Message from the Vice President
Last week, a group of staff came together to produce and perform in UTSA's Got Talent. Some people might see such an event as frivolous, not worth people's time, and yet this gathering was important for our organization in three ways.
First, it was a recognition of the fact that people were willing to donate to the State Employees Charitable Campaign and through that program to help others in need. For all of you who have already donated, thank you. To those who have not, it's not too late. Just check with your area champion.
Second, as I've thought about this, I have come to understand it as an act of leadership on the part of the participants. I doubt any of them decided to be part of the talent show to be leaders or even thought of it as leadership. But I see leadership occurring on two levels. One element of leadership is the ability to take a risk. We would usually define risk taking as trying a new program or idea, or making a significant change, or any number of highly difficult and major actions.
So how does participating in a talent show constitute a risk? To my way of thinking, and I was a participant last year, one of the toughest audiences to perform for is a group of peers and colleagues from one's work organization. No matter how confident you are in your talent, there's always the possibility of looking foolish, and looking foolish in front of supervisors and perhaps the people we supervise is an unpleasant idea for anyone. I think this fits the definition of taking a risk.
The other reason I see this as leadership, and the third important element, is due to one of the results of their actions. By their willingness to take this risk and perform in the talent show, they created a shared experience for members of the organization. I believe that shared experience leads to community and a sense of community makes it more possible for individuals to come together around shared ideas, values and purposes. All of these ways of working together help us solve the problems we face, help us bring our different perspectives into the mix and help us bring the best of everyone into our work.
And so Friday afternoon, several hundred people took the time from work to go to a talent show. Seems a frivolous event. Many people chose not to go, perhaps thinking it was not worth leaving the work of the organization. However, people were in fact exercising leadership. By engaging in the leadership and by coming together in community, they made a difference.
Leadership and community. Two important elements for an organization. Two critical aspects for making a difference in an organization. Two fundamental ways to help individuals celebrate the human spirit in our organizations. Two ways to help all of us have a better experience in our work life. All that from a talent show. That's not frivolous at all.
Best wishes,
Gage
Adapted from my blog: http://theleadershipdance.blogspot.com
SECC Talent Show - October 23, 2009
YouTube video from the SECC Talent Show
Welcome New Staff to Student Affairs
Denise Gates began work on Monday, October 19, 2009, as our Generalist Career Counselor for the Downtown Campus. She comes to us most recently from Germany, where she worked as a career counselor in the Army Career and Alumni Program. From 1993-96, Denise worked at UTSA as a Research Associate in the Job Training and Partnership Act office, where she conducted the annual Wage and Benefit Survey for the City of San Antonio. She brings a wealth of experience to our office and we are very excited to welcome Denise to our team!
Announcements/Departmental Events
UTSA Staff Council, Communication Committee Newsletter
Student Affairs Employee of the Semester Award Nominations
It's time again to nominate a deserving individual(s) for the Fall 2009 Student Affairs Employee of the Semester Award. The Employee of the Semester Award is presented to two to three members across the Student Affairs Division (VPSA Central Office, Student Life, Student Services, Athletics, Registrar, Financial Aid and Enrollment Services, Admissions and Orientation) each semester.
Nominees must be a full-time staff person in the division. Nominees may be nominated by a student or staff member in Student Affairs and the nomination form must be approved by the nominee's direct supervisor.
Award winners are judged based on the following criteria:
1. Provide outstanding service to students.
2. Work collegially/collaboratively within their unit or outside of their unit.
3. Promote enthusiasm about UTSA and its mission.
4. Implement a policy, procedure, idea, or development of a concept that has expanded or improved business function, service level or department morale.
5. Demonstrate initiative in getting involved outside the scope of their job duties.
To nominate a staff member for the Employee of the Semester Award, nominators must complete an online form that describes how the nominee meets the criteria listed above (not to exceed 500 words). Cite examples whenever possible and include success indicators if available.
The completed nomination forms must be submitted to the Awards and Recognition Committee by November 20, 2009.
The nomination form can be found online at https://www.utsa.edu/students/teams/pdt/forms/employeesemester.pdf
Winners will be announced on December 4, 2009. For more information on the Employee of the Semester Award, contact Marlon Anderson at ext. 4770 or Luisa Ramirez at ext. 7486.
UCPC Activities for November
Student Affairs Downtown Birthday Celebration
The Awards & Recognition Team would like to invite any Downtown Student Affairs staff members that have or will celebrate a birthday during this fall semester to attend the Downtown Reception. The reception will be held on Tuesday, November 3, from 3:30 – 4:30 p.m. in the DB 1.124 - Southwest Room. Please call x4770 or e-mail engaged@utsa.edu to RSVP to attend the event by Friday, October 30. It is very important that you notify us if you plan to attend the reception so we can plan accordingly. For more information, view the flyer in the link below.
PDF to print and post
Educator Career Fair
Save the Date for the Educator Career Fair! It will be held on Wednesday, November 4, 2009, from 9 am – 12 pm in the UC Ballroom. All students and alumni interested in a career in education are invited to attend.
9:00 – 10:00 am – UTSA student teachers and alumni only
10:00 am – 12:00 pm – Career Fair opens
1:00 pm – 4:00 pm – Interviews by appointment only
A complete listing of school districts attending the career fair can be viewed at www.utsa.edu/careercenter, then click below the Educator Career Fair flyer. For additional information, contact the University Career Center by phone at 210.458.4589 or email at careerservices@utsa.edu.
San Antonio Colleges and Universities Career Centers Association
The University Career Center is participating in the 19th Annual SACUCCA Job Fair on Thursday, November 12, in the Blossom Athletic Center, from 2-6 p.m. All UTSA students and alumni are invited to attend and meet with employers seeking to fill full-time and internship positions. More information, including a list of participating organizations, can be found at www.sacucca.org.
Government & Non-Profit Career Fair
The Government & Non-Profit Career Fair was held on Thursday, October 15, 2009, at the Radisson Hotel across from the Downtown Campus. There were a total of 14 companies that participated in the career fair along with a total of 234 job seekers. The top four majors that attended the career fair were Criminal Justice, Public Administration, Political Science, and Psychology.
Concurrent with the fair, Morris Ellington, the Professional Development Program Manager, hosted five sessions on "How to Work a Career Fair". The sessions included information on how to prepare a resume, how to develop a 30 second elevator speech, how to network with employers, and how to have a strong professional presence at a career fair.
Staff Networking Team - Dinner Club
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Paesano's Ristorante
PDF to print and post
Veterans Day Ceremony held at UTSA Sombrilla
UTSA's Army ROTC and Air Force ROTC will host a Veterans Day ceremony to honor all veterans. A joint UTSA Color Guard will march from the MS building over to the flagpole.
The National Anthem will be performed along with a short speech to convey the meaning and significance of this event. A memorial wreath will be displayed by the flag pole near the UTSA Sombrilla on Wednesday, Nov. 11 (10:45-11:00 a.m.).
The ceremony will conclude with the playing of Taps. This event will honor our war heroes and the sacrifices made by all veterans who gave of themselves to protect the nation and our freedom. The event is free and open to the public.
2009 Oxfam Hunger Banquet
November 11, 2009 • 6-8pm
1604 Campus • Denman Room
Please join us for this FREE experience that includes dinner, speakers, and eye‐opening information!
Seating is limited! Please RSVP by November 9, 2009 to engaged@utsa.edu or come by and sign up in the VOICES Office: UC III 1.216 (across from Starbucks).
PDF to print and post
October Service Highlight: Days of Caring 2009
Student organizations are making a big impact in the community this fall. Dozens of organizations are participating in mentoring, park projects, fundraisers, and more, and a few are highlighted here.
Every October the United Way hosts Days of Caring, a three day service event that brings thousands of volunteers from companies and universities out for a day of service at dozens of projects across the San Antonio community. Two UTSA student organizations participated this year.
UMOJA, along with some members of Delta Sigma Theta, brought over 20 volunteers to the Communities In Schools Ropes Course to make improvements to the site. The group trimmed trees, cleared brush, and did some gardening work at the site to help make it accessible to the students visiting the Ropes Course. This is the second time UMOJA has volunteered with the CIS Ropes Course, and only one of many service projects UMOJA participates in every year.
15 VOICES members volunteered at the Mitchell Lake Audubon Center as part of Days of Caring. The Mitchell Lake Audubon Center is located on the South Side of San Antonio and is a designated wildlife refuge and a natural migratory bird route. For the VOICES project, the students were broken up into two groups to help the staff lay new mulch onto a nature walking trail. One group was responsible for transporting the mulch to the designated section, while the other group helped lay down the mulch and spread it throughout the trail. The volunteers finished what had been an incomplete section of the walking trail.
To find out how you can get involved with service, please visit www.utsa.edu/ice/vs or come by UC 1.216, the VOICES/Volunteer Services office. For more information about VOICES visit www.utsavoices.org, and to learn more about UMOJA email umoja_bsn@yahoo.com or find UMOJA on Facebook.
Office of Student Activities Staff support Domestic Violence Awareness
OSA Staff wear purple in support of Domestic Violence Awareness 10-14-09
Front Row (Left to Right): Gary Handy, Kelsey Bratcher, Keri Shiplet, Michelle Montanio,
Misty Kelley, Tiffany Carifee, Barry McKinney
Back Row (Left to Right): Francisco Lugo, John Montoya, Carol Hogan
Photo Galleries
Domestic Violence Awareness Month
October is recognized as Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Events this month sheds light on the fact that thousands of women are victims of violence each year, usually by the hands of someone they love and trust. UTSA's Women's Resource Center participated in several events in the past few weeks that helped shed light on the problems of domestic violence. On October 12th, the Peer Educators put on a Dating Violence Presentation and Self-Defense Workshop at Chisholm Hall, showing students how to protect themselves. On UTSA “Purple Power” Day, October 14th, several UTSA Student Affairs Offices showing their support for Domestic Violence awareness by wearing purple. The WRC Peer Educators had a presentation on campus and gave out information to students about how they can help themselves or others who are victims of violence.
Photo gallery
Student Affairs Staff Orientation - October 20, 2009
Family Weekend 2009
Hundreds of parents were in and around campus October 23rd and 24th as part of Family Weekend. Now in its third year, Family Weekend is comprised of a series of events which allow both students and parents the opportunity to share in the excitement of UTSA activities. Events included UTSA Women's Soccer and Volleyball games, the Rowdy Rec Run, a Family Coffee Mixer and Breakfast, a Family Association Meeting, two Housing sessions for parents, a BBQ Dinner at the Roadrunner Café and a Late Night Concert in the Paseo.
Family Weekend may be over, but Six Flags Fiesta Texas is still holding UTSA Family Days through October 31st. Receive a one day admission ticket to the park for $26.75. Contact Orientation and Family Programs (MS 2.01.10) at 458-4724 to purchase your tickets before its too late!
Special thank you to UTSA Athletics, Campus Recreation, Housing and
Residence Life, B.A.R.R., the University Center and Aramark for collaborating
with Office of Family Programs.
Photo gallery
3rd Annual Rowdy Rec Run - October 24, 2009
The 3rd Annual Rowdy Rec Run hosted by Campus Recreation was held in collaboration with Family Weekend on October 24th, 2009. This year's event marked a record high attendance with over 225 runners. The Rowdy Rec Run provided a fun environment for students and family members to get a true campus experience while running or walking the 5k around university grounds. While many athletes were in attendance all winners were non-collegiate competitors. There were three different race categories: male, female and co-rec relay. Winning male time: 15 minutes 40 seconds, winning female time: 20 minutes 29 seconds. The winning co-rec relay team was comprised of students, Crissy Garza, David Canales and Chris Arteaga.
Photo gallery
Pumpkin Decorating contest - October 23, 2009
Counseling Services held their 3rd annual Pumpkin Decorating contest on Friday, October 23, 2009, with several creative and unique creations! Contestants were judged in three categories – Best Counseling Center theme, Best UTSA Spirit theme, and Best Overall/Scariest! Our panel of unbiased judges included Shirley Pipes, Priscilla Garcia, and Dr. Burl Daviss. The group of gourds will decorate the Counseling Service lobby during the week of October 26th!
Photo gallery
Student Activites and the Special Events Center Open House - Four "C"sons - October 27, 2009
Athletics
Roadrunner Ruckus a huge success
Women's golf to host Alamo Invitational
UTSA off to Dallas for Baylor Intercollegiate
Central Arkansas gets past UTSA in five-set thriller
All Sport Schedule - Area Events
| Tue, Nov 3 | VB | Texas A&M-Corpus Christi * | San Antonio, Texas | 6:30 p.m. |
| Sat, Nov 7 | WBB | St. Edward's Exhibition Game |
San Antonio, Texas | 5 p.m. |
| Sat, Nov 7 | MBB | Midwestern State Exhibition Game |
San Antonio, Texas | 7 p.m. |
| Thu, Nov 12 | VB | Texas State * | San Antonio, Texas | 6:30 p.m. |
Business Procedures Tips
Tips for success with Business Expense Forms (BEFs)
• Please make sure the number of attendees is included on all BEFs so the cost per attendee properly
calculates. Please do not submit a BEF with "infinity" as the cost per attendee. (It will default to that
if the number of attendees section is left blank.)
• Please do not list "open to the entire student body" – please use a realistic estimate.
• If you buy a specific quantity of something (say 500 t-shirts at $3.00 each) for giveaways at a
student event (like Roadrunner Days) and at the end of the event, all of the t-shirts have been
distributed, but you've had 850 attendees, in this BEF's case the number of attendees is 500, not
850 because 500 people each got one shirt with a per-person cost of $3.00 (850 people did not
share 500 shirts at a per-person cost of $1.76).
• Please provide names (first name and last name) and titles (business affiliations) for participants for groups up to 100
student participants. Names are not required for student groups greater than 100. For staff and faculty participants,
business affiliations are required – please use both first and last names. (e.g. Bob Miller, Edna Dominguez, and Jackie
Hobson not Bob, Edna, and Jackie)
• For more information about BEFs, please visit
www.utsa.edu/financialaffairs/Forms/disbursements/BEFinstructions.pdf
Have a Business Procedures Tip to share? Please send it to Bob Miller.
For previous Business Procedures Tips, please visit the archive.
Wellness Tips
Foods that can interfere with sleep
Some food and drinks that can interfere with your sleep, including:
• Too much food, especially fatty, rich food. These take a lot of work for your stomach to digest and may keep you up.
Spicy or acidic foods in the evening can cause stomach trouble and heartburn, which worsens as you are laying down.
• Too much liquid. Drinking lots of fluid may result in frequent bathroom trips throughout the night that can disrupt
sleep.
• Alcohol. Although it may initially make you feel sleepy, alcohol can interfere with sleep and cause frequent awakenings.
Some people are also sensitive to tyrosine, found in certain red wines.
• Caffeine. Avoid food and drinks that contain caffeine, and that doesn't just mean coffee. Hidden sources of
caffeine include chocolate, caffeinated sodas, and teas.
Heather Stark
Assistant Director of Fitness & Wellness
Campus Recreation
heather.stark@utsa.edu
Thank You Rowdy
Thank You Rowdy has a special mission in Student Affairs - to travel across UTSA recognizing the good work of staff members. Within the Division of Student Affairs, Thank You Rowdy is presented from one Student Affairs staff member to another in recognition and appreciation of work done well - taking extra assignments to provide support, offering unsolicited assistance, or completing tasks in a unique way. Whatever the situation, contributions like this are made every day and Thank You Rowdy helps us recognize them.
Thank you Rowdy reflects UTSA's spirit of community and reminds us to remember it takes everyone to make UTSA a great place to work and to learn.
- Gage Paine
Thank You Rowdy is presently visiting with
Zenia Trevino
See past Thank You Rowdy Recipients
To: Zenia Trevino, Office of Admissions
From: Jackie Hobson, Office of Student Affairs Budget and Financial
Zenia,
Today I am presenting you with Thank You Rowdy as a gesture of appreciation for your great attitude and willingness to assist with a myriad of projects and requests. You have a strong work ethic and an infectious smile, which make it a pleasure to interact with you. Anything that we give you will be handled and resolved quickly and professionally. Thank you for all you do for students, faculty and staff at UTSA!
In appreciation,
Jackie Hobson
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Jackie reads her message of appreciation to Zenia. |
Zenia with Thank You Rowdy |
Kudos
To: Child Development Center
From: Erika Cox- Assistant Director of Enrollment Services
RE: Kudos
My child is enrolled in the Child Development Center. Since she first enrolled, I have be impressed by the level of care and attention that she and the other children enrolled in the Center receive. The teachers and administration are wonderfully helpful and I feel at ease leaving her in their care while I'm at work.
Recently, the CDC hosted a Fall Harvest Festival for the children and their parents. At this festival, you got to engage in games with your child and meet the staff and other parents. I appreciate the time it took them to organize this event. The service the CDC provides to me and my little Roadrunner is invaluable. I can come to work knowing that she is in good hands and is learning in a safe environment. I'm sure that the students whose children are enrolled in the CDC are just as appreciative. So thank you to the staff of the Child Development Center; you truly watch out for our future!
Erika Cox
To: Bill Hickey- Program Coordinator, Athletics
From: Kelsey Bratcher- Assistant Director, Student Activities
RE: Thank You!
Bill-
Thank you for collaborating on the Aaron Cooksey event with me. I am so glad you found him and we were able to make it happen. I really enjoy working with you and helping plan events for the student athletes. I look forward to working with you on future events!
Thanks again for a successful evening!
Kelsey
To: Marlon Anderson- Director for Inclusion
From: John Kaulfus- Associate Dean of Students
RE: Congratulations from the Texas Diversity Council!
Kudos to Marlon Anderson for being selected as a DiversityFIRST™ Awards winner by the Texas Diversity Council. Marlon received this award for being an advocate for diversity and inclusion. Marlon received his award on October 27 at an awards luncheon held to honor the winners. Congratulations Marlon!
John Kaulfus
PDF of award criteria
To: Emmanuel Todd, Jason Haynie and their staff members
From: The Staff Development Team: Shirley Rowe; Eric Cooper; Edna Dominguez; Claudia Giliberti; Gabriel Mendiola; Erika Cox; Anne Macintosh; Jackie Hobson; Anne Jimenez; Keri Shiplet; Tabitha Byrne; Steve Kudika; and Kendra Kliesen
Thank you to Manny (Emmanuel Todd), Jason Haynie and their staff members for their quick action in preparing the Ballroom for the October 20th Student Affairs Orientation. We appreciated their flexibility and dedication to work to ensure the room and technology supported this endeavor.
Congratulations to Joseph Polasek who is being honored at the 8th Annual Veterans in Business Awards. The West San Antonio Chamber of Commerce is honoring the Veterans for their service and commitment to our country.
Judy Moreno
PDF list of Honorees
Check us out on:
NOTE:
Please submit all newsletter entries by 5:00 pm, Tuesday, November 10, 2009, to
VPSAmedia@utsa.edu