News & Events - 2011

December 20, 2011

Undergraduate Studies Holiday Schedule

Undergraduate Studies will be closed from 5 p.m. December 22 until 8 a.m. January 3. In case of emergency, please call 512-475-7000 for up-to-date contact information. (read more)

November 30, 2011

Dr. Woodruff's Newest Book Fêted

The Ajax Dilemma applies ancient Greek dilemmas to contemporary life: is it fair to lavish rewards on the superstar at the expense of the rank-and-file? (read more)

November 22, 2011

Dr. Hubbard's Signature Course Proposal Chosen for Funding

The award comes with five thousand dollars to support costs associated with course development, and is sponsored by the EU Center of Excellence Grant in the Center for European Studies. (read more)

November 14, 2011

UGS Town Hall

Dean Woodruff & Associate Dean Abraham led discussions and answered questions about tuition, the internal transfer process, and advising. Hosted by the Undergraduate Studies Council. (read more)

November 14, 2011

Dean Nominated as Texan of the Year

President Powers writes that Dr. Woodruff "takes the lofty concepts of classical Greek thought and leverages them ingeniously as potent tools for understanding the modern world in fresh and interesting ways." (read more)

November 04, 2011

Lawyer, Arts Patron Shares Wisdom with UGS Students

Jo Anne Christian, a highly respected lawyer & leader in the Austin arts community, will meet with a small group of UGS students. The Magellan's Circle series connects prominent local professionals with small groups of Undergraduate Studies students. (read more)

October 31, 2011

UGS Council Presents to UGS Advisory Council

The UGS student council will share what they've been doing, and how quickly the UGS Council has become a vital part of the student governance structure on campus. (read more)

October 24, 2011

Inaugural Class Chosen for Society For Teaching Excellence

Senior faculty chose the junior faculty who will make up the Society for Teaching Excellence's inaugural class: young talent who have great ideas about engaging students in learning and have demonstrated an early commitment to teaching. (read more)

October 21, 2011

UGS Family Weekend Breakfast

On Saturday, at 9 a.m. in the Life Sciences Library (2nd floor of the Tower, MAI), families of UGS students will mingle with students and staff, including Dean Woodruff, Associate Dean Abraham, and Assistant Deans Alvarado & Spight. (read more)

October 19, 2011

UT Austin Honor Society Recognized for Outstanding Service

Alpha Lambda Delta & Phi Eta Sigma (ALDPES) were awarded the prestigious Maintaining the Flame award in recognition of their achievements during the 2010-2011 academic year. ALDPES is a national society that honors academic excellence during a student's first year in college. (read more)

October 06, 2011

Grad Students Mentor the Grad School Bound

A former Intellectual Entrepreneurship intern says that “this IE Internship has opened my eyes to possibilities I never before had contemplated. It has allowed me to think about my education and discipline from the bottom up, rather than the top down." (read more)

October 06, 2011

Welcome Sanger Center

We are pleased to welcome our newest addition, the Sanger Learning & Career Center. The move will make it possible for UGS and the Sanger Center to coordinate and expand services for under-graduates. (read more)

October 04, 2011

Social Anxiety & Facebook Studied by Undergraduate Researcher

Junior Psychology major & former Intellectual Entrepreneurship intern Sarah Kettles says that research has defined her UT experience and she "cannot imagine [her] academic life without it." She hopes to continue her research in a doctoral program. (read more)

September 29, 2011

Faculty Signature Course Deadline Approaches

Faculty are invited to submit proposals for 2012-13 courses by October 3. (read more)

September 28, 2011

Why Be Generous?

Students in the Signature Course "Ethics & the Art of Giving" will give away $100,000 next May. For the rest of the semester they'll debate questions about giving under the leadership of Paul Woodruff, philosopher and UGS dean. Apply now. (read more)

September 15, 2011

President Mentions UGS Programs in State of the University

President Powers mentioned two Undergraduate Studies programs in his State of the University address on Wednesday: the Signature Course Program, and Undergraduate Research. (read more)

September 15, 2011

$5000 for Best Course Design

The Center for European Studies sponsors a contest to create new a Signature Course designed to address ethical leadership. The focus of the class should be on the European Union, or United States relations with the EU. October 3 deadline. (read more)

September 14, 2011

Research That Changes the World

Dean Woodruff encouraged undergraduates to impact their environments in the final event in the University Lecture Series. Speakers are involved in an anthrax antidote 20 times more powerful, Shakespeare performance, and large-scale research on parental involvement. (read more)

September 13, 2011

Director Robert Rodriguez's Former Professor Reflects

In the University Lecture Series, Ramírez Berg reflects on Rodriguez's hard work. “[El Mariachi] was so compelling, so vibrant, I had to keep watching,” Ramirez-Berg said. “He didn’t have seven or 70 million. He had $7,000.” Read the whole story in the Daily Texan. (read more)

September 07, 2011

New Students Connect with Great Faculty

Dr. Charles Ramírez Berg talks about his relationship with director Robert Rodriguez on Sept 12. On Sept 13, researchers present work on everything from Shakespeare villains to sled dogs. (read more)

August 22, 2011

Gone to UGS

New students enrolled in the School of Undergraduate Studies share a meal, meet the Dean and Undergraduate Studies Council, and get ready for Gone to Texas. Enrolled first-year students will gather in the FAC. (read more)

August 19, 2011

Reading Round-Up Connects First-years with Faculty

Incoming first-year students discuss great books with world-class professors in classrooms all over campus. (read more)

August 16, 2011

DemTex Students Design In-Depth Courses

Students explore a creative, specific topic in-depth by creating a class in Democratic Education at Texas. Students write a syllabus, prepare readings, and lead discussions in a seminar course that differs from a conventional college course. (read more)

July 25, 2011

30th Annual Colloquium a Success

On July 23rd, 574 of Texas's brightest high schoolers bellowed out "The Eyes of Texas" in a closing ceremony marking their introduction to UT Austin. Many of these students will enroll in first-year honors programs and compete for UT Austin’s most prestigious scholarships. (read more)

July 20, 2011

Welcome 2011 Colloquists

Hundreds of rising high school seniors arrive on campus Thursday for the 30th annual Honors Colloquium. The free, invite-only program invites the brightest students from all over the state to explore UT. (read more)

July 14, 2011

Dean Woodruff: 3 Ways UGS Boosts Graduation Rates

Dean Woodruff writes in the Alcalde about Undergraduate Studies's mission to improve UT's graduation rates, and how the school tackles the challenge. (read more)

June 08, 2011

Signature Course Seminars Increase Educational Productivity

President Powers writes in the Statesman that "exposing our freshmen to a rich learning experience with our best faculty is central to our mission." (read more)

May 23, 2011

Stanfield Wins McDowell Award for Innovation

Registrar Shelby Stanfield received the Award for Innovation for his work as a force for change in the university's ongoing effort to reform its core curriculum. (read more)

May 06, 2011

Wayfinder Honored by National Advising Organization

Wayfinder, the UGS dynamic advising tool, received a certificate of merit. (read more)

May 04, 2011

UGS Board Member Speaks About the Arts in Austin

Watch Jo Anne Christian speak to Fox Austin about her role in the creation of the Long Center, and why the arts are critical to Austin. Christian has been involved in Austin arts for many years, and is featured in this month's Austin Woman magazine. (read more)

April 29, 2011

Outstanding New Advisor Award for UGS Employee

Brad Popiolek was awarded a certificate of merit for his work with Undergraduate Studies students. The National Academic Advising Association (NACADA) annually chooses several new advisors with strong interpersonal skills who make an impact on their advisees lives. (read more)

April 27, 2011

UT President Highlights Signature Courses

Signature Courses help UT offer the highest quality undergraduate education. In a recent message to the UT Austin community, President Powers explained his vision for a 21st century public research university, which includes offering "the highest-quality undergraduate education." (read more)

April 20, 2011

Successful 2011 Research Week

The fourth annual Research week offered over 40 unique ways to find out about research opportunities all over campus. The event brings together programs in the various colleges and schools that showcase undergraduate research and creative activity. (read more)

April 18, 2011

Social Caps UGS Week

Undergraduate Studies Council hosted the first UGS Week to highlight opportunities for students. Events included Donuts with Dean Woodruff and a resume-building workshop. (read more)

April 15, 2011

Research on Perceptions of Art

Margaret Sanders designed and conducted her own psychology study from start to finish, focusing on categorization & engagement with pieces of art. She says that conducting research has been one of her best experiences at UT. (read more)

April 13, 2011

Psychology Research Spotlight

Martinique Jones combats hegemonic notions surrounding the academic performance of African American students. (read more)

April 12, 2011

Research Week 2011 Highlights

Carisa Nietsche, Plan II Honors senior and council president, said research allows students to demonstrate intellectual curiosity and is essential for universities, adding value to a UT degree. Events take place from April 11-15. (read more)

April 12, 2011

Undergrad Research Enlivens Academic Experience

Human Biology major Jose Ybarra says that through research, "what was once a static classroom existence instantly became a dynamic world of discovery." Visit this year's Research Week events to find out more about the exciting work of undergraduates across campus. (read more)

April 08, 2011

Honors Societies Award New Fellowships & Scholarships

Alpha Lambda Delta & Phi Eta Sigma also inducted over 600 new members. (read more)

April 07, 2011

Dean Woodruff on Education & Plato's Cave

Plato's cave-dwellers are like students who see only what is on the screen in a windowless lecture room, or on the Internet. They have no basis for questioning the PowerPoint slides they are being been shown. (read more)

April 04, 2011

Entrepreneur Visits with UGS Students

Lee Walker is a former Dell president, award-winning teacher, nuclear physicist, philanthropist, high-tech visionary & investor, and founding board member of the Lance Armstrong foundation. (read more)

March 25, 2011

Nominate for the Cale McDowell Award for Innovation in Undergraduate Studies

The award may be given to a deserving member of the School of Undergraduate Studies, or reward extraordinary effort by any University of Texas at Austin student, faculty or staff member toward improving the core curriculum at UT Austin (read more)

March 09, 2011

UGS Student Finds Major & Career Path through Internship

Sydney Cruz's summer internship led from interests in art and technology to a job with UT's Center for Teaching and Learning, acceptance to the RTF program, and more concrete goals. She says that although the internship was challenging and time-consuming, she was always excited to go to work. (read more)

March 04, 2011

Grants for Undergrads Studying Abroad

45 $1,000 Phi Kappa Phi grants are awarded each year, available to all University of Texas at Austin students, not just Phi Kappa Phi members. The grants are designed to help support undergraduates as they seek knowledge and experience in their academic fields by studying abroad. (read more)

March 04, 2011

Enspire Founder & CEO Advises UGS Students

E-learning entrepreneur and Plan II alumnus Bjorn Billhardt will meet with a small group of Undergraduate Studies students to chat about careers, choosing a major, and how choices made in undergraduate careers can affect life after college. (read more)

March 04, 2011

Explore UT with Undergraduate Studies

Join us for the inside scoop on what college is really like, and interactive sessions on choosing the right major. (read more)

February 21, 2011

Grants Available for Students Exploring Careers & Majors

All first-year UGS students are invited to apply by March 30 for funding that would make it possible to explore with a summer internship, research project, informal class, or trip to interview professionals of interest, among many other possibilities. (read more)

February 14, 2011