March 6, 2008

 

Staff News

 

In This Issue: 


 

Message from Gage E. Paine, Vice President for Student Affairs

Over the years I have learned many things in my career and what I have learned has come to me in many ways and from many people.

From Ron Brown, former VPSA at UT-Austin, I learned the following:

 

 - no matter how bad your job is, someone else wants it

 

 - the number of people watching you is in direct proportion to the   stupidity of your action

 

 - if something goes wrong with a student's file, no matter how hard you try, it will keep getting worse

 

 - the bigger they are, the harder they hit.

I've learned from classes, workshops and colleagues, but mostly I've learned from students.

After a student was stopped at DFW airport with phony travel papers, a university ID, 2 changes of clothes and 75 UT-Austin Library books, he was deported.  We put a Judicial Affairs bar on his return just as a matter of course - we hadn't handled the theft yet.  From him I learned to keep good records - no matter how unlikely it seems at the time, students come back.

While investigating an accusation that a student had someone take a math placement test for him, we became suspicious about the correspondence course he was taking.  Sure enough he sent the non-student in to take the final test at the testing center.  I learned never to underestimate the audacity of a student whose parents already have plane tickets for graduation weekend.

From all the students who were perpetrators or victims, and in all of the hazing cases I've investigated, I've learned the power of the amazing need to belong.

Over the years I have worked with faculty to figure out ways for a blind student to take Russian, have seen a deaf student teach a mainstream art class, and have watched a student with severe cerebral palsy complete law school.  From these students and many more I learned

you don't have to be able to see to understand, to be able to speak to be a good communicator, or to hear to be able to teach.

I've learned how fragile human life is:

 - how little alcohol is needed for one to die of alcohol poisoning

 - how a small miscalculation can result in death and destruction

 - how little it takes to bring joy to someone's life

 - how important support from others is.

This is the heart of a presentation I gave to the SMU Lions Club in September 1997.  I had been scheduled to give a light-hearted after-dinner speech.  But that day, a little more than ten years ago, I had spent the day responding to the suicide of a freshman student in an SMU residence hall.  Then I knew, as now, that we would never know the reasons for our student's action.  It's not for us to know: it is only for us to do the best we can for our community in the aftermath.

So last week reminds me to reiterate the lessons we all have learned:

 - take time to appreciate all you have

 - take time to appreciate those around you

 - ask for help when you need it

 - give help when you can.

Thank you for all the care you share with the entire UTSA community.

Gage

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Announcements/Coming Events

 

To All Student Affairs Staff:

 

The last Spring 2008 All-Staff Meeting will be an opportunity to learn about important initiatives in Student Affairs and UTSA; to ask questions and make suggestions.  All benefits-eligible staff are expected to attend one meeting; part-time staff are welcome to attend.  The meeting will last the full 45 minutes.  Please work with your supervisors to schedule the best time to attend a meeting.

 

Friday, March 7, 2008

10:00 to 10:45 a.m.

UC 2.01.28 - Denman Ballroom

1604 Campus

 


 

Monthly Birthday Celebration with Dr. Paine:

Please come celebrate your birthday with co-workers and Dr. Paine. The next celebration is scheduled for April 10, 2008 for all Student Affairs staff March birthdays. The celebrations will be on the 2nd Thursday of each month at 3:00 p.m.  Location for the celebration will be included in the birthday invitation. April birthday guests: please be sure to RSVP to facilitate refreshment orders.

 


Chartwells Introduces a 6% Faculty/Staff Discount! See more.....pdf flyer


Business Procedures Notes:

Please route all contracts and services agreements to VPSA at least three (3) weeks prior to the events. 

This will provide time to review and handle any issues (such as risk, compliance, assessment, etc.) or unforeseen circumstances and route for approval. 

When there are complex issues with a contract or services agreement, please allow additional time for handling.

For more information - VPSA@utsa.edu  

More Business Procedures Notes


Campus Clean-Up Begins Tomorrow!

March 7, 2008 1:00 - 3:00pm: Campus Clean-up!  Help us recruit students and student organizations to participate in our UTSA service project. We will be organizing students into groups to wash tables at the Sombrilla, pick up trash in areas of campus, and more! Students must be wearing closed-toes shoes to participate, and check in is at 1:00pm at the Sombrilla. If  a group is definitely interested in participating, please email Jennifer.Lilly@utsa.edu with the name of the organization and # of participants to guarantee that we have a job for you. Individuals and groups are welcome to register the day of the event. Please contact Jennifer Lilly with any questions or for more information!


UTSA Women's Studies Institute Celebrates Women's Strength

From Sara Ramirez, Co-Chair, Women's Festival:

As part of the Women's Festival 2008, we invite students, staff, and faculty to submit photos of strong women in their lives.  See Flyer for details....

Thank you for your support!

 

 


Welcome New Staff To Student Affairs

Admissions

Marvin Lopez - Administrative Associate I

Elizabeth Delagarza - Admissions Assistant III

 

Student Financial Aid and Enrollment Services

Kaeli Brown, ESO I - Call Center

Erica Pena - EC Counselor

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Departmental News

 

Athletics

 

New UTSA Roadrunner Logo!

 

UTSAToday Article

 

See More at.... goUTSA.com

 

 

Basketball tickets for everyone and their families!

 

Lynn Hickey would like to thank everyone for their outstanding commitment to making Homecoming a success by extending an invitation to everyone in Student Affairs to come out to the last  home game for Men and Women's basketball.  The schedule is as follows:

 

Men's Basketball – Saturday - March 8, 2008 at 2PM - Convocation Center

 

Let's help the student athletes finish the season with a bang! If you would like tickets, please contact Andrew Haring at ext. 4665 or email at andrew.haring@utsa.edu.

 

Freshman Devin Gibson scored 20 points to lead the UTSA men’s basketball team to a thrilling 65-51 victory over Texas A&M- Corpus Christi last Saturday night in the annual Homecoming Game at the Convocation Center. In front of 3,050 rowdy fans — the largest crowd of the season — Gibson, who was UTSA’s leading scorer for the 14th time this season, was 6-of-8 from the floor, including a pair of 3-pointers, and 6-for-6 from the free throw line in reaching 20 points for the sixth time. Junior Joey Shank drained three treys in the second half en route to 11 points, while senior Melvin Smith added 10.  Homecoming Game  Complete Story

 

Area Athletic Events:

Date

Team

Opponent

Location

Time (CT)

Tue, Mar 11

 BB

 Northern Illinois

 San Antonio, Texas

 2 p.m.

 

 

 

 

 

 Tue, Mar 11

 BB

 Northern Illinois

 San Antonio, Texas

 5:30 p.m.

 

 

 

 

 

 Fri, Mar 14 -
 Sat, Mar 15

 MTF

 UTSA Relays

 San Antonio, Texas

 All Day

 

 

 

 

 

 Fri, Mar 14 -
 Sat, Mar 15

 WTF

 UTSA Relays

 San Antonio, Texas

 All Day

 

 

 

 

 

 Fri, Mar 14

 BB

 McNeese State *

 San Antonio, Texas

 6 p.m.

 

 

 

 

 

 Sat, Mar 15

 SB

 Southeastern Louisiana *

 San Antonio, Texas

 1 p.m.

 

 

 

 

 

 Sat, Mar 15

 BB

 McNeese State *

 San Antonio, Texas

 2 p.m.

 

 

 

 

 

 Sat, Mar 15

 SB

 Southeastern Louisiana *

 San Antonio, Texas

 3 p.m.

 

 

 

 

 

 Sun, Mar 16

 SB

 Southeastern Louisiana *

 San Antonio, Texas

 12 p.m.

 

 

 

 

 

 Sun, Mar 16

 BB

 McNeese State *

 San Antonio, Texas

 1 p.m.

 

 

 

 

 

 Mon, Mar 17

 BB

 Texas
Wolff Stadium

 San Antonio, Texas

 6 p.m.

 

 

 

 

 

 Tue, Mar 18

 BB

 Texas-Pan American

 San Antonio, Texas

 2 p.m.

 

 

 

 

 

 Tue, Mar 18

 BB

 Texas-Pan American

 San Antonio, Texas

 5:30 p.m.

 

 

Code:

BB - Baseball

MT - Men's Tennis

WT - Women's Tennis

SB - Softball

 


Student Health Services

Student Health Services of UTSA is having its annual Spring Break event filled with activities and a health fair on March 12, 2008 from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm at the 1604 campus. This year’s event, with the theme Spring Break Survivor: Caribbean, will feature over 100 exhibitors from local community programs and agencies and campus departments, clubs, and organizations.  Over 2500 participants are expected to attend.

The Spring Break Survivor: Caribbean offers alternative activities and awareness for safe spring break and to provide health and wellness resources to the UTSA community.

The Spring Break event cannot have a Survivor theme without a Survivor challenge, so we're accepting applications for teams! We're calling all departments, clubs, and organizations to participate. The number of teams are limited. For more information, check out the Student Health Services website www.utsa.edu/health or call 458-6428.

Sponsored by: Environmental Health, Safety and Risk Management, Student Health Services, and SHADES.

 Flyer


 

Student Activities

 

Maurisa Woods has been named the Student Leader of the Month for February 2008.  She was nominated by Ann Margaret Trujillo, the Associate Director for the Inclusion and Community Engagement Center.  

In her nomination letter, Ms Trujillo writes that “Ms. Woods is an outstanding student leader.  She is currently the President of UMOJA: The Black Student Network and is a member of the Psychology Club, Women of Honor, and the University Center Advisory Board.  Ms. Woods served on the planning committee and was one of the emcees for the 4th Annual Black Heritage Ball.  Ms. Woods was also one of seven students who represented UTSA at the Southwestern Black Student Leadership Conference in

January of 2008.  In addition, Ms. Woods helped to coordinate many of the events that were presented as part of Black History Month 2008. 

 

Under Ms Woods’ leadership, UMOJA sponsored or co-sponsored the following events in the month of February: Black AIDS Awareness Day, How to Start a Small Business, Coffeehouse, Soul Food Extravaganza, and the Black Music Celebration.  Each of these events required a great deal of planning and organization.  Ms. Woods was able to seek participants, volunteers, and also contributed much of her own time to make each of these events successful.

 

Ms. Woods has proven to be a responsible, reliable and dedicated leader.  She works to keep members of the organizations with which is involved motivated and is not shy to hold people accountable for their actions.  She is an ethical leader with great vision and great promise.”

The Student Leader of The Month Award is sponsored by the Office of Student Activities as a means to recognize outstanding leadership contributions of a particular UTSA student during a given month.  

 

Nominees must meet the following criteria to be considered for the award:

 

  • Must be a full-time UTSA  undergraduate or graduate student  

  • Must have a cumulative  grade point average of 2.25 or higher at the time of nomination   

  • Must have demonstrated  excellence in leadership above and beyond typical expectations  

  • Nominations should be for  actions that positively impact the UTSA community

 

Nominations are made through the Student Activities website and must be submitted by the fourth Thursday of each month. Link on to Student Activities Leadership Development website

For more information please visit the Student Activities website or contact John Kaulfus at john.kaulfus@utsa.edu.

 

 

From Kelsey Bratcher:

The BARR: Be A Responsible Roadrunner organization traveled with me to Edmond, Oklahoma Friday-Sunday for a BACCHUS Area 6 Conference.  Seniors Dan Iza and Jessica Beemer and Freshmen May Luz and Dorian Rospond represented the organization. 

 

We enjoyed our time bonding with each other and learning more about our group and developing more programs.

 

On Saturday evening, awards were given for Outstanding Affiliate, Outstanding Program, Outstanding Peer Educator and Outstanding Advisor.

 

I am PROUD to announce that:

  • BARR President May Luz won Outstanding Peer Educator

  • We won Outstanding Program for Campus Crawl.

 

I presented "LeaderFISH", a leadership workshop, for conference participants and also presented "The Magic of Advising" for the advisors in attendance.  Our participants were able to attend other sessions to gain new ideas for programming and personal development.

 

UTSA was well represented with our students and programs.

 

In The Loop Student Activities Newsletter

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"Highlighting...."UTSA Homecoming 2008

 

4th Annual Rowdy Rampage - February 28, 2008

Concerts, Parades, Rally, Fireworks!

The Homecoming Golf Cart Parade, a UTSA tradition, is sponsored annually by the Student Government Association. Various student organizations decorate and participate in a golf cart parade that demonstrates their UTSA pride. 

 

 

Photo Gallery

 

 

Alumni Student Leader Reunion

 

All student leader alumni were invited by Dr. Ricardo Romo and Dr. Gage E. Paine to celebrate UTSA's growth and success. 

 

Student Leader Reunion Luncheon - Student Leader Dessert Reception - Homecoming Tailgate Party - Campus Rec Island Luau and Black Alumni Luncheon

 

Many thanks to Andres Perez for his photography of the multiple events.

 

Photo Gallery

 

 

Winners - Homecoming Contest

The 2008 Homecoming Committee would like to thank all the students, faculty, and staff who participated in the Homecoming contest.  Entries were up in almost every contest and the creativity and spirit shown was incredible.  Congratulations to the winners entered and we hope you will enter again next year!

 

 

Window Winner

Mr. and Ms. UTSA 2008 - Daniel Bernal Jr. and Jessica Beemer with President Romo and Dr. Harriet Romo

 

 

Winning Pod

Homecoming Poster Contest

 

 

Where's Rowdy top three organizations Photo

 

 

Homecoming Winner's List (pdf)

 

 

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Thank You Rowdy 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 un- solicited 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 


Previous 'Thank You Rowdy' Visits

 

Bob Miller presents Rowdy to Sam Gonzales who passes Rowdy on to Kevin Price Anne Jimenez and EPIC team receive Rowdy from Kevin Price

Melissa Hernandez receives Rowdy from EPIC team

Luretta Filberth receives Rowdy (on behalf of Sondra Gervasi, as well) Beth Scholl received Rowdy from Luretta Filberth

 

Hmmmm, wonder where I'll go next?
Anne Macintosh Speights receives Rowdy from Beth Scholl Carol Gonzalez receives Rowdy from Anne Macintosh Speights Rex Algate receives Rowdy from Carol Gonzalez  

 


Kudos

From Irene Mireles:

 

Kudos to all and I would like to give a special "Thank You" to Michelle Montanio for a great job in making our homecoming event at the downtown campus a huge success.

 

T-Shirts sold like hot cakes and the food went really fast.  I believe that everyone loved Jazz In The Plaza and that they really enjoyed the music of Joe Posada.

 

(I’m) looking forward to next year's homecoming event and in making the downtown campus homecoming event even a bigger success. Everyone really enjoyed themselves even though it was cold.

 

Thanks again to everyone for your continuous effort in working and collaborating this huge event.

 

See everyone next year!

 

 

From John Kaulfus:

 

Dear Homecoming Committee,

I just wanted to take a minute to thank everyone for their hard work before and during Homecoming 2008.  It was truly a team effort and it just keeps getting bigger and better.  What made me smile the most was to see Homecoming shirts from the past four years at the tailgate.  Yes, some people even wore the white one from 2005!

 

Thanks again for all your hard work!

 

From Lynn Hickey:

Amen! Amen! Thank you all so much for putting such a great effort together.  I really thought that this was the best Homecoming event we had ever had.  Every aspect of the event has moved to another level – largely due to John’s leadership and your hard work.  Thank you so much for your time and effort – and caring.  UTSA is a special place to be and I think your efforts were a great public demonstration of that this past week.  I know that crowd helped us to win the game – and that was a big step forward for our program. Once again – thank you and please let us know if there is anything we can do to improve the event from the Athletic Department side.

 

From Jana Kennelly:

Special thanks to Alumni Programs! We appreciate Jane Findling and Kimberly Durham's collaboration with helping Student Affairs kick off their first Affinity Reunions. Due to their help, we were able to update databases, coordinate promotional materials for the success of reconnecting with our past student leaders.

L-R Yvonne Fernandez, President of the Alumni Board, Kimberly Durham-Asst. Director of Alumni Programs, Gage Paine, Jane Findling, Director of Alumni Programs and Jana Kennelly, Associate Director of Development


Please submit your entries to Vivis.Lemmons@utsa.edu  

Current and previous newsletters are located on the Student Affairs website under News and Events, Staff News.

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