At the thirteenth annual University Lecture Series, highly-accomplished professors from across the university delivered compelling presentations to audiences of first-year students. Students were encouraged to tweet with the hashtag #UTuls2019 throughout each presentation, and UGS Dean Brent Iverson selected audience questions to be discussed by the presenters. Hosted in Bass Concert Hall by the School of Undergraduate Studies, the goal of the lecture series is to create a campus-wide conversation.

The School of Undergraduate Studies (UGS) hosted three events last week to celebrate the campus arrival of the class of 2023.

Changing the world starts at home. Home to Texas is a summer internship program developed through a collaboration between the IC² Institute and the School of Undergraduate Studies that provides undergraduates at The University of Texas at Austin with a chance to work in their hometowns and to learn about the core values of their communities. The program enlists the help of Texas Exes to identify internship opportunities.

Every year, the School of Undergraduate Studies commissions artwork for its annual Reading Round-Up program. This year’s art was created by Mike Reddy of Mike Reddy Studios.

Jennifer Fritz, assistant professor of instruction for the Biology Instruction Office, and Mary Rose, associate professor in the Department of Sociology, were both awarded the 2019 Cale McDowell Award for Innovation in Undergraduate Studies. Fritz has demonstrated innovation in undergraduate programming through her implementation of hands-on learning sessions‚ while Rose is being recognized for her creation and support of key policies designed to improve the core curriculum.

Larry Abraham, associate dean of the School of Undergraduate Studies (UGS), has retired from his administrative duties with the school. Abraham will continue to teach in the Department of Kinesiology and Health Education.

The annual Bridging Disciplines Program Certificate Ceremony, honoring spring and summer graduates, was held May 23, 2019. Over 170 students completed a BDP certificate in spring and an additional 36 are planning to complete a certificate this summer, the largest-ever graduating class for the BDPs.

Eight Bridging Disciplines Program (BDP) students and three BDP Faculty Panel members are researching abroad this summer as winners of the inaugural President’s Award for Global Learning. This award competition, created by The University of Texas at Austin’s International Board of Advisors, encourages students and faculty to work together to develop interdisciplinary, international research initiatives.

Jeanette Herman, Ph.D.
Assistant Dean for Academic Initiatives
Director, Bridging Disciplines Programs

Former School of Undergraduate Studies (UGS) student Danielle Redhead was chosen by her peers as the Steve Hicks School of Social Work 2019 commencement speaker. Redhead graduated this spring with her bachelor’s degree in social work.

The theme of Redhead’s commencement speech was superheroes and the hero’s journey. She reminded her classmates that they each had unique powers–skills and abilities learned at UT. She encouraged the class of 2019 to embrace their status as superheroes, to fight for what they stand for, and to make waves.