Published: Sept. 24, 2024
How We Influence
Energy and enthusiasm defined the first four weeks of the semester as we welcomed new and returning Longhorns to campus. See how we are putting students first through our Division’s welcome events, programs, spaces and resources in the updates below.
Programs
New Student Services collaborated with University Events and Experience to expand Longhorn Welcome. This year’s calendar featured 13 Signature Events, four of which were new, and 47 campus events – all events were open to new and returning students. The Division hosted 17 events, including signature events from New Student Services, Office of the Dean of Students and University Unions. Thanks to support from Ryan Becerra and Derek Knight (Recreational Sports IT), the website’s “All Events” page received an upgrade. Custom filters made it easier for students to find events that fit their unique interests.
During the summer, New Student Services’ orientation team welcomed 11,000 new Longhorns to campus (9,359 freshmen, 1,659 transfer) and 10,000+ Longhorn family members. This year, New Student Orientation featured an expanded Student Organization Fair, and new events: Camp Hook ‘Em with Bevo Buddy! and Sensory Break with Longhorn TIES.
The Division’s health and well-being portfolio gathered for an organizational day on Aug. 21 to prepare for the academic year. For the first time, staff from Counseling Mental Health Center, Disability and Access, Longhorn Wellness Center, Recreational Sports, and University Health Services came together for the event featuring activities in Gregory Gym.
Through the Well-being in Learning Environments program, the Longhorn Wellness Center discussed research on rest and sleep with 16 faculty members on April 1. “Rest and Flow: Considerations for Inside and Outside the Classroom” focused on how to help faculty support students in getting the rest they need to be psychologically and emotionally healthy.
The Longhorn Wellness Center team streamlined and revamped their interactive workshops for students, faculty and staff. They consolidated 38 workshops into 18 refreshed sessions covering mental health, stress management, academics and well-being, bystander intervention, sexual health, substance use safety and violence prevention.
The College of Natural Sciences hired the SHIFT Makers to serve zero-proof cocktails at the annual Patio-Palooza Community-Wide Celebration on Aug. 29. This team of students served 1,150 drinks — the largest number of drinks served at a SHIFT Makers event since the program began in Spring 2022.
During the summer, Disability Cultural Center offered weekly Wheelchair/Adapted Tennis and Pickleball with RecSports and Austin Adapted Sports for students, staff, alumni and community members. The team also launched two new programs: Disability in the News, a weekly opportunity to discuss disability-related news, and Service Dog Meetups for students, faculty and staff who work with guide or service dogs.
In a new event from the Successful Student Organization Program, nearly 200 students and staff attended the Longhorn Playbook on Sept. 12. The event featured Women’s Basketball Coach Vic Schaefer and Associate Vice President and Dean of Students Katie McGee, and included interactive discussions and networking.
The Office of the Dean of Students revamped the annual Constitution Day event on Sept. 17 to mark the signing of the U.S. Constitution in 1787. The team provided donuts and interactive activities for students to put their knowledge of the Constitution to the test.
Recreational Sports hosted the annual back-to-school tradition, Party on the Plaza, presented by American Campus Communities, on Sept. 4. The event was the largest ever with 30,000+ students and 400 student organizations, raising $7,020 for the Student Emergency Fund. Two students from 268 finalists in the Scholarship Shootout, presented by University Federal Credit Union, were each awarded a $2,500 scholarship.
Spaces
Counseling and Mental Health Center and Longhorn Wellness Center staff are continuing to collaborate with academic partners to embed mental health and well-being services in the academic spaces. Division staff will host meetings and groups in the new College of Liberal Arts' Humanitas Student Well-Being Collective space located in Jester Center which offers a lounge, and meeting space for groups and workshops.
Continuing to lean into the growing interest in pickleball while taking into account the Texas weather, Recreational Sports is now offering indoor pickleball drop-in recreation. Students and RecSports members may now request nets to be set up for pickleball play at the Recreational Sports during select times on Tuesdays and Fridays. Paddleboards are available for checkout.
The Center for Students in Recovery has a new home in the Student Services Building. The new location is easier for students to access than the previous location in Bellmont Hall and is closer to other health and well-being resources.
While new students were moving into on-campus residence halls, Texas Parents created a space for their parents to connect at the annual Mooov-In Mixer. More than 100 parents celebrated the beginning of living the Longhorn life. Hosted in the Etter-Harbin Alumni Center on Aug. 24, Texas Exes shared information about scholarships and other opportunities.
With Texas facing off against Michigan at an away game on Sept. 7, more than 300 students attended a watch party in the San Jacinto Residence Hall. Campus Events+Entertainment partnered with New Student Services, Office of the Dean of Students and University Housing and Dining to provide a space for students to watch the game on campus.
President Hartzell hosted the State of the University at Hogg Memorial Auditorium on Sept. 18. University Unions’ historic auditorium reopened in November 2023 as a premier student performance and live music venue following a two-year renovation project.
Resources
In her first message to students as the permanent associate vice president and dean of students on Sept. 9, Katie McGee encouraged them to get involved in 1,000+ student organizations. In a second message to students on Sept. 16, she launched the Office of the Dean of Students’ new Event Readiness and Response unit. She also co-signed a message to faculty with Interim Executive Vice President and Provost sharing support resources for students on Sept. 12.
Associate Vice President for Health and Well-being Chris Brownson shared mental health resources with students on Sept. 10. The message included this suicide prevention video in accordance with state law. Division of Student Affairs staff partnered with the Center for Health Communication and UT System to create the video for all Texas institutions of higher education.
The Division’s Assessment, Data Analytics and Planning Team (ADAPT) is offering a digital badge course for students with Survey Design: Foundations. Students can learn best practices in survey design that will be a valuable tool for their educational journey and future career. After students complete the five-module Canvas course, they can display the badge of their LinkedIn profile.
Disability and Access (D&A) and the Disability Cultural Center held Accommodation Orientation (Aug. 12-16) with 89 students attending four sessions to learn about academic accommodations. Additionally, D&A hosted the first Housing Accommodations session on June 20 to provide information for obtaining housing accommodations in University-owned residence halls and apartments.
The Healthyhorns public information team unveiled a redesigned website that brings together the Counseling and Mental Health Center, Longhorn Wellness Center, and University Health Services into one website. The redesign enhances content and navigation for students, streamlining access and improving the overall user experience.
New Student Services, Texas Parents and University Unions staff shared information about Division programs, spaces and resources with new parents and families of international students. They participated in Texas Global’s Coffee and Conversation: International Longhorn Families Welcome Open House on Aug. 22.
Helping on-campus residents set their rooms up for success, the Longhorn Wellness Center partnered with University Housing and Dining to integrate well-being resources into residence hall showrooms. The showroom enhancements, including sleep kits, yoga mat, weights, sneakers and gratitude journals, provide a model for new students as they set up their new rooms.
To expand access to sports equipment, Recreational Sports now offers disc golf sets available for students and RecSports members to check out to play at disc golf courses. This adds to the expansive rental equipment available at the Outdoor Center, which includes items such as paddleboards, hammocks, sleeping bags, camping tents, kitchen gear, and Spikeball sets.
Texas Parents continues its annual membership renewal campaign. Members with currently enrolled students whose memberships expired Aug. 31 received renewing options to stay connected to the University through the community and communication they receive as members.
University Health Service is hosting the annual Flu Vaccination Clinics through Oct. 17. Appointments are recommended for students, faculty and staff. Limited walk-ins are available for flu shots.
University Health Services’ Allergy, Immunization and Travel Health Clinic assisted 729 incoming international students with immunizations and medical clearances for Fall 2024. This is a 15% increase from Fall 2023.