Daily Archives: March 11, 2010

Changes to Arabic, Hebrew, Persian, and Turkish

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In fall 2010 you will see a lot of changes to the language sequences in Arabic, Hebrew, Persian, and Turkish. Here’s a run-down of what you can expect:

INTENSIVE COURSES: All first-year sequences are moving to an intensive format (a la Arabic). Students will reach Intermediate proficiency at the end of one year and therefore meet the COLA language requirement in just two semesters. The course numbers for this sequence will be: ARA/HEB/PRS/TUR 601C and 611C

BRIDGE COURSES: For fall 2010 only, HEB and PRS 611C will be offered as a bridge course to get students in 507 ready to take the upper-division courses in the language. Enrollments in Turkish are small enough to avoid this extra scheduling. The Arabic sequence is already intensive and so the changes are in course number only.

COMPLETE SEQUENCES:

– Arabic: 601C, 611C, 621K, 621L, 531K, 531L (Intensive ARA I thru VI)

– Hebrew: 601C, 611C (Intensive HEB I and II), 325 (Adv Conv & Comp), 321 (Adv Grammar)

– Persian: 601C, 611C (Intensive PRS I and II), 322K, 322L (Intermediate PRS I and II)

– Turkish: 601C, 611C (Intensive TUR I and II), 320K, 322L (Intermediate TUR I and II)

If you have any questions, please contact Kim Dahl kimberly.dahl@austin.utexas.edu.

Changes to French, Italian and German Lower-Division Language Sequences

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A message from Tim Ashlock, academic advisor for French, Italian, and German:

· Beginning Fall 2010, all three languages are moving to a three-semester sequence as follows: 506, 507, 612.

· There will be multiple sections of ITL, FR and GER 612 in Fall 2010. (Note: the course schedule will still say that a B or higher in 507, 508K or 604 is required in order to take 612. However, this will NOT be enforced. A student must earn a C or higher in 507 or 604 in order to take 612.)

· The last time ITL, FR or GER 312L will be offered is Fall 2010. There will be limited sections available, but we should be able to accommodate all students currently taking 312K.

· 312K will NOT be offered in Fall 2010.

· 312K and 312L will both be offered in Summer 2010: 312K in first summer session, 312L in second summer session.

· It’s possible that we may offer 312K and 312L during subsequent summer semesters, but nothing has been decided as of yet. To be safe, please advise students for now on the assumption that it will no longer be possible to take 312K and L at UT Austin.

· Students will still have the option to take the two-semester sequence: 604 and 612.

Summer Internship at Science & Innovation Section of British Consulate

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The Science & Innovation Section at the British Consulate-General in Houston seeks to fill two (4-6 week) positions of Science and Policy Research for the summer of 2010 (exact times negotiable) at our offices in downtown Houston, Texas.

Summer Internship 2010 British Consulate General ApplicationCollege students entering their junior or senior year and graduate students are eligible to apply.

The position is unpaid, but we can participate in campus work-study and academic credit programs (if applicable) and pay a stipend for travel to our office downtown and cover your expenses for attending events as part of the internship.

Please review the material below and respond by email, with the required application material to:  vacancies.houston@fco.gov.uk .

The deadline for applications is: 28th March 2010.

The Work

The first internship (one month over summer 2010, exact dates negotiable) will focus on climate change science and low carbon energy technologies.  The work will include (but not be limited to):

  • Research and reporting on key climate science and energy topics, as well as outreach and public engagement
  • documenting the local/regional response to coming changes in their economic base (i.e. transition from traditional energy industry to renewable energy/energy efficiency industry)
  • laying the framework for S&I events and programs; helping organise and implement our events (workshops, visits)
  • Contributing to quarterly reports on a wide range of S&I topics determined by UK stakeholders
  • Additional work  may include research into other priority areas, if needed

The second internship (one month over summer 2010, exact dates negotiable) will focus on our other priority areas—science policy, nanotechnology, stem cell research and regenerative medicine, space, global health and cancer research, among others.  The work will include (but not be limited to):

  • reporting on regional strengths in scientific research, innovation and policy (done mainly through internet research and phone interviews)
  • researching and reporting on city and state public and private institutions and their research highlights
  • tracking regional and federal funding streams for science and technology institutions and federal labs
  • laying the framework for future events and programs; helping organise and implement our events (workshops, visits)
  • Contributing to quarterly reports on a wide range of S&I topics determined by UK stakeholders
  • Additional work  may include research into other priority areas, if needed

Interns for both positions may have the opportunity to represent the team at local events relating to science work and report back. They will also experience the day-to-day work of the UK’s Foreign Office and learn about work in the diplomatic corps through the working of our section and interaction with other consulate teams (Consular, political, press and Trade and Investment).  Work done by both interns may be distributed to the wider UK Science Network in the US and the UK.

Qualifications

The ideal candidates are self-starters; responsible and creative; have strong writing and analytical skills; strong organisational skills; and an enthusiasm for the topics and work.

Under US State Department requirements, the Embassy/Consulate may only employ, as non-diplomatic staff, persons who are US citizens, US Green Card holders or A or J1 Visa holders. If you hold a Visa other than an A or J1 Visa you are not currently eligible to work at the Consulate. All successful candidates will be subject to security clearances and background checks, which will be carried out once they have been offered the position.

To Apply

  • Submit cover letter and resume via email to vacancies.houston@fco.gov.uk (subject line: “Science & Innovation Summer Internship – Climate” or “Science & Innovation Summer Internship – Science”) by 28st March, 2010.
  • Please include a current writing sample (no more than two pages); the topic does not have to be science-related, but rather should showcase your writing skills.
  • Please send documents in PDF or Word
  • Please note your dates of availability for the summer (start and end date)
  • Please note in your cover letter how you heard about this opportunity (university, friend, public listing, etc.)
  • Suitable candidates will have to pass our security clearance to enable them to work at the Consulate
  • The position is unpaid, but we can participate in campus work-study and academic credit programs (if applicable) and pay a stipend for travel to our office downtown.

For more information on our work, please go to our website: www.ukinusa.fco.gov.uk/science

or follow us on Twitter: BritSciGal

Mortar Board Membership Application and Lecture Nomination

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1) Mortar Board Membership Application Deadline Extended to 3/12

Mortar Board is a national honor society that recognizes college seniors for distinguished ability and achievement in scholarship, leadership, and service. The national network includes over 200 chapters and 180,000 inductees since its founding in 1918. Membership is a nationally recognized distinction earned by outstanding students across the country.

The Visor Chapter of Mortar Board exists as a network of outstanding campus leaders who have achieved senior status at The University of Texas at Austin.  We come from diverse backgrounds and exemplify a record of demonstrated leadership and accomplishment within the UT and Austin communities.  Our chapter strives to uphold the national Mortar Board’s ideals of scholarship, leadership, and service by developing relationships between influential student leaders and serving as the capstone leadership and service experience for UT seniors.

To apply to be a Mortar Board Member for the 2010-2011 term, please visit https://surveystation.austin.utexas.edu//TakeSurvey.aspx?SurveyID=7lK0l5m6. All applications must be completed no later than Friday, March 12, 2010. Applicants will be notified of their acceptance status no later than Monday, March 31, 2010.  If you have any questions please email texasmortarboard@gmail.com

2) Mortar Board Last Lecture Nominations Accepted Until 3/12

Since its founding in 1923, The Visor Chapter of Mortar Board at the University of Texas hosts an annual Last Lecture with a professor nominated by students all across campus. The selected professor will give a lecture outside of class hours to students, staff, and faculty as if it were his or her last lecture as a professor. In recent years, this event has taken the structure of the Last Lecture given by terminally-ill Carnegie Mellon Professor Randy Pausch in September 2007 (http://www.thelastlecture.com/). Mortar Board chapters nationwide have recognized professors through the Last Lecture Series.

Please nominate a professor who you feel would be engaging and interesting to listen to as last lecturer. As an example, Dr. Brent Iverson, Professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, presented his “last lecture” last Spring and was a delightful speaker. This year, The University Co-op’s generosity has allowed Mortar Board to successfully host the Last Lecture.

To nominate a faculty member, please visit https://surveystation.austin.utexas.edu//TakeSurvey.aspx?SurveyID=7lK23lm6.  Nominations will be accepted through Friday, March 12th, and the Last Lecture will be given on Thursday, April 8th at 8:00pm at the The Tejas House at 2600 Rio Grande St. (on the NW corner of 26th St. and Rio Grande St.).   If you have any questions please email texasmortarboard@gmail.com

Junior Fellows Recruitment for 2010-2011

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The Junior Fellows Program was begun in 1959 by Harry Ransom as a means of encouraging academic excellence in the College of Arts and Sciences.  At that time it was essentially an honor society to which students were elected at the end of their freshman year.  Over the years, the Junior Fellows has evolved into a society of juniors and seniors from the University at large who are engaged in independent research projects under the direction of members of the faculty.

Fellows are required to attend meetings of the group, held every other week in both the fall and spring semesters. Besides project presentations, meetings feature discussions led by eminent scholars from on and off campus. Fellows have the opportunity to participate in field trips, seminars, and other academic activities. It is possible to earn academic credit for work done as a Junior Fellow, by enrolling in the appropriate conference course with the supervising professor. For example, Humanities and Plan II majors usually use their senior theses as their Junior Fellows projects. Students pursuing Special Honors in their major use the honors thesis number. Other non-honors courses are also available, for example ARH 376, E 367C, CH 475K, RTF 336.  Fellows should register for the course that is approved by their advisers, fits into their degree plans, and has the right format for the chosen topic. Funds are available to assist Fellows with expenses involved in their research. There is also some money available for Fellows who can demonstrate financial need.


Application Procedure

Application is open to any qualified student from any program on campus who will have completed 60 hours prior to the Fall semester. Junior Fellows normally have a GPA of at least 3.75, but outstanding students whose abilities are manifested in other ways should not hesitate to apply. Although administered by the College of Liberal Arts, the program is open to all qualified students on campus. Many students from outside Liberal Arts are presently members.

Application materials may be downloaded using the link below or may be obtained from the Plan I Honors Office, GEB 1.206 <http://www.utexas.edu/maps/main/buildings/geb.html> , Austin, TX 78712. For more information contact Dr. Larry Carver (carver@mail.utexas.edu) in the Plan I Honors Office by email or phone at 471-3458.



Download Application Form <http://www.utexas.edu/cola/student-affairs/_files/pdf/jr_fellows_app_2010.pdf>  (PDF, 104K)

Applications are due Monday, March 26, 2010 for the 2010-2011 academic year.