T H E
U N I V E R S I T Y
O F
T E X A S
A T
A R L I N G T O N
Wednesday July 7, 2010
Volume 91, No. 124 www.theshorthorn.com
Since 1919
No Goal Soccer still yet to score in the U.S., columnist says what little fan base exists will have to usher in growth. PAGE 4 | OPINION
TEXAS
Budget cuts part of recent past Cutbacks and reorganizing could help offset state’s and university’s deficit. BY JOHN HARDEN The Shorthorn news editor
The governor’s request for UTA to cut its budget isn’t too unusual of
UTA lost $10,074,333 in funding while trying to meet state mandates, according to university records. To balance the university’s $250 million budget, administrators searched and reorganized revenue from several departments. The university used its savings, restricted money and money housing revenue,
a request. Past deficits have required the university to cut back and come up with ways to meet mandates, while making sure campus services remained intact. In 2003, lawmakers predicted a revenue shortfall of more than $11 billion. Because of the state’s debt,
money that came from funds like apartment rent, to fill gaps. The Physical Plant felt the biggest pinch, facing a decrease of approximately 15 percent in funding. This year, the university added employees to the list of budget cuts. To offset the reductions this biennium, the university will use revenue
collected through a flexible hiring freeze, energy efficiency savings, travel reductions, tuition and the Voluntary Separation Incentive Program. More staff reductions and departmental reorganization will occur BUDGET continues on page 3
NURSING
University targets retention
Nursing dean wins research award
Schools aims to increase freshmen success with University College opening. BY JOHN HARDEN The Shorthorn news editor
Incoming freshman Nancy Wukasch wants to receive her degree in biology and business administration from UTA. Freshmen like Wukasch are what the university wants. Students who begin and finish their degree program at the university positively affect retention rates, according to university officials. In the 2008-2009 school year, the university had 2,230 entering freshmen and only 1,452 remained throughout the year. This 65 percent retention rate of first-time full-time freshmen compared to other upper tier universities is below average, according to the annual U.S. News & World Report Rankings. UTA also trails in comparison to the other six universities that are also mounting Tier One efforts. In the last academic school year, Texas Tech and The University of Texas at Dallas both had freshman retention rates above 80 percent. Student success matters to UTA because it is one of the factors that legislators may include in their decision to allocate taxpayer dollars to higher education institutions seeking Tier One status. University College, which will be completed by the end of the month and opened in August, is an example of the university addressing students’ needs, said university spokeswoman Kristin Sullivan. Formally a 24-hour computer lab in Ransom Hall, University College will have counseling, testing and tutoring services geared to promoting success in the classroom to help increase the retention of degree seeking students.
Retention Rate Percentages of First-Time Full-Time Freshman
ENROLLMENT
80
ACTUAL AND PROJECTED RETENTION RATES FOR UTA FROM 2000-2011
70 60 50
Smart Hospital studies led to the award for best international project.
40 30
BY ALYSIA R. BROOKS
20
The Shorthorn staff
10 0
00-01 01-02
02-03
03-04
Actual Retention Rate
Projected Rate
Source: University of Texas System
04-05
05-06
06-07
07-08
08-09
09-10
10-11
Last school year, the university had a 65 percent retention rate for first-time full-time freshmen. Freshmen retention rate is the calculation of freshmen that returns for a second year. The retention of freshmen is important to student services and the university because of its ongoing efforts to reach Tier One. Retention rates also reveal what services are needed and which services are most successful. Below is a look at the 2008-2009 freshmen retention rates for UTA and the other six emerging Tier One universities.
UT-Dallas Texas Tech University of Houston Univeristy of North Texas UT-El Paso UT-San Antonio UT-Arlington 0
20
40
60
80
100
2008-2009 Retention percentage rates of first-time full-time freshman at other universities.
The Shorthorn: John Harden
RETENTION continues on page 3
STUDENT LIFE
Young student preps for future in aviation The sophomore earned 22 honors credits during his freshman year. BY REBEKAH KARTH The Shorthorn staff
Aerospace engineering sophomore Narendra De’s first flight took place when he was six months old. The 17 year old has since flown in several flights to four continents, but considers Arlington home. De, now a U.S. citizen, was born in and spent a large portion of his life abroad in Nigeria. He graduated from high school as the valedictorian of his class at the age of 16. De said his parents have always
wanted him to continue pursuing his education in the U.S. De chose to attend UTA because he was familiar with the area. He visited and lived in Arlington for short periods of time as a child. “I like UTA because it’s diverse, and it’s in a nice town nestled between [Dallas and Fort Worth],” he said. De enjoys his coursework at UTA and his enthusiasm for learning is noticeable, anthropology junior Chris Rodriguez said. “I think he’s a very curious, intelligent individual and he obviously has a passion for knowledge,” Rodriguez said. De’s future plans include
graduating with an honors bachelor degree and earning both a master and doctoral degree. He wants to focus his research on aerospace technology that would overcome obstacles facing aerospace engineering in the 21st century. De would also like to work for a private, commercial airline company in the future, while continuing to help develop breakthroughs in aerospace technology. “I want to contribute to America’s technological future in aviation,” De said. “I am very passionate about aircrafts. It’s something I like doing and am always amazed about.” STUDENT continues on page 3
The Shorthorn: Avery Mackey
Aerospace engineering sophomore Narendra Nath De, 17, has earned 22 honors credits in only his freshman year. De also spends his free time rockclimbing at the Maverick Activities Center.
Research completed in the university’s Smart Hospital has received international recognition and garnered the attention of medical workers and architects. College of Carolyn Cason, Nursing associ- tested whether ate dean Carolyn room design Cason’s recent standardization project, done in affects efficiency conjunction with and safety. researchers from HKS Clinical Solutions and Research, received the Best International Research Project award at the 2010 Design and Health International Academy Awards in Toronto. The basis of the research, which was compiled in the team’s paper, “An Empirical Examination of Patient Room Handedness in Acute MedicalSurgical Settings,” addressed hospital room designs specifically for right or left-handed doctors and nurses and whether the standardization is necessary. Cason used the university’s Smart Hospital to test whether room design standardization affects efficiency and safety. Cason developed a model for the UTA College of Nursing’s Smart Hospital, a 13,000 square foot facility where interactive mannequins are practiced on in lieu of human patients. Tiffany Holmes, Smart Hospital director, who works with Cason, said the associate dean is a brilliant researcher. “She has wonderful ideas and the knowledge to implement the research to study these ideas and processes,” Holmes said. The research team found that it is not significant whether a room is set up for right or left-handed workers, but it is important to have consistent points of entry for all rooms. This leads directly to safer and more efficient patient care. In a press release, Cason said standardization means being able to find necessary tools and equipment quickly anywhere in a medical facility. “If we put everything in the same place no matter what room we’re in, you know where to reach for it,” she said. A $15,000 and a $10,000 grant from the Academy of Architecture for Health Foundation and Herman Miller, Inc. provided funding for the project, respectively. Nursing associate professor Judy LeFlore said Cason is a visionary and keeps her eye on the practical needs of today as well as the future needs of nursing education. ALYSIA BROOKS news-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu