STAFF News

05/03/2007

Received from students: 

 Dear Mr. Wollenzier, I wanted to take some time out of writing my 10 page research project and let you know how I feel about the UTSA staff.  After leaving your office after our meeting I really felt as an individual at UTSA not just another one of the thousands of students that go here.  I know I was there so I could answer some of you questions and clear some things up, but the other conversations we had throughout the meeting made me feel like people really do care about me and care about my future.  I felt like it was more of sitting down with a friend and talking more than sitting down with the head of student judicial affairs.  I really respect that.  I have not encountered anyone other than my family and some friends that really care about my things in my life other than you.  The concerns you showed such as my medical and physiological injuries I received in my wreck, how I am doing in not only school but life, being concerned with my partying, giving me advice on how to help my friend get through hard times, or just being there to help made me feel cared for.  I just want you to know that I really respect that and I appreciate it greatly.

 I have had more time to think about the decisions that I had been making over the past 5 years of my life, I have now come to see this situation as a blessing in disguise…I could use [this] as a conduit to relieve myself of all the burdens that I had been bearing during the "drug plagued" years of my life.  So, thanks…I have not only learned what an enormous waste of my time marijuana is, but I have also discovered a refreshing new…level of communication between myself and my family.  I plan on staying drug free…I adopted a much cheaper and less precarious lifestyle, …I plan on choosing who I associate with much more carefully and have already cut my ties with the astonishingly disloyal crowd that I once ran with.

 I want to thank you…you opened my eyes…I've never had someone…tell me I was very mature for my age or that I was on the right path.  Most of my family, especially my grandfather who pays for most of my education, doesn't support it.  They think it would be a joke degree so even talking to them about classes or school…is hard because I'm usually put down for my "choices".  You were very supportive of my plans…and suggested I take the career test which was something I had been looking for a long time but had never been able to find…thank you again…keep doing what you're doing and you will definitely help many others!

 Dear Ms. McKinney:  Thank you for your kind nature in this matter.  It really has made the process easier.  You are very good at what you do. 

I thank you for all your support…I know that if I learn anything while attending here, it will be how you are one of the best utsa employees, who show fairness, and concern for students and their problems.  I will always hold you in honor…and am thankful for everything you have done for me.

 If I could thank anyone…it would be Judicial Affairs at UTSA for setting up all these important rein forcers in my life to guide me to a successful tomorrow.  The experience I've had over the past month has changed me as a person and completely turned my life around for the better and I will never forget what I have learned.

 Received from faculty and staff after training presentations:

Dear Ms. McKinney:  I am proud to have a facilitator who volunteers their time with such passion and commitment to helping others learn about GLBT issues.  Best presentation yet; An excellent informative presentation.  Thank you for inspiring me…you motivated me to keep fighting and trying…I'm glad that UTSA has people like you around.  You did a superb job…engaging the audience while guiding them through the discussion.  It was great…you were awesome. 

 From Jan's freshman seminar students:

I am blessed to have had the opportunity to have you as my teacher…you give me hope that I can make it.  You believe in us the way no one ever says they do, you constantly tell us how wonderful we are, and I appreciate that more than you will ever know.   Ms. McKinney does an amazing job with this class…she is just the opposite of what I expected coming into college…You hear things about how you are just a number in college how your teachers don't care and don't know  you, well that was not the case with Jan McKinney.  She knew every last one of her students by name…tried to help out as much as she could…I have leaned…not only…the material…but about myself and things I need to do to achieve my goals and be successful.