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- We will host seven Freshman Orientation and three Transfer Orientation sessions this summer through June and July, with hybrid and virtual options. Students can choose whether they want to experience being on campus for a portion of their orientation session with small group interactions, peer activities and an overnight stay. We will continue to follow the university’s health and safety guidance throughout this in-person programming. While programming for the hybrid orientation model is still being finalized, all college and school meetings, advising sessions and class registration will remain virtual in all freshman and transfer orientation formats, and orientation dates will not change. Students will still have the option to complete orientation 100% virtually. Registration for the hybrid option opens May 10.
- Planning is underway for Longhorn Welcome Aug. 20-29. This series of free virtual and in-person events welcome incoming freshman and transfer students to Living the Longhorn Life®. Freshmen, new transfer students and current sophomores are encouraged to participate. All events will follow health guidance and social distancing guidelines.
- Staff will recognize graduating seniors from the Horns Helping Horns, First-Generation Living Learning Community and Longhorn TIES (Transition, Inclusion, Empower, Success) programs during a celebration on May 10.
- Follow the Off-Campus Initiative (@utoffcampus) on Instagram to connect students to campus resources, ways to explore Austin and upcoming events.
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- Our annual celebration and awards ceremony for student organizations, Evening of Stars, will be held as a hybrid event on May 4.
Students shop at the UT Outpost sidewalk sale.
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- Join us for the Get Started with RecSports program, a 30-day fitness plan featuring daily pre-recorded workouts taught by some of our best fitness instructors. This holistic program is open to all and does not require a RecSports membership.
- Faculty and staff are invited to join us at the Faculty and Staff Wellness Retreat on May 15. Participants will enjoy a relaxing morning of mindfulness, meditation and hiking at the newly-renovated Pease Park, and will take home a new yoga mat and towel.
- We will host RecSports Field Day on May 11 at Caven-Clark Field, featuring team and individual play. Students can register for this event to take a study break from finals and compete for prizes.
- Celebrate National Employee Health and Fitness Day at the annual Poker Walk. This year’s event for faculty and staff is going virtual, allowing you to complete the one-mile walk from wherever you are, anytime, May 10–16. Register by May 9.
- During a virtual ceremony on May 6, our team will honor student employees who have been selected to receive a 2021 Endowed Scholarship.
Randall Ford participating in Longhorn Run.
- On April 17 over 1,500 runners participated in this year's virtual Longhorn Run. Runners crossed their finish line in 37 states and 14 countries, showing once more that when Longhorns run together, there are no limits.
Kari Terry, Cecilia Lopez Cardenas and President Hartzell at Carothers Residence Hall
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Terrance Hines, Daiva Velez, Genna Niemann and Stephanie Quiroz at the Gregory Gym vaccination site
- We, along with our campus partners, have administered more than 120,000 vaccines at Gregory Gym, and are now beginning the process of moving our vaccination efforts to the Health Transformation Building (HTB), the home of UT Health Austin. The last date to receive a first dose of the two-dose Pfizer vaccine through the Gregory Gym operation will be Friday, May 7; appointments and walk-ins after May 7 will be welcomed at HTB. We will continue to administer second doses at Gregory Gym through May 28. Register to get your vaccine at this convenient, well-organized operation with short wait times.
Grace Bova and Arianna McArdle (Office of the Dean of Students) at Gregory Gym
- Sign up for a volunteer shift at the university’s COVID-19 vaccination site to help answer questions and manage the lines.
- Help promote our campus’ COVID-19 vaccination effort by using one of these Zoom backgrounds at your next meeting.
- Our Proactive Community Testing team completed their 100,000th COVID-19 test last month. Continue to encourage students to participate in this free testing at a convenient on- or off-campus location.
Public Information Team Retreat
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Jester West Single Room 3D Room Tour
- Check out the new virtual 3D room tours for residence halls, University Apartments and event spaces. Read more about this effort and a similar virtual experience in the University Unions facilities.
- We are accepting housing applications for summer and the 2021-2022 academic year.
- Our Marketing and Communications Team solicited questions from incoming freshmen and will create a video with staff and students answering them.
Juanita Trevino at Jester City Limits
- Our Dining Team hosted pop-up kitchens in April for students to sample potential new menu offerings and provide feedback.
- Our Sustainability Team celebrated Earth Day with four events: UT Farm Stand, April 14; Southern Homestyle Meal, spotlighting locally-sourced ingredients, April 15; Soap and Face Mask Workshop, April 19; and Longhorn Local Market, April 22.
- Residence Life staff inducted 12 students into the National Residence Hall Honorary on April 21.
- On April 9 our Student Staff Selection Committee interviewed 81 candidates interested in our summer student staff positions.
Shauna Sobers at the Residence Life Leadership Team Retreat
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- Campus Events+Entertainment will host a grab-and-go Chillfest event May 5, noon-4 p.m., Texas Union East Patio, with treats, drinks and ways students can “de-stress” before finals.
- In April E+E hosted a series of afternoon musical performances on the patio. This free programming gave students a fun, low-risk way to enjoy live music, while following social distancing protocol and health guidance.
Alex Katz, Sarah Remelius, Marissa Gutierrez and Luz Martinez Aburto (Vice President for Student Affairs) at Forty Acres Fest
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- Celebrate your colleagues receiving staff service awards and hear legislative session updates at the Vice President for Student Affairs Office Hours on May 10. Check out the list of staff service recipients below!
- The Programming Team is hosting Longhorn Send-Off May 3-7 to help students celebrate the end of the semester. Check out this lineup of fun, end-of-semester events to wish students well on final exams and projects.
- On May 12 President Hartzell will announce the President’s Student Employee of the Year Award winner and 10 finalists. Our office co-sponsors this annual recognition with the Office of the President and Human Resources. This year, the award announcement will be merged with the annual faculty and staff awards recognition.
Longhorn Family Leadership Council Meeting
- The Longhorn Family Leadership Council is hosting a Lunch and Learn networking event with graduating seniors on May 5. On April 16 the council met to discuss Division of Student Affairs fundraising priorities with the Development Team.
- Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students Soncia Reagins-Lilly and Interim Executive Vice President and Provost Daniel Jaffe shared this COVID-19 vaccine information with students on April 20.
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Lisa Kappil, University Unions, received the 2021 Asian Pacific Islander Knowledge Community Pre-Conference Award at the 2021 NASPA Virtual Conference.
Sotear Kuy (University Housing and Dining) at HealthPoint Recharge
Sotear Kuy, University Housing and Dining, provided tips for stir fry cooking during a virtual cooking class at the HealthPoint Recharge event on April 15.
Paige Muehlenkamp at the Texas Capitol
Paige Muehlenkamp, New Student Services, testified at the Texas Capitol during a higher education session on House Bill 214. The bill pertains to students enrolled at public institutions of higher education who are homeless or who are/were in foster care. She oversees the Horns Helping Horns program.
Soncia Reagins-Lilly (left) at the Sorority and Fraternity Life Awards
On April 14, Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students Soncia Reagins-Lilly shared welcome remarks at the annual Sorority and Fraternity Life Awards. She was also the featured guest at the Leadership and Ethics Institute’s Longhorn Leadership Chats on the Office of the Dean of Students Instagram channel. In May, Dr. Lilly will support graduating seniors, including participation in First-Gen Graduation and Black Graduation.
Alexis George (top) and Kate Lower at Texas Talks
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Counseling and Mental Health Center and University Health Services
Adebanke Adepoju, 15 years
Tanya Betak, 30 years
Neeta Bhakta, 20 years
Chris Brownson, 20 years
Estrellita “Star” Carlos, 10 years
Marla Craig, 15 years
Alicia Garces, 45 years
Paul Gentle, 15 years
Susan Hochman, 10 years
Kathryn Hotrum, 15 years
Joan Long, 10 years
Julie Newton, 30 years
Dian Peavey, 15 years (retired)
Suzanne Ramirez, 20 years
Mary Rhodes, 20 years
Ronnie Ruiz, 10 years
Gerardo Ungo, 10 years
Lee Warren, 15 years
“I love working with college-age students so much, and I love working with my colleagues because of their dedication and commitment to serve the students. Influencing the Longhorn Life means helping students learn how to believe in themselves – it’s a skill. I feel very lucky to get paid to do what I love to do.” -Alicia Garces, 45 years
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University Housing and Dining
Gilberto Acosta, 20 years
Eva Barba, 45 years (retired)
Marc Chandler, 20 years
Jennifer Cole, 15 years
Yolanda Esquivel, 25 years
Michael Farrell, 25 years
George “Tony” Fuquay, 15 years (retired)
Melanie Grice, 10 years
Erica Guerra, 20 years
Treina Jackson, 10 years
Gregory Jenkins, 15 years
Charles Kerrigan, 10 years
Florentino Lopez-Rivera, 10 years
Rudy Martinez, 40 years
Cesar Ramirez, 20 years
Alexander Rapp, 15 years
Oralia Rodriguez, 30 years
David Rodriguez, 15 years
Karina Rodriguez, 15 years
Sehila Rodriguez-Suarez, 10 years
Chris Starche, 10 years
Sarah Webb, 10 years
Lela Williams, 25 years
Lindsay Wilson, 10 years
Robert Yenelavage, Jr., 30 years (retired)
Jonathan Yeo, 20 years
Jessica Yu, 15 years
Gabino Zarate, Jr., 20 years
“The team is a close-knit family that I miss very much now that I’m retired. I would do anything for them, and they would do anything for me. I enjoyed seeing the different halls, meeting students from all over the world and being able to help them out.” -Eva Barba, 45 years (retired)
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