@UTSA E-Newsletter

Updates have been made to the following policy in the UTSA Handbook of Operating Procedures (HOP). The policy 4.20 "Authorized Leave" has been updated to include existing statutory language. Periodic Updates to the HOP online will be announced in @UTSA.

Access the HOP: http://www.utsa.edu/hop/

More information: Office of Legal Affairs, 458-4105

Annual SECC is opportunity to give back

UTSA faculty and staff soon will have the opportunity to give to their favorite charities through the annual State Employee Charitable Campaign (SECC), coordinated by the United Way of San Antonio and Bexar County. Employees can choose to participate through a monthly payroll deduction or a one-time gift by cash or check. Beginning the first week of September, SECC packets will be distributed to UTSA employees. Packets will include a directory of eligible agencies and charities, a pledge form and an instruction sheet for online giving.

If you and your family have benefited from SECC partner agency services, you can share your story with the UTSA community. Contact Albert Carrisalez at 458-5138 -- and your story will be featured in UTSA Today.

UTSA, UNAM host Chicano literature seminar Sept. 8

UTSA and the Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico (UNAM) will present "Punto de Partida" (Game Point), a seminar dedicated to Chicano literature, from 5:30 to 7 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 8 at the Buena Vista Street Building Aula Canaria (1.328) at the UTSA Downtown Campus. Free parking will be available in the upper level of the UTSA parking garage. UTSA President Ricardo Romo and Gerardo Estrada, UNAM dean of cultural diversity, will deliver opening remarks. Panelists include Gerardo Kleinberg, UNAM director of literature; Norma Cantu, UTSA professor of English, classics and philosophy; John Phillip Santos, San Antonio author and filmmaker; Axel Ramirez, UNAM coordinator of Latin American studies; Helena Maria Viramontes, Cornell University associate professor of English and Mario Melgar Adalid, UNAM-San Antonio director.

More information: 222-8626

Departments: Use new deposit transmittal form now

Two signatures are now required on the deposit transmittal form used by departments that make deposits to any Fiscal Services office, the preparer of the deposit and their supervisor. In a recent cash operations audit, supervisory review of all deposits was recommended so supervisors can identify unusual patterns and detect potential fraudulent activity in their departmental deposits. The new form is in Outlook Public Folder\All Public Folders\UTSA Forms; departments should use the new form immediately. Fiscal Services will accept the old form for deposits until Oct. 1, 2005. After Oct. 1, departments will be required to have the supervisor signature on all deposits submitted to Fiscal Services.

More information: Gary Lott, Business Manager, 458-4221

OIT upgrades Windows system software

The UTSA Office of Information Technology (OIT) is applying Service Pack 2 to computers running the Windows XP operating system. The important upgrade will help prevent virus infections and damage to computers and the UTSA network. The upgrades will not interrupt users while they work, but will run the next time the computer is turned on. The upgrade process takes 20-60 minutes to complete. Do not turn off your computer or try to use it during the upgrade process or your computer could be damaged.

More information: Help Desk, 458-5833

Department servers can be at risk for hacking

Servers not maintained by the Office of Information Technology (OIT) but by an academic department may not have updated operating system software to protect against computer hackers. OIT reminds departments operating their own servers that they are responsible for downloading and installing software patches and upgrades for servers under their control. Failure to install patches and security updates puts servers at high risk for computer "break-ins" and infection of the entire UTSA computer network.

More information: Help Desk, 458-5538

Blood drives: Aug. 29-30, 1604; Aug. 31, Downtown

UTSA Student Health Services and Omega Delta Phi will host blood drives 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Monday, Aug. 29 and Tuesday, Aug. 30, adjacent to the University Center, 1604 Campus. A Downtown Campus blood drive is set for 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Wednesday, Aug. 31 in the Frio Street Building Multipurpose Room (1.402). With the theme, "Back to School... Back to Life," the entire UTSA community is invited to participate. Each donor will receive a free T-shirt or baseball cap, and refreshments will be available.

More information and registration: Health Education, 458-4142

Access Control Center offers online training modules

The UTSA Access Control Center has developed two PowerPoint training modules. One module is for new administrative services officers or designated administrative assistants who administer classroom access cards or complete access forms and key-request forms. The second module is for new faculty and staff members with important information on UTSA door-access procedures.

Access the modules at http://www.utsa.edu/utsapd/ and click on "Access Control Center." The PowerPoint training modules are near the bottom of the page.

More information: Access Control Center, 458-7144

Volunteers needed to be ESL conversation partners

The Office of English as a Second Language (ESL) Services needs volunteers who are students, faculty or staff to help with the Conversation Partner Program. Volunteers will work each week through the semester at times and locations convenient for them to participate in activities and speak with students learning English. It's a great opportunity to help make UTSA a friendlier place.

For an application or more information: ESL Services, Multidisciplinary Studies Building Room 3.02.05, or J.D. Proctor, 458-7898

Aikido Club offers free self-defense course

Students, staff and faculty are invited to attend a free course in self-defense sponsored by the UTSA Aikido Club. Beginning Sept. 2, the class meets 12:30-2 p.m., each Friday in the Convocation Center, upstairs west side. The class will emphasize practical techniques that can be utilized by smaller, less athletic people. The class will not involve competition, screaming or breaking objects. Since the techniques do not have to be learned sequentially, participants do not have to attend every class to benefit.

More information: James Clark, 458-5850

Women's Studies Institute hosts reception Sept. 8

The UTSA Women's Studies Institute will host its annual welcome reception from 3 to 5:30 p.m., Sept. 8 in the University Center Mesquite Room (2.01.24), 1604 Campus. The event, which is open to faculty, staff and students, will honor new UTSA women faculty and the 2005-2006 WSI scholarship recipients.

More information: Pamela Hagerty Williams, 458-6277

Oct. 17 baseball golf scramble benefits UTSA baseball

The 14th annual Roadrunner Golf Scramble is Monday, Oct. 17 at the La Cantera Golf Club Palmer Course with a 1 p.m. shotgun start. The cost is $150 per person with proceeds supporting the UTSA baseball team. Participation includes greens fee, cart, range balls, on-course beverages, Chick-Fil-A box lunch, post-tournament buffet, golf pack and door-prize drawing.

More information: Sherman Corbett, 458-4805

UTSA recycling is easy: Look for blue barrels

The Office of Environmental Health, Safety and Risk Management, in cooperation with the Student Government Association, has initiated a recycling program across all three UTSA campuses to collect aluminum, plastic and glass. These materials can be placed in the blue containers with the recycle logo.
Additionally, any toner cartridge can be recycled -- simply place them in the hamper outside the mail room (Multidisciplinary Studies Building 1.01.22). If you do not receive a discount with your current cartridge provider when returning used cartridges, using the UTSA recycling service is mandatory.
Batteries are also recyclable; household batteries, such as alkaline, can be disposed of as trash as long as they are not accumulated in large quantities. All others must be turned in to EHS&RM for disposal as hazardous waste.

To locate recycling bins or for more information: http://www.utsa.edu/safety/recycling

More information: 458-5250 or 458-5808

Honors College and Office of Public Affairs move

The UTSA Honors College has moved from the Humanities and Social Sciences Building at the 1604 Campus to John Peace Library Building Room 4.02.10. The suite was previously occupied by University Communications' Office of Public Affairs, which moved to John Peace Library Building Room 4.03.14, the former location of the Budget Office. Phone numbers for the offices remain the same.

Alumni Association hosts Sept. 10 gala at La Cantera

The UTSA Alumni Association hosts the "Rising Star Gala" on Saturday, Sept. 10 at the Westin La Cantera Resort. Admission is $20, three tickets for $50. The gala is the organization's premier fund-raiser. Last year's event drew nearly 400 guests and earned more than $60,000 for scholarships and other Alumni Association programs. This year, the Gala Power Drawing offers the opportunity to win one of six fabulous prizes: a Western Caribbean cruise for two, a custom jewelry piece, a Valero Energy $1,500 gas gift card, a San Antonio River cocktail cruise, two Southwest Airlines round-trip tickets or a four-hour sailing tour for four on Lake Travis with champagne and other refreshments. Winners will be announced at the event, but you don't need to be present to win.

Purchase tickets through Sept. 7 at the Office of Alumni Programs, University Center Room 2.00.10, or at the Alumni Programs Web site.

General Stores closes for inventory

UTSA General Stores is closed for inventory through Aug. 31. Processing of orders resumes Sept 1.

More information: Marvin Gallo, 458-4592

FY 2005-2006 UTSA Holiday Schedule

HR Training and Development

UTSA Calendars

Submissions to @UTSA:

E-mail news items to news@utsa.edu. Please submit items at least seven days before an event, and as a text message without attachments. @UTSA reserves the right to edit submissions. Please print @UTSA for employees without ready e-mail access.