Author Archives: Gary Morris

About Gary Morris

Dean of the School of Natural Sciences at St. Edward's University.

Bob Wilems Receives Honorary Ring at Fall 2016 Ring Ceremony

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Bob Wilems ('63) under the Sorin Oak with his honorary class ring. (Photo courtesy Joe DeMedeiros.)

Bob Wilems (’63) under the Sorin Oak with his honorary class ring. (Photo courtesy Joe DeMedeiros.)

On Monday, 10 October 2016, Bob Wilems (’63, Physics) was surprised at the Fall 2016 Ring Ceremony, receiving an honorary ring as an outstanding alumnus of the University.

Bob has long been a supporter of St. Edward’s University.  You can find his name, along with his wife Nela’s, on the wall of donors in the JBWS atrium.  In fact, as you climb the staircase, take a look at the name on that yellow-green wall:  “The Wilems Atrium.”

Bob and Nela have served on the NSCI Advisory Board for a number of years, with Bob chairing that body until Spring 2015.  He and Nela continue to serve on the Advisory Board, making twice annual visits to join the discussions about what’s happening in the School and ways to enhance the student experience.  You will also often find them on campus to support Kozmetsky Center events and to visit with friends and other alumni.

Please join the Dean’s Office in congratulate Bob on his well deserved recognition!

 

Spring 2017 Registration Information

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Registration for currently enrolled or active undergraduate students begins Thursday, Nov. 10, 2016. Your specific registration start date and time is determined by your classification for registration.

Classification for registration is calculated by adding your number of completed (earned) hours to your number of currently registered hours. In the case of transfer credits, grade changes or CLEP exams, only work received by Oct. 1 in the Office of the Registrar will be considered. Waived courses are not included as earned hours.

Registration Schedule

Once your registration block is open, it will remain open until the last day to add courses for the term you are registering. Registration blocks for Spring 2017 are as follows:

Wednesday, Nov. 9

  • 8 a.m.: Graduate students

Thursday, Nov. 10

  • 7 a.m.: Senior athletes and Honors students
  • 8 a.m.: Senior undergraduates

Friday, Nov. 11

  • 7 a.m.: Junior athletes and Honors students
  • 8 a.m.: Junior undergraduates

Monday, Nov. 14

  • 7 a.m.: Sophomore athletes and Honors students
  • 8 a.m. Sophomore undergraduates

Tuesday, Nov. 15

  • 7 a.m. Freshman athletes and Honors students
  • 8 a.m.: Freshman undergraduates

Registration Status

You can check your registration status in myHilltop to verify your classification for registration beginning Oct. 5. For a smooth registration process, make sure there are no holds on your account, or other issues that would prohibit registration once your block is open. On the Academic Information tab in myHilltop under the Registration Tools section, you will find the links to these areas.

Should you have holds on your account, please contact the appropriate offices to clear them before you registration block opens. You will not be able to register for courses while there is a hold on your account.

Additional Registration Information

  • Contact your advisor for registration clearance and to obtain your Alternate PIN so you can access registration.
  • We are excited to announce that Banner XE Student Registration is now available and provides a simplified registration experience. Visit the Office of the Registrar website for additional information and tutorials.
  • If you have issues with your login or password, call OIT support at 512-448-8443. For other registration-related questions, please call the Office of the Registrar at 512-448-8747.

Steelcase Active Learning Classroom Workshop

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Learning to use the Steelcase Eno (smart board) in the Steelcase Active Learning Center (JBWN 206)

Learning to use the Steelcase Eno (smart board) in the Steelcase Active Learning Center (JBWN 206)

Our Chemistry faculty members gathered on a beautiful Friday afternoon (30 Sept.) to spend 2 hours with Steelcase representative, Marisa Sergnese, learning strategies for best leveraging the resources in our Steelcase Active Learning Center classroom in JBWN 206.  From seating configurations to collaborative groupings to using Eno (Steelcase’s smartboard tool), Marisa shared many great ideas.  Get ready students!  The Active Learning Center will become even more active and dynamic in the weeks ahead.  Thanks to Steelcase for the grant that supported the deployment of these resources at St. Edward’s!

SACNAS Chapter Coming to St. Edward’s

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Attention SEU Students:

Are you focused on a career in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM)? Let SACNAS help in developing your potential!

SACNAS is an inclusive national organization dedicated to fostering the success of Chicano/Hispanic and Native American scientists, from college students to professionals, in attaining advanced degrees, careers, and positions of leadership in STEM.

Connect with opportunities, resources, mentors, and friends that will help you thrive in your education and future career. SACNAS has a strong network of student and professional chapters, professional development opportunities, and a prestigious annual conference which affords members an opportunity to present their research and network with leaders in various STEM fields.

We are bringing SACNAS to the Hilltop and are holding an information session on Monday, October 3rd at 5:00PM in JBWS 268. Bring your friends or anyone interested in this type of opportunity.

Hope to see you there!

Dr. Burks
Dr. Toledo

SACNAS organization link: https://www.sacnas.org/

Steelcase Active Learning Classroom Workshop – 30 Sept. @ 3 pm

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Steelcase Active Learning Classroom in JBWN 206

Steelcase Active Learning Classroom in JBWN 206

All interested faculty and SI instructional staff are welcome to participate in a workshop on use of the new Steelcase Active Learning Classroom in JBWN 206 from 3 – 5 pm on Friday, 30 September.  Marisa Sergnese from Steelcase will be present to run the workshop.

Stargazing at Wild Basin on Sept. 30, 7 – 9 pm

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Austin Astronomical Society members conduct special astronomy tours at Wild Basin, weather permitting. Telescopes for viewing are set up in the parking lot. It is recommended that you bring drinking water, a small flashlight, and good walking shoes. There will be 1/4 mile walk in the dark.  A presentation will begin on the deck of the Wild Basin Visitor Center promptly at 7pm. 

Suggested donation of $5 per adult and $3 for seniors, students and children.

RSVP required:  sign up by email with the total number of people in your group at: kimj@stedwards.edu.

Kozmetsky Center: Climate Change and National Security

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The next Kozmetsky Center event of the semester features a lecture on The Climate Change Challenge and Implications for National Security with Dr. David Titley, Rear Admiral (ret.), U.S. Navy, and Professor of Practice in the Department of Meteorology and Atmospheric Sciences at Pennsylvania State University. The event is cosponsored by the World Affairs Council of Austin and will take place on Tuesday, October 4th in Carter Auditorium from 7:00-8:30pm.

Dr. Titley is an internationally recognized expert in the field of climate, the Arctic, and National Security, and he is founding Director of Penn State’s Center for Solutions to Weather and Climate Risk.  Dr. Titley’s career includes duties as Commander, Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command, Oceanographer and Navigator of the Navy, and Deputy Assistant Chief of Naval Operations for Information Dominance.  While serving in the Pentagon, Dr. Titley initiated and led the U.S. Navy’s Task Force on Climate Change.  After retiring from the Navy, Dr. Titley served as the Deputy Undersecretary of Commerce for Operations, the Chief Operating Officer position at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.  He completed his advanced graduate studies in the fields of meteorology and physical oceanography.

2016 iChallenge on the Hilltop – Pitch & Business Plan Competition

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Thanks to the support of Professor Alvarado, Dr. Altounian and a new leadership team in the Student Entrepreneurship Club, The Bill Munday School of Business is working on an enhanced pitch and business plan competition.

Now under one brand, the iChallenge on the Hilltop will include the:

  • Ideas for Innovation Competition on November 8th in Mabee Ballrooms A & B
  • Business Plan Competition on March 25th at Google Fiber

The competition welcomes St. Edward’s University students from all majors with innovative concepts. Ideas can take the form of a new for-profit or non-profit business, app, product or service.

What will students gain from participating in the iChallenge on the Hilltop? They will:

  • Learn how to turn their innovative idea into an opportunity
  • Pitch their concept to Austin business leaders
  • Partner with faculty and business mentors to develop a plan
  • Gain an understanding of how to attract business investors
  • Compete for prizes

The application to submit a creative idea is now available online.

The Bill Munday School of Business is also hosting a kickoff event to discuss the application, timeline and requirements with students:

Monday, October 3 | Mabee Ballrooms A & B | 6:30 p.m.

Additional details on the competition is available on our website at www.stedwards.edu/business/events, and attached is a flyer to share with students.

Thank you so much for supporting our iChallenge on the Hilltop competition. Please reach out if you have any questions.

Best,

Katie Finney
Outreach Coordinator, The Bill Munday School of Business
(512) 428-1093

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Note from NSCI Dean:  an NSCI student won a previous incarnation of this competition:

The MSB is pleased to announce the winner of the 4th Annual iChallenge (Fall 2014) pitch competition…

Jana Soares, Biology major (senior)

This is a special year for the Annual iChallenge competition because we welcomed entrants from all SEU Schools (in the past it was only open to MSB students).  The way the process works is that each student gets 3 minutes to pitch his or her entrepreneurial idea to a panel of judges from the Austin business community.  Jana’s idea, Gravity Crystal, is an innovative design for laboratory goggles that incorporates google glass and allows for the scientist to be able to multi-task in the lab in an efficient yet protective manner. 

Engineering Options Event Returns to NSCI – 19 Oct.

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This year’s event features guests from Washington University in St. Louis, Valparaiso University (Indiana), and Notre Dame (Indiana) and will be held in Ragsdale 338 from 5:15 – 7:00 pm on Wednesday, 19 October.  Learn about our dual 3+2 degree programs with Wash. U. and Valparaiso U., and the 4+1 Masters Degree program in Entrepreneurial Engineering with Notre Dame.  For more information, contact Michael Lykaios.

seu_engineering_event_2016

Exhibition Piloted in JBWS Building Last Spring to Appear at Bulloch

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Butterfly Project Installation in JBWS last Spring.

Butterfly Project Installation in JBWS last Spring.

Those of you who wandered through JBWS last Spring might have noted the multiple iterations of paper “butterflies” suspended from our staircase in the lobby.  That project, led by SEU Assoc. Prof. of Art Alex Robinson, was a pilot for the “Butterfly Project” art installation at the Bullock Museum as part of the exhibit, “State of Deception:  The Power of Nazi Propaganda.”  I encourage you to visit the exhibition if you are able — you may even recognize some of the butterflies in the exhibit from last spring.

Here’s more info:

The Butterfly Project
Between 1942-1944, more than 15,000 children passed through the Terezin Concentration Camp. The vast majority of these children did not survive the Holocaust. Brave teachers in the camp taught art lessons to the children as a form of therapy. Some of their poetry and art, saved in suitcases and later discovered, have been published in a book titled I Never Saw Another Butterfly. The poems and pictures drawn by the young inmates of Terezin illustrate the intense emotions of these displaced children, ranging from fear, sorrow, hope, and courage.

The “Butterfly Project” at the Bob Bullock Museum consists of large fabric panels covered with thousands of uniquely colored butterflies, which will be suspended over the museum’s Grand Lobby. The butterflies were created and sent from every corner of Texas by children who were inspired by the poem The Butterfly written in 1942 by a young man imprisoned at Terezin. The butterflies represent endurance, change, hope, and life. By contributing a butterfly these youngest Texans committed to take a stand against intolerance.

Additional information about the exhibit is available at: https://www.thestoryoftexas.com/visit/exhibits/state-of-deception
The exhibit is on loan from the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum.