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Fall 2007, Vol 1
"Providing Information after Orientation"
In This Issue
 Message from
Orientation and Transition Services
Another semester is in full swing at
UTSA and with it comes the opportunity for our staff to sit back and
finally take a breather! We anxiously held meetings, planned sessions,
trained Orientation Leaders, gathered publications, reserved rooms and
monitored our reservation system in anticipation for the summer of 2007!
We worked our hardest to insure that you and your student had the best UTSA
orientation experience possible. With that in mind, here is a quick
breakdown of figures with regards to the newest incoming class.
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5097 students attended a Roadrunner Roundup
Orientation
(4561 at the 1604 campus; 536 at the Downtown campus)
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1675 family members attended a Rowdy Ties
Orientation
(1525 at the 1604 campus; 150 at the Downtown campus)
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308 students completed our first ever online
orientation program
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120 new students attended Roadrunner Camp
Thank you to all of our
family guests for making this another unforgettable summer!
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Fall 2007 New Student Convocation
All new students were invited to attend New Student Convocation as part
of their 2007 Roadrunner Days experience. Since 2002, the convocation
has given new students the opportunity to the become familiar with UTSA's
academic traditions, listen to several guest speakers, celebrate past
accomplishments, and gaze into the future, while articulating pride in UTSA.
This year's convocation was held in the newly expanded Campus Recreation and
Wellness Center. UTSA President Ricardo Romo and Texas Senator Judith
Zaffirini were among those who addressed the audience.
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The Tom ás
Rivera Center for Student Success
The Tomás Rivera Center for Student Success
will be hosting as series of workshops throughout the fall semester entitled
Study Smart. These
workshops are designed to help students learn new ways to succeed in the
classroom.
October 2: Notetaking; Create a Study Guide From Your Notes -- Taking
notes is a college survival skill. Learn ways to take better notes and make
them into a super study guide. As a side benefit, you'll remember material
better too. Free Cornell-style folio notepads.
October 9: Write Right -- Turn in excellent papers, no matter how
short or how long. Emphasis is on research papers and organization.
November 20: Get Ready for Finals -- Don't stress. Make a plan to review
your material, build your memory and get through finals. Reduce your anxiety
about finals and get ready for that important last week.
For a
complete list of services available through the Tomás Rivera Center for
Student Success, visit
their website at:
http://www.utsa.edu/trcss
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Campus Recreation and Wellness Center expansion continues
A $46 million expansion is nearing completion as the UTSA
Recreation and
Wellness Center recently debuted
a portion of its newest
facilities. The new facility includes a two-court gym, indoor track, weight
room and is the new home for Counseling Services. The Recreation Center
project began in 2001 when students voted to increase student fees to fund
expansion. Since then, the facility has continued to add features, including
a rock climbing wall that opened in 2003. The project includes renovation of
14,505
square feet
and an addition of 124,710 square feet. An outside pool and lazy river are
still under construction, with a completion date set for November 2007. This
area will also include hot tubs, two
sand volleyball
courts and a basketball court.
In addition, guests will have access to a juice bar and locker rooms
complete with granite countertops. Other attractions will include four new
racquetball
courts, an inline hockey wall, an indoor soccer court and a
multipurpose activity court.
For construction updates, facility hours and information on club sports,
visit UTSA Campus Recreation.
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Campus living at Laurel Village
In August, Phase I of Laurel Village welcomed 206 students to their new
home. A $39,182,000
project that began in November
2006, Laurel Village is the latest addition to on-campus housing and is UTSA’s
second owned student housing facility. The new residence hall offers two
and four bedroom suites that come fully furnished with students being able
to access their rooms by using their UTSACard. The living room includes a
couch, chairs,
dining room table and TV stand. Bedrooms are furnished
with an adjustable bed and desk, ceiling fan, cable TV outlet and network
connections. The
kitchen
is equipped with a full size refrigerator and microwave.
Part of UTSA’s mission is to develop
on-campus housing to increase student success and achieve premier university
status. Additionally, students living on campus have easier access
to services and other support systems. Chaparral
Village and Laurel Village each reached their reservation capacity by April
2007, showing the demand for
more student housing. Phase II will be completed by summer 2008, opening
up an additional 470 beds with the entire project having covered 185,000 square
feet.
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UTSA Parking and Transportation
As UTSA begins another academic year, Parking and Transportation Services
continues to work towards improving ways for students to navigate in and
around the 1604 campus. The best advice for student permit parking is to
avoid entering the 1604 Campus from Loop 1604. Only students who have garage
or resident parking permits should drive onto the north side of campus,
because commuter permit parking in this area is limited to lot 12 and the
Tobin Lab lot. From the south side of campus on UTSA Boulevard, student
permit parking is available in lots 10 and 11 adjacent to University Oaks
apartments, lot 5 south of the Convocation Center, and lot 8 south of the
Arts Building. UTSA's free south campus shuttle cycles continuously between
lot 11 and lot 8 with several stops.
UTSA also offers a no-cost, off campus parking and shuttle option between 9
a.m. and 5 p.m. An arrangement was recently made with the Northside ISD to
use parking lot C at the Dub Farris Athletic Complex on Loop 1604E at
Skyhawk Drive (near Hausman Road) with a shuttle service to the 1604 Campus.
Students have also been known to park near the free UTSA apartment shuttle
route and ride to campus from there. Additionally, student permit parking is
available in lot 13 on Valero Way. The lot 13 shuttle runs every seven
minutes to the Arts Building. Employees who monitor Lot 13 throughout the
day report an increased use of the lot, however spaces are readily
available, particularly in the north end. For the most current parking
map, visit UTSA Parking and
Transportation Services.
Other free parking options include VIA's park-and-ride locations at
Crossroads Mall and under the intersection of Loop 1604 and Interstate 10.
From these locations, users can park and ride on VIA bus routes 93 and 94,
plus utilize the route to gain access to the 1604 and Downtown campuses.
Students can purchase a five-month VIA Semester Pass for only $25 to travel
on all VIA bus routes. The VIA Semester Pass is available at the UTSA fiscal
Services. A UTSACard and proof of class registration is required. For more
information about routes, visit the VIA
Metropolitan Transit site.
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UTSA students vote "yes" for more athletics
UTSA students contributed to a historical moment on September 11th
and 12th, 2007, by voting for an athletic referendum which is
aimed at expanding UTSA’s athletic department. The student vote had a
total of 4,602 students participating, with 3,031 voting for the motion and
1,571 voting against it. The referendum authorizes the increase in athletic
fees over the next couple of years. Currently students pay a maximum
of $120 a semester in athletic fees however, the passing of the referendum
will allow for fees to be capped at a maximum of $240 per semester.
The increase in fees will also go towards the renovation of the Convocation
Center and a new Competitive Athletic Complex off Hausman Road.
Renovations of the Convocation Center will
include a new ticket office, merchandise shop, concessions and lobby area,
academic center, locker rooms, weight room, training room and coaches’
office and will remain home to the volleyball and basketball teams. The
off-campus Competitive Athletic Complex will house all other varsity teams.
This vote is said to take Roadrunner Athletics to the next level of NCAA
competition.
With the referendum passing, this also opens the door for the
possibility of UTSA establishing a football program. The first game could
occur in three years, after UTSA administration makes a decision on whether
or not to begin a football program.
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UTSA Family Day set for October 27, 2007
UTSA family and friends are invited to attend a number of events
designed for UTSA Family Day. This years events will take place October 26th
and 27th.
Friday-October 26th, 2007
Event: UTSA Best Fest
Location: Sombrilla, 1604 campus
Time: 11:00 am- 2 pm
Description: This UTSA tradition is held for the entire community! Come and
celebrate with us as student organzations host food and beverage booths
under the Sombrilla. This admission free festival will be a great way to kick off your
weekend.
Theme: "UTSA is Having the Best Week Ever!"- a spinoff of reality TV shows
Cost: Free
Saturday- October 27th, 2007
Event#1: Inaugural UTSA Family Breakfast
Location: University Center Food Court; 1604 Campus
Time: 9am-11am
Description: Grab a morning bite and mingle with UTSA Faculty and Staff!
This event is a great way to re-connect with other families and meet new
people who play an important role in your student's life at UTSA.
Cost: Breakfast is $5 per guest, however if your UTSA student has a meal plan, it
can be used to purchase breakfast for up to 2 guests.
Reservations recommended: RSVP for the event by
emailing guest names and your student's name to:
orientation@utsa.edu or call 210-458-4724.
Event#2: Explore the UTSA campus
Location: 1604 Campus
Time: Varies depending on area
Description: Visit different departments and explore the UTSA campus!
Expansion continues everyday, and this is your opportunity to see the latest
developments. Areas scheduled to be open include: The UTSA Bookstore,
Colleges' Freshmen Advising Center, The Tomás Rivera Center for Student
Success, Orientation and Transition Services and
the Campus Recreation and Wellness Center. The Campus Recreation Center is
scheduled to have a volleyball and basketball court open for family members.
In addition, the rock climbing wall will be open for family use. There is no
cost to explore any of these facilities!
Cost: Free!
Event #3: UTSA Day at Six Flags Fiesta Texas
Location: Six Flags Fiesta Texas
Park Hours: 12pm-9pm
Description: Paint the park with blue and orange as UTSA takes over the Six
Flags Fiesta Texas amusement park! 25% discount available at park operated
shops for those wearing their UTSA gear. Cost: $25 per
guest. Simply present the discount coupon at the ticket gate. Coupons
will be available around campus and through the
Orientation and Transitions
Services Website.
Other events that may be of interest:
Event #4: Art Exhibit-"Yoko Ono Imagine Peace: Featuring John & Yoko's Year
of Peace"
Location: Art Gallery, Arts Building-1604 Campus
Time: 1pm-4pm
Description: Catch the last weekend of this one of a kind art exhibit
featuring the work of Yoko Ono. UTSA is the second stop for this exhibit,
with the University of Akron being the only other site. The exhibition will
include a suite of works representing the internationally acclaimed artist's
influential conceptual projects from the early 1960s to the present, as well
as materials documenting famous "art-actions" produced with her late
husband, musician John Lennon.
Cost: Free!
Event#5:
Women's Volleyball: UTSA vs. Nicholls State
Location: Convocation Center, 1604 Campus
Time: 4 pm
Description: The UTSA Volleyball team goes against their inter-conference
rival Nicholls State. Take in a UTSA athletic event before the volleyball
season ends.
Cost: Admission is free for UTSA students, $3 for ages 3-18 and $5
for adults.
For complete and updated information regarding
UTSA Family Day events, please visit
UTSA Orientation and Transition Services or
call 210-458-4724.
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