students at UTSA and those at other area colleges, universities and high schools are invited to enter the preliminary competition for "Is Honesty Always the Best Policy?," a debate competition sponsored by the UTSA Honors Alliance/Student Leadership and Cultural Programs. Admission to the debate is free and open to the public.

There will be separate categories for college and high school students. The top three students in each category will receive cash prizes and a prize pack. First place winners will also be crowned Masters of the Mind.

Debate participants will be selected based on a preliminary written essay of 500-750 words that explains the entrant's position on the subject, with appropriate supporting citations. All entries must be typed in 12 pt. New Times Roman, double-spaced with one-inch margins all around. The entry form will serve as a cover sheet. Strength of argument will be the key selection criterion.

The deadline for submitting the written essay is 5 p.m. Jan. 10, 2003. There is no entry fee. Essays can be e-mailed, formatted in Microsoft Word or Word Perfect, to aenglert@utsa.edu, or hand-delivered or put in campus mail or U.S. mail to the attention of Anne Englert, UTSA SLCP, 6900 North Loop 1604 West, Rm. UC 1.02.08 San Antonio, TX 78249-0622.

Debaters for the finals will be announced Jan. 17. Finalists must be available for the debate, which will begin at 7 p.m. Jan. 24 and will be held at the 1604 Campus University Center Retama Auditorium.

Entry forms are available from student leadership and cultural programs. Drop by University Center Room 1.02.08 or call (210) 458-4155.

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U.S. Department of Education announces ruling on use of student Social Security numbers

(Dec. 19, 2002)--The Office of Management for the U.S. Department of Education recently ruled in a case from another state that the public posting on a Web site (or by any other medium) of final course grades using the last four digits of a student's social security number is a violation of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA or the "Buckley Amendment.")

Accordingly, no academic work grades, including final course grades, exams, quizzes, and homework, or any other confidential student information can be publicly disclosed or posted, on the Web or by any other medium, using any part or combination of a student's social security number without the written consent of each student.

Because final course grades may be inferred from the collection of raw scores on exams or quizzes, some institutions --including UT-Austin -- have broadened their applications to include all academic work to avoid any confusion or dispute as to what constitutes a confidential student record.

Sheldon Ekland-Olson, executive vice president and provost at UT-Austin, summarizes their policy: "Our policy prohibits the disclosure of any confidential student information in a personally identifiable manner, which now includes name, student identification number social security number or a portion thereof, without the student's written consent. Faculty may continue to use student-specific password protected systems (such as UT Direct and its applications) to communicate academic work grades or other confidential information to individual students. Students may also access their final course grades using UT Direct services. Information technology is currently developing an e-grade book application, which may be available in Spring 2003, and which will also provide faculty with a password protected system to communicate academic work grades to individual students."

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Keith Kewley named to local indoor air quality advisory board

(Dec. 19, 2002)--Keith Kewley, UTSA Asbestos and Indoor Air Quality Management Coordinator, recently accepted an appointment to the Advisory Board of the San Antonio Chapter of the American Indoor Air Quality Council.

The American Indoor Air Quality Council promotes awareness, education, and certification in the field of Indoor Air Quality through learning, sharing, and networking. The San Antonio Chapter conducts workshops on IAQ related topics, providing the most up-to-date information on regulatory issues, health related concerns, and remediation procedures.

For more information on asbestos or indoor air quality at UTSA, contact Keith Kewley, occupational and safety programs, at (210) 458-4267.

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UTSA Fencing wins gold medal at Baylor

(Dec. 19, 2002)-- Congratulations to the UTSA Fencing team! The Roadrunner fencers recently brought home another gold medal from the second Southwest Intercollegiate Fencing Association (SWIFA) event of the season at Baylor University.

UTSA's foil A squad (Jose J. Sanchez, Pablo Carranza, Amanda Corgill and Zachary Hamilton) came back from their first round loss to the University of Texas at Austin Foil A Squad and defeated both Longhorn foil squads in the finals.

UTSA's foil B squad (Rae Acuna, Emmanuel Macias, Nick Halpin and Elizabeth Lang) posted one victory in the first round of competition.

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Human Resources relocates training and development workshops

(Dec. 19, 2002)--Human Resources has posted class schedule newsletter updates on their Web site. Note that there are location changes due to temporary closure of the John Peace Library Building Assembly Room.

Winter Class Schedule Newsletter Updates

Courses on UTSA Calendar

Complete Class Schedule

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TODAY'S HEADLINES:

OEP hosts training sessions for building captains and floor safety coordinators
Roadrunner Resolutions: What's your plan for the new year?
Tri-Campus Bulletin Board: a digest of important happenings
Campus Recreation Center to offer memberships Jan. 8
Renowned economist to headline Frost Lecture Series Jan. 15

UTSA Today Front Page

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