Comets United Response
RESPONSE
Faculty, staff, students and alumni not only stepped up to address the needs of the UT Dallas community, but they also responded to the COVID-19 crisis by assisting first responders and providing key support for vaccination efforts across North Texas.
Mask Project Keeps Comets Covered
After campus operations essentially shut down in March 2020, many UT Dallas employees continued reporting to campus to maintain essential functions, from housing and dining to police and facilities management.
In response to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines about wearing a cloth face covering in public settings, as well as the initial shortage of face masks available for purchase, the University community quickly rallied to outfit fellow Comets.
The goal? To provide two reusable, washable face coverings to each employee who regularly reported to campus to perform essential job duties.
Initial requests were received from approximately 400 employees. More than 1,200 cloth face coverings were distributed in April and May 2020.
Debra Greszler, a member of Staff Council and a manager in the Office of Information Technology, volunteered to lead the effort after spending a couple of weekends making cloth face coverings for family members.
“In my 18 years with UTD, this experience will forever be a highlight of being a member of this wonderful community,” Greszler said. “It truly is the UTD spirit in action, and I am humbled by the volunteers’ giving nature.
I have deep gratitude for everyone who has participated in this effort.”
Nearly 100 staff, faculty, students, parents and grandparents of students and employees, UT Dallas alumni, and University retirees joined the effort. Some were learning to sew; others were more experienced. They also donated supplies: fabric, sewing machines, thread, pipe cleaners and elastic.
The UT Dallas Police Department assisted in safely receiving donations, distributing masks, and maintaining the intake and pickup of supplies. Crime prevention officer David Spigelmyer said the project was an opportunity to show the University community that people care.
“When the call goes out, no matter who needs help, our Comet community will always step up and do the right thing,” Spigelmyer said. “Hopefully our students will learn from this example and carry the torch forward when they graduate.”
Marita Yancey, director of employee benefits and wellness, created mask kits for other volunteers to sew.
Keeping Students Connected
When the University made the difficult decision to move courses online in March 2020, administrators throughout campus immediately thought of the UT Dallas students who might not have adequate computer access.
“When we make a big move like this, it’s going to inequitably affect students who are in higher-need categories,” said Dr. Jessica C. Murphy, dean of undergraduate education. “So anything the institution can do to even that playing field is important — understanding that we can’t possibly fix all of it.”
Immediately, dozens of University staff and faculty jumped into action, developing a strategy with the primary task of finding computers.
The University considered a number of options, including renting computers; however, the cost and shipping time ruled that out. Office of Information Technology (OIT) staff members next connected with every school and department to help find computers.
Fortuitously, the Eugene McDermott Library had approximately 115 computers that were being prepared to send to surplus. Additional laptop and desktop computers that were at or near the end of their life cycle were offered by the Department of Computer Science in the Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science, from OIT and from eLearning services.
At the same time, Murphy and Dr. Amanda Smith, associate vice president for student affairs and dean of students, began the work of identifying students who needed computers for online classes.
Murphy, who is also professor of literary studies and the Mary McDermott Cook Chair for Undergraduate Education, said some students may not own computers, while others might share computers with family members — which would put the device in high demand during the work-from-home period.
OIT staffers worked long hours and on weekends to prepare the desktop and laptop computers to be lent to students. The devices had their hard drives wiped and reimaged, and the units were sanitized. In addition, keyboards, mice and monitors were obtained and sanitized.
Staff in student affairs and OIT said those who received the computers were very grateful, expressing particular appreciation that the University did not take for granted that everyone had the technology needed for online learning.
Murphy said the project is a good example of how UT Dallas cares about its students.
“I don’t know of another university that collaborates so well and focuses on students as much,” she said. “There’s just something kind of special about UTD.”
UTD Donates PPE to Hospitals
As the COVID-19 pandemic began threatening North Texas last year, UT Dallas stepped up to help protect front-line medical professionals against the novel coronavirus.
In March 2020, University staff and faculty donated personal protective equipment (PPE) to Parkland Health & Hospital System, which is Dallas County’s public hospital, and the following month made similar contributions of PPE supplies to UT Southwestern Medical Center and Methodist Richardson Medical Center.
The UT Dallas Office of Research spearheaded the collection of supplies from labs as research activities on campus transitioned to a maintenance-only mode of operation. Donations included more than 100,000 gloves, 322 N95 masks and over 1,400 surgical face masks.
Kathan McCallister, assistant vice president for research operations, coordinated the initial response to the first request from Parkland.
“We were working to make sure that our health care workers — doctors, nurses, everyone put in a position to be exposed to contagious patients — were not sacrificing their own well-being as they treated others,” McCallister said. “We remain grateful for the opportunity to serve.”
The COVID-19 pandemic has spotlighted the critical role research universities play in their communities, both in good times and under more challenging conditions, said Dr. Joseph Pancrazio, vice president for research and professor of bioengineering. Pancrazio said that the donation to UT Southwestern, which was unique in its inclusion of coveralls, goggles and bouffant caps, reinforces the close working relationship between the two UT System institutions.
“Under normal circumstances, UT Dallas’ mission of teaching, research and service includes service to the community and the world,” Pancrazio said. “In these extraordinary times, it is imperative that we, as a Tier One research university, stand and lead during a situation that affects our region and beyond.
“It was incumbent upon us to think differently about this, to set an example for our region. In this situation, the supplies that we have must be made available for the greater need.”
Office of Research staff members Tyler Tornblom (left) and Steve Lucas load PPE.
Alum Builds Tool To Make Data Accessible
When UT Dallas alumnus Dr. Wade Fagen- Ulmschneider BS’05, MS’06 sees graphs, charts and data plots of the coronavirus pandemic spread, he sees questions beyond the lines and dots.
“There is a story there — questions, answers, themes — waiting to be told with the right data visualization tools,” said Fagen-Ulmschneider, who earned a bachelor’s degree in software engineering and a master’s in computer science from the Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science. He received his doctorate in computer science from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where he’s now a teaching associate professor.
Early in the pandemic, Fagen-Ulmschneider created a tool that allows users to find answers in the data and uncover stories of COVID-19 spread and its impact. His 91-DIVOC interactive visualization (COVID-19 read backward, inspired by the UT Dallas Comet mascot named Temoc) of COVID-19 communicates information in such an impactful and accessible way that it’s been used by governors of multiple states, featured across popular national news and is updated every day.
“Even though we all wish that coronavirus had never happened, I feel visualizations about the pandemic are important,” he said. “As an educator, I appreciate that my tool can help people nerd out and tell the stories of COVID-19 in an accessible way.”
To create 91-DIVOC, Fagen-Ulmschneider started with COVID-19 data collected by Johns Hopkins University, which is high quality, reliable, open access and updated daily. Using this data, he built his own visualization that includes tracking over time of new COVID-19 cases, deaths and hospitalizations by state, territory and country.
He has since added other data sources to his visualization tool, including from the Our World in Data project. Users can now also track vaccines administered.
“Effective visualization of the COVID-19 data to make it more understandable and accessible to both the general public and decision-makers is paramount,” said Dr. Murat Kantarcioglu, UT Dallas Ashbel Smith Professor of computer science who is researching privacy issues with COVID-19 patient data. “Wade is one of our great alumni who contributed significant tools to make the COVID-19 data more accessible for the general public.”
$1M in Funds Donated to Students in Need
Thousands of supporters have provided over $1 million in vital emergency assistance to more than 2,000 UT Dallas students in need during the COVID-19 pandemic.
When classes moved to online learning in March 2020, most students left campus, leaving many without the resources they relied on for academic success and personal well-being.
These resources included reliable access to the internet and computers capable of participating in online classes; the Student Health Center, which serves as a primary care facility for many students; the Comet Cupboard, which offers food and personal care items; and meals provided by University Dining Services.
To assist students with necessary expenses related to food, housing, technology, child care, medical care and other unplanned needs, UT Dallas created the Student Emergency Fund.
UT Dallas students demonstrated a great need for the emergency assistance: Food insecurity threatened 68% of applicants, and 43% found themselves short on monthly rent. After the transition to virtual learning and distanced instruction, purchasing a reliable computer and covering internet utility costs were the prevailing needs felt by 70% of applicants.
Software engineering graduate Wilfred Labue BS’20 is one student who found help last year through the Student Emergency Fund. Labue previously drove for Uber to pay his bills and cover living expenses, but when he stopped driving to reduce his potential exposure to the virus, he quickly ran out of money.
“One day I saw an email about the fund. The money I got took care of my phone and internet bills and allowed me to have food in my home,” Labue said. “It’s helped keep me afloat, and I really do appreciate the contributions of our donors.”
University partners in the corporate sector also took notice of the need felt by students. State Farm gave $25,000, the largest single donation for student support.
In the early months of the pandemic, federal and state funding for coronavirus relief provided an immediate source of aid, granting over $10 million to 7,616 UT Dallas students. This injection of government funding was insufficient, however, to cover all student need, and many UT Dallas students — including the University’s significant international student population — were ineligible for these programs.
According to the University’s International Student Services Office (ISSO), there were some 300 international students who were in difficult financial straits.
It’s those international students that worried Sanjeeb Samanta BS’94, MS’95, a UT Dallas alumnus who traveled from another country for his own education.
Samanta, who is now employed at Texas Instruments Inc., understood their difficulties. He worked with the ISSO and the Office of Development and Alumni Relations to set up the International Student Emergency Fund to support international students during the pandemic.
3D-Printed Ventilator Parts
In the early days of the global COVID-19 pandemic, ventilators were considered the most important lifesaving medical device and the last line of defense for treating critically ill patients whose lungs had been devastated by the novel coronavirus. Worldwide, hospitals desperately sought to boost their supply and capacity.
In an effort to be proactive, in March 2020 UT Dallas researchers designed and 3D-printed a critical ventilator part in a campus lab mobilized to address potential supply shortages.
Positive end-expiratory pressure, or PEEP, valves are disposable parts used with ventilators to ensure that patients’ lungs retain some air and do not collapse when exhaling. A new valve is needed for each patient.
“We were excited to be able to use 3D-printing technology to manufacture equipment that could save the lives of COVID-19 patients and protect the health care workers caring for them,” said Dr. Walter Voit BS’05, MS’06, associate professor of materials science and engineering and of mechanical engineering and one of the faculty members who led the effort. He also is founder and CEO of Adaptive 3D Technologies, a company launched through the UT Dallas Venture Development Center, which supplied the rubber used in the inner component and the outer casing in some of the valves.
The University mobilized the COVID-UT Dallas Response Lab in the UTDesign Studio, which typically is used by engineering students working on senior capstone projects. The studio was closed when the University limited campus access to essential personnel only and moved classes online. The UT Dallas 3D-printing team was one of several university groups across the country operating through 3D Corps, an informal collaboration of experts, to increase the supply of ventilators and protective equipment.
“I’m proud of the students who volunteered to participate in the 3D-printing initiative,” said Dr. Stephanie G. Adams, dean of the Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science and the Lars Magnus Ericsson Chair. “A college education is about more than what occurs in the classroom, and this project demonstrates the creativity and engineering expertise that our students can contribute to solve real-world problems.”
Pedro Rocha MS’20, a biomedical engineering PhD student who helped with 3D designs from home, said, “I volunteered because I saw a problem that I could help solve. I think if you have skills, you have to use them. It’s our responsibility as UTD students to provide solutions and help people who are fighting on the front lines.”
The researchers worked closely with UT Southwestern Medical Center physicians to determine the most urgent needs. Dr. Hongzhao Ji, assistant professor of otolaryngology-head and neck surgery at UT Southwestern, said that although the hospital had PEEP valves on hand, the 3D-printing project helped ensure that an adequate supply was available if needed.
Terry Scholars Cook Up Way To Help
In April 2020, at the onset of the pandemic, two UT Dallas students established a nonprofit organization whose mission is to purchase meals from local restaurants and donate and deliver them to hospital personnel in cities most impacted by COVID-19.
Neuroscience senior Jeannie Nghiem and healthcare studies graduate Ramzi Taim BS’21, who are both Terry Scholars, founded the organization COOKED-19 to help those who are on the front lines of battling the pandemic.
Their efforts have been backed by a grant from RevTech Ventures, a retail technology venture capital firm in Dallas, and a $1,000 grant from the Victor L. Worsfold Grant Program Fund, which was established by UT Dallas’ Eugene McDermott Scholars Program Alumni Association to support student-led service activities providing creative solutions to community problems.
“I know how hard nurses and doctors work, even without a pandemic. These are people who are struggling to get us back to normal and risking their own lives to do so. We wanted to support those who work so hard to support us,” Nghiem said.
Taim researched everything needed to set up a nonprofit organization. Then he and Nghiem helped develop partnerships with local restaurants that would provide meals in bulk and recruited volunteers to help deliver the meals.
“It’s really been amazing to see so much community support,” Taim said.
Since their initial efforts, the duo has added several new members to their team and delivered several hundred masks to front-line hospital workers in addition to meals.
“We are trying to not only provide food for the health care work-ers working nonstop to fight COVID-19, but also provide some financial help to businesses that have been hurt by the economic downturn,” Nghiem said.
Sheila Kelly, director of the Terry Scholars program at UT Dallas, said Nghiem and Taim exemplify the Terry Foundation’s vision of giving back to the community.
“Terry Scholars giving back to the community is what Howard and Nancy Terry asked when they began this scholarship 30-plus years ago, and Jeannie and Ramzi have definitely lived up to that,” Kelly said.
Since 2006, the Terry Foundation has provided more than $19 million to the University’s 340 scholars, who are selected for scholastic achievement, leadership and service.
Cold Storage for Vaccines in Hot Demand
In early 2021, UT Dallas researchers stepped in to assist with a necessary resource for widespread COVID-19 vaccination efforts in North Texas — ultracold freezer storage.
Two of the available vaccines must be stored at temperatures well-below freezing, and as greater numbers of vaccines were being shipped to municipal and regional hubs for distribution, safe storage was critical.
“We participate in regular conference calls with regional emergency management partners,” said Mariah Phipps, director of the Office of Emergency Management and Continuity Planning at UT Dallas.
“During one of those calls, we mentioned that we might have resources we could make available, and we would be happy to provide support, if needed.”
At the same time, members of the Office of Research at UT Dallas began contacting researchers across campus to get an idea of what inventory existed and to determine if any equipment would be appropriate for ultracold storage that met Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines.
Not long after making sure freezers lent by the University would adhere to the CDC guidelines and needs for vaccine storage, UT Dallas was approached by the city of Grand Prairie. As a designated site for vaccination efforts, along with the city of Irving, city officials needed additional storage for the larger volume of vaccines they would be receiving.
Dr. Kelli Palmer, associate professor of biological sciences and Fellow, Cecil H. and Ida Green Chair in Systems Biology Science, volunteered one of her team’s new freezers. Once it was cleaned and certified decontaminated, Grand Prairie officials picked it up from campus.
“We are fortunate to count on the support of our stakeholders that allows us to serve our communities in a time of need,” said Chase Wheeler, Grand Prairie emergency management coordinator. “It’s a testament to the value in building strong relationships before a disas-ter strikes.”
Collin County personnel also asked UT Dallas officials about the possibility of lending a freezer. The Texas Biomedical Device Center at UT Dallas was able to assist.
“The Texas Biomedical Device Center was founded by a U.S. Marine and an Eagle Scout, so service to our community comes naturally. We are happy to have had the opportunity to serve by sharing our equipment during this crisis,” said Dr. Michael Kilgard, the Margaret Fonde Jonsson Professor of neuroscience and interim executive director and chief science officer at the center.
Candy Blair, Collin County’s public health director, said: “We are so deeply grateful to UT Dallas for lending Collin County Health Care Services an ultracold freezer. The freezer gives our facility the ability to store the lifesaving Pfizer vaccine. The addition of the ultracold freezer also allowed our vaccination planning to expand greatly, which in turn is providing additional help to Collin County residents.”
Research associate Luke Joyce with UT Dallas freezer.
UTSW Hosts Vaccine Clinic at UTD
As vaccines for COVID-19 became available to the public, UT Southwestern Medical Center opened several community vaccination sites, including one on the UT Dallas campus in March. The site provided vaccinations for both UT Southwestern patients and community members until early July.
“We are grateful to UT Dallas leaders who have generously opened their campus for the benefit of those who still need to be vaccinated,” said Dr. Daniel K. Podolsky, president of UT Southwestern and holder of the Philip O’Bryan Montgomery, Jr., M.D. Distinguished Presidential Chair in Academic Administration and the Doris and Bryan Wildenthal Distinguished Chair in Medical Science. “This spirit of collaboration with a sister UT institution is a win for all North Texans.”
UT Dallas President Richard C. Benson, the Eugene McDermott Distinguished University Chair of Leadership, said: “We are so fortunate to have partnered with UT Southwestern. Offering our campus as a vaccination site is clearly one of the most important things we could do for the community. Vaccinations provide the best route to normality in Richardson, Dallas-Fort Worth and the entire country.”
The UT Dallas site was set up at the Davidson-Gundy Alumni Center in the center of campus. UT Southwestern personnel checked people into the clinic and monitored them after they received their vaccinations. UT Dallas provided security and safety support, parking and traffic coordination, and hosts who guided people to the correct stations. More than 1,000 individuals volunteered at the site, where 49,151 doses were administered.
UT Dallas students who are members of the University Emergency Medical Response (UEMR) team were among those administering shots.
Approximately 60 students who are emergency medical technicians or paramedics worked five-hour shifts, providing vaccinations alongside health care workers from UT Southwestern. In addition, UEMR members staffed a medical standby station at the location.
The UEMR team also assisted Collin County Health Care Services with administering approximately 1,500 COVID-19 vaccinations in McKinney, Texas, and helped with proactive COVID-19 testing on the UT Dallas campus.
