Message from the Vice President
From the Best of the VPSA Messages, originally posted on May 31, 2007
This weekend, between house cleaning and down-pour watching - I returned to a project I started last summer but has been put on hold during this busy semester. As part of the preparation I was digging through some old files and found a handout I'd been given in some workshop or another. It was based on the work of Donald B. Ardell, Ph.D., an author, lecturer, teacher in the wellness field. In the list of things to do to lead a healthy balanced life, he suggests we get 23 DBRU equivalents a day. He doesn't explain it but rather says think of it as little bits of experiences of happiness.
Now this intrigued me. The paper I had in my file came from SMU so its 7-10 years old and it has the author's name but no other citation. So I decided to test the magic of Google and typed in DBRU. Lo and behold, among sites that seem to indicate that DBRU has a technology component was a link to an article by Ardell as part of the seekwellness site.
Some folks know about wellness and the Wellness Wheel, but in case you don't, here's a very brief explanation: There are six components to Wellness and they are usually presented as
six parts of a wheel: 
Each component is as important as every other; all six are critical to our general sense of well-being.
Here is a very short description of each component:
*
Intellectual - active mind, open to new ideas, always learning
*
Physical - eating well, healthy lifestyle, exercise
*
Emotional - ability to handle emotions in a constructive way
*
Spiritual - finding meaning and purpose in life
*
Social - Satisfying relationships, support networks, participating in the community
*
Environmental - Lifestyle that is respectful to the planet
Another version I've seen of this is called a "Life Pie" by author Julia Cameron. Her six slices are Exercise, Play, Work, Spirituality, Friends and Romance/Adventure.
So pick the pie you like or choose both - no calories to these pies! And place a dot in each slice of the pie - the more satisfied you are with how you are doing in that area the closer to the outer rim your dot should go - closer to the center means less satisfied. Now connect the dots. Do you have a nice, healthy balanced circle or do you have some other shape for which geometry has no name? Is there a tiny step you can take this week to move toward balance or to widen your circle? If so, I encourage you to take it.
And always strive for 23 DBRU equivalents a day.
So just what is a DBRU? Ardell tells of seeing a Far Side Cartoon by Gary Larsen. In it a large, deceased rhino is lying on the ground covered in buzzards with more buzzards flying in for dinner. "In the caption, one buzzard remarks to another, 'Just think, here we are, the afternoon sun beating down upon us, a Dead Bloated Rhino Underfoot and good friends flying in from all over. I tell you, Frank, this is the best of times!"...Ever since (Ardell has) been asking audiences this question: 'Are you getting enough DBRU's?'
DBRU's don't have to be big deals. Ardell says "Little pleasures throughout the day will do the trick. Tune into these little delights, bring them into conscious awareness, celebrate them and pause often to honor your good fortune."
So what are your little delights, your best of times? Can you add one or two to your day? And if your Life Pie or Wellness Wheel is a bit lopsided try adding some DBRU equivalents to your day and see what happens.
As Ardell's daughter once said to him - May "all your dead rhinos be like totally bloated this lovely day."
The nature of DBRU equivalents by Donald B. Ardell, Ph.D.
Best wishes,
Gage
Announcements/Departmental Events
The Richard S. Howe Excellence in Service to Undergraduate Students Award
The Richard S. Howe Excellence in Service to Undergraduate Students Award was established in 2002 through a gift to the university by Mrs. Walter W. McAllister Jr. and is named in honor of longtime engineering professor Richard S. Howe. This award is presented to faculty or staff members who have shown exemplary commitment towards UTSA undergraduates. The recipients of this award must have demonstrated a strong commitment to teaching and/or service to undergraduate students, served as an advocate for undergraduate education and engaged in activities to promote student access and success.
John Kualfus, Associate Dean of Students and Anne Jimenez, Assistant Dean of Students and Director of Student Judicial Affairs, receive the Richard S. Howe Excellence in Service Award on April 13, 2010. Congratulations!
Second Call for Commencement Staffing
Dear University Colleagues,
As you all know, Spring Commencement is just around the corner. This is a time of great celebration for the entire campus community and a chance to acknowledge the students who have dedicated so much to graduate from UTSA! Please help us make the upcoming commencement ceremonies the best.
In order to make this joyous event run like clockwork, we ask that you sign up to provide staffing at one or more of the five ceremonies to be held on May 6, 7 and 8. The dates/times are listed below. Faculty members and college staff members have already been requested to participate in providing staffing.
Student Affairs Award Ceremony
The Awards and Recognition Team encourages staff members to nominate individuals for one of the Student Affair Awards to be presented at this year's Awards Ceremony. Nominations will be accepted through April 30, 2010. To nominate a deserving individual or team, complete a nomination form online at the Awards and Recognition Team webpage, www.utsa.edu/students/teams/pdt/ar.html.
Outstanding Student Employee Award
Support Staff Award
New Professional Staff Member Award
Outstanding Student Affairs Team Award
Transformational Student Affairs Leadership Award
In addition, nominations are being accepted for Spring Employee of the Semester Award(s). To nominate a fellow staff member for Employee of the Semester, individuals can complete a nomination form using the same link above. The Student Affairs Award Ceremony is scheduled for Monday, May 17, 2010, from 3:00pm – 4:30pm in the University Center Ballroom. For more information on the awards process, please contact Luisa Ramirez at ext. 2910 or via e-mail at luisa.ramirez@utsa.edu.
UTSA particpates in Fiesta
Child Development Center - April 23, 2010
CDC Fiesta Parade - April 23Fiesta UTSA - April 16, 2010
Texas Cavalier's River Parade - April 19, 2010
UCPC Activities
PDF of the April 21 - April 30 schedule
STAFF NETWORKING TEAM
Upcoming Staff Networking Team Tours/Open Houses:
May 6th – College of Sciences Undergraduate Advising Center, 2-4 p.m., Science Building 2.01.08
May 12th – College of Liberal and Fine Arts Advising Center
Please visit the Student Affairs Professional Development website for more information on the Staff Networking Team:
www.utsa.edu/students/teams/pdt/staffnetwork.html
If you have missed a tour, or misplaced a card, you may view all the handout cards via this link:
www.flickr.com/photos/utsapdt/sets/72157623561333154/show
Sexual Assault Awareness Month
The Women’s Resource Center has been highlighting the issue of sexual assault on college campuses during the month of April during Sexual Assault Awareness Month. From a visit to the UTSA PD, to outreach with sororities, and several Men of Strength activities, including a workshop and rally, the WRC is working to bring awareness to this crime that affects one in six college age women and one in 33 men. Two-thirds of rapists are known by their victims.
Photos
Keep Off the Grass
Attached you will find a few pictures from the Keep Off The Grass event that was held on Tuesday, April 20 from 11-1 on the UC Paseo. The University Police Department Crime Prevention Division hosted the event to educate students about the effects of marijuana. Be A Responsible Roadrunner (BARR) and Counseling Services also participated in the event.
Photos
Career Crossroads Conference
On April 14th and 15th the University Career Center hosted the Career Crossroads Conference. Over 300 students participated in a wide range of workshops and panel discussions as well as a networking mixer and two-day Career Expo.
Representatives from a variety of organizations participated and supported the event. Special thanks to Union Pacific Railroad for their outstanding support, as well as the many other organizations that provided panelists, speakers and participated in the Career Expo and networking event.
Photos
South Texas Recruitment - Admissions
President Romo visited with 45 high school students from Laredo during their April 7 visit to campus. Tracy Lopez, UTSA’s Regional Admissions Officer for South Texas, brought the students to campus as part of her student recruitment programming.
Two student videos win UTSA Quality Enhancement Plan contest
Tim Brownlee, Assistant Director of Public Affairs, 4/16/10
Students recently created and submitted videos for a contest to highlight the UTSA Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP). Students, faculty and staff viewed and voted on YouTube and two videos were the leaders: "American Humanics Student Association" by Amy Harwell and "QEP of Our Lives" by Stephanie Shropshire and Isis Valencia.
"Both tied for the People's Choice Award and the prizes were divided...
For the full article, visit: URL
UTSA set to tighten rules on admission
By Melissa Ludwig - Express-News, 4/01/2010
UTSA will raise the bar for undergraduate admissions over the next few years in its quest to reach Tier One research university status, turning a corner after 40 years of virtually open access by gradually closing the door to students who graduate in the bottom half of their high school class.
The change won't be radical, said Ricardo Romo, president of the University of Texas at San Antonio,...
For the full article, visit: URL
Institute of Texan Cultures 'Small Town Texas' photo exhibit extended
James M. Benavides, Public Affairs Specialist, 3/22/10
The Institute of Texan Cultures will extend "Small Town Texas," an exhibit of photographs by UTSA President Ricardo Romo, by one month to Sunday, June 27.
"Romo shot the photo essay on a fading way of life over 15 months and accumulated some 2,000 images from his weekend trips to Texas small towns. As an historian and photographer,...
For the full article, visit: URL
Excellence in Service and Programming -- The Four C's Blog
Communicate. Connect. Collaborate. Create. BE UTSA! A place to share ideas about the Four C's conceptual model for Student Affairs at the University of Texas at San Antonio and get new ideas for understanding and implementation.
What do you mean by "silos"?
There was a question on a survey from one of the Four C's sessions concerning, what does the term "silo" mean? Well, some view it to define how we, as a Division, seem to be departmentalized. For instance, the Rec Center may be viewed as a "silo" unto itself; the Registrar's Office, ESC/Financial Aid, Admissions may be viewed as their own "silos". This means we function in our own specific area, not really venturing outside our comfort zone. We tend to work in our office/cubical/space and may not really know what's going on in other areas of Student Affairs. Often, we don't venture outside our "silo" unless it is time for a large event, say like, Commencement.
The Four C's, along with other initatives in Student Affairs, are here to get us out of our "silos." We have opportunities other than single events to communicate, connect, collaborate and create. So try to step away from the "silo" and try one of the C's on for size.
Let us know what you think.
Join the blog at http://excellencethefourcs.blogspot.com
The Education Team
The Gift in Feedback
by Mary Miscisin
We have all experienced a time in our lives when we did not like the way someone delivered a message to us or did not think the feedback given was valid. It could be for a variety of reasons. Perhaps we simply did not like the person giving the feedback because of prior experiences with them. Maybe we do like the person but we attached a meaning to their words, body language or message and therefore got our feeling hurt.
At times we may not recognize our own behaviors or characteristics and may be unaware of how they affect others. Sometimes we do recognize our behaviors yet we frame them differently than others, therefore what might be considered a positive attribute by one person, could be viewed as a negative one by another.
So why pay attention at all?
When you receive some feedback and get the urge to reject it, PAUSE and remember that feedback is a gift. We just may not recognize it, at first. It may not be packaged in the most attractive way. In fact it may not even seem like a gift at all. But it is. Remember the saying, “don’t judge a book by its cover?” this is also true with feedback. One thing for sure about feedback is the more open you are to receiving it, the greater the potential for discovering the treasure.
The following are ways to shift your mindset so that you can benefit from the feedback you receive.
Continued...
Photo Galleries
Leadership UTSA Graducation Ceremony- April 9, 2010
Student Affairs Conference - April 14, 2010
True Colors for the Division - April 15, 2010
Athletics
Roadrunners finish fourth at Southland Conference Championships
Mecke tabbed Southland Conference Athlete of the Week
Roadrunner Sports - Engineered to Run from Sombrilla Online
School-record round moves UTSA to fourth at Southland Championships
All Sport Schedule - Area Events
| Fri, Apr 23 | SB | Texas State * | San Antonio, Texas | 5 p.m. |
| Fri, Apr 23 | SB | Texas State * | San Antonio, Texas | 7 p.m. |
| Sat, Apr 24 | SB | Texas State * | San Antonio, Texas | 12 p.m. |
| Sun, May 2 | BB | Texas State * | San Antonio, Texas | 1 p.m. |
Business Procedures Tips
This Business Procedures Tip was submitted by Joe Polasek* in the Office of the Registrar.
Using a font like Century Gothic, Times New Roman, or Calibri reduces the amount of ink or toner used by the printer, thus extending the life of your ink or toner cartridges. Of course, the way that will save the most ink is by limiting what you print.
The complete article can be found here:
www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/n/a/2010/04/06/financial/f131600D69.DTL
Have a Business Procedures Tip to share? Please send it to Bob Miller.
For previous Business Procedures Tips, please visit the archive.
*Thanks to Joe Polasek for this tip.
Wellness Tips
You can “Go Green” and stay in shape at the same time by making simple changes. Walk instead of taking the golf cart on campus. See what types of activities you can do with your kids outside instead of staying indoors and watching TV or playing on the computer. Walking is a great form of exercise and we don’t do it often enough because of modern conveniences. Take advantage of this cooler weather and take the time to walk or do an activity outside!
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
Tony Daniels
See past Thank You Rowdy Recipients
To: Tony Daniels, Associate Director, Campus Recreation
From: Misty R. Kelley, Associate Director, Student Activities
Tony,
Today I pass Thank You Rowdy on to you for two reasons. One, you have always been supportive of the programs that Student Activities and student organizations want to do within the Campus Recreation facilities. You have a mind set of “let’s make it happen”. That level of commitment and spirit make me glad that you are a colleague and a friend. The other reason is your love of students. You are always pondering ways to further develop the students of this University – be it through True Colors, leadership training or any other cool idea.
Thank you,
Misty R. Kelley
|
Misty Kelley awards Thank You Rowdy to Tony Daniels. |
Kudos
To: Francisco Lugo Carmona-Assistant Director of Student Activities, OFFICE; Barry McKinney- Director of Student Activities, Student Activities
From: Dan Taylor - Safety Specialist II, Environmental Health, Safety and Risk Management
RE: Event Safety Requirements Information
I wanted to say thank you again for the outstanding support during the Fiesta UTSA event. Although condensed from the original plan, you and your team put maximum effort into making the event friendly for the student organizations as well as safe. All of the organizations were very accommodating of our inspections and quickly corrected the very minor issues found.
I trust that the positive outcome in the weather enabled the groups to finish the day on a positive note.
We look forward to working with your team in the future. As always, if there are any questions or we can help in some way, please contact our office.
Thank you!
Danny Taylor
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Please submit all newsletter entries by 5:00 pm, Tuesday, May 4, 2010, to
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