|
Staff News
November 1 , 2007
In This Issue
Message from Gage E. Paine, Vice President for Student Affairs
Last week I went to a reunion of sorts. As with most reunions this was a large gathering of people, many of whom hadn’t seen each other in quite some time. So there were hugs and smiles, stories to tell and laughter to share. At this particular reunion there were also many tears since it was a memorial service for Jim Caswell who had just retired as vice president of Student Affairs for SMU. Jim served SMU for 40 years, 19 of them as vice president.
This weekend I’ll attend the combined conference of NASPA Region III, SACSA and TACUSPA. It’s a professional conference, but in some ways it will be a continuation of Jim’s memorial service. Many of the same people will be there and both NASPA and TACUSPA will take time to remember the leadership roles and the incredible number of years and depth of service he gave to these organizations and our profession.
I learned so much from Jim in the more than 20 years I knew him and the three years I worked for him. But the most important things I learned are illustrated in two details from his memorial service. First, 15 of the 19 student body presidents he worked with as VPSA were in attendance at this service as were many other current and former students. Second, from the time of his diagnosis of cancer in early May to the day of his memorial service last week cards and letters arrived in every mail delivery except for four. Jim was a university administrator with a long career and he walked through many difficult and challenging day, but he never lost sight of the central fact that what we do is all about the people. Not the procedures or policies, politics or processes – people. Really about each individual person. Jim Caswell was a servant leader before Robert Greenleaf coined the term.
Jim introduced me to the work of Parker J. Palmer who has become one of my favorite author/teachers over the years since then. Margaret Wheatley was inspired by Palmer’s work to write a ‘found poem’ (meaning all the phrases came from one of Palmer’s books called The Active Life) that reminds me of Jim and of the work that we do here at UTSA. I share a portion of it here with you.
Best wishes,
Gage
The True Professional*
The true professional is a person whose action points beyond his or herself to that underlying reality, that hidden wholeness, on which we can all rely.
The true professional is one who does not obscure grace with illusions of technical prowess, the true professional is one who strips away all illusions to reveal a reliable truth in which the human heart can rest.
Reveal a reliable truth.
Let our human hearts rest.
In remembrance of a true professional, Jim Caswell.
* "The True Professional" from Finding Our Way, Leadership for an Uncertain Time, by Margaret J. Wheatley
Announcements
Save the Date for the Student Affairs Holiday Luncheon This year's luncheon will be held on Tuesday, December 4. Please have your departmental staff send photographs to Stacy.Pena@utsa.edu. The deadline for submissions is November 15th.
New Professionals Network
The next NPN Brown Bag Lunch is Wednesday, November 7 at 11:30 a.m. in the JPL Assembly Room. All new Student Affairs Professionals (those with less than 5 years experience) are invited to attend.
November is Diversity Month at UTSA!
The Diversity Month Committee is looking for departments and organizations that might be interested in participating in this year’s Celebrate UTSA! Event. Departments can host an information table at the event which will be held on campus November 13, 2007 from 4pm till 8pm. If your department is interested in having a table at this event, please complete the registration form. If you have any questions on Diversity Month or Celebrate UTSA!, please call the Inclusion and Community Engagement Center at 458-4770. OXFAM Hunger Banquet November 14, 2007 5:00 - 7:00 pm
Laurel Room
Please join us for this FREE experience that includes dinner and potentially life changing information about world wide hunger. We will also be collecting cans to support the San Antonio Food Bank, so bring one along! We can accommodate 100 guests so please arrive early. Event sponsored by VOICES and the Inclusion & Community Engagement Center. Please contact jennifer.lilly@utsa.edu or 458-4770 for more information. To learn about OXFAM Hunger Banquets and other events visit www.oxfamamerica.org/fast.
Flu Shots
Student Health Services is open to provide flu vaccine at a cost of $15 for students and $20 for faculty/staff. Cash or checks will be accepted and no appointment is necessary. The hours for each location are as follows:
1604 Monday & Tuesday 9:00 a.m. - 6:30 p.m. Wednesday - Friday 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Downtown Monday - Thursday 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
New Staff in Student Affairs Student Financial Aid and Enrollment Services Andria Cox, Enrollment Services Officer I April Gonzales, Enrollment Services Supervisor Leticia Sanchez, Enrollment Services Officer I
Monthly Birthday Celebration with Dr. Paine
Please come celebrate your birthday with co-workers and Dr. Paine. The next celebration is scheduled November 8, 2007 for all Student Affairs staff November birthdays. The celebrations will be on the 2nd Thursday of each month from 3:00 to 4:30 p.m. Location for the celebration will be included in the birthday invitation.
Student Affairs dresses up for Halloween
Departmental News
UTSA Athletes Donate Equipment to Iraq Soldiers When Ricardo Gonzalez offered his assistance to Captain Lori Walker, he never dreamed that the Air Force nurse would wish for gloves, bats and balls. With the help of The University of Texas at San Antonio baseball and softball teams, those gloves, bats, balls and more are on their way to Iraq. A special thanks to Brad Parrott who helped orchestrate the donation. more...
Basketball season is here! Please visit both the Men's Basketball and Women's Basketball team websites for complete game schedules.
Local Athletic Events
Code: VB - Volleyball MBB - Men's Basketball MT- Men's Tennis WBB - Women's Basketball WS - Women's Soccer
NCAA® Men’s Final Four® Be a part of the MADNESS in 2008 as San Antonio hosts next year’s NCAA® Men’s Final Four®, April 5 and 7 in the Alamodome! We need 2,000 volunteers to support the many NCAA® events during Final Four® week. RESERVE YOUR SPOT TODAY
Development
Development has accepted a grant from the Union Pacific Foundation in the amount of $3,500 on behalf of Career Services. The funds will be used to provide students with a free resource, the Rapid Guide to Job Hunting. Bruce Howard and Susan Dollar display the check and a plaque honoring Union Pacific as a UTSA Career Services Distinguished Employer. ************** Special thanks to HEB Healthy Living for their contribution to Student Health Services and Student Activities. The Student Affairs Development Office has accepted a check in the amount of $10,400 to aid in health awareness programs for breast cancer, alcohol responsibility and diabetes. HEB has also chosen to support the Student Health Organization for the work they do in helping put on the various events. Thanks again to our friends at HEB!
Orientation & Transition Services UTSA Family Day got off to a great start this past Saturday, October 27th, with a series of events designed to give UTSA families an opportunity to come back to the university. The day kicked off with the Inaugural UTSA Family Breakfast. A total of 118 UTSA students, family members, faculty and staff gathered in the University Center Food Court and Dr. Gage Paine addressed the crowd, thanking family members for participating in this important part of their student's education. Participants were able to share a great meal, establish UTSA contacts and compete for door prizes! The afternoon events were an opportunity for family members to visit different areas of UTSA including the CFAC, the Quantitative Skills Tutoring Lab, Orientation and Transition Services, the UTSA Bookstore, and the Campus Recreation Center. Family Day also included the 3rd annual UTSA Day at Six Flags Fiesta Texas. The entire UTSA community was invited to "Paint the Park Blue and Orange," as they were offered admission tickets at half of the regular rate. Finally, Family Day gave everyone an opportunity to watch the UTSA Volleyball team in action versus Nicholls State. UTSA Athletics also offered free admission to the volleyball match. A very special "Thank You!" to everyone that was able to attend the Family Breakfast, and/or open their office during non-operating hours, and/or help out with our events! Your representation and dedication shows your commitment to serving not just students, but their entire family. We appreciate your support! Be on the lookout for more family events during Homecoming 2008! -Orientation and Transition Services and the UTSA Family Association
UTSA Family Day 2007 Photo Gallery
Student Life & Student Activities
Retirement News
Colleagues,
******************
The Office of Student Activities is proud to announce that Mayllyn Luz has
been named the Student Leaders of the Month for October 2007. She was
nominated by Kelsey Bratcher, the assistant director for risk education,
alcohol, and drugs. Other nominees for October included Tommy Thompson and
Jaime Villanueva.
Student Activities Weekly Events - Week of November 5th
Homecoming Poster Contest article from UTSA Today
"Getting To Know You....."
Name: Christina Selk
Title: Development Assistant
Department: Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs
Background: Originally from Oregon, I moved to San Antonio when I was 10 years old. I attended Saint Mary's Hall and have a degree in French and Art History from UTSA. Since October of last year I have been working in Development for UTSA.
Describe your job: I am involved in the development work for Student Affairs. I write proposals, gather research on prospective donors, plan and put on events and support the fundraising efforts of our Associate Director of Development, Jana Kennelly.
*Editor's Note: We are pleased to announce that, effective November 1, 2007, Christina Selk will be preparing the Student Affairs Staff Newsletter. Please continue your support and submit your stories and photos.
What job skills to you use most often? Writing, coordinating and organizing--all things that I love to do!
How do you unwind? I enjoy traveling, cooking, reading, visiting museums and spending time with my family. If there are any francophones or francophiles out there in Student Affairs, I am looking for any opportunity to keep up my French!
Thank You Rowdy continues his travels across Student Affairs
Thank You Rowdy has a special mission in Student Affairs - to travel across UTSA recognizing the good work of staff members.
Within the Division of Student Affairs, Thank You Rowdy is presented from one Student Affairs staff member to another in recognition and appreciation of work done well - taking extra assignments to provide support, offering unsolicited assistance or completing tasks in a unique way. Whatever the situation, contributions like this are made every day and Thank You Rowdy helps us recognize them. Thank you Rowdy reflects UTSA's spirit of community and reminds us to remember it takes everyone to make UTSA a great place to work and to learn. Gage E. Paine
Kudos
Melissa Hernandez, Interim Assistant Director, Coun-seling Services, receives ‘Thank You Rowdy’ and message from EPIC Journey* sanctioning group - Student Judicial Affairs, University Housing and Campus Living Village
October 24, 2007:
We thank you for your con- tinued support, reliability and responsiveness
to all three of our areas. We value your insight and advice greatly.
Melissa—with such serious issues we all know we can count on you which is a
priceless gift!
*EPIC Journey™, a model judicial affairs sanctioning program Previous 'Thank You Rowdy' Visits
From Lowa Mwilambwe:
Needless to say we are excited about the award and the fact that colleagues in the region acknowledge that what we do at UTSA is special. YOU play a big role in creating and delivering the training we provide to our student staff. Those who attended the presentation were impressed by the quality of the presentation and the caliber of the students who co-presented with us. Please join me in congratulating Fred, David and Priscilla who spent a significant amount of time preparing this presentation."
Kudos
to the Student Affairs staff that participated in UTSA's Got Talent! Joey Ramos, Paul Ayala, Jana Kennelly, Kelsey Bratcher, Julia Jackson, Karen Ivy, Mike Zucker, Nshjunda Vicenti, Susanna Driver, Lachelle Dixon, Eric Arellano, Janna Fennell, Robin Waters, Shirley Rowe, Gwen Drake, Yvonne Gonzalez, Chester Hallmon, Claudia Giliberti, Audrey Magnuson, Rachel Espinoza, Stefanie Cisneros, Priscilla Galvan, Susan Dollar, Lisa Blazer, Rosanna Mendiola, Gabe Mendiola, Paul Remmert, Amy Gomez and Paul Lopez. Kudos to Joe DeCristoforo
UTSA's digital signage boards were featured in an article in the July/August 2007 issue of In Park magazine. "Digital signage enables you to get messages – including emergency messages – out to a large number of people throughout your property in a short time – and is now being used on college campuses."
From
Judy Verdon, Training & Development, Human Resources: Just a quick note to say "Thanks" a million for your assistance and participation in the Administrative Toolbox Academic/Student presentation! Comments written on the evaluations and heard include: "The presenters were great!", "The presenters gave me new knowledge about their respective areas and I learned a lot!" and "The information that was presented will enable me to better answer and help students." Kudos to John Kaulfus, Hope Young, Anne Speights, Joey Ramos, Elizabeth Stanczak and Kim Canady!
Thank you to all the Student Affairs staff who helped with the Fall Harvest Celebration and passed candy out the students.
Cindy White, Jennifer Lilly, Nikki Lee, Todd Wollenzier, Itis Portillo, Linda Luera, Joe DeCristoforo, Sandy True, Paula Robins, Kristie Larner, Mike Garza, Linda Edmundson, Sally Bench, Anne Speights, Richard Rendon, Jennifer Kinkade, Virginia Garcia, Jacqueline Jackson, Brittany Biley, Lynn Hickey, Glenda Cruse, Sara Bordelon, Michael Wallen, Scott Slade, Jessica Avalos, Nanette Velasquez, Lindsey Puente, Carol Price, Howard Wallace, Pat Hedelius, Joe Polasek, Debbie Miller, Ann Folmar, Virginia Fugon, Kristin Boeker, Stephen Ballard, Linda Tidd, Lisa Jurgajtis, Anna Paccione, Amanda Russell, BJ Gola, Yolanda Amescua, Betty Melzow, Andrea Watts, Elizabeth Wiseman, Juli Flores, Edna Dominguez, Laura Groff, Jennifer Wegman, Nicole Saldana, Suhgeh Ibrarra, Christina Selk, Jean Troncale & Canda Brown.
Kudos to Vivis Lemmons for the redesign of the Student Affairs Staff News this past year. Please join me in thanking her for the wonderful work she has done in breathing new life into the newsletter that enhanced the ties that bind us. Her inclusion of special features, clever graphics, staff photos, and flexibility on submissions has set a positive standard. She did all this and didn’t miss a deadline.
Vivis is passing the torch to the capable hands of Christina Selk in the Development Office (as was formerly the practice) to enable her to devote more effort to maintaining and developing the web site in conjunction with Stacy Pena of the Registrar’s Office.
Student Affairs Staff News
Current and previous newsletters are located on the Student Affairs website, News and Events, Staff News.
Reminder
Please send newsletter items to Christina Selk by November 12, 2007. Submit items at least four days before an event and include a contact name, e-mail address and phone number. Items may be edited for clarity and format. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
.JPG)
