The start of a new semester means it’s time to make sure your parking permit is up-to-date.

The University reminds students, faculty and staff that all vehicles on campus are required to have a permit. You may register for a parking permit by visiting the UToledo parking portal. For a tutorial on how to purchase a permit, go to the Parking and Transportation Services’ website.

Parking and Transportation Services will be distributing warnings for the “failure to register for a permit” citation through the first week of classes as students adjust to their new schedules. Beginning Saturday, Jan. 25, vehicles without a parking permit will be ticketed. The last day to cancel a permit and receive a refund is Tuesday, Feb. 4.

Student permit types are assigned based on earned credit hours and residential status. To learn more about your permit type, visit the parking permits’ web page. Note the first letter of the permit is your permit type. For example, if your permit reads “K Underclassman Commuter,” your permit type is “K.”

Alphabet letters indicating permit types are listed on signs at the entrance of each lot and on the light poles. Visit Parking and Transportation Services’ website to view a complete campus map. Yellow and white lines indicate employee and student parking. Students may park in white-lined spaces that pertain to their permit type. After 4 p.m., registered UToledo permit holders may park in most lots until 7:30 a.m. the following day. To avoid receiving a citation, always face your license plate to the drive aisle.

Four vehicles may be on the same permit. However, if both vehicles are scanned on campus during the same day and time, a ticket will be issued. To view a tutorial on how to add a vehicle to your permit, visit the parking permits’ web page.

If you are looking to leave your car at home, check out the alternative transportation methods available on campus. UToledo offers bus services and a bike-share program with a fleet that includes bicycles and tricycles, as well as tandem and hand-pedal options. For more information, visit the Parking and Transportation Services’ website.

As a reminder, Parking and Transportation Services communicates primarily through UToledo email; this includes ticket notifications. Ticket notifications will be sent to your UToledo email account if you are an active student or employee. Most violations are e-tickets and will not be placed on your vehicle. If the vehicle is not registered properly, your ticket will be sent in the mail to the registered owner of the vehicle.

Still have questions? Check out the frequently asked questions page or contact parking@utoledo.edu.

If you are a faculty or staff member and are affiliated with any fraternity or sorority, the Office of Student Involvement and Leadership wants to hear from you.

“We want to begin building Greek connections across campus,” said Sheree Madison-Emery, coordinator for Greek life.

Employees are asked to take a couple minutes and submit their information through the UToledo Involvement Network.

For more information, contact Madison-Emery at sheree.madison@utoledo.edu.

Twenty-five UToledo employees were selected last semester by a multidisciplinary team as members of the Staff Leadership Development Program’s third cohort.

Launched in 2017, the program provides a formal pathway for high-potential employees to hone their leadership skills through monthly courses taught by senior leaders, faculty and other subject matter experts who cover a variety of higher education topics. Completing reading assignments, group activities and a capstone project also are requirements of the yearlong program.

“We’re very proud of these latest participants and wish them well as they embark on program activities throughout the coming year,” said Wendy Davis, associate vice president and chief human resources officer. “To be selected is quite an achievement because there were many individuals again this year who applied and have great potential.”

Third-cohort members are: Tiffany Akeman, Radiation Oncology; Malaika-Beauta Bell, Office of Diversity and Inclusion; Christine Billau, Marketing and Communications; Keith Bitter, Information Technology; Victoria Buckley, College of Medicine and Life Sciences; Larry Carter, Marketing and Communications; Kari Dilworth, Center for Success Coaching; Jessica Faber, Academic Enrichment Center; Maggie Garcia, Facilities and Construction; Katie Himrich, Department of Medicine; Michele Johnson, Office of New Student Orientation Programs; Andrew Kleinhenz, College of Medicine and Life Sciences; David Kubacki, Psychiatry; Christina Lowry, LaValley Law Library; Andrea Masters, Benefits and Wellness; Danelle Mooi, Hospital Administration; Ann Murphy, Neurology; Abby Overhulse, Orthopaedic Surgery; Jeff Schneiderman, College of Medicine and Life Sciences; Allison Spencer, College of Engineering; Eric Szabo, Information Technology; Jessica Visser, Office of Legal Affairs; Lisa Yost, Student Disability Services; Mary Youngs, Office of Student Affairs; and Hesham Youssef, Emergency Medicine.

“One of the goals of the Staff Leadership Development Program is to expose individuals to diverse viewpoints and provide them with the opportunity to network with people from various departments across our campuses,” said Carrie Herr, director for the Office of Quality and Continuous Learning, who oversees the program.

Therefore, UToledo employees who applied or were nominated and did not get selected are strongly encouraged to apply again in future years, Herr noted. The next call for applicants will occur in September 2020.

For more information, visit the Staff Leadership Development Program website.

Four UToledo faculty members have been selected to participate in the third year of the Mid-American Conference Academic Leadership Development Program.

The program was created to identify, develop, prepare and advance faculty as leaders in the colleges and universities that are members of the Mid-American Conference. Fellows participating in the program have the opportunity to gain valuable knowledge and experience by working closely with select administrators from other colleges and universities in the MAC.

“We are happy The University of Toledo participates in this worthwhile program that helps faculty members reach their leadership potential,” Dr. Amy Thompson, vice provost for faculty affairs and professor of public health, said.

Fellows for the 2019-20 academic year are:

• Dr. Jonathan Bossenbroek, professor of environmental sciences and director of the Office of Competitive Fellowships and Undergraduate Research;

• Dr. Maria Coleman, professor and chair of chemical engineering and associate director of the Polymer Institute;

• Dr. Scott Molitor, professor of bioengineering and senior associate dean for academic affairs in the College of Engineering; and

• Dr. Rebecca Schneider, professor of science and teacher education, and associate dean of graduate studies in the Judith Herb College of Education.

All tenured faculty with experience in administrative leadership and service are eligible to apply for the MAC Academic Leadership Development Program. Candidates submitted a letter of support from their dean, as well as an application and curriculum vitae for consideration.

“Our Fellows will work alongside UToledo leaders to learn from their experience,” Thompson said. “They also will benefit from working with administrators and peers from other MAC institutions.”

All MAC Academic Leadership Development Program Fellows will attend one three-day workshop each semester. Topics to be addressed include budgeting, conflict resolution, accreditation and accountability.

“This program allows our Fellows a chance to prepare for leadership positions while experiencing the challenges and rewards of institutional service,” Thompson said. “This is a great opportunity to advance leadership for our UToledo faculty members.”

Read more about the MAC Academic Leadership Development Program on the Office of the Provost website.

Toledo Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz and University of Toledo President Sharon L. Gaber are inviting community members throughout northwest Ohio to the 2020 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Unity Day Celebration.

The 19th annual Unity Day Celebration, which is free and open to the public, will take place Monday, Jan. 20, from 9 to 11 a.m. in Savage Arena. A free community breakfast will be served to begin the event.

This year’s theme of “Dream, Believe, Do” helps connect King’s iconic dream of freedom and equality with the belief and action needed to help make it a reality, according to organizers. As part of the celebration, winter kits will be packaged by community members for donation to Lucas County Children Services.

“At a time when our nation seems as divided as it has ever been, I encourage all Toledoans to join in the celebration of Martin Luther King Jr., whose life’s work was dedicated to bringing people together and finding common ground,” Kapszukiewicz said.

“As the city of Toledo’s university, we view outreach and education as a critical part of our mission,” Gaber said. “The UToledo community is proud to partner with our neighbors in celebrating Dr. King’s legacy.”

Alexis Means, reporter for WTVG-TV Ch. 13, is master of ceremonies for the Unity Day Celebration. The program will feature the awarding of scholarships, as well as songs, dance and spoken word performances by UToledo students, the UToledo Blue & Gold Pep Band, UToledo TRIBE Dance Team, students from Toledo School for the Arts, and Alicia Russell, soprano with the Toledo Opera.

Recipients of UToledo’s Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship, awarded each year based on academic excellence as well as civic and community service, also will be recognized.

The Unity Day Celebration is organized by a committee co-chaired by Sara Dastagir, assistant to Kapszukiewicz, and Dr. Willie McKether, UToledo vice president for diversity and inclusion, and vice provost.

Dan Saevig has been part of The University of Toledo every day for more than half of his life, first as a student and then as an employee at the institution he loves.

That will change soon: The associate vice president of alumni engagement and executive director of the UToledo Alumni Association will retire Monday, March 2.

“I love The University of Toledo; I know its life-changing powers,” Saevig said.

The native of Oregon, Ohio, received a bachelor of arts degree in communication and a master of business administration degree from UToledo in 1984 and 1989, respectively.

Then Saevig joined the staff at his alma mater as assistant director of alumni relations in 1990. Three years later, he was promoted to executive director of alumni relations. He left the University in 1999, but returned to campus in 2002 as associate vice president of alumni relations.

“Dan has dedicated his life to The University of Toledo. With his Rocket passion and energy, he has helped grow UToledo’s alumni participation, as well as alumni programs and donations,” President Sharon L. Gaber said. “We thank Dan for his tremendous service to the University for 27 years.”

Under Saevig’s leadership, the Office of Alumni Engagement has:

• Upped its annual programs from 40 in 1990 to 200 in 2019.

• Grown UToledo Alumni Association membership five consecutive years; this includes an 8% increase last year and an 8% increase so far this fiscal year, totaling more than 27,000 members around the globe.

• Helped increase alumni donations from 2.59% in 2015 to 5.37% last year as measured by U.S. News & World Report, with a portion of membership dues as a gift to the UT Foundation; 66% of donors last year were members of the UToledo Alumni Association.

“When I started working in the alumni office, we were mostly promoting events in Toledo. Now we truly are a national program,” Saevig said.

He added he is proud of the diversity of the UToledo Alumni Association Board and how the Koester Alumni Pavilion was a project that came together in six months in 2012. “The Koester Alumni Pavilion, a gathering spot just west of the Glass Bowl, is a real point of pride for alumni and friends of the University,” Saevig said.

In addition, he played a pivotal role in the expansion of Art on the Mall, the UToledo Alumni Association’s signature event that started in 1992 and has become a summer tradition. The UToledo Alumni Association also is financially secure, having increased its reserves by 300% during his tenure.

“I can leave UToledo knowing we have the right person to lead the Office of Alumni Engagement for the next 20 years,” Saevig said. “[William] Billy Pierce is that person. He’s an alumnus, he’s well-liked, he’s personable — alumni will enjoy connecting with him.”

Pierce, senior director of alumni engagement, will succeed Saevig.

A longtime UToledo donor, Saevig is giving a $150,000 parting gift to his alma mater — provided there is no official sendoff celebration.

“The donation is a thank-you for the University’s impact on me and my family,” he said. “It’s important for employees to give back. We are blessed to be working at UToledo. I wouldn’t be who I am without the friendships and relationships I developed here over the years. I want to show my support for the institution that I love.”

Dr. Lisa Root, attending veterinarian and director of the Department of Laboratory Animal Resources, has been elected to the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science Board of Trustees.

The association serves as an educational resource for more than 13,000 members and maintains relationships with worldwide affiliate organizations with like-minded missions. It also publishes two scientific journals and a variety of educational and public outreach materials; sponsors a national educational meeting; and operates a certification program for laboratory animal technicians, technologists and laboratory managers.

Root will serve a three-year term as trustee representing the Midwest region, which includes Ohio, Michigan, Indiana and Kentucky.

She is passionate about animal care and welfare, and is grateful to be surrounded by others dedicated to this mission and to have the support of the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science.

“I am honored to have been elected to the board of this prestigious organization that works tirelessly to promote laboratory animal welfare, education and public outreach,” Root said. “I value the support the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science gives our industry, and I’m enthusiastic about this opportunity to give back.”

Root recently gave a presentation about one of The University of Toledo’s research projects at the national American Association for Laboratory Animal Science meeting in Denver. She said UToledo has an excellent research program, and she has enjoyed highlighting the University’s successes and putting researchers and animal care staff in the spotlight.

During the 2019 UToledo Cares campaign, hundreds of faculty, staff and retirees collectively pledged more than $114,000 in contributions to local nonprofit organizations.

The annual charitable campaign collects donations to United Way of Greater Toledo, Community Health Charities, EarthShare Ohio and Northwest Ohio Community Shares — which together represent more than 200 nonprofit organizations throughout the area.

“This year’s theme was Supporting Community, and we’re proud of our campus and retirees for generously donating to improve the lives of thousands in the Toledo area,” said Dan Barbee, chief executive officer at The University of Toledo Medical Center and 2019 campaign co-chair.

“These gifts and contributions will help to educate our children, sustain our region’s parks, advance important research and so much more,” said Dr. Willie McKether, UToledo vice president for diversity and inclusion, vice provost, and campaign co-chair.

Each person who made a donation to the annual charitable campaign, regardless of the amount, will receive an invitation to a complimentary breakfast buffet hosted by UToledo President Sharon L. Gaber; the event is scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 30, from 8 to 9 a.m. in the Savage Arena Grogan Room.

Additionally, every donor will receive a UToledo scarf as a thank-you gift at the celebratory breakfast. If you made a donation but are unable to attend, watch for notification of how to receive your gift after the event.

The Healthy Business Council of Ohio is recognizing 111 Ohio employers for healthy worksite practices during its 16th annual Healthy Worksite Awards presentation in January. Among recipients being honored is The University of Toledo, earning a Bronze Award.

“We’re very proud to be acknowledged for our robust employee wellness programs,” said Wendy Davis, associate vice president and chief human resources officer. “Our wellness team is committed to providing offerings that support the wide variety of health needs among our diverse workforce.”

The Healthy Worksite Awards recognize Ohio employers that demonstrate a commitment to wellness through comprehensive worksite health and wellness programming. Organizations are scored on the extent their wellness practices motivate and support employee health, as well as ensure a healthy work environment.

“Receiving this award is a tremendous honor because it recognizes the University as being on par with the highest workplace wellness standards in the country,” said Brian Pack, director for benefits and wellness.

This year’s Healthy Business Council of Ohio assessment aligned with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Worksite Health Scorecard.

“Organizations recognized this year should be especially pleased that they demonstrated their employee wellness programs are well-rounded and nationally competitive,” said Annie Cadmus, Healthy Worksite Award co-chair.

“Throughout the year, we offer employees programs we know are relevant, such as diabetes prevention, managing stress, Alzheimer’s awareness, and caregiving for elderly parents or a loved one,” said Vicki Riddick, senior wellness officer. “I’m glad so many of our employees participate in these free programs, which are provided on site and online for their convenience.”

To access the current list of UToledo employee wellness offerings, visit the Rocket Wellness/Healthy U website.

The Healthy Business Council of Ohio Awards ceremony will be held Thursday, Jan. 23, as part of the Health Action Council 2020 Annual Columbus Symposium, which features national experts on health reform, healthcare systems and employee benefits.

As several states draft legislation that would force student-athletes to play as their gender identified on their birth certificate instead of on a team that matches their gender identity, a team of political scientists investigated underlying factors that drive public opinion on transgender athletes.

The new study shows while women in general are more supportive than men of transgender athletes participating in sports by gender identity instead of biological sex, women who are sports fans are more likely to oppose it, holding views that resemble male sports fans.

The research recently published in the journal Sex Roles investigated public attitudes toward the participation of transgender people in sports by using data from a 2015 survey of 1,020 adults across the U.S.; the data was previously used by the same researchers to analyze public opinion on a variety of transgender rights issues.

Dr. Jami Taylor, professor of political science and public administration at The University of Toledo who focuses on transgender politics and policy, is part of the team who found that attitudes about transgender athletes are strongly shaped by an individual’s characteristics, political values and personality traits.

Also, the study shows people who have contact with transgender, gay and lesbian people, as well as those with stronger egalitarian attitudes, are more favorable toward transgender participation, whereas those with high moral traditionalism are more opposed.

“This is a very complicated area, and there are legitimate concerns about fairness for both transgender athletes and those who are not transgender,” said Taylor, author of the 2017 book “The Remarkable Rise of Transgender Rights.” “We need to have thoughtful policies that ensure fair competitions, but also ensure that transgender athletes aren’t discriminated against. As governments, nonprofits and businesses begin to craft policies that decide how and with whom transgender athletes will compete in sports, they need to avoid one-size-fits-all solutions because of the complexity of the issues.”

“Given the gendered nature of sports and the resistance to the issue among sports fans — both male and female — policymakers will likely need to tread carefully and should have a care in this area as they craft policy solutions. Our work might be helpful to inform policymakers, as well as advocates who promote inclusion.”

Research contributors include Taylor; Dr. Andrew Flores, assistant professor in the Department of Government at American University and lead author of the study; Dr. Donald Haider-Markel, professor and chair of the Department of Political Science at the University of Kansas; Dr. Daniel Lewis, associate professor of political science at Siena College; Dr. Patrick Miller, associate professor in the Department of Political Science at the University of Kansas; and Dr. Barry Tadlock, professor of political science at Ohio University.

Current policy depends on the position of governing bodies, such as the NCAA at the collegiate level, and applicable laws that may vary by location. For instance, California law requires that transgender students be treated according to their gender identity, not biological sex.

The issue, according to lawmakers proposing new legislation in New Hampshire, Washington, Georgia, Tennessee and Missouri, is whether transgender-rights protections are leading to unfair competition in women’s sports, referencing male-to-female transgender students and arguing they have natural physical advantages over biological females.

However, the study cited a female-to-male case: Mack Beggs’ victory in the Texas Class 6A girls’ state wrestling championship in 2017, even though the female-to-male transgender student started his transition two years prior and took testosterone injections.

“It was a ridiculous situation. He wanted to wrestle with the boys and received harsh treatment from fans when he was forced to compete with girls,” Taylor said. “Due to his success, parents accused him of cheating, but the rule in Texas was he had to compete according to the gender on his birth certificate, which was a girl. If he was in California, he would’ve competed against boys.”

The study finds that 35.6% of women agreed with allowing transgender athletes to participate in sports aligned with their gender identity, compared to 23.2% of men.

As the 2020 Olympic games in Tokyo approach, Taylor calls the Olympics reasonably inclusive to transgender athletes and commends the International Olympic Committee for its attention to both human rights and fair competition.

“The International Olympic Committee no longer requires transgender athletes to have had surgery, but there is a strict requirement around hormonal management,” Taylor said. “It’s far less restrictive for female-to-male athletes than for male-to-female athletes, which seems to be a reasonable attempt to grapple with this complex issue. Importantly, the IOC’s approach looks at evidence in this evolving area.”