Staff NEWS

May 17, 2007

In This Issue

• Message from the Vice President for Student Affairs

• "Visiting With".......Disability Services

• Announcements/Reports

• Departmental Events/Schedules

• Kudos

Message from the Vice President for Student Affairs

Last night as I attended the Housing and Residence Life Year-End Banquet, we reached the end of the Spring Semester Banquet Season.  I have been privileged to attend many of the year-end festivities for student organizations, student staff awards programs, appreciation receptions and other events designed to recognize and celebrate all the great work our students have completed during the past academic year.  And, of course, there's the biggest celebration of them all - the Spring Commence-ment Ceremonies.  It's wonderful to see all the proud, happy, occasionally nervous, smiles of our students as they receive awards, give speeches and cross the stage to be greeted by President Romo.  Through it all runs the thought that what we do helped, in ways great and small, as each student traveled their own individual road in their own highly personal style.

(On a side note, when seated on stage at commencement, the best show is the smiling faces, but a close second is the variety of footware that passes before you - and not just the women!)

But back to the topic - the year-end celebrations are the most public, but I know many of you receive thank you notes, have students who still e-mail years after graduation, and know students who drop by for one last hug before they leave - and its not always the students you expect, is it?  Even if you didn't get tangible thanks, all of us have seen the student who finally gets the system to work because we took the time to explain something, the student worker who passed the test and came by the office to tell you about it or the one who didn't like the tough counsel you gave but who actually took it to heart - or anyone of a hundred different students we support, challenge, teach, encourage in so many different ways each day, whether we know the final outcome or not.

One of the best parts of working in higher education is that no matter how crazy it gets, how hard the day or how impossibly long the list of things to do, at the core of it all, I know that what we do is important.  Our work can make a difference in individual lives.  Our work supports people who want to change their circumstances for the better.  Everyone of us does important work and at the end of the year we see many reminders of that fact.  But during the year if you have trouble remembering, take a moment and really talk with a student, or go out to the Sombrilla or at least look at the photo gallery on the UTSA web page.  Take that moment to remember what it's really all about.  It won't make the bad or dull or difficult go away, but it sure puts it all in perspective, doesn't it?

We tell graduating students that Commencement is a beginning and for them it is.  But in many ways it is an ending for us as our work with most of these students ends as they graduate.  Yet, it doesn't truly end since the results often are yet to come.  And in another way it is a beginning for us too as it signals the beginning of the next semester of opportunities to do good work with the current group of students.

So as Banquet season ends, and Commencement is concluded we know that our purpose continues and as the students move through our offices like they do across the commencement stage we're here, ready to enjoy the smiles, help the ones having difficulties and always remember to enjoy the process as well as the fancy footwear.

All the best,

Gage

"Visiting With"......Disability Services

Here are a few things we would like you to know about us:

Our mission is to provide equal access for students with disabilities. We aim to “even the playing field” so that students with disabilities can participate in classroom and extra-curricular activities just like other students. Students are encouraged to develop skills that foster independence, self-advocacy, decision-making and problem-solving. We work to improve the accessibility of our campuses, programs, and activities by eliminating architectural, programmatic, and attitudinal barriers.

More "Visiting With" Disability Services

Announcements/Reports

Invitation -

Wednesday, May 30, 2007

1:50 p.m. - 3:40 p.m.

Retama Auditorium, University Center

Reception Immediately Following: Laurel Room, University Center

Please join members of the university community, family and friends as we recognize

each of these student leaders for their academic achievements and diligence in completing the Orientation Leader training course for 2007.

Campus Rec Events