Latest News

Counseling and Mental Health Center (CMHC)

• Voices Against Violence will continue the MasculinUT initiative during the month of December. Click here for more information on upcoming programs and events.

Housing and Food Service (DHFS)

Housing

• In anticipation of DHFS’s cable contract ending in August 2016, DHFS completed a brief survey to understand residents’ TV watching habits—1,554 (21 percent) completed this survey. DHFS learned that only 33 percent of respondents watch TV in their room, while 94 percent watch streaming services on their computer/tablet/phone.

• Justin Jaskowiak, JD Castro, Vero Juarez and Alison Kothe partnered with Texas Parents for a webinar on the parent’s role during a roommate conflict. Members watched the webinar live and it is available here.

• Senior Associate Vice President Tom Dison and Executive Director Hemlata Jhaveri celebrated a successful semester with staff at Thanks for Giving events. See photos here.

Food Service

• Registered Dietitian Lindsay Wilson presented on “Healthy Campus Dining” for six different First-Year Interest Groups. Over 100 students have been reached from various educational focuses, including the Discovery Scholars Program, International Relations and Global Studies, College of Communications, College of Natural Sciences and the School of Business.
• J2 and Kinsolving hosted a Friendsgiving dinner where students enjoyed a first helping of their holiday favorites before leaving for break. Staff prepared a delicious feast including freshly carved turkey and pumpkin pie. President Gregory Fenves and his wife, Carmel, stopped by J2 to help serve the meal. See the photos.

New Student Services (NSS)

• NSS staff reviewed 125 applications for the New Orientation Advisor position. With the help of former orientation advisors, they hosted the annual Selection Day on Nov. 15 to interview candidates and sent out offer letters before the Thanksgiving holiday.
• The week of November 16, NSS staff interviewed candidates for the Returning Orientation Advisor, Orientation Coordinator and Summer Orientation Staff Coordinator positions.
• NSS finalized orientation dates for summer 2016 and shared those with stakeholders.
• Horns Helping Horns hosted four lunch seminars this semester; the final seminar was held on Friday, Nov. 20. The seminar topics included presentations from Student Emergency Services and the Counseling and Mental Health Center, as well as a True Colors® presentation.

Office of the Dean of Students (DoS)

• Student Veteran Services held several successful events during Veterans Week including hosting the StoryCorps Military Voices Initiative to record the stories of veterans on our campus. These stories will be filed with the Library of Congress and some stories may be featured on KUT in the coming months.

• Dean of Students Soncia Reagins-Lilly gave the opening remarks for the Big XII Student Government Conference held on campus 12–15 and hosted by Student Government.

Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs (VPSA)

• Vice President Gage Paine has been busy meeting with the six winners of the #PickUsGP student organization social media campaign. She has hosted lunches with each of the groups; the final one is this month. See photo albums here. The campaign provided additional social media content for the Division’s communication channels.
• Celebrate the holiday season with your Division coworkers at the staff holiday party. Clear your schedule Dec. 10, 9-11 a.m. to enjoy great food and have fun in the photo booth in the Quadrangle Room at the Texas Union.
• The Division’s Impact Report is living on in social media. VPSA created a social media campaign highlighting excellence shown in each of the Division departments. Follow the Twitter and Instagram hashtag #UTAustinImpact to see the posts. The campaign runs through next July.

Recreational Sports (RecSports)

• RecSports’ annual Friends of RecSports Golf Tournament successfully teed off on Nov. 13 after an earlier rain-out. Proceeds will support the RecSports Excellence Fund.
• RecSports hosted the annual Intramural Lone Star Showdown in which the top men’s, women’s and coed intramural flag football teams from UT Austin and Texas A&M competed for bragging rights. Sadly, the Aggies took home the trophy winning all three games: women’s, 39–6; men’s 14–6; and coed 22–19.

• Program Coordinator Cecilia Lopez Cardenas is directing a weekly series of complimentary Nike+ Training Club workouts featuring footwear trials, rewards and refreshments.
• Senior Assistant Director Darci Doll attended the National Intramural-Recreational Sports Association Region IV Intramural Flag Football Tournament in College Station. Fifty teams from Texas, Oklahoma and other nearby states competed for a spot in the championship tournament in January. Doll trained student referees and helped manage the tournament.
• Senior Assistant Director Chris Burnett organized several community service projects. The volunteers he recruited helped clean up the flood-ravaged San Marcos River, embarked on a hiking trip with orphans from the Settlement Home for Children and prepared food for the homeless. See the photos here.
• Assistant Director Dixon Hankins attended the Athletic Business Conference in New Orleans, La., Nov. 19–21.

Texas Parents

• Nominations for the 2015–16 Staff Merit Awards will be accepted until Dec. 10. This award recognizes Division of Student Affairs employees who support student success, strengthen services provided by the Division and inspire fellow staff to make a habit of seeking excellence in their own work. Winners will be recognized at the Division-wide meeting in January at which time they will receive a plaque and $1,500 award. Download the nomination form here.
• Haley Broussard and Morgane Le Marchand participated in the 2015 Association for Higher Education Parent/Family Program Professionals Conference in Savannah, Ga.
• An assessment report has been completed for Family Orientation 2015 in partnership with Gale Stuart, the Division Director of Assessment. The feedback and data will help Texas Parents improve orientation programming and logistics for 2016.

The Center for Students in Recovery (CSR)

• CSR’s Clear Headed Haven tent at Fun Fun Fun Fest was such a success it was featured on KUT. Listen to the piece here. Dozens of music lovers visited the tent for support and camaraderie. Staff and students held support meetings during the festival and provided non-alcoholic beverages.
• CSR held its final football tailgate of the 2015 season on Nov. 7 with live DJs, a potluck, and members of the campus and non-campus community.

University Health Services (UHS)

• UHS gave flu shots to 10,689 students, faculty and staff during the 2015 flu shot campaign.
• A sexually transmitted infection (STI) screening clinic opened in the Student Services Building (SSB) to enhance access to this service. Specially trained nurses provide routine screening to students without symptoms. Charges apply; most insurance is accepted.
• As part of their training, nurses working in the new clinic shadowed clinicians at the Austin/Travis County Health and Human Services STD Clinic in November.
• UHS staff held a special Saturday travel immunization clinic for the UT Men’s Basketball Team in preparation for their trip to China.
• UHS will administer immunization and insurance compliance for the inaugural class of students at the Dell Medical School.
• UT Austin students who are survivors of sexual assault are now able to get a sexual assault forensic exam on campus at no charge. UHS is working with SafePlace and Voices Against Violence to provide exams at UHS conducted by a SafePlace sexual assault nurse examiner.

• UHS providers and health promotion staff chatted with students on Gregory Gym Plaza during the Student Health Advisory Committee’s annual Bagels and Lox event.

University Unions

• Campus Events + Entertainment performed to sold out crowds for the 35^th annual Madrigal Dinner Theater. See the photos here.

• Unions staff decorated trees in both the Student Activity Center and Texas Union.

• Unions staff unveiled the newly remodeled T-House Suite on the third floor of the Texas Union. During the day, the space will serve as a dining, conference and reception space for 75-100 people and in the evenings, registered student orgs can use it as a dance rehearsal space. The space was used as a computer lab for decades. Check out the transformation here.
• Be sure to check our website for reduced building hours for the upcoming winter break. Adjusted hours can be found on our website.

Counseling and Mental Health Center (CMHC)

• CMHC is celebrating its 75^th anniversary this year. Staff marked the occasion with a formal event.
• October was Relationship Violence Prevention Month. CMHC staff held several events, which included a theatrical performance and a survivor speak-out event called “Breaking the Silence: Survivors of Dating and Relationship Violence Speak Out.” See the photos.

Housing and Food Service (DHFS)

Housing

• The Residence Life Development Committee sponsored the Student Affairs Interest Panel on Oct. 14, one of many events celebrating Careers in Student Affairs Month. The five panelists included Vice President for Student Affairs Dr. Gage Paine, Residence Life Director Dr. Mylon Kirksy, University Unions Director for Student Programs Jennifer Zamora, Dean of Students Interim Director of Leadership and Ethics Institute Reed Rallojay and Clinical Assistant Professor Beth Bukoski from the College of Education. Reflecting on their career experiences through a lively conversation, the panel shared advice with an audience of several students and staff members.
• Six DHFS staff members are enrolled in the General Educational Development (GED) Program. Participants completed the Test of Adult Basic Education on Sept. 25.
• Occupancy Management spoke to over 400 prospective students and parents about the importance of living on campus at Longhorn Monday on Oct. 12.
• The Request for Proposal for the replacement of housing software has been forwarded to university purchasing. This step is important in the software acquisition and implementation process.

Food Service

• Hunter Magnum and Lindsey Hutchinson assisted the UT Green Corps in several events as part of Campus Sustainability Week. They hosted a DHFS Garden Open House where students could pick their own vegetables. As part of Campus Sustainability Day, they helped the community understand how they can get involved. Unfortunately, to avoid a soggy celebration, Campus Food Day, was canceled. Instead, they enjoyed the much-needed rain from indoors and made plans for the next Clean Plate Club, an awareness campaign to help combat food waste on campus.

• DHFS celebrated a whole month of whole grains throughout October to help students locate and identify healthier options in the UT dining venues. See some delicious dishes here. The Fun with Whole Grains Dinner served 823 at Kinsolving and 957 at J2. The street food themed menu included offerings like Falafel Pita Pockets, Pulled Pork Arepas, Fish Tacos, Korean BBQ Hotdogs and a Popcorn Bar. The Nutrition Team was at the event with trivia and other carnival games for a chance to win free whole grain snacks.
• DHFS introduced a new line of whole grain salad shakers in October. Selections included a Caprese di Farro Salad and a Buffalo Chicken and Barley Salad.

New Student Services (NSS)

• Registration for Spring Orientation opens Nov. 4. Spring Orientation will be Jan. 11. It’s followed by Spring Transition Week, a series of workshops to help students transition to UT Austin and meet other new students.
• The Orientation Advisor Recruitment process is well underway. All students who applied will be invited to interview at Selection Day on Nov. 15.
• NSS has been meeting with representatives from each college to collect feedback that will influence the schedules for Freshman and Transfer Orientation next summer.
• NSS hosted focus groups with freshman students to assess Bevo is Not a Cow, the university’s publication for new students. The staff gathered feedback on the usefulness and format of the book for potential changes in future editions.
• Desiree Alva joined the NSS team as Associate Director for Transition Initiatives. She will focus on coordination of Student Affairs’ Division-wide 360 Connections and orientation initiatives for transfer students and other special student populations.

Office of the Dean of Students (DoS)

• Student Emergency Services is excited to announce the Student Emergency Fund was awarded $4,000 as a recipient of the Texas Parents Student Organization Grant for 2015. All of the awarded funds will directly support students with financial hardships and immediate needs, such as shelter, clothing, food, water and medicine.

• Student Veteran Services launched a poster campaign called I’m a veteran. It will run across campus through Veterans Day and the rest of the semester.
• The Leadership and Ethics Institute is seeking events and programs for the Burnt Orange Society curriculum from the Division of Student Affairs. Any event or program that lines up with one of the eight Achievement Areas could be a good fit. Please email Reed Rallojay for more information.

Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs (VPSA)

• Students met with representatives from all nine departments at the Division of Student Affairs Student Job & Volunteer Fair to learn about opportunities within the Division.
• The fall 2015 #PickUsGP social media campaign was a hit with student organizations. Groups submitted selfies for a chance at lunch with Gage Paine. She received so many great submissions that instead of picking one winner she chose six. See photos from the first lunch.
• Mark your calendar for the Division-wide Staff Holiday Party on Dec. 10, 9-11 a.m. Come enjoy great food, libations and holiday cheer – along with the ever popular photo booth – once again in the Quadrangle Room at the Texas Union.

• The Division hosted its first True Colors® Communication Workshop on Oct. 29. Check out the photos. Registration is now open for a second workshop on Dec. 3 at UT Direct, Course VS102 (True Colors® Communication). Space is limited to 40 full-time, benefits-eligible Division employees for each workshop. Participation is voluntary. The pre-requisite class is VS101 Keys to Personal Success.

Recreational Sports (RecSports)

• Whitaker Fields has closed and the year-long Whitaker Fields Renovation Project has begun. Contributions are still being accepted.

• RecSports’ Tailgate by the Pool ducked the heavy rains by moving into the Gregory Gym Games Room and attracted nearly 150 Longhorn fans. The annual Friends of RecSports Golf Tournament was postponed due to bad weather. It was rescheduled for Friday, Nov. 13.
• Faculty and staff at the Pickle Research Campus had the opportunity to attend RecSports’ Health & Lifestyle Expo in their own building on Oct. 16, similar to the one held in Gregory Gym during the summer.
• The Division of Student Affairs Student Job & Volunteer Fair brought in nearly 108 visitors to the RecSports table and 26 applications for part-time jobs in the spring.

• Over 1,200 Longhorns have joined the UT Campus Leaderboards featuring the most active individuals on campus based on participation in RecSports activities and Nike+ workouts. Faculty and staff can join at the Nike+ Leader Bar in Gregory Gym or online.
• Chris Burnett participated in the Association for Experiential Learning International Conference in Portland, Oregon.
• Ross Rodriguez and Aaron Kroth participated in the 2015 National Intramural-Recreational Sports Association (NIRSA) Region IV Conference and Student Lead On in Galveston.

Texas Parents

• Texas Parents awarded $38,000 in Student Organizations Grants to 41 projects. Student organizations and departments will use the money to host activities and events that enrich campus life or serve community.
• The Texas Parents Advisory Board met on Oct. 16 to welcome new board members, discuss the state of the association and brainstorm strategies for improvement. Gage Paine gave a university and Division update. Recipients of the 2015 Students Organizations Grants were celebrated, including the 2015 recipient of the Mike Wacker Award Imani Boyette.

• Family Weekend events were held October 16-18 with an estimated 1,300 families participating in nearly 100 events campus-wide. President Fenves visited with families at the barbecue. See photos from the barbecue and rest of the weekend.
• RecSports extended an invitation to Texas Parents members to attend the Tailgate by the Pool before the Kansas State game on Oct. 24. Members enjoyed a brunch buffet, live music and great company by the prettiest pool in Texas.
• Nominations for the 2015-16 Staff Merit Awards are being accepted through Dec. 10. Texas Parents established the awards in 1998 to recognize Division of Student Affairs employees who contribute to a culture of excellence, support student success, strengthen services and inspire fellow staff to seek excellence. Winners will receive a plaque and $1,500 at January’s Division-wide meeting. Click here for the nomination form. Check out a list of past recipients.

The Center for Students in Recovery (CSR)

• CSR is helping organize a sober tent presence at this year’s Fun Fun Fun Fest. The tents will be a safe haven for people in recovery from addiction during this event where many triggers may abound. Support group meetings will be held several times throughout each day of the festival during breaks in the music.
• CSR will be co-hosting one last Sober Tailgate on Nov. 7 from 3 – 6 p.m. in front of the University Christian Church. Please bring a dish or soft drink to share. Live DJ sets for the entire tailgate!

University Health Services (UHS)

• UHS providers performed skin cancer checks at a campus event for the Texas 4,000.
• In our next step toward boosting sustainability in healthcare, UHS has begun composting in our clinics, which will divert approximately 400 pounds of solid waste per month from landfills.
• Health promotion professionals Jessica Hughes Wagner and Susan Kirtz led a talk on Oct. 13 for the Center for Health Communication student interest group about and career paths for those interested in health.
• Kathy Mosteller and Kerry Aguillon attended the first symposium on quality improvement in college health in New York City. Chris Brownson and Melissa Eshelman from CMHC participated.
• The leadership teams from UHS and the Dell Medical School met in October to discuss future collaboration.
• UHS transitioned to ICD-10 on deadline and with no major problems.
• Starting this month, UHS will provide billing services and will credential health providers for the School of Nursing’s Family Wellness Center and Children’s Wellness Center. UHS will be able to provide these services to the nursing school at a lower cost than a community partner would.

University Unions

• The University Unions unveiled the #UTLegoTower in the Texas Union on Oct. 19 following a social media campaign. Student Hamilton Leiser created the rendition and generously offered to share it with the campus community. Stop by the main Hospitality Desk on the ground level of the Texas Union to see this masterpiece. Check out the photos.
• Reservations for University Unions spaces for spring and summer semesters opens this month. The system will open for registered student organizations at 10 a.m. on Nov. 3 and then open for departments on Nov. 10.
• This year marks the 35^th annual Madrigal Dinner, a beloved campus tradition. The dinner will be held on Nov. 19-21 with tickets on sale through Nov. 17. The event is open to students, staff, faculty and the public.
• The Through Our Eyes Spring 2016 Photography Contest is currently accepting submissions through Nov. 30. The theme for this period is Campus Talent and the top 15 entries are displayed in the Student Activity Center during the spring semester.
• The University Unions was proud to host the 2015 Texas Tribune Festival. This year the festival expanded to host the event in both the Student Activity Center and Hogg Memorial Auditorium.

 

Counseling and Mental Health Center (CMHC)

• The Avon Foundation awarded a grant to CMHC’s Voices Against Violence (VAV) program. Staff will use the funds to hire student facilitators who will deliver workshops to their peers on VAV issues.
• Staff are preparing for Relationship Violence Prevention Month this month. Events will include a Rally for Healthy Relationships, a Survivor Speak-Out and a National Young Women’s Day of Action Luncheon.
• For the 6th year, CMHC hosted Suicide Prevention Week, Sept. 20–25. The initiative is an annual campus-wide event focused on raising awareness and providing education about suicide prevention. Events and programming included a kickball tournament; social media campaign; speakers and workshops for students, faculty and staff; a film screening and discussion; and photo project.

Housing and Food Service (DHFS)

Housing 

• As of the official 12^th class day, 7,433 residents are living on-campus; 96.3% of first-time freshmen students that lived on-campus in fall 2014 returned for fall 2015 as a student versus 92.4% for those that lived off-campus.

Food Service

• J2 and Kinsolving Dining Halls celebrated Mexican Independence Day last month with the Mexican American Cultural Dinner. Chefs and staff prepared chicken mole, elotes calabracitas, nopalitos and horchata. The Food Service Marketing Team designed t-shirts as giveaways for students and styled festive Frida Kahlo-inspired photo booths to capture the spirit of the dinner. See the photos.

New Student Services (NSS)

• Dates will be released shortly for Spring and Summer School Orientation 2016. Dates for summer 2016 sessions (Freshman, Transfer and August Orientation) are still being decided. Longhorn State of Mind will remain the theme for orientation.
• NSS launched the Orientation Advisor (OA) recruitment process. Staff members can nominate students to be an OA. The deadline for nominations is Thursday, Oct. 8 at 5 p.m. and they can be submitted online. Students must attend an information session on Oct. 13, 14, 18 or 22, or set up a meeting with NSS staff in order to receive an application. The deadline for applications is Wednesday, Oct. 28. More information is available online.
• NSS hosted an OA Homecoming event on Sept. 16 for OAs from 2013–15 to reunite and learn about OA recruitment efforts.
• NSS has begun meeting with key stakeholders across campus to evaluate the 2015 orientation program and begin planning for the 2016 program.
• The fall 2015 cohort for Horns Helping Horns is the largest yet with 10 students, including two transfer students (a first for the program). There are now 29 students in the program.

Office of the Dean of Students (DoS)

• Student Veteran Services will host StoryCorps Military Voices Initiative during Veterans’ Week in November to record the stories and experiences of student veterans that will archived in the Library of Congress for future generations.

• Student Veteran Services held its first Advisor Trainings over the last three weeks of September, successfully educating academic advisors to better serve students using military education benefits.
• DoS published the fall semester Hazing Memo on Monday, Sept. 14. All students will receive a copy via email each short and long semester. The Hazing Memo is a valuable resource for staff to understand hazing and work to help prevent hazing on campus.

• DoS staff kicked off rally duty for the Longhorn football season at the Rice game. At home games, the staff supports student spirit organizations on the field and are present to respond to potential disturbances.

Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs (VPSA)

• The Division has unveiled its second annual Impact Report, showcasing its commitment to excellence and student success.
• The annual Division staff photo will take place on Tuesday, Oct. 20, at Gregory Gym. Staff should arrive no later than 8:15 a.m. The photo will be taken at 8:30 a.m. Wear burnt orange and/or white. Please coordinate with your supervisor to participate.

• Staff is gearing up for the fall 2015 Division of Student Affairs Student Job and Volunteer Fair on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 11 a.m.-4 p.m., Gregory Gym Concourse. The goals are to recruit students and educate our campus community about the Division’s innovative programs, facilities and services.
• Gage Paine hosted two Division-wide staff meetings last month focusing on Division excellence. See the photos.
• Staff facilitators led three True Colors® introductory sessions including one in Spanish late last month. Staff who completed the session are eligible to enroll in the True Colors® Communications program which will be offered later this fall. See the photos.

Recreational Sports (RecSports)

• Party on the Plaza, a signature event of Longhorn Welcome, took place on Wednesday, Sept. 2, on Gregory Gym Plaza. Check out the photos.

• RecSports staff paid tribute to 14 student employees for their outstanding dedication, awarding $27,000 in endowed scholarships during a special ceremony.
• Whitaker Fields and Tennis Complex closes in mid-October to launch the Whitaker Fields Renovation Project. Construction of the facility, home to intramural sports and many sport clubs, will continue for a full year. Campaign contributions are still needed.
• RecSports will host the Division of Student Affairs Job and Volunteer Fair at Gregory Gym on Wednesday, Oct. 21 and will be recruiting for several student positions.
• Additional renovations of the recreational activity spaces at Bellmont Hall are now complete. Users are now enjoying an updated weight/cardio room on a different floor, new locker rooms and fresh, new spaces for dancing, fencing, wrestling, indoor soccer and dodgeball, squash, volleyball, badminton and martial arts.

• There’s still time to register for the annual Friends of RecSports Golf Tournament set for Friday, Oct. 23 at Avery Ranch Golf Club. Open to the entire campus community, proceeds benefit the RecSports Excellence Fund.

Texas Parents

• Texas Parents partnered with University Health Services and the Counseling and Mental Health Center late last month to offer a webinar to Texas Parents members. “How to Talk to Your Longhorn About Alcohol, Part 2” gave parents an understanding of alcohol on campus and effective strategies to have conversations about alcohol with their students. Part I of the webinar series is available here.

• Texas Parents is preparing for Family Weekend activities and events taking place on October 16-18. Registration opened on Monday, Sept. 21 and will continue until Friday, Oct. 9. Visit the Family Weekend website for more information.

The Center for Students in Recovery (CSR)

• CSR had a successful month-long celebration of National Recovery Month in September. Events ranged from a Sober Tailgate at the season’s first home football game, co-hosting the two-day Recovery Capital Conference, to organizing a nation-wide remote dance party on social media.
• CSR is attending the Unite to Face Addiction (UTFA) rally on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. on Sunday, Oct. 4. More than 600 organizations from around the world will gather in a show of solidarity. Major artists performing at the rally will include Steven Tyler, Sheryl Crow and Jason Isbell.

University Health Services (UHS)

• UHS is privileged to contract with the School of Nursing to help redevelop their business operations at the Family Wellness Clinic and the Children’s Wellness Clinic since the school’s longstanding contract with the community agency has ended. This partnership involves patient check in/check out, insurance filing, billing, implementing an electronic health record (EHR) software system and other operational tasks.
• Implementation of the ICD-10 Procedural Coding System is underway. This change affects electronic medical records, insurance claims and many other aspects of healthcare. Everyone covered by the Health Insurance Portability Accountability Act (HIPAA) is required to transition to ICD-10 by Thursday, Oct. 1.
• In late August, the UHS Green Fee Program participated in the Community Science Fair to promote their clinical composting program. The fair was hosted by the UT Environmental Science Institute as part of Hot Science Cool Talks: “If It’s Unsustainable, Why Does It Feel So Good?”

• The annual Healthyhorns Fest took place on Wednesday, Sept. 16 at the Gregory Gym Plaza. UHS staff from nearly every clinic and department staffed activities and tabled alongside many campus and community partners to engage students in building a culture of health and wellness at UT Austin. See the event photos and photo booth shots.

University Unions

• The University Unions food partner Aramark is in final negotiations with a vendor for space within the Texas Union. More information will be available soon.
• Staff assisted Campus Events + Entertainment with a premiere and screening for the film My All American in the Texas Union Theater. The film was shot on location around campus and used parts of the Texas Union for staging in the summer of 2014.

• The University Unions and Campus Events + Entertainment had two tables at Party on the Plaza. They joined other Division departments in greeting the students and talking about all our organization has to offer.