Newsletter
The Family Association Newsletter provides you with insight into UTSA events, resources, opportunities, and talking points for supporting your student.
Highlights
Día de los Muertos
The Multicultural Student Center for Equity and Justice (MSCEJ) is hosting two Día De Los Muertos celebrations this week. Both events will have activities and pan de muerto!
- 1604 Campus - Wednesday, November 1 from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm in the Student Union Window Lounge
- Downtown Campus - Thursday, November 2 from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm in the Bill Miller Plaza
The 1604 Campus celebration will be co-hosted by the Honors College and will feature an ofrenda from Professor Alegra Lozano's Honors Day of the Dead class. Roadrunners are welcome by either event to honor a loved one who has passed.
Vote at UTSA
UTSA students and the public are encouraged to participate in the November 8 general election. Early voting continues through Friday, November 3. Election day takes place Tuesday, November 7.
Registered Bexar County voters may cast their ballot at the H-E-B Student Union Bexar Room (HSU 1.102) on the Main Campus. The Downtown Campus community can vote at the nearby Bexar County Elections Office, located at 1103 S. Frio St.
Voters will need to show a valid photo ID or secondary supporting ID and may take a personalized sample printed ballot to the polls. Visit the Rowdy Votes website for additional information.
First-Gen Fest
With the First-Gen student population at UTSA being 45% of the student population, the First-Generation & Transfer Student Council coordinate a week-long experience that promotes first-generation community awareness for students, faculty and staff.
Students can join FGTSC for a week of celebration, community building, engagement, and fun from Monday, November 6 through Friday, November 10. The week ends with a First-Gen Field Day in front of Alvarez Hall. Join the fun and grab some food!
Unwind Before The Grind
Unwind Before the Grind is a series of events designed to help students find time to relax and learn strategies for relieving stress leading up to finals. Running from November 7 through December 8, the events include activities such as meditation, therapy dog sessions, group exercise, aromatherapy, creative projects, snacks, and giveaways.
Check out the full schedule available to students on our Unwind Before the Grind webpage.
Hunger and Homeless Awareness Week
Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week is a nationwide initiative to bring awareness to the issues of homelessness and hunger in our local communities and across America. Students are invited to join Leadership and Volunteer Services (LVS) at the Student Indoor Tailgate on Saturday, November 12 to kick-off the start of events and receive an orange ribbon in recognition of Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week.
Running from November 12 through November 17, the events include activities such as the Hunger Banquet, Blanket Making, Thanksgiving Packaging, and the HHAW Walk and Guest Speaker. All events can be found on the LVS RowdyLink Page.
Lighting UTSA for the Holidays
Roadrunner families are invited to watch the lighting of the SU Paseo on UTSA 1604 Campus for the holiday season. Light the Paseo will be on Wednesday, November 15 at the Main Campus. This annual event will have a variety of traditional holiday foods to eat and live performances to watch. Witness the Student Union Paseo light up the night from 7:00 to 10:00 pm. We can’t wait to see families at this event!
Upcoming Events
Finals are Next Month!
Finals for your Roadrunner start Monday, December 4 and continue through Friday, December 8. This can be a time of stress and frantic studying. Before we get there, encourage your student to stop by one of the Unwind Before the Grind events for a moment to destress during November.
Commencement
Families of Roadrunners graduating in the fall should make plans for celebrating! Bachelors, Masters, and Doctoral graduates have a variety of options for celebrating this great accomplishment. Families can keep up with all event details happening this month and next by visiting the Commencement Website.
Students Can Apply to be an RA
UTSA Housing and Residence Life Resident Assistants (RA) are friendly faces to students living on campus who they can go to learn about campus, student organizations, what happens on campus, and getting through life as a Roadrunner. Interested students will need to attend an RA Info Session later this year. Details will be on the UTSA HRL RowdyLink!
Resources and Opportunities
Blood Drive
Last blood drive of the semester! The South Texas Blood and Tissue Center will be on campus this week from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm in the H-E-B Student Union Travis room (SU 2.202). All able donors will receive a H-E-B e-gift card! Schedule an appointment below
Trans Day of Resilience
MSCEJ will be hosting Trans Day of Resilience program Monday, November 20 from 6:00 to 8:00 pm in collaboration with Pride FSA and Prism. The day is recognized as an extension of Trans Day of Remembrance that celebrates trans lives while simultaneously recognizing the disproportionate rate at which trans communities are targeted in violent attacks. Instead of centering on violence, Trans Day of Resilience centers on hope and power in adversity
LeaderShape
The LeaderShape Institute is an intensive, energizing, four-day educational experience designed to equip students to become extraordinary leaders. LeaderShape will take place from Monday, January 8 through Thursday, January 11, 2024. The organization focuses on developing participants’:
- Self-efficacy; leadership confidence
- Integrity as a core value of leadership
- Ability to contribute to creating equitable and caring communities
Students should make an account and apply today! Applications will close on Friday, November 10 or until the first 100 spots are filled.
Identity and Cultural Graduation Celebration
The Multicultural Student Center for Equity & Justice is honoring UTSA graduates and their many identities and cultural backgrounds at three graduation celebrations during the last week of November. Graduating roadrunners interested in participating in one of these special celebrations need to sign up on RowdyLink by Monday, November 17.
- Dreamer Graduation Celebration
- Lavender Graduation Celebration
- UJIMA Graduation Celebration
Families are invited to attend these celebrations in support of our Dreamer/Undocumented graduates, LGBTQIA+ graduates, and Black/African American graduates. Details for the individual celebrations can be found on the Commencement website.
Peer Educator Opportunities in Wellbeing Services!
Wellbeing Services is looking for students who want to be Peer Educators! Our Peer Education course is a one credit hour course within the HCAP Department, where students learn skills such as public speaking, program planning, and topics surrounding college health. Students teach others by playing a variety of games and activities. If your roadrunner is interested, encourage them to apply today!!
Conversation Starters With Your Roadrunner
Unwinding through the End of Semester
Finals are just a few weeks away. Your student may be swamped with exams, projects, papers and presentations. Stress levels may increase as students balance work and relationships on top of studying. Find time to talk about stress and how your roadrunner can relax by attending one of UTSA’s Unwind Before the Grind events or creating moments of their own. It may also help to discuss the semester during Thanksgiving Break.
Conversation Starters:
- What is your class workload for the remainder of the semester?
- What are you doing for self-care and relaxation?
- Which event on the Unwind Before the Grind event calendar looks fun for you to attend?
- Give an update on the friends you’ve made at college.
- What do you hope to do while your home for Thanksgiving?
- Will you be visiting friends from high school during your visit home?
Not Yet a Member?
Join the UTSA Family Association Today!
Family Association Membership is free, and members receive:
- Priority notice to register for Family Association events
- Access to members-only student scholarships
- Networking opportunities with Roadrunner families and staff
- Email copy of the Family Association Newsletter
