UTSA hosts Stress Down Days for students just in time for final exams
Stress-therapy dogs will appear at UTSA Stress Down Days event
Stress-therapy dogs will appear at UTSA Stress Down Days event
Share this Story(Dec. 9, 2014) -- Several departments at the UTSA Main Campus and Downtown Campus are organizing stress-reducing activities for students just in time for final exams. The events are free to students.
From 4 to 7 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 10, the Tomás Rivera Center will host the annual Stress Down Day event at the H-E-B University Center. The event is to help students unwind and relax before finals week starts. The activities also give them tools and tips to manage stress during the week.
"We hope students will feel a little more relaxed and ready to tackle their final exams and papers when they leave the event," said Emma Hashman, student development specialist in the Tomás Rivera Center. "We also hope they learn techniques like coloring and using stress balls to help them de-stress throughout the week."
For the second time at UTSA, therapy dogs will be onsite at the Stress Down Day event for students. Student Health Services will host Delta Pet Partners of San Antonio to allow students to interact with the animals for a few minutes.
"Pets have been proven to provide calmness, happy moods, reduced blood pressure and emotions that lead to stress relief for people," said Amanda Graves, health education coordinator. According to Graves, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), says animals can reduce an individual's blood pressure and feeling of loneliness."
"Therapy dogs can provide students with a short break that can improve their mood and help them return to their studies with less stress and anxiety," she said. "These therapy dogs have been trained to be well-tempered and sociable and are with their owners at the event."
Stress Down Day also will include brain massages, button making, creating funky pencils, chair massages, aroma therapy, stress balls, UTSA Listens, biofeedback, chair yoga, academic advising and Mandala coloring.
Campus Recreation will host events at the center from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. including yoga, massage therapy, brain food, fitness challenge, free-throw contest and rice socks. Free food and other giveaways will be available at all events.
"We want to show students we are here for them throughout the year and especially during very stressful times like finals week," said Hashman. "We plam to give them a chance to laugh, have fun and learn a little bit about managing their own stress levels in the process. Remember... don't stress, do your best and forget the rest."
Stress Down Day is hosted by the Tomás Rivera Center, Campus Recreation, UTSA Listens, Counseling Services, Student Health Services, UTSA Libraries, Academic Advising and Dining Services.
------------------------------
For more information on Stress Down Day, contact Emma Hashman at 210-458-6863.
Connect online with UTSA on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Instagram.
Events
This event will acknowledge graduating seniors from the McNair Scholars program at UTSA before inducting the new cohort of scholars into the program.
North Paseo Building (NPB 5.140), Main CampusAt this memorable celebration, UTSA graduates will be introduced one-by-one to cross the stage and accept their doctoral degrees.
Arts Building Recital Hall, Main CampusRoadrunner Walk is an event for graduating students to have a memorable walk on campus to celebrate an important milestone and their achievements. Graduates will walk along the Paseo while being celebrated by the UTSA community, friends, and family members.
Student Union Paseo, Main CampusCelebrate the accomplishments of College of Education and Human Development, College for Health, Community and Policy, College of Sciences and University College.
Alamodome, 100 Montana St.Celebrate the accomplishments of Alvarez College of Business, College of Liberal and Fine Arts and Klesse College of Engineering and Integrated Design.
Alamodome, 100 Montana St.
