Influencing the Longhorn Life Staff Newsletter
Published: Oct. 28, 2025
Programs
The Longhorn Wellness Center, Blanton Museum of Art and First-Gen Longhorns hosted the third annual Mindfulness Summit for 170 students. Attendees enjoyed an imaginative retreat-style mindfulness experience with guided activities, choose-your-own mindful adventures and a community picnic. Check out the photos.
The First-Gen Peer Mentors became the first cohort to complete Texas Leadership Education and Development’s Conversation Navigation program. Through in-person workshops and online modules, 11 students achieved a digital badge while practicing empowered ownership, mutual understanding, open inquiry and productive conflict management. The program equips Longhorns to build community and share pride through meaningful, respectful dialogue across differences.
The Office of the Dean of Students concluded its first semester managing the Dinner with 16 Longhorns series with 557 applicants for 80 spots in four dinners. This creative event fosters meaningful conversation and authentic connection over an intimate dinner in a donor or alum’s house. See the photos.
The Office of the Dean of Students supported student organizations ahead of the Red River Rivalry.
- Staff tabled the week prior to share information and resources on traveling as a student organization.
- The University Panhellenic Council (UPC) hosted its second annual banner competition with all 13 chapters participating. Judges included Vice President and Director of Athletics Chris Del Conte, Dean of Students Katie McGee, UTPD Chief Shane Streepy and student-athletes from the softball and swim teams.
- Student organizations also showed their pride in the Texas Exes Fight Rally & Parade banner competition, with three taking home a cash prize.
RecSports hosted its annual Cycle Challenge Oct. 5-10, offering free, themed TeXercise group cycling classes to all students and members. This year’s goal was to inspire participants to ride 3,036 miles collectively across five Southeastern Conference campuses. View the photos.
University Unions is hosting the 44th Annual Madrigal Dinner, Nov. 13-15. This beloved tradition features Renaissance music, merriment and dinner theater. Many faculty and staff are proud to be part of Madrigal’s legacy. Seating is limited, so buy your tickets today.
Campus Events+Entertainment hosted a variety of fun programs for students including the Boot Scootin’ Bash, Autumn Moon Festival and Faculty Unplugged. E+E is the largest student event planning organization on campus and is sponsored by University Unions.
Spaces
The MindBody Labs are now MindBody Lounges, self-guided spaces where students can reset and recharge. These calming environments offer innovative resources such as aromatherapy kits, fidgets and weighted blankets plus guided mindfulness and relaxation audio tracks.
The Center for Students in Recovery staff and members of its community got creative with a visit outside their space to the Turrell Skyspace for community-building.
Throughout October, RecSports has been celebrating 35 years since the opening of the Recreational Sports Center. Key individuals and groups who made the legacy of this student-funded facility possible were inducted into the RecSports Hall of Honor on Oct. 24. The department will wrap up festivities with a 1990’s themed birthday celebration for students on Oct. 29. Read more and see the photos from Hall of Honor.
Resources
Recruitment for the newest class of orientation advisors (OA) is underway. Longhorn Orientation in the Office of the Dean of Students aims to build a team of talented student leaders from across campus who are passionate about welcoming incoming Longhorns.
University Health Services is hosting flu shot clinics until Oct. 30 at Gregory Gym for students, faculty and staff. Vice President John Dalton received his flu shot on campus and there’s still time to drop into a clinic or make an appointment to help protect yourselves and others against before peak flu season.
Healthyhorns partnered with UT Police at their National Night Out event, sharing health and well-being resources with the campus community. The collaborative annual event promotes connection, community building and safety awareness on and around campus.
RecSports partnered with Human Resources to host the inaugural New UT Employee Welcome luncheon at Gregory Gym. Nearly 90 new faculty and staff were invited to connect with each other, tour the facility and learn more about what RecSports offers. Participants also heard from presenters with Learning and Development and the Employee Assistance Program. View the photos.
Longhorn TIES continues to meet the sensory and social needs of neurodivergent students. They hosted a sensory-friendly Halloween hangout featuring pumpkin decorating, DIY sensory boards, fall snacks and a movie. They also hosted a Neurodivergence Affirming Training for faculty and staff to introduce participants to the concept of neurodivergence, explore the language, culture and lived experiences of neurodivergent communities, and share resources to better support neurodivergent students.
SHIFT co-hosted an Operation Naloxone training with the Sobering Center and Good Work Austin for 10 hospitality professionals from the local community. The attendees received opioid overdose prevention training, demonstrating SHIFT’s commitment to community partnerships and harm reduction in the hospitality industry.