Published: March 1, 2022
Division News
Our Irreplaceable, In-person Campus Experience
- Hear why students, faculty and staff say there’s no place like the Forty Acres for learning and connecting — and how our public health leaders and COVID-19 researchers are helping us navigate the pandemic, informing our effective policies and protocols.
Center for Students in Recovery
- We’re launching a monthly eating recovery support group on March 3. This student-focused group welcomes students struggling with recovery from disordered eating and will be led by a UT Austin alum.
- We’re continuing our Yoga for Recovery event this semester on the last Friday of the month. This event focuses on how yoga and meditation support the 12-step recovery process.
Counseling and Mental Health Center
- Encourage students to apply by March 11 to be a Longhorn Wellness Center Peer Educator. Peer educators earn academic credit while learning, connecting with peers, and offering opportunities for health and wellness education for fellow Longhorns.
- The Longhorn SHARE (Support, Healing, Active Listening, Reciprocity, Empowerment) Project is currently piloting a series of peer support gatherings. They focus on a variety of topics and meet at different times.
- The SHIFT team launched new resources and opportunities to educate students on substance use safety. Check out the SHIFT List for student organizations. Our SHIFT Makers will soon be available to create zero-proof drinks for your next event. Contact Taylor Simons for more information.
- SHIFT, Longhorn Wellness Center and Sorority and Fraternity Life in the Office of the Dean of Students staff are helping fraternities practice substance use safety strategies. These efforts include workshops, messaging and providing non-alcoholic beverages to increase party safety during “Round Up” weekend, March 25-26.
- Our team is gearing up to welcome more than 10,000 students during new student orientation this summer. All freshman sessions (June/July) will take place in-person. The first two transfer orientation sessions will be virtual (100% online). The third session will take place both in-person and virtual – students can choose which program they attend. Summer School Orientation on May 31 will be virtual (100% online). The format for August Orientation will be announced in April.
Desiree Alva (far right) and Paige Muehlenkamp-McHorse (third from right) with UTPD staff at the emergency safety kit giveaway
- Our Off-Campus Initiative staff partnered with the UT Police Department team to give out free emergency safety kits to students on Feb. 22 at the UTPD West satellite office.
New Student Services staff at the retreat
- Our team gathered virtually for a biannual retreat Feb. 24-25. The team focused on going “Back to Basics” and looking forward to the great work planned for the months ahead.
Kayleigh Damphousse welcomes students to Transfer Trivia, part of Spring Welcome 2022 programming.
- We helped new transfer students transition to UT Austin with Spring Welcome, Jan. 31-Feb. 6.
Office of the Dean of Students
- Our Student Activities team invites student groups to participate in the Student Organization Proactive Community Testing Competition by March 25. Active registered and sponsored student organizations can compete to win a dinner cruise on Lady Bird Lake by getting a COVID-19 test on campus. The Texas Bluebonnets, Indian Students Association, Longhorn Singers and Hum A Capella won during the fall semester competition.
- Our Legislative Student Organization team facilitated Campus-Wide Elections Feb. 28-March 1. Election results will be announced March 7, 2 p.m., William C. Powers, Jr. Student Activity Center Ballroom, and on Zoom (meeting ID: 949 7101 1419).
Cheryl Le Gras checking in a student organization representative at the Spring Student Organization Fair.
- The team hosted 120 student organizations for the Spring Student Organization Fair on Feb. 9.
Kevin More (University Housing and Dining) talked with students about Dobie Twenty21, 2400 Nueces and the University Apartments at UT Marketplace.
- They also partnered with Texas Student Media to host UT Marketplace on Feb. 23. The event held during the fall and spring semesters allows companies, organizations and departments to distribute information about their products, services and career opportunities directly to students, faculty and staff.
- Register for Longhorn Run 2022 by March 6 to enjoy early bird pricing. This year’s event is set to take place in person on April 23 with 5K and 10K courses.
- Staff will join students at Texas THON on March 6, at Gregory Gym to wrap up another successful year of raising funds and awareness for Dell Children’s Medical Center.
- Our staff will promote rock climbing and the Outdoor Center at a RecSports Recess pop-up recreation event today.
Valeria Ortega, Chad Zimmerman, Ian Overman and Dixon Hankins at Rec Day
- We hosted Rec Day in celebration of National Recreational Sports and Fitness Day on Feb. 24, featuring free TeXercise classes, chair massages, rock climbing and more.
- Our team rallied students and RecSports members to join our Ride Across Texas Cycle Challenge Feb. 21-27. They enjoyed complimentary access to TeXercise group cycling classes and collectively rode 2732.3 miles.
- We connected with Austin-area alumni during our spring happy hour on Feb. 18.
- We’re gearing up to welcome thousands of parents and families during Family Orientation this summer. All sessions will take place in person. Our sessions follow the New Student Orientation calendar, but we will only offer one session to transfer student families during the third Transfer Orientation session for students. Stay tuned for when registration and Texas Parents memberships for the 2022-2023 year will open.
- The 2022 Texas Parents Brick Paver campaign wrapped up with 165 bricks purchased. Brick paver production and installation are underway and bricks will be laid in front of the Student Services Building before UT Remembers and May 2022 Commencement. Our office will lay 14 memorial bricks honoring students who passed away this year.
- Family Weekend will be celebrated April 22-24 – the same weekend as the Longhorn Run and Orange and White football game. Registration will be open March 14-April 3.
- We increased Proactive Community Testing (PCT) availability in January and February at sites across campus. These convenient locations within the colleges and schools made it easier for students, faculty and staff to get an asymptomatic COVID-19.
- Students, faculty and staff who test positive for COVID-19 through PCT or our Symptomatic Testing Center will be offered an at-home testing kit to ensure they are no longer infectious prior to ending isolation. Kits are mailed to their isolation address.
- Order your free COVID-19 test now through COVIDtests.gov. Every home in the U.S. (residential address including U.S. Territories and overseas military and diplomatic addresses) is eligible to order four free at-home COVID-19 tests. Please share these FAQs with students on how they can order their tests.
Mylon Kirksy, Marilyn Tyus and Brandon Jones at the Black History Month Cookout
- To celebrate Black History Month, our student learning and development team organized a speaker series from Feb 21-23. We also hosted an African Diaspora dinner on Feb 24. And, we had a lunch cookout on Feb. 28.
- Following the recent winter weather closure Feb. 3-5, we are archiving our emergency communication on the website so people can see what was sent to residents.
- Renovations are underway on the Littlefield Patio Café outdoor patio. The patio is scheduled to reopen this summer.
- Incoming freshmen will start receiving their housing contracts on March 1. The contracts are released based on application date order so the students who applied early will be the first to receive their contract.
- The word is out on our new Cactus Café programming. Check out this article on the new lineup of one to two concerts per week, plus comedy, karaoke, and open mic nights.
- Encourage students to apply for the Pal-Make a Difference Award and the J.J. "Jake" Pickle Citizenship Award by March 11. Recipients will be recognized at the spring Advisory Council meeting on April 22.
Chick-fil-A in the Texas Union
- Chick-fil-A reopened at the Texas Union and will be open for lunch on weekdays. Check out our other recently opened Longhorn Hospitality locations: One Two Three Sushi and Pop Up Kitchen: Sub Sandwiches at the William C. Powers, Jr. Student Activity Center, and the Philly cheesesteak food trailer at Speedway and East Mall. Longhorn Hospitality is a dining collaboration with University Housing and Dining.
Lunar New Year event
- Campus Events+Entertainment’s Asian American Culture Committee celebrated Lunar New Year on Feb. 1. Lunar New Year is a holiday celebrated by East and Southeast Asian cultures.
Vice President for Student Affairs
- Join us at the next Vice President for Student Affairs office hours on March 7.
- Our development team is planning the 2022 NASPA Annual Conference UT Austin reception on March 21 in Baltimore, MD.
- They are also gearing up for the What Starts Here campaign launch, hosting our Student Affairs Showcase for donors and alumni on March 4. The event will feature student performances and a panel discussion. Afterwards, donors will have an opportunity to take a campus tour that includes viewing the construction underway to improve Hogg Memorial Auditorium.
Soncia Reagins-Lilly and Allan Cole at the Student Affairs Leadership Team meeting
- The Student Affairs Leadership Team reconvened on Feb. 9 with guest speaker Dr. Allan Cole, deputy to the president for societal opportunities and challenges.
Staff Standouts
Brandon Jones, University Housing and Dining, co-facilitated NASPA’s Student Affairs 101 workshop on Feb. 8 ahead of the 2022 NASPA Undergraduate Student Conference. He is serving as the conference’s Engagement Sub-Committee chair.
Cynthia Lew, University Housing and Dining, received the Southwest Association of College & University Housing Officers (SWACUHO) Bob Cooke Distinguished Service Award.
Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students Soncia Reagins-Lilly spoke about the Division of Student Affairs at the Academic Deans and Leaders Luncheon on Feb. 17.
Kasey Claborn (School of Social Work), Taylor Simons (CMHC/UHS), Lori Holleran Steiker (School of Social Work), Daniel Sledge (Williamson County Mobile Outreach Team) and Claire Zagorski (College of Pharmacy) at the virtual SHIFT Talk
Taylor Simons, Counseling and Mental Health Center and University Health Services, moderated the SHIFT Talk: Conversations on Counterfeit Rx Drugs and Fentanyl on Feb. 22.
Robert Valdez and Leekeshia Williams (Division of Diversity and Community Engagement) at the American Camp Association meeting
Robert Valdez, University Housing and Dining, presented about university collaborations and events at the American Camp Association National Conference on Feb. 8.
Staff Shoutouts*
Wes Barnett, Joe Gonzales and Claudette Campbell in the Texas Union
Shout out to the University Unions’ Texas Union operations team who provided a place for students to warm up or grab a hot beverage during the campus weather closure Feb. 3-4. While most of campus was closed, our team welcomed 2,500 students to the facility.
Thank you to the University Housing and Dining team for keeping housing and dining running during the closure, and getting bottled water to residents. During severe weather events, their staff volunteer to stay on campus to serve our students.
Horns up to Recreational Sports staff who enabled students and RecSports members to enjoy their workout routine by opening Gregory Gym and the Gregory Gym Natatorium during the campus closure Feb. 3-4.
*Department communicators submit “Staff Shoutouts,” up to three per issue. Please coordinate with your department communicator if you have a submission idea.
“A Tip of the Hat to…”*
…Susan Buckenmeyer, Office of the Dean of Students, who received this note of thanks from School of Law student Victoria Holder, who came to the office looking for help with career opportunities:
“Just wanted to say that you've been enormously helpful. Can't thank you enough! I hope you have a lovely remainder of your weekend.”
*This section includes thank-you messages sent to our Division staff by a third party (student organization, campus partner, parent, donor, etc. not from another Division staff member). Please coordinate with your department communicator if you receive an item for submission.