Latest News from the Division
Counseling and Mental Health Center (CMHC)
- Voices Against Violence (VAV) Prevention Specialist Erin Burrows, with assistance from the VAV student organization, organized a very successful Take Back the Night event on April 8. This gender-inclusive event, part of April’s Sexual Violence Prevention Month activities, provided a safe space for survivors of sexual assault to share their stories. Check out the photos and media coverage from the month’s events.
- CMHC coordinated and hosted the Texas Psychology Interns Conference in late March. This conference was designed to educate and support doctoral-level psychology students who are currently completing their internships at university counseling centers across the state. The presentations focused on multicultural issues, professional/career development, resiliency and preparation for becoming licensed psychologists. Staff members Mike Andorka, Mona Ghosheh, Joey Hannah and Toby LeBlanc provided valuable training experiences to interns from eight Texas universities.
Housing and Food Service (DHFS)
Housing
- Melanie Grice, director of human resources, has been appointed to the Wellness Network Executive Board, representing DHFS. Melanie’s role will be to think broadly and strategically about the campus cultural and physical environment and how it impacts the students, staff and faculty. The Wellness Network brings together advocates for health and wellness from across UT Austin in order to share information, strategies and resources.
- Occupancy Management participated in events across the state with the Office of Admissions this past month. Staff spoke about living on campus with over 800 admitted students and their families.
- DHFS held its third annual Student Leadership Awards Banquet on April 20. The event recognized the outstanding accomplishments of student leaders over the year and 40 awards were given out in various categories. See Standouts for several staff honors.
Food Service
- The UT Green Corps hosted an open house as part of their continuing efforts to help connect the campus community to their great work. The Corps greeted attendees with fresh lemonade made with campus grown herbs and gave tours of Jester Garden. Several students assisted UT Green Corps staff with planting spring crops. Check out the photos.
- DHFS combined two of its favorite cultural dinners to create The Homegrown Local Dinner with fantastic results. Kinsolving and J2 boasted live Bluegrass bands and were decorated with live plants alongside rustic upcycled décor. Customers enjoyed a wide selection of Texas-themed local, sustainable and organic food. Hunter Mangrum and the UT Green Corps student staff helped connect customers with their campus farmers.
- To engage DHFS employees in the spirit of National Nutrition Month®, food service staff from Jester and Kinsolving participated in a Fruit and Veggie Owl Carving Contest. The 13 creative sculptures were on display at the Festival of Fruit lunch, where students voted on their favorites. Take a look at the photos.
- New Student Services has accepted a proposal from the Healthy Dining Work Group for an optional program session during UT Orientation concentrating on nutrition and health. DHFS Dietician Lindsay Wilson and University Health Services staffer William Mupo co-chair the work group.
New Student Services (NSS)
- Registration for Summer School Orientation opened April 1. The one-day program takes place on June 2.
- So far, 5,455 freshman students have registered for orientation. Registration for Path to Admission through Co-Enrollment (PACE) program students opened on April 20.
- Staff sent incoming freshmen an email on May 1 with instructions for completing seven pre-orientation modules before they can check in at orientation. Staff also produced some new modules for this year: Bevonomics (financial tips) and Orientation Conduct Expectations (a video and a list of conduct expectations students must agree to follow).
- Celena Mondie-Milner, the new director of New Student Services (NSS), visited campus April 6-17. She met with many different staff members and attended the Vice President for Student Affairs Reunion. She officially starts on June 1.
- NSS participated in 40 Hours for the Forty Acres and raised over $1,900 for the Cristi Biggs Orientation Leadership Fund.
- NSS staff enjoyed connecting with former Orientation Advisors at the Vice President for Student Affairs Reunion on April 11 featuring the UT Orientation program. NSS created a display of orientation materials going back to the 1970s as well as a slideshow.
Office of the Dean of Students (DoS)
- DoS hosted its ninth annual Evening of the Stars celebration to award deserving individual students and student organizations on April 21. Awards included Swing Out Awards, Pillars of the Forty Acres and Sorority and Fraternity Life Awards.
- DoS is proud to announce the 2015 Deans’ Dozen. DoS management selected these outstanding Longhorns for their service to programs or departments within DoS and for positive contributions they have made to our campus.
- Student Activities and Student Judicial Services will partner with University Health Services Health Promotions to educate students about study drugs at their student events leading into finals, Good Luck Coffee on May 11 and Integrity Donuts on May 12 .
Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs (VPSA)
- This year’s VPSA Reunion was a huge success with nearly 300 attendees. Alumni (including about 70 former Orientation Advisors), current students and staff reconnected and celebrated their time at the university. The event honored the work of New Student Services and Orientation Advisors (check out the group photo) who came out in force to show their support. Gage Paine also introduced incoming New Student Services Director Celena Mondie-Milner to the Longhorn family. Enjoy the photo booth and candid photo galleries.
- Paine sat down for lunch with student organizations who rallied to share their group selfies using #PickUsGP this semester. Groups included Phi Kappa Theta, the Texas Blazers, Hispanic Health Professions Association and Voices Against Violence.
- VPSA partnered with Human Resources and the Office of the President to support this year’s Student Employee of the Year recognition program. This year’s winner won the UT Austin, regional and national awards. Read their story and check out the photos.
- The Division held True Colors® Personal Success workshops for new staff members in April as well as an advanced True Colors® Communications workshop. Stay tuned for future opportunities.
- Gage Paine facilitated a True Colors® Personal Success workshop for the Office of Student Financial Services.
- The Division raised a total of $7,765 during the 40 for 40 campaign to support a wide variety of programs, facilities and services.
Recreational Sports (RecSports)
- The annual Pancakes for Parkinson’s fundraiser, co-sponsored with Texas Round Table, raised over $10,000 for the Michael J. Fox Foundation. Check out the photos.
- Longhorn Run 2015, co-sponsored with Student Government, was a great success with a record breaking 3,596 registrants, a 78 percent increase over last year. Take a look at the
- Registration is underway for the RecSports Poker Walk to be held May 13. Join RecSports to celebrate National Employee Health and Fitness Day.
- RecSports will hold onto the Lone Star Showdown Trophy after UT Austin’s top three intramural basketball teams bested the Aggies in all three games. The men’s team won 53–33, the coed team won 63–31 and the women’s team won 57–20.
- RecSports staff supported two sport clubs on their way to win national championships in April: Women’s Volleyball defeated Texas A&M in the finals and Texas Quidditch scored a threepeat.
- Recreational Sports’ participation in the 40 for 40 fundraiser raised $4,193.
- RecSports full-time professional staff will treat student staff to a casino-style event this month in appreciation of their hard work.
- Student Affairs and Friends softball is underway. Vying for the James Vick Championship Trophy are CMHC/University Health Services, DHFS, DoS, the International Office, Office of the Registrar and Office of Student Financial Services.
Texas Parents
- Texas Parents hosted the 2015 Spring Advisory Board meeting. It included a university update from President Powers, a Division update from Gage Paine and a presentation about Student Emergency Services from LaToya Hill. Texas Parents presented President Powers with a brick paver; it will be laid on the Student Services Building Plaza on behalf of all parents to thank him for his service. See the photos.
- At the meeting luncheon, Texas Parents presented the Outstanding Student Awards to two graduating senior students who demonstrate exceptional leadership, character and service. Meet the award recipients and finalists.
- Texas Parents continues to prepare for Family Orientation, a daylong program to introduce families to the university and its resources. To promote the program, staff mailed an informational postcard to parents of the 15,000 admitted freshmen.
- Senior students are encouraged to stop by the Texas Parents office (Gregory Gym 1.107) to fill out a postcard to thank their family for their love and support. It will be mailed free of charge.
- The university laid 147 brick pavers on the Student Services Building Plaza, including one for Darlene Mitchell. Parents purchased 135 bricks; eight bricks were laid in honor of students lost in 2014-2015.
The Center for Students in Recovery (CSR)
- CSR students and staff were invited to Longhorn Legends: Red McCombs, a dinner and documentary screening honoring the legendary Red McCombs. McCombs has been instrumental in CSR’s success and continues to be one of its most vocal supporters.
- CSR welcomed former U.S. Representative Patrick Kennedy and Director Michael Botticelli of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy during a visit to campus on April 24. They took time out of their roles at the American Society of Addiction Medicine conference to learn about the great work happening at CSR. Take a look at the photos.
University Health Services (UHS)
- As part of a Green Fee Grant-funded sustainability program, UHS is launching a pilot composting program in exam rooms. This initiative is the latest of several that are reducing the volume of waste the facility produces.
- Nurses in all UHS clinics are now able to perform certain types of lab tests within the clinics instead of sending them to the UHS lab. Patients and their healthcare providers are happy to get quicker results and nurses are excited about expanding their skills.
- The UHS Laboratory is participating in a UT Green Labs Initiative competition this month.
- UHS’ Stephen Blair and Karen Hickey performed approximately 320 skin cancer screenings at an event hosted by Texas 4,000.
- Mentors and educators at UHS have been busily interviewing more than 60 student applicants for the Clinic Volunteer Program, which prioritizes an enriching volunteer experience and offers academic credit.
- The UHS Sutures won their first softball game of the season against the Registroyers in the Student Affairs and Friends softball league. Student Affairs staff and family members are welcome to come out and play or just enjoy the game on Tuesday evenings.
University Unions (UU)
- On April 8, seven full time staff members attended the national Association of College Unions International (ACUI) conference in San Antonio. Thanks for the strong direction of staff member Jennifer Zamora as the conference host, the UT Austin presence was felt throughout the event. UU participation included the service project for Be The Match and pre-conference presentation by staff member Richard Stimpert on audio visual and multi-media technology in union spaces.
- The Texas Union is partnering with the Office of Sustainability, Campus Environmental Center and Students for Sustainability with the goal to separate uncontaminated recycle and compost waste from our landfill waste stream.
- Unions staff supported Campus Events + Entertainment (E+E) as they held two marquee events, Texas Revue and Forty Acres Fest to round out the month of April. Texas Revue quickly reached maximum capacity and Forty Acres Fest saw extremely successful numbers with 5,350 people combined for the entire day.
- From April 13-17, the UU celebrated National Student Employment Appreciation Week by offering student staff a different activity each day of the week. Activities included chair massages; a luncheon catered by Taco Deli; bowling, games and pizza at the Union Underground; and cupcakes from Sugar Mama’s Bakeshop.