The University of Texas at Arlington
NEXT GENERATION
INITIATIVES
2015 - 1st Year
PURPOSE
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The goal of the Next Generation Initiatives is to push the boundaries
of student development thought and practice toward new frontiers.
It does this by incentivizing then supporting innovation that will
enhance the student experience and promote higher levels of
student success.
Seed grants are being awarded to pilot new programs or services
with transformational potential.
Based on assessment data after the pilot, those demonstrating the
deepest impact will taken to scale and funded for the longer term
In its inaugural year, twenty-two evocative proposals were received.
The NGI Selection Committee selected seven (7) winners.
NGI TIMELINE - 2015
• Mid-February: Call for Proposals
• Mid-February to March 16: Proposal Collection
• Mid-March to April 3: Committee Review and Finalist Selection
• 2nd Week of April: Interviews with Finalists
• Mid-May: Announcement of NGIA Winners
PROPOSALS RECEIVED – RUNNERS UP
Collaborative Programming – Student Governance/Office of International Education
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Jointly-sponsored programs encouraging interaction and relationship-building
between domestic and international students.
Communication Internship Program – Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs
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A multi-faceted marketing/communication internship program for undergraduate
students studying within the UT Arlington Department of Communication.
Fraternal Leadership Institute – Fraternity and Sorority Life
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An off-campus and overnight leadership retreat for UT Arlington fraternity men.
PROPOSALS RECEIVED – RUNNERS UP
Late Night Bash – University Events/Campus Recreation/Student Activities
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An all-night event for students featuring open microphone opportunities, recreational
activities and dynamic entertainment.
LGBTQA Mentoring Program – LGBTQA Program
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An LGBTQA staff/faculty-to-student mentoring program.
Maverick Film Festival – Student Activities and Organizations
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A campus-wide student filmmaking festival.
PROPOSALS RECEIVED – RUNNERS UP
Mavericks for the Performing Arts – University Events
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Discounted tickets for UT Arlington students to four excursions per school year to a
variety of performing arts venues in the DFW Metroplex.
Mavs Camp – New Maverick Orientation/Fraternity and Sorority Life
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Extended orientation program for first-year students to build connections and
enhance their pride in being a Maverick.
Minority Mavericks Student Ambassador Scholarship Exchange – International Office
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Two $2,500 study abroad scholarships to assist students from underrepresented
backgrounds with the costs of studying abroad, engaging in service while abroad,
and sharing their experiences with peers on returning.
PROPOSALS RECEIVED – RUNNERS UP
Movies Without Borders – Student Activities and Organizations/International Office
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Screenings of internationally-acclaimed movies to aid students in understanding
different cultures through facilitated campus conversations.
Next Generation Leaders – The Leadership Center
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A day-long leadership conference for student leaders, student executive board
members and student organization presidents.
Orientacion Familiar – New Maverick Orientation
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A family orientation program conducted in Spanish for Spanish-speaking parents.
PROPOSALS RECEIVED – RUNNERS UP
Out of the Blue – Student Activities and Organizations
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Pop-up/flash programming to provide an opportunity for EXCEL to connect with new
students outside of normal events.
Shorthorn Volunteer Voices – Student Publications
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Volunteer student writers from across disciplines and demographics to regularly
write and publish UTA-focused columns and letters to the editor in The Shorthorn.
Student Multimedia Services – Student Publications
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Multimedia (photo, audio and video) services available to on and off-campus
departments and clients provided by Shorthorn student staff.
THE SEVEN AWARD WINNERS
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Anytime iAdvising
The Cricket Pitch
Graduate Student Career Connections
International Social Justice Project
Men and Masculinities Series
Parent Mavericks
RVSP Peer Advocates
ANYTIME iAdvising
The Office of International Education
ANYTIME iADVISING:
MEETING MILLENIALS ON THEIR TURF
ANYTIME iADVISING:
MEETING MILLENIALS ON THEIR TURF
Why?
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A series of engaging instructional videos on a range
of topics of interest to international students
Growing number of international students
World-wide 24/7 viewing access
Trailblazing
ANYTIME iADVISING:
MEETING MILLENIALS ON THEIR TURF
Impact:
Convenience
> 600 applications for Optional Practical
Training (OPT) per year
Additional Topics
Leading
ANYTIME iADVISING:
MEETING MILLENIALS ON THEIR TURF
Timeline:
Series 1
October
November
Series 2
December
January
February
March
April
THE CRICKET PITCH
Campus Recreation
THE CRICKET PITCH
About:
• Cricket: The second most popular sport in the world
and rapidly growing in the United States.
• Pitch: A European term used to describe the circular
field of play.
THE CRICKET PITCH
THE CRICKET PITCH
Why Cricket Pitch?
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Currently, while hundreds of students play cricket weekly in UTA
parking lots there are no proper or safe places to play on campus.
Create a collaboration with Apartment & Residence Life and
International Education to serve current student needs.
Renovation of South Complex space would have impacts for
current and the future students.
THE CRICKET PITCH
Impact:
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Offer a diverse recreational activity that promotes
healthy lifestyles.
Assist international student retention and recruitment.
Build upon nationally-successful cricket sport club.
THE CRICKET PITCH
Timeline:
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Early Fall 2015: South Complex area preparation
Late Fall 2015: Pitch installation
Spring 2016: Programming begins
Late Spring 2016: Assessment conducted
GRADUATE STUDENT CAREER
CONNECTIONS
Graduate Student Senate/Career Development Center
GRADUATE STUDENT CAREER
CONNECTIONS
About:
• Set of events aimed at providing tools to help UT
Arlington graduate students with career preparation.
• Events include:
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How to prepare graduate level resumes/CVs.
Discussions on alternative careers delivered by industry professionals.
Career workshops by experts who specialize in graduate students.
Creating and IDP (individual development plan).
Identification of specific graduate level opportunities.
Effectively communicating your research, and more.
GRADUATE STUDENT CAREER
CONNECTIONS
Why Graduate Student Career Connections?
• UT Arlington is an emerging research institution.
• It’s important for graduate students to have necessary
career training to help them stand tall in a highly
competitive job market for advanced degree holders.
GRADUATE STUDENT CAREER
CONNECTIONS
Impact:
• Helping grad students gain skills that can help lead to
getting jobs that their long years of study deserve.
• The entire graduate student body – 9,000+ students
stand to benefit from this program.
GRADUATE STUDENT CAREER
CONNECTIONS
Timeline:
• Summer 2015: Planning
• Fall 2015: First two events
• Spring 2016: Second two events, review and feedback
INTERNATIONAL SOCIAL
JUSTICE PROJECT
The Leadership Center/The Office of
International Education
INTERNATIONAL SOCIAL
JUSTICE PROJECT
About:
• Series of programs inviting students from diverse
cultural backgrounds to present a social justice issue
faced in their cultures or countries.
• Students present in an educational way with skits,
presentations or other active means.
• Participants engage in an interactive dialogue about
solutions and ways to get involved locally.
INTERNATIONAL SOCIAL
JUSTICE PROJECT
Why International Social Justice Project?
• Diverse and changing world, especially on campus.
• Provide learning opportunities for students to dialogue around social
justice issues that they are not familiar, don’t understand or disagree
with on a personal basis.
• Social Change Model-Controversy with Civility = the ability to have
conversations on difficult topics, but in a respectful manner.
• Provides students that opportunity to receive information and
cultural awareness on issues related to injustice in an engaging and
non-threatening atmosphere.
INTERNATIONAL SOCIAL
JUSTICE PROJECT
Impact:
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Leadership development through social justice lens.
Student-led program development.
Interactive dialogue.
Promotes critical thinking skills.
INTERNATIONAL SOCIAL
JUSTICE PROJECT
Timeline:
• Early Fall 2015 – outreach to student organizations
asking for feedback on social justice issues affecting
their country or culture. Choose fall topics and agenda
of presenters. Follow same protocol for Spring 2016.
• Tentative dates for Fall 2015 events – 10/14/15,
11/18/15, 2/9/16, 3/2/16.
• A survey will be used for immediate feedback from
participants.
MEN AND MASCILINITIES SERIES
Multicultural Affairs
MEN AND MASCULINITIES SERIES
About:
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Education regarding spectrum of masculinities.
Men’s issues
Student success
Health/wellness
Issues regarding underrepresented and or at risk
students.
MEN AND MASCULINITIES SERIES
Why Men and Masculinities Series?
• National associations (ACPA (American College
Personnel Association) and NASPA (National
Association for Student Personnel Administrators)
identified a need for education and support services.
• Need further support through research.
• Increase male student persistence and retention at
UT Arlington.
MEN AND MASCULINITIES SERIES
Impact:
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Retention
Student-initiated programming
Intentional dialogue
Student development
MEN AND MASCULINITIES SERIES
Timeline:
Hire M&M Student Chair
May 22, 2015
Program planning for fall 2015
June – August, 2015
Marketing/Advertising
July - April, 2016
Intentional fall programs/events (e.g., brown bag
dialogue, keynote speaker)
September – December, 2015
Program planning for spring 2016
October – December, 2015
Intentional spring 2016 programs/events (e.g.,
Networking social)
January – April, 2016
Review assessment for future planning
May 31, 2016
PARENT MAVERICKS
Off-Campus Mavericks
PARENT MAVERICKS
About:
• A program for students with children to come together
and meet as a community.
• Programs: mix and mingle (one time per semester)
and family events (two times per semester).
PARENT MAVERICKS
Why Parent Mavericks?
• The Washington Post (2013): Of the 20 million+ students enrolled at
colleges and universities across the nation – only one-third fit
traditional description.
• Institute for Women’s Policy Research (2011): About 3.9 million
student parents are enrolled as undergraduates.
• Students who are also parents report lower levels of connection with
peers and home university.
PARENT MAVERICKS
Impact:
• 2014 UT Arlington transfer student survey – around
20% indicated having one or two dependent children.
• 2014 Student Affairs involvement survey.
PARENT MAVERICKS
Timeline:
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Email potential partners for Parent Mavericks committee.
June: First meetings on event ideas.
July: Solidify event dates and assessment plan.
Two surveys will be distributed throughout this first year.
Fall (Mid-Semester) - Satisfaction
Spring (End of Semester) - Needs
August: Final preparations for first event.
Fall Potential Dates:
Mix & Mingle - Aug. 27th or Sept. 3rd
Family Events - Sept. 24th & Nov. 19th
Spring Potential Dates:
Mix & Mingle - Jan. 21st or Jan 28th
Family Events - Feb. 11th & Apr. 14th
PEER ADVOCATES
Relationship Violence and Sexual Assault
Prevention Program
PEER ADVOCATES
About:
• Embed student peer advocates in all UT Arlington
residence halls to promote awareness of sexual
assault and relationship violence.
• Provide a familiar face within residence halls so a
student can disclose an assault.
• Make referrals to RVSAP Office for appropriate further
action.
PEER ADVOCATES
Why?
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1 in 3 experience sexual violence within their lifetime.
20% report their experience to an authority.
65-75% will report to a friend/family member.
Survivors need resources and support that is
accessible and non-threatening.
• Residences are central to student experience.
PEER ADVOCATES
Impact:
• Education for students in the residence halls.
• Advocacy for students who feel they don’t have
anyone to turn to.
• Support available to students 24/7.
PEER ADVOCATES
Timeline:
• May 2015: Collaborate with ARL to prepare infrastructure.
• June/August 2015: Recruit/train peer advocates
• September 2015: Launch program, peer advocates
present Bringing in the Bystander to residence halls.
• January 2016: Peer advocates present Healthy
Relationships in residence halls.
• May 2016: Evaluate program.
CLOSING REMARKS
Vice President for Student Affairs