Student Affairs News

 Vice President For Student Affairs

December 20, 2006

 

n This Issue:

 

  • Message from the Interim Vice President for Student Affairs

  • Kudos To Staff

  • UTSAccess (Financial Aid Program)

  • New Student Affairs Main Web Site Launched

  • VPSA Search Update

 


Dear Colleagues,

This has been a great semester for Student Affairs. Student Affairs staff continues to be recognized as leaders on campus for providing outstanding services and programs to our students and their families.  The hallmark of all of our accomplishments is the strength of the one-on-one interaction that each of you gives - with care, compassion, and a strong commitment to excellence.

UTSA Student Affairs is only as successful as the commitment of the people who want to achieve the best and make it great. Your commitment has been evident throughout the semester. Our students have experienced tragedies and triumphs and you have expertly and compassionately supported them through these experiences.  You have done an awesome job. 

May you all have a well-deserved, refreshing and rejuvenating holiday break, surrounded by those that you care about.  I hope you have a Happy New Year!

Kevin Price


Kudos!

To the Academic Publications staff - Johanna Hunziker, Hilary Bednorz and Donna Edmondson - for their talents and creation of the VPSA holiday greeting card.

To all Student Affairs Staff - There were 88 people from Student Affairs working the December 2006 commencement ceremonies.  This number included the women's basketball team.  Approximately 1,505 graduates participated in the 5 different ceremonies.

To Sally Bench, Lori Zerr,  and Anne Speights,  from the Registrar’s Office, and Carol Gonzalez, Ombudsperson for Student Affairs, all of whom received a “Friend of Advising” certificate from the college advising directors for their dedication and hard work to advisors and students in helping to improve advising here on our campus.

Congratulations to Kathy Ceresoli and the Department of Student Health Services that McFarland and Associates, Inc., has funded the proposed, "Peer Led HIV/Substance Abuse Prevention Program at UTSA" in the amount of $85,000.00.


UTSAccess (Financial Aid Program)

UTSA officials announced on December 15, 2006 a new financial package effective fall 2007 for all first-time freshman Texas residents with a family income of $25,000 or less.  Students who fit the criteria will receive grants and scholarships to cover tuition and mandatory fees for four years if they complete 30 credit hours each year and maintain a grade point average of 2.0. 

The new program, UTSAccess (Undergraduate Tuition Support and Access), includes work-study positions to enable students to work on campus 10-12 hours per week to earn money to help cover the cost of room and board and other educational expenses. 

To participate in this new program, students with a family income of $25,000 or less must apply and be admitted to UTSA; apply for financial aid using the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by the priority deadline of March 31, 2007; be registered for at least 12 credit hours each semester (15 credit hours recommended); complete 30 credit hours each year; and maintain a GPA of 2.0.

See  UTSA Today  for complete article.


New Student Affairs Main Web Site Launched

The new Student Affairs main web site is up and running thanks to the efforts of a core committee that partnered with the UTSA web design team members.  A special thanks to Ruben Ortiz, Student Affairs technical liaison, who updated several banners on the former site and posted the new site on December 15th.  Work will continue on revisions and updates as needed. 

Please note the online, user-friendly  Student Concern Form in the Student Ombudsperson section.  Completion of this form will register an immediate concern and will be addressed by the Student Ombudsperson, Carol Gonzalez.

 


VPSA Search Update

We look forward to notification of the selection of the new Vice President for Student Affairs in early January.


Reminder

Downtown Faculty/Staff Week @ the Rec will take place on January 16th - 19th. Check  Campus Rec Website for latest information!

The newsletter goes out every two weeks.  Please  send newsletter items to Vivis Lemmons.  Next deadline is Monday, January 8th at noon.

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