MARCH 12, 2020 — Editor’s note: The follow message was sent via email today from Vice President for Research, Economic Development and Knowledge Enterprise Bernard Arulanandam to all faculty and staff:
Following up on President Eighmy’s announcement yesterday regarding operational changes, I am writing to provide some additional information regarding impact to research activities at UTSA.
While only a percentage of faculty is directly involved in active research, many people across campus help sustain research activities. We are providing this update so that the campus community is informed of current procedures in place and key contacts should they have any questions or concerns.
The Office of the Vice President for Research, Economic Development and Knowledge Enterprise remains open and fully staffed. Research business operations will continue as usual, and we do not expect research activities to be interrupted at this juncture. Students and postdoctoral fellows are welcome to continue to engage in research activities.
Research Integrity
REDKE staff is available to assist research and laboratory personnel to adjust their operations as needed. This includes modifications to protocols, physical lab spaces or immediate training of new personnel. Our main office line is 210-458-4340.
Richard Garza x5808 or Amanda Haley x8515
Research Integrity: Lab Safety
Our Lab Safety team has prepared a set of resource documents to provide general guidance on running and preparing a lab should there be any future interruption based on illness or overall university closure.
In the event of a closure the door signage template should be used to indicate to Public Safety how the lab has been left, who the lab point of contact is and which ongoing checks will be done to maintain research activities, if any.
Contacts
Research Integrity: Laboratory Animal Resources Center
LARC has been preparing to minimize impacts to ongoing research activities if the situation escalates, including closure. LARC is storing additional feed, water, bedding, PPE, disinfectant, chemicals, wipes, spray bottles and more. LARC staff will stay in communication with researchers throughout this process and, where possible, partner with teams to maintain continuity. Please let us know if you have specific needs and suggestions.
Public awareness of the coronavirus has led to a shortage of surgical masks. In the animal facilities these masks are required only in the BSL-2 rooms. Staff and students have been asked to refrain from using them in other areas of the animal facility unless instructed otherwise by LARC staff, based on evolving updates from the OHP nurse.
Contacts
Sponsored Project Administration: Research Service Centers and Contracts and Industry Agreements
The three Research Service Centers, Contracts and Industry Agreements and Sponsored Project Administration remain open and fully staffed.
Contacts
Commercialization and Innovation
Services offered by the Office of Commercialization and Innovation will continue to be available for those working on campus or remotely. Using your myUTSA ID and password:
Contacts
Research Support is transferring faculty development trainings and workshops to virtual platforms wherever feasible. Plans are to maintain as much of the full schedule of offerings as is possible throughout the spring semester. Access details will be sent to all registered participants and will be updated on the REDKE events page and other applicable calendars.
Following UTSA guidelines, meetings and external partnership engagements expected to have 50 or more attendees will move to virtual platforms wherever possible.
Contacts
Research Finance and Operations
Grants and Contracts Financial Services will remain in full operation to ensure project setups, sponsor billing, and financial reporting are completed on schedule.
Contacts
Research Core Facilities will continue to be operational. Any changes will be posted to the individual core and/or iLab website.
Contact
Research Computing and Business Intelligence will remain available to help with all REDKE applications located on the Research Portal.
Contact
Research Computing Support Group
All forms of support from the Research Computing Support Group, part of University Technology Solutions, are still available with the exception of the VizLab.
The VizLab remains closed until April 13 or until further guidance is released. Scheduled tours are canceled for the time being.
Contact
Moving forward, our office will provide updates on UTSA’s Coronavirus Updates website. We will also cross-post on the research site as well.
We thank you for your attention and cooperation. Please contact us should you have any questions.
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Join the PEACE Center and Wellbeing Services for Denim Day, a day of learning about the importance of consent and why we wear denim on the last Wednesday of the month each April during Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Stop by our Denim Day display to take a photo in front of our Denim Wall, spin the "Is It Consent?" Wheel, and get a Concha or goodie.
Student Union Window Lounge, Main CampusLearn to use Zotero®, a citation manager that can help you store and organize citations you find during your research. Zotero can generate bibliographies in various styles, insert in-text citations and allow you to share sources with collaborators.
Virtual EventThis 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.The University of Texas at San Antonio is dedicated to the advancement of knowledge through research and discovery, teaching and learning, community engagement and public service. As an institution of access and excellence, UTSA embraces multicultural traditions and serves as a center for intellectual and creative resources as well as a catalyst for socioeconomic development and the commercialization of intellectual property - for Texas, the nation and the world.
To be a premier public research university, providing access to educational excellence and preparing citizen leaders for the global environment.
We encourage an environment of dialogue and discovery, where integrity, excellence, inclusiveness, respect, collaboration and innovation are fostered.
UTSA is a proud Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) as designated by the U.S. Department of Education .
The University of Texas at San Antonio, a Hispanic Serving Institution situated in a global city that has been a crossroads of peoples and cultures for centuries, values diversity and inclusion in all aspects of university life. As an institution expressly founded to advance the education of Mexican Americans and other underserved communities, our university is committed to promoting access for all. UTSA, a premier public research university, fosters academic excellence through a community of dialogue, discovery and innovation that embraces the uniqueness of each voice.
