• Eddie Benavidez, Athletics
• Sandra Pardo, Counseling Services

Welcome to UTSA! We are glad you are here!

Leadership NOW!
Finding Your Voice. Sharing Your Vision.
Saturday, February 1, 2014
UTSA Main Campus – University Center
9:00 am – 4:30pm

Conference registration closed on December 6th. UTSA students attending Leadership NOW! will enjoy a free, one-day conference focused on developing leadership skills, providing an open dialogue to address tough issues that leaders face, and offering a diverse spectrum of workshops centered on the theme, "Finding Your Voice. Sharing Your Vision."

Leadership NOW! will include breakout sessions, a keynote speaker, and opportunities to network with fellow attendees. Topics can include, but are not limited to, values congruence in leadership, ethics, program planning, evaluating the organization/preparing summaries/reports for recognition, time management, how to take leadership skills to the job world, professionalism, conflict management, risk management and reduction, working with others…really the list is endless! Sessions will focus on the following areas of student learning: responsibility, engaged citizenship, active leader, critical thinking, and healthy and balanced living. Sessions will be 50 minutes in length.

Leadership NOW! focuses on assisting UTSA students in the development of leadership skills and traits therefore conference attire is Business Casual. This means no t-shirts, no blue jeans, no shorts, and no flip flops.

If you have any comments or questions regarding Leadership NOW! contact getinvolved@utsa.edu.

UTSA Downtown Campus needs YOUR votes to WIN the Mayor’s “Light Up Downtown” Contest!

Please cast your vote at LightUpDowntownSA.com and promote voting to the entire UTSA community. Individuals can vote once a day every day until December 19.

On November 19th, the Student Leadership Center took 45 students to the 2013 Texas Conference for Women in Austin, Texas. Held at the Austin Convention Center, the conference hosted over 5,000 participants. Nationally recognized speakers shared their wisdom and insights on a wide range of personal and professional topics.

Hosted by Texas First Lady Anita Perry, this year’s 14th annual conference included inspiring keynote speakers such as: Rachel Ray, Jennifer Lawson, Leyman Gbowee, and Esmeralda Santiago. Included within the conference were breakout sessions with panelist discussions, a health and wellness pavilion, vendor exhibit hall, and a career pavilion which included a mentor match program and resume critique. The students commented on how many great opportunities were included within a one day conference.

The Student Leadership Center selected students from different areas of campus in order to have a diverse group represent UTSA. Students were able to bring their different backgrounds to the conference and gain knowledge that will benefit their various communities. When asked about the conference, students provided excellent feedback. Almost everyone commented on the caliber of keynote speakers and their motivating messages. Some of the students shared their insights:

• “I would definitely recommend the conference to my peers. It was a great experience with amazing and very inspirational keynote speakers, also an amazing networking and learning experience.” – Meagan Lavalais a senior studying kinesiology
• “The conference inspired me to become a better leader as well as focus on myself more. I think future students can utilize a lot of information given there.” – Leslie Hernandez a senior studying biology
• “I would recommend the conference to other people because it helps you understand the perspective of other types of people. I also feel like as a leader, I have grown because I can now better communicate with all types of people.” – James Comer a freshman studying business

If you are interested in more information about our programs and events, please visit the Student Leadership Center on campus (UC 2.01.04) or our website at www.utsa.edu/slc/

The Student Leadership Center has temporarily relocated to the Inclusion and Community Engagement Center until the summer of 2014. We will eventually be moving into our permanent home in the University Center where Frost Bank currently resides. We will keep you posted about our grand re-opening!

This year’s SECC Campaign officially ended on November 8, 2013. We saw a great push for pledges in that final week and we even had a good number of pledges submitted after that deadline. Thanks to everyone’s hard work, UTSA raised a total of $227,449!

The University participation rate was 53%, and Student Affairs staff participated at an impressive rate of 64% -- many, many thanks to all!

The UTSA Student Leadership Center announces James Comer as Roadrunner of the Month for November 2013. James was nominated by Raquel Stark, a fellow UTSA student.

James is from Corpus Christi, TX where he graduated from Claudia Taylor Johnson High School. He is currently a first-year student studying Finance. With his degree, James would love to be successful in the finance world and he is considering investment banking.

As the VP of Finance for the Collegiate Entrepreneurs Organization, James has been an excellent example of leadership at UTSA. During his first semester at UTSA, he joined the organization and immediately decided to get involved and serve in an officer position. According to Raquel Stark, “James exemplifies campus leadership by taking the initiative. I think James is a natural leader. He is exceptionally bright and mature for his age, and he has a knack for interpersonal relationships.” Additionally James has taken a leadership role within the campus community by participating in various events and programs and encouraging his fellow students to get involved. In order to best serve and lead within the community, James balances his co-curricular involvement by placing his academic goals as priority.

When asked what leadership meant to him, James stated, “Leadership is the act of getting something done that you couldn’t do by yourself, by getting others to help while positively influencing other people’s lives.”

The Student Leadership Center recognizes UTSA students each month for their leadership contributions and qualities by honoring them as the Roadrunner of the Month. The monthly recipients will be highlighted in UTSA Today and the Vice President of Student Affairs Newsletter. In addition, they will be featured on a plaque displayed on the UTSA Legacy of Leadership wall in the University Center, outside of the ballroom.

Faculty, staff, and students are encouraged to submit nominations for students, and the nominees must meet the following criteria to be considered as a recipient of 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

Place your nomination(s) through http://utsa.edu/slc/nomination-form.html

Show your appreciation for your fellow coworker and nominate them for the Staff Council Appreciation Award!

The appreciation award recognizes a UTSA Staff member who:

• Provides excellent service
• Demonstrates leadership qualities
• Has made a significant contribution or improvement within their department, team or the UTSA community

Nominations are due by the first Thursday of each month. Click here to download complete instructions.

Encourage students to contact Rowdy Cents because financial literacy and money management topics apply to every student, regardless of where their income comes from or if they are recipients of financial aid.

If you would like to request a presentation, collaborate or learn more about Rowdy Cents, please contact Financial Aid Outreach Specialist, Lara Crouch at 210-458-2803. Don’t forget to ‘like’ us on Facebook and check out our other resources and upcoming Fall workshops at www.utsa.edu/moneymatters!

Volunteer Organization Involving Community Education and Service (VOICES)

• Meetings every Wednesday at 5pm in UC Retama

If you have any volunteer opportunities you would like highlighted for next month, send them to Cristina Dominguez by the last Monday of the month.

There are many events on the calendar for the Student Leadership Center:

• 2014 Civil Rights Exploration Trip
  • January 7-11, 2014 & MLK March, January 20th
  • Application deadline: September 27th
  • Student Facilitators Application deadline: September 27th
• Southwestern Black Student Leadership Conference
  • January 16-19, 2014
  • Application deadline: November 6th
• Roadrunner of the Month
  • Nominations due by 4 p.m. on the last Monday of every month

For more information contact the UTSA SLC at 210-458-7967.

Chris Goldsberry, Chair of the UTSA Parking and Traffic Committee (and Assistant Director of Student Enrollment Services), wants to spread the word about the upcoming UTSA Boulevard road construction project. This project is currently expected to commence sometime between February and May 2014, and is projected to continue for 18 months.

There is more information available in this UTSA article.

Take a moment to view our new e-newsletter In the Loop to learn about some of our Student Organizations, upcoming events and an introduction to RowdyLink.

"In the Loop" will be a regular publication from the Office of Student Activities with information regarding your connection to campus life and involvement!

Complete Your Education...Get Involved!

The December 2013 issue of Expressions, a newsletter publication of the Inclusion and Community Engagement Center, is now available for download.

Prospective students and their parents, guardians and families can take a tour of our Main and Downtown campuses to feel the energy at UTSA. Talk to students, grab a bite to eat and learn what it's really like to wear the orange and blue. Also, be sure to save time after your tour to explore our beautiful city of San Antonio.

• Main Campus Daily Tours
  • Weekdays 10am and 2pm
  • Select Saturdays at 10am and 12pm
  • For tour availability and to register, please visit utsa.edu/welcome.
• Downtown Campus Daily Tours
  • Weekdays at 10am
  • For tour availability and to register, please visit utsa.edu/welcome.
• 2014 Springbreak Tours
  • Special tours are available, register at utsa.edu/springbreaktours.

For more information, contact the Welcome Center at 210-458-5145.

UTSA departments in need of student employees have an excellent resource in the HireRoadrunners.com website, hosted by the University Career Center.

At HireRoadrunners.com, UTSA faculty, staff and departments can post job openings. Both work-study and non-work study positions on campus should be posted there for all eligible students to view and apply for.

Posting your on-campus student job position is simple, fast and flexible. To post a job:

• Log on to HireRoadrunners.com
• Click on the "Employer" tab at the top.
• Log on or create a new account.
• Select "My Jobs" to post a new position or repost an existing, vacated job.

Career center staff can assist in creating new positions or in recruiting eligible students. The University Career Center has other excellent online resources for students and employers. For more information on University Career Center services, visit HireRoadrunners.com or contact Victoria Tesillo at 210-458-4588.

Do you know a student that will be perfect for the Resident Assistant position? The Office of Housing and Residence Life is searching for students to apply to be a Resident Assistant for the 2014-2015 academic year!  More information to come later.  Any questions, please contact Susanna Knouse.

Get Connected. Get Involved. Get Rowdy.

• Visit RowdyLink
• Sign in with your abc123 (students and staff)

RowdyLink Brochure (Front) RowdyLink Brochure (Back)

The transition of the UTSA campuses to tobacco-free and smoke-free status began June 1, 2013. Through this one-year transition period, smoking and the use of tobacco products will be restricted to designated areas on campus.

UTSA is committed to supporting students and employees who wish to stop using tobacco products. For students, resources are available through Student Health Services. For employees, resources are available through the Employee Assistance Program.

For the full article, visit UTSA Today.

• Newsletter is distributed during the 2^nd week of every month
• Newsletter submissions are due by 5pm on the 2^nd Monday of each month.
• Thank You Rowdy message for new recipient and photo are due by 5 pm on the 2^nd Monday of each month.

Please email VPSAmedia@utsa.edu with your articles and photographs, or if you have questions.