Snapshots Announcements Spotlight UTSA Athletics

December 2012, Issue 20



Announcements



Mileage Reimbursement Rate Increases to 56.5 Cents on Jan. 1

Candy Canes

https://fmx.cpa.state.tx.us/fmx/travel/index.php

The maximum state mileage reimbursement rate for travel by state employees in a personal vehicle will increase to 56.5 cents per mile, effective Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, 2013. This rate is consistent with the Internal Revenue Service’s standard mileage rate.

Please note that with prior written notification, state agencies are not required to reimburse employees at the maximum rate.

For more information, see State Mileage Reimbursement Rate (FPP S.005) or Transportation: Mileage in a Personal Vehicle in Textravel.



Student Affairs Orientation Dates Announced


The Staff Development Team is pleased to announce that our Student Affairs Orientation: What Do We All Do will be held February 12, 2013, 8:30 am – 12 pm in UC Ballroom I. This workshop provides an opportunity for new staff to meet with co-workers across the division and learn about our rich diversity and the many offices within Student Affairs. Participants will have the chance to network, attend a fair where they will learn about different departments, and win prizes! Being able to Communicate, Connect, Collaborate and Create across the division and campus starts with knowing what we all do!

Sam Gonzales, our interim Vice President for Student Affairs, will welcome and begin the workshop at 8:30am. We have notified directors regarding staff who are invited to attend. This is a mandatory training for new Student Affairs employees.

If you have questions regarding this event, please email staffdevelopment@utsa.edu or Kim.EllicksCenter@utsa.edu.

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Student Affairs Holiday Luncheon Success!

Happy Holidays to all! The luncheon held on December 10 was a festive event, including lovely piano holiday tunes played on a baby grand piano by Lisa Blazer, delicious food, and best of all - Student Affairs staff— 354 staff and 221 student employees!

Here is the Holiday Slideshow (PowerPoint).



The UC's Thanksgiving & Winter Break Hours


The UC will have shortened hours for the Thanksgiving and winter breaks. Please take these hours into consideration when coming to visit the UC or scheduling events and meetings. Hours for dining or other services may vary. Visit the UTSA Dining website for dining hours, and contact other services directly for hours during the breaks.

For a full list of the hours, visit their newsletter.



Share expertise: Faculty, staff can present at professional development conferences


By Kevin Femmel
Student Writer, Office of University Communications


This spring, the UTSA Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs will host two professional development conferences, and faculty, staff members, and graduate students are needed to be presenters.

With the theme, "Leading through Transition," it is an opportunity to share expertise and provide guidance on leadership approaches, management and supervision styles, career enhancement and many other related topics.


For the full article, visit UTSA Today.



2012 Family Fund Grant Recipients


The UTSA Parent Council is proud to announce the 2012 Family Fund grant recipients. Ten projects received funding, totaling $13,000. Thank you to the families who support the Family Fund!

Career Closet
UTSA Ambassador’s Attendance at the 2013 CASE ASAP National Convention
Spring 2013 Etiquette Dinner (Career Center)
UTSA Ambassadors’ Amber Dinner
Alternative Spring Break
Biofeedback: A Mind Body Program
The Progression: A Civil Rights and Social Justice Trip
Greek Like Presidents’ Retreat
New Student Camps
Cultural Graduation Events



To view a description of each of the winning projects, please view this PDF

Roadrunner of the Month - Nicci Campbell


The UTSA Student Leadership Center announces Nicci Campbell as Roadrunner of the Month for November 2012. Nicci was nominated by Levine Fontenot, a fellow UTSA student and peer.

Nicci is from Houston, Texas where she graduated from Seven Lakes High School. She is currently a junior studying English. With her degree, Nicci would love to become an attorney, specializing in civil rights and social injustice. Eventually, Nicci would also like to enter politics.

As the Special Projects Coordinator for VOICES, Nicci has been an excellent example of leadership at UTSA. This year Nicci successfully coordinated many of the large community service projects such as, Extreme Makeover, UTSA Edition in which over 150 volunteers from various organizations came together to beautify the UTSA campus. In addition to Extreme Makeover, UTSA Edition, Nicci also helped to coordinate The OXFAM Hunger Banquet in which over 50 student guests participated in an interactive dinner focused on world hunger issues. According to Levine Fontenot, "Nicci loves UTSA so much she dedicated a year of her time as a Roadrunner by becoming a Student Admissions Officer and sharing her Roadrunner pride to prospective students and families. She is a special Roadrunner because she takes advantage of the many academic and leadership opportunities UTSA has to offer while still upholding her studies. I have witnessed Nicci shine as a Roadrunner and I am positive that she will leave a lasting impact on our campus." In addition to being an officer in VOICES, Nicci is involved with The UTSA Ambassadors, The Black Student Union, Phi Alpha Delta (Pre-Law), Omicron Delta Kappa, and Phi Kappa Pi.

Most recently Nicci was named The Black Student Union’s Miss What-A-Woman 2012-2013. Nicci chose to participate in The Miss What-A-Woman pageant in order to share her story with others and to help build her confidence. Now with the title of Miss What-A-Woman, Nicci will continue with her platform through impacting and interacting with young girls ages 9 to 14 at The Martinez Street Women’s Center. She will have the opportunity to teach them about leadership, and the importance of education, high self-esteem, and staying healthy. Nicci shared, "I want to make sure that I am being a good role model to these young girls".

When asked what leadership meant to her, Nicci stated, "Leadership is being able to stand up for what is right, even when you are standing alone. It is having the courage to take a stance on something you believe in and being able to effectively lead others towards their projected goal".


The Roadrunner of the Month award is sponsored by the Student Leadership Center to recognize outstanding UTSA student leadership contributions.

Nominees must meet these criteria to be considered for the award:
  • Must be a full-time UTSA undergraduate or graduate student
  • Must have a cumulative grade point average of 2.5 or higher at the time of nomination
  • Must have demonstrated excellence in leadership above and beyond typical expectations
  • Nominations should be for actions that positively impact the UTSA community

Submit nominations at the UTSA Student Leadership Center Website.

Rowdy Reader Book Drive for the Child Development Center

The Division of Student Affairs hosted a Rowdy Reader Book Drive for the Child Development Center (CDC) in November. Thanks to everyone for their generous contributions. The CDC staff were thrilled to receive the children’s books and excited to share the gift of reading with our tiniest Roadrunners. Your book donations will go a long way in fostering a culture of learning at the CDC.



VOICES Hosts College Fun Day


Saturday mornings are usually reserved for sleeping in late, watching Saturday morning cartoons, or tailgating on a UTSA Game Day; however on Saturday, November 17, 40 UTSA VOICES (Volunteer Organization Involving Community Education and Service) members spent their morning playing games, educating, mentoring, and bonding with 20 middle school aged students from Good Samaritan Community Services Youth Development Services. The goal of GSCS’s Youth Development Services is to help young people acquire the life and academic skills necessary for personal success.

With this goal in mind, activities were prepared to help educate the students about how to get into college and the many opportunities that achieving higher education can offer to them in the future. The students went “fishing” for questions about college, “bowled” down negative behaviors that will keep them out of college, matched various universities with their mascots, created vision boards to visualize their future goals, and performed skits about college situations. At the end of the day, the students received a campus tour and learned the UTSA Fight Song from the enthusiastic VOICES members!

The day would not have been possible if not for the Family Fund Grant that VOICES applied for and was awarded last semester. For more information about VOICES visit www.utsavoices.org or stop by UC 1.216 on the UC Paseo.

UTSA took the Campus Vote Challenge and won!


In this election year, the UTSA Student Government Association made an impact on the university community and did so better than almost every other college in the program. The Campus Vote Challenge (CVC) is a program at 20 universities, designed to help them develop strategies and tactics to increase voter registration and turnout. Universities were graded on their planning and implementation and their results. In the final scoring, UTSA registered an additional 10% of the student body, coming in second, and finishing ahead of schools such as Purdue, Michigan State, University of Miami, American University and UNC Chapel Hill.

In order to reach this level of achievement, SGA forged strong working partnerships with several campus organizations and offices, while also reaching out to community-based resources. The alignment of UTSA students, faculty and staff, along with support from the community, enabled UTSA to achieve recognition in this competition, and more importantly, have a positive impact on young voters.

UTSA in Top Three for Universities with Most Students Voting in November

By USA TODAY

By Emily Atteberry

Registration forms. Voter ID cards. Absentee and mail-in voting ballots.

Students might get a bad rap for a supposed “enthusiasm gap,” but first-time voting can be tricky.

This election, though, about 49% of young voters cast ballots — but not without the help of bottom-up collaborations connecting campus student governments to national organizations.


To read the full article, please click here.

UTSA Housing and Residence Life Community Participates in Community Service Project


UTSA Housing and Residence Life Community Assistant staff organized a community service project that provided our Resident Assistant staff an opportunity to share Halloween treats with children and families in the San Antonio Ronald McDonald House. In addition to being leaders on our campus, these student staff members are role models within our surrounding SA community. HRL is proud of their commitment to excellence in service! HRL staff pictured include, from left to right: Keren Sofran, Nigelle Cochran, Esther Gil, Trisha Hinojosa, Nathan McDuell, Kaelie Gonzales, Khian Antwi, and Jared Gonzales.

The Residence Hall Association News


The Residence Hall Association, also known as RHA, is a representative organization with the purpose to build a strong sense of community and empower its residents through service, education, social events, leadership and personal development opportunities. RHA also acts as an agency for resident advocacy with the intent to change legislation, and address the issues and concerns of the residential community in order to improve the living learning environment of its residents.

Fall 2012 was RHA’s first active semester, in which the organization established its first executive board, composed of 6 board members and 12 senators. RHA was heavily involved both on campus and with their regional conference Southwest Affiliate of Colleges and Universities Residence Halls (SWACURH). RHA participated in SWACURH’s annual conference at Oklahoma State University to which they took 6 delegates. This semester RHA hosted 9 programs aimed at fostering community among residents. Some of the programs were the 2nd Annual Pool Party, Outdoor Movie Night, and a service learning project at Haven for Hope. RHA also participated in campus wide programs such as National Night Out, Rowdy Wing Fling, and partnered with VOICES for the Extreme Make Over event.

Social Media Crossroads Success

The Staff Development Team presented a workshop titled Social Media Crossroads on November 27, 2012. This workshop included presentations on the negatives and positives of Social Media and how it intersects your personal and professional life and an expert panel which included Eric Cooper, Director of Enrollment Services and UTSA Social Media Task Force member, Anne Jimenez, Assistant Dean of Students and Director of Student Conduct and Community Standards, Joe Izbrand, Chief Communications Officer, Cpl. Elizabeth Carter, UTSAPD, and Dionne Davila, Career Counselor. Attendees were taught about the privacy settings of Facebook and twitter and then participated in one of three case studies to discuss how social media can be used professionally.

To learn about more professional development opportunities offered by the Staff Development Team, check out their website http://utsa.edu/students/teams/pdt/staffdev.html.

Fraternity & Sorority Community Gives Back

The UTSA Fraternity and Sorority Community has worked hard this semester to raise money for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and to collect pop tab tops to donate to the San Antonio Ronald McDonald House Charities. On November 3rd over 400 fraternity and sorority members participated in the Annual Up ‘til Dawn event to raise money for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. The students prepared over 8,000 letters to go out to family, relatives, neighbors, and friends to raise money. With only half of the letters mailed out they have already raised over $5,000. Throughout the entire semester the members also collected pop tab tops to donate to the San Antonio Ronald McDonald House Charities. The tabs are taken to a recycling center to earn money that will go toward the operational costs of the San Antonio Houses. The Community has plans to support United to Serve, For the Kids Dance Marathon, and the Leukemia and Lymphoma Societies Pennies for Patients campaign in the Spring 2013 semester.

Adopt-A-Family


VPSA Office participates in our yearly Adopt-A-Family Program. Cheers!






Be A Responsible Roadrunner's Fall 2012 Review


Be A Responsible Roadrunner Successes:
     •  Increased Membership
     •  Participated in BestFest for the first time
     •  Hosted more socials for members
     •  Participated in two service projects, one being Adopt-A-Family
     •  Assisted with successful programs Rowdy Wing Fling, Campus Crawl and Alcohol Awareness Week Featured Speaker
     •  Rene R.J. Rangel completed his year-long term of serving as BACCHUS Network Area 6 Student Advisory Committee Representative
     •  Representatives attended BACCHUS Network General Assembly in Orlando, Florida
     •  Be A Responsible Roadrunner won 1st Place for School Exhibit at General Assembly
     •  End of Semester Awards were selected by students:
            o  Macy Suplick, Rising Star
            o  Sarah Gallup, Outstanding Consultant
            o  R.J. Rangel, Founder's Award
     •  Elected New Leadership for 2013:
            o  Sarah Gallup, President
            o  Megan Hefley, Vice President
            o  Kyle Lemere, Secretary
            o  Macy Suplick, Historian
     •  To learn more about Be A Responsible Roadrunner:
            o  facebook.com/BeRowdyUTSA
            o  @UTSABARR
            o  utsa.edu/sa/barr


Be A Responsible Roadrunner's Fall 2012 Review

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Corey Benson featured in Welcome Video for Prospective Graduate Students


Corey Benson, who serves as the president of the Graduate Student Association, was recently featured in a welcome video for prospective graduate students.

He currently serves as a graduate assistant in the Inclusion and Community Engagement Center and as a graduate intern for Student Activities. Corey assists in the coordination of State Mandated Risk Management Training compliance. He also facilitates training sessions to educate registered student organizations on risk reduction strategies and the prevention of hazing, sexual harassment and assault, and the abuse of alcohol and other drugs. For the past semester, Corey has advised the peer education group Be A Responsible Roadrunner and served on the Central Regional Conference Planning Committee for the National Association of Campus Activities.

View the video here.

Fall 2012 Staff Council Blast


Read about Staff Scholarships, "Strikes for Scholarships" event details, and more in the latest Staff Council newsletter.

PDF to Read