FRIDAY, MAY 1, 2020

UTSA is responding to the COVID-19 outbreak with a commitment to supporting the safety of the university community while enabling the academic progress of students. Here is your digest of university news and tips.

SIGNS OF THE SEASONS
May is here, ’Runners, and although it’s technically a spring month, we Texans know that summer will descend on us at any moment. That also means the end of the spring semester is in sight. The final day of classes is Friday, May 8, with final exams set for May 11–15. And then it will be time to bid farewell to our graduating Roadrunners. For information and final deadlines for UTSA’s virtual commencement ceremonies on May 23–24, check out the Commencement page. But for now, let’s keep enjoying these unseasonably cool mornings.

LIBRARY RETURNS UPDATE: With the end of the spring semester fast approaching, UTSA Libraries has created a system that allows people who’ve borrowed books and other items to safely return them to the John Peace Library on Main Campus. Return bins will be placed in the foyer of the second floor entrance, overlooking Sombrilla Plaza, from noon to 5 p.m. on the weekends of May 2–3, May 9–10 and May 16–17. Since the library building will remain closed, if you have a borrowed laptop, someone from Tech Café will contact you with instructions about returning it.

FROM THE PANTRY: The Roadrunner Pantry on Main Campus pantry is operating on a self-service model. Guests will be asked to log in their personal information on site. Anyone with a UTSA ID can stop by weekdays from noon to 4 p.m. to get up to seven bags of food, limited to one visit per week. If you have questions, email RoadrunnerPantry@utsa.edu.

LOCAL ASSISTANCE: The City of San Antonio’s one-page resource for residents needing assistance has contact information for housing, COVID-19 testing, child care, prescription assistance and more.

SMART VIEWING: If you’ve missed any of the recent livestream events with our experts, you can watch the recorded streams on the Trainings, Webinars and Town Halls page. And be sure to read University Update next week for details on upcoming events:

• A new town hall: So You’re in a COVID-19 World and Graduated. Now What?
• Next in the Community Conversations series: The Future of Education in San Antonio in a Postpandemic World.
• And new webinar: Research Funding Opportunities for COVID-19–Related Studies.

GET HEALTH SOLUTIONS: Check out the Living Well Webinars from UT System coming next week. All UTSA employees, retirees, spouses and dependents age 18 and above who are covered by the UT SELECT Medical Plan are eligible to participate.

• Tech Neck: Technology has improved our lives in many ways. Unfortunately, it could be to the detriment of our necks. Learn about the common conditions caused by repetitive neck stress and valuable tips to prevent the onset of pain. Registration required to receive Zoom info. Tuesday, May 5, noon.
• Work of Art: It’s almost time for the spring wellness challenge. Learn skills to foster resilience and boost happiness. Available on Tuesday, May 5, 11:30 a.m. and Wednesday, May 6, noon via GoToMeeting.

’RUNNERS CARE: #Tools2Thrive is the theme of May’s Mental Health Month, and we hope you remember that Roadrunners are always ready to show that they care about each other. The multidisciplinary Behavioral Intervention Team responds to reports of distressed and concerning behavior from students, faculty and staff. UTSA’s Behavioral Concerns Assistance page has more info and will allow you to submit a report online. Both the EOS/Title IX Office and Student Conduct and Community Standards are available for consultation if you have questions or concerns prior to submitting a report. To reach SCCS during remote operations, email them.

REACH OUT: Assistance is just a phone call away with counseling and mental health services provided through Deer Oaks at 888-365-6271.

NEW DAY, NEW U: Rowdy New U invites you to join its new Microsoft Teams channel. Wellness coordinator Jessica Hodgson explains how you can take advantage of well-being classes, such as yoga, meditation, stretching and more. Watch to see how you can join the Rowdy New U team. And learn more about the wide variety of wellness resources available to you.

Stay up to date on UTSA operations on our Coronavirus Updates website. For real-time updates, follow @UTSA on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. 

Keep up with university news on UTSA Today.

UTSA's University Update is produced by University Strategic Communications, the official news source of The University of Texas at San Antonio.