Division News

Counseling and Mental Health Center (CMHC)

• Voices Against Violence (VAV), a CMHC program, hosted events for Relationship Violence Prevention Month in October. Highlights included the Rally for Healthy Relationships, the National Young Women’s Day of Action Luncheon and Breaking the Silence: Survivors of Dating and Relationship Violence Speak-Out. Read about it here.
• VAV is partnering with the Texas Blazers and campus partners on MasculinUT, an initiative to develop a healthy masculinities and recruit men to partner in sexual violence prevention efforts. See the details in the Events section.
• Dell Medical School’s inaugural Chair of Psychiatry Dr. Stephen Strakowski joined the CMHC team as a part-time psychiatrist. Read more about his background.

Housing and Food Service (DHFS)

Housing

• Residence Life staff partnered with the UT Police Department (UTPD) Department to host National Night Out on Oct. 3 at San Jacinto Residence Hall. More than 200 students asked staff questions about personal safety and wrote thank-you notes to UTPD. After the event, 88 percent of attendees said they feel more empowered to address safety concerns. 

• DHFS staff represented UT Austin at the the Big XII Directors and Housing Operations Conference. The group discussed housing and dining trends with colleagues from other Big XII schools.

• The Residence Life Development Committee hosted the Careers in Student Affairs Interest Panel on Oct. 25. Students and staff learned more about the field and explored their interest in pursuing a career in Student Affairs.

Food Service

• Staff hosted the Early Cultures of Texas Dinner for students in J2 Dining and Kinsolving on Oct. 20 featuring German, Czech, Native American, Mexican and Cajun cuisine. See the photos.

• Students, faculty and staff lined up to purchase local produce at two UT Farm Stand events last month. Check out the Events section for the date of the next UT Farm Stand.
• UT Austin’s Campus Sustainability Week began with an open house in Jester Garden where community members learned about DHFS’ sustainability efforts.
• The sustainability team hosted Plate Waste Day to educate students about food waste. Check out the photos.
• DHFS launched its newest location, George’s Café, located within the School of Law. Staff will serve a similar menu to Littlefield Patio Café.

New Student Services (NSS)

• NSS staff shared the 2017 UT Orientation program dates with stakeholders across campus. See the freshman and transfer session dates.
• Registration for Spring Orientation opens Nov. 2 and will be held on Jan. 9. It will be followed by Transition Week, a series of events to help students transition to UT Austin and meet other new students.
• NSS will host Selection Day on Nov. 6 to interview the applicants for the orientation advisor (OA) position.
• NSS created an interactive map of UT Austin study spots, which was shared widely on social media and has over 2,200 views. Check out which Division facilities made the list and share with students.

Office of the Dean of Students (DoS)

• Student Activities would like staff members to spread the word among student organizations that spring reservations for outdoor space open Nov. 1. Departments can submit reservation requests up to 365 days prior to their event.
• Student Emergency Services was a recipient of the Texas Parents Student Organization Grant. The Student Emergency Fund was awarded $7,700. The money will directly support students going through financial hardships. The fund has also been awarded $22,000 from the Austin Energy Financial Support Plus 1 program to help students experiencing hardships related to their utility bill.
• Student Veteran Services staff joined the Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium Veterans Committee to plan events for the Nov. 12 football game against West Virginia.

Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs (VPSA)

• As shared in Reflections from Soncia, 20 Division staff members were trained to administer the Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI®). See the photos.

• The Division Assessment Plan Group submitted 19 assessment plans to the Office of Institutional Accreditation and Effectiveness (IAE) on Sept. 30. This plan contributes to the university-wide accreditation process.
• Staff is invited to participate in Thanks Day on Nov. 17 by tabling on Gregory Gym Plaza and sharing photos of students on social media. The Division development team has provided these resources.

• True Colors® facilitators led five English workshops and one Spanish workshop last month, training 160 new staff, graduate assistants, interns and fellows.
• Division staff partnered with the Weiser family, the UT Police Department and Student Government to launch Walk With Me, part of the Be Safe campaign. The launch took place during a flag-lowering ceremony in memory of Haruka Weiser on Oct. 14. These Division staff members were part of the Walk With Me Committee that helped plan the event:
  • Krista Anderson, Office of the Dean of Students
  • Brooke Bulow, Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs
  • Jess Cybulski, Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs
  • Suzy Day, Office of the Dean of Students
  • Susan Hochman, University Health Services
  • MJ Huard, Housing and Food Service
  • Jessica Hughes Wagner, University Health Services
  • Cecilia Lopez Cardenas, Recreational Sports
  • Nicole Olmeda, Recreational Sports
  • Gretchen Pierce, New Student Services
  • Katy Redd, Counseling and Mental Health Center
  • Marilyn Russell, Office of the Dean of Students
  • Susie Smith, Texas Parents
  • Aaron Voyles, Housing and Food Service
  • Jennifer Zamora, University Unions

• The Division of Student Affairs 2016 holiday card will feature student artwork or photography. Please encourage students to enter the contest by Nov. 9.

• Division staff supported Terry Foundation scholars at the annual banquet on Oct. 4.

• Mark your calendar for the Staff Holiday Celebration on Dec. 8, 9-11 a.m., in the Texas Union Quadrangle Room. Enjoy breakfast as you celebrate a great semester and wish your colleagues “Happy Holidays!” Take photos with your colleagues in our holiday-themed photo booth.

Recreational Sports (RecSports)

• RecSports’ annual Friends of RecSports Golf Tournament took place on Oct. 14, attracting 72 golfers who enjoyed reuniting with colleagues. Proceeds from the event benefit the Excellence Fund. See the photos.
• Faculty and staff at the Pickle Research Campus had the opportunity to attend RecSports’ Health & Lifestyle Expo in their facility on Oct. 14.

• RecSports hosted a job fair on Oct. 18 and 19 to recruit student staff for spring. The two-day event brought in scores of applicants who applied for all types of positions. Check out the photos.

• RecSports facility staff are busy with the Whitaker Fields Renovation Project. The project was scheduled to be complete this month, but due to heavy rains last spring, construction will continue through the fall.
• RecSports staff partnered with the Office of the Dean of Students to host a Hearts of Texas Charity Showcase on Oct. 18. Several local non-profits presented on the ways they impact the community.
• Erin Erford, associate director for Facilities and Instructional, attended the 2016 National Intramural-Recreational Sports Association (NIRSA) Recreation Facilities Institute in Tempe, Ariz., on Oct. 19–21.

Texas Parents

• Texas Parents developed and launched a new website. The website is a resource to all UT Austin parents and families. It includes parent-focused information, including resources regarding Family Orientation and Family Weekend.
• Texas Parents awarded $50,000 in Student Organization Grants to 39 student organizations. The money will help these groups enrich the student experience or serve the community through activities and events. Student Emergency Services also received funding (see DoS information above). Texas Parents awarded 30 percent more funding this year than last.
• Staff are gearing up for the spring orientation season. Registration for the Spring Family Orientation opens on Nov. 2.

The Center for Students in Recovery (CSR)

• CSR staff welcomed psychotherapist Lane Ingram for a workshop called “The Power of Humor in Recovery.” The event on Oct. 11 featured improvisational theater, comedy and games. 

• As part of Hispanic Heritage Month, CSR opened a Día de los Muertos Ofrenda (The Day of the Dead Altar) on Oct. 11. Staff provided this place so that people could remember loved ones who lost their lives to addiction. Staff also hosted sugar skull-making workshops on Oct. 18 and 25.

University Health Services (UHS)

• UHS vaccinated nearly 10,000 UT Austin students, faculty and staff during the Flu Shot Campaign that ran from Sept. 27-Oct. 20.

• Staff joined UT System’s Walktober Challenge by taking strolls around the Forty Acres. This 31-day challenge encouraged staff to track their steps and exercise with coworkers.
• Staff decorated pumpkins and entered a costume contest at the annual Halloween breakfast. A big thanks to the planning committee: Tracy Brzozowski, Kate Darko, Tamela Fraga, Banke Johnson, Julie Newton, Joanna Pormprasong and Susan Van der Voort.

• Employees are supporting the Hearts of Texas Charitable Campaign and UHS plans to reward them for their generosity. When staff members give, they enter to win prizes. One prize is very special — former employee Adrienne Paul began work on a hand-sewn quilt. She retired earlier this year after 35 years and passed away a few months later. Current employee Sherry Guyton completed the quilt which will go to one lucky UHS employee. 

University Unions

• Departments and staff organizations can reserve rooms in the Student Activity Center (SAC) starting Nov. 8. Spread the word among student organizations that room reservations for spring and summer semesters are now open.
• Campus Events + Entertainment presents the 36^th Annual Madrigal Dinner called Speak No Evil from Nov. 17-19. Purchase tickets by Nov. 15.
• Significant upgrades are complete in the Texas Union Theater. The space now houses a state-of-the-art 4K Projector, new movie screen and a Dolby surround sound audio system.