UTSA Roadrunner Days: Connecting new and returning students to campus life

Members of the group Air Dubai, who will perform Aug. 29 during UTSA Roadrunner Days
>> For a full schedule of events and more information, visit the UTSA Roadrunner Days website.

(Aug. 14, 2013) -- UTSA Roadrunner Days is the official kick-off for the new school year, running Aug. 23 to Aug. 30 with a wide selection of free, fun and spirited events to welcome new and returning students with a look at campus life.

"We have designed this year's programming with student input from previous years and really hope it helps the Class of 2017 and our returning students make significant connections," said Barry McKinney, assistant dean of students and director of student activities. "There are some changes to this year's overall schedule that we hope will enhance our students' success in the coming academic year."

Luis Alberto Urrea, author of "The Devil's Highway," will provide the keynote address for the UTSA Fall Convocation, which will launch weeklong celebrations. Urrea is a best-selling author and member of the Latino Literature Hall of Fame. A 2005 Pulitzer Prize finalist, the book is a non-fiction account of a group of Mexican immigrants lost in the Arizona desert and is the common reading for the Class of 2017.

This year, Fall Convocation and College Experience on Monday, Aug. 26 are mandatory for all new students. New students must attend these events beginning at 10 a.m. and should bring their UTSACard.

Roadrunner Days also will include performances by "American Idol" contestant Tim Halperin and Air Dubai, recording artists from Denver, Colo. Halperin will be featured at the upcoming Kidd's Kids Charity Concert, which was started by the late Kidd Kraddick, the late radio host of "Kidd Kraddick in the Morning." Air Dubai has been Westword magazine's Best Hip-Hop Band for the last three years.

Roadrunner Days events give new students opportunities to preview UTSA campus life, learn about resources to ease the transition to college, experience the excitement of the growing campuses and meet other new students. Returning students can enjoy many of the activities as well and are welcome to participate in these free events. Faculty and staff members also are invited to attend most of the events.

Events

Wednesday, April 24, 11:30 a.m.

Denim Day

Join the PEACE Center and Wellbeing Services for Denim Day, a day of learning about the importance of consent and why we wear denim on the last Wednesday of the month each April during Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Stop by our Denim Day display to take a photo in front of our Denim Wall, spin the "Is It Consent?" Wheel, and get a Concha or goodie.

Student Union Window Lounge, Main Campus

Wednesday, April 24, 5:00 p.m.

Simplifying Citations With Zotero

Learn to use Zotero®, a citation manager that can help you store and organize citations you find during your research. Zotero can generate bibliographies in various styles, insert in-text citations and allow you to share sources with collaborators.

Virtual Event

Friday, May 3, 11:30 a.m.

McNair Scholars' Spring Celebration

This event will acknowledge graduating seniors from the McNair Scholars program at UTSA before inducting the new cohort of scholars into the program.

North Paseo Building (NPB 5.140), Main Campus

Wednesday, May 15, 6:00 p.m.

Doctoral Conferral Ceremony

At this memorable celebration, UTSA graduates will be introduced one-by-one to cross the stage and accept their doctoral degrees.

Arts Building Recital Hall, Main Campus

Thursday, May 16, 3:00 p.m.

Roadrunner Walk

Roadrunner Walk is an event for graduating students to have a memorable walk on campus to celebrate an important milestone and their achievements. Graduates will walk along the Paseo while being celebrated by the UTSA community, friends, and family members.

Student Union Paseo, Main Campus

Friday, May 17, 10:00 a.m.

Commencement: Ceremony One

Celebrate the accomplishments of College of Education and Human Development, College for Health, Community and Policy, College of Sciences and University College.

Alamodome, 100 Montana St.

Friday, May 17, 4:30 p.m.

Commencement: Ceremony Two

Celebrate the accomplishments of Alvarez College of Business, College of Liberal and Fine Arts and Klesse College of Engineering and Integrated Design.

Alamodome, 100 Montana St.

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Spotlight

UTSA’s Mission

The University of Texas at San Antonio is dedicated to the advancement of knowledge through research and discovery, teaching and learning, community engagement and public service. As an institution of access and excellence, UTSA embraces multicultural traditions and serves as a center for intellectual and creative resources as well as a catalyst for socioeconomic development and the commercialization of intellectual property - for Texas, the nation and the world.

UTSA’s Vision

To be a premier public research university, providing access to educational excellence and preparing citizen leaders for the global environment.

UTSA’s Core Values

We encourage an environment of dialogue and discovery, where integrity, excellence, inclusiveness, respect, collaboration and innovation are fostered.

UTSA’S Destinations

UTSA is a proud Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) as designated by the U.S. Department of Education .

Our Commitment to Inclusivity

The University of Texas at San Antonio, a Hispanic Serving Institution situated in a global city that has been a crossroads of peoples and cultures for centuries, values diversity and inclusion in all aspects of university life. As an institution expressly founded to advance the education of Mexican Americans and other underserved communities, our university is committed to promoting access for all. UTSA, a premier public research university, fosters academic excellence through a community of dialogue, discovery and innovation that embraces the uniqueness of each voice.