Thank You!

Presenters

• Alex Morones (UTSA Academic Affairs/Provost)
• Alex Perez
• Alison Smith
• Ana Rodriguez
• Ann-Margaret Gonzalez
• Beverly Woodson Day
• Christa Winkler
• Cié Gee
• Dan Gockley
• Diane Pina (UTSA Business Affairs)
• Dianne Hengst
• Dionne Davila
• Donna Edmondson (UTSA Academic Affairs/Provost) Emily Patton
• Eric K. Cooper (Texas A&M San Antonio)
• George Norton
• Georgina Cervantes
• Heather Walleck (UTSA Business Affairs)
• J.R. Chiodo-Benmuvhar (Univ. of the Incarnate Word)
• James Adair (UTSA Academic Affairs/Provost)
• Jamie Thompson (Trinity University)
• Jan McKinney
• Jana Schwartz
• Juan Cantu
• Kasey Neece-Fielder
• Kristee Phelps (UTSA Business Affairs)
• Kristin E. Eisenhauer, Ph.D. (Trinity University)
• Lance Pritchard (UTSA Academic Affairs/Provost)
• Leslie Garcia
• Lisa Firmin (UTSA Academic Affairs/Provost)
• Liz Ramos
• Lorenzo Sanchez (UTSA Business Affairs)
• Maggie Floyd (UTSA Academic Affairs/Provost)
• Manuel E. Esquivel (Univ. of the Incarnate Word)
• Mark Munguia
• Melissa Hernandez
• Michael Silva
• Pebby Garner (UTSA Academic Affairs/Provost)
• Rachel Enochs
• Reuben Aleman
• Sabina Kapoor (UTSA Academic Affairs/Provost)
• Sam Gonzales
• Samira López (Texas Lutheran University)
• Sara Gothelf
• Sarah Webb
• Susan Colorado (UTSA Academic Affairs/Provost)
• Tamica Jones
• Tammy Wyatt (UTSA Academic Affairs/Provost)
• Vanessa Cerda (Univ. of the Incarnate Word)
• Virginia Getz
• Wendy Foster

Moderators / Room Assistants

• Alyx Dykema
• Amy Fritz
• Andrew Chadwick
• Ann Margaret Trujillo
• Beverly Brown
• Carol Gonzalez
• Cassandra (Kassy) Jones
• Christina Leeth
• Cindy Erb
• Daniel Gockley
• Debra Villanueva
• Derek Bell
• Dianne Hengst
• Fred Hample
• Gail Carbajal
• Jamel Hudson
• Jan Daniels
• Jennifer Decuir
• Jessica Avalos-Alvarez
• Jim Parido
• Jonathan Bange
• Judy Moreno
• Keith Pilger
• Larry Ovalle
• Laura Munroe
• Leigh Darilek
• Lisa Alonzo
• Marcela Cabello
• Marian Harris
• Mario Rios
• Michelle Rocha
• Nikki Lee
• Orlando Cantu
• Otis Scott
• Pesha Mabrie
• Raymond Fischer
• Rosie Mendiola
• Ruth Coates
• Sally Bench
• Sharon Kavanaugh
• Teresa Meyers
• Valentina Fridman

Collaborators

• VPSA – BJ Gola, Renee Hopkins & Andra Kiser
• Department of Educational Leadership & Professional Studies
• Student Affairs Staff Connections Team
• UTSA Student Affairs Transformation Fund

The Staff Development Team welcomed a record number of attendees at this year’s UTSA Student Affairs Conference. Three-hundred seventeen staff from across UTSA and the San Antonio community enjoyed a wide range of educational topics relating to technology, student success, healthy lifestyles and student recruitment.

The National Education Agency believes that professionals within higher education should be required to participate in professional development throughout their careers.¹ Their position is based upon the assumption that student achievement is dependent on knowledgeable staff helping students navigate through their higher education experience. Our dynamic keynote speaker, Jimmy Moore, helped welcome participants and motivate them to be actively engaged in their own professional development. Expanding our knowledge and experiences and strengthening our current skill sets has a direct impact on our ability to help students succeed.

Many times in higher education, professional development opportunities are first in line on the chopping block when budgets get tight. Departmental leaders within the Division of Student Affairs at UTSA are extremely fortunate to not have that worry. Since the conference is free to all staff within the division, strengthening the skill set in their area is an affordable way to help ensure that their staff are given all of the necessary tools to contribute to student success. It is evident that this year’s Roadrunner Cup recipient, Lisa Blazer, believes in equipping her staff with diverse knowledge as a resource for the students. Lisa’s team collectively attended more than 400 conference sessions (79% session attendance rate) with 85% of her staff attending at least one session! Way to go TEAM! The runner-up, Joe DeCristoforo, also had 85% of his staff attend one or more sessions at the conference. Staff from the Office of the Registrar attended nearly 150 conference sessions (75% session attendance rate). Given these numbers, it is no surprise that 86% of post-conference evaluation respondents agreed that the conference provided them with education, tools or resources to help improve the quality of services in their department.

The Student Affairs conference would not be possible without the collaboration of several departments who allow their staff to participate as members of the Staff Development Team. THANK YOU to all of the divisional leaders who allow their staff to grow professionally by creating this event and contributing to the professional development of others.

As is the case with everything we do in life, there is always room for improvement. The feedback received on both the session evaluations and the post-conference evaluation via survey-monkey provides critical information necessary to continue enhancing and growing this worthwhile event. With 45% of attendees responding, the post-conference evaluation revealed that an overwhelming 91% found it beneficial to connect with other student affairs staff in the San Antonio community as well as staff from other UTSA divisions. The evaluation also confirmed what was assumed from attendance rates: Friday appears to be a popular day for this event.

Comments regarding conference successes involved:

• Best conference so far with schedule conducive for learning and staying engaged
• Networking abilities throughout the day & a separate networking space available
• Informative Sessions

Comments for conference improvements included:

• Diversifying session topics and being more inclusive of various levels and roles of staff
• Conference Name Tags to identify conference attendees
• Better marketing and implementation of the service projects
• Repeat sessions
• Timing of the conference in the middle of the semester is difficult

The success of our conference would not be possible without a great team of Student Affairs Volunteers that helped in sessions throughout the day. The Staff Development team extends gratitude to all of the volunteers whom without we could not have accomplished this collaborative event. We would also like to thank other teams and departments that helped in various capacities throughout the conference.

To join the Staff Development Team fill out the New Member Interest form. For questions about the team or how to volunteer, please email the Staff Development Team.

Submitted by —
Staff Development Team

References

¹Professional Development. (2014, January 1). Rss. Retrieved April 30, 2014, from http://www.nea.org/home/30998.htm