Comprised of Division features, accolades and achievements, as well as valuable "In Case You Missed It (ICYMI)" news you can use, each edition of the newsletter highlights key information and resources across the Division's departmental, operational and service unit areas. Subscribe to the A&F listserv.

Dear Colleagues:

April provided the opportunity for the Division of Administration and Finance to host the A&F Staff Appreciation Event to highlight the division’s individual and collective accomplishments from 2023. It was great seeing so many of you connecting and networking with fellow colleagues from across the division at our annual appreciation luncheon. I enjoyed the opportunity to celebrate and honor divisional achievements from the past year and to recognize colleagues who met years of service milestones in 2023. I encourage all of you to read the A&F Staff Appreciation recap feature to relive the event and see all the event photos.

This month, we also feature an article on three A&F student employees as April marks the time of year in which our university celebrates student employees. On-campus jobs help students become more involved on campus and provide resume-building work experience for them. I encourage you to read this student employee feature to hear directly from our students about how they balance their coursework and on-campus employment. Also, please take a moment this month to say “thank you” to student employees in your own areas. We are grateful for our students and their contributions to our divisional departments.

In this month’s newsletter, we present a series of feature articles that underscore the Division of Administration and Finance's unwavering commitment to supporting the community. Notable articles include:

• The University Information Technology’s sponsorship of the university’s first-ever Ideathon event this spring.
• University Information Technology’s featured Stay Cougar S.A.F.E. article to help students know the difference between a job opportunity and a job scam.
• Human Resources’ Spring Into Wellness workshops that provided benefits-eligible employees an opportunity to speak with a variety of financial institutions.
• The Office of Emergency Management hosted its largest Community Emergency Response Team Training this spring.

I am so grateful to each of you and all that you do to support our community. Thank you for bringing your best to your work every day.

A&F Staff Appreciation Event Celebrates Employees

The Administration and Finance Staff Appreciation Event provided the division an opportunity to reflect and celebrate the individual and collective accomplishments within the division. The staff appreciation event gave colleagues and opportunity to meet and talk with fellow colleagues, while enjoying a decadent lunch. Read more about the Staff Appreciation Luncheon and visit the event website to see all the award recipients.

A&F Student Employees Share Their Experiences

The second week of April is designated as National Student Employment Week by the National Student Employment Association, and in the Division of Administration and Finance, 112 hourly student workers are employed with division departments, food establishments, or campus retail locations to supplement their income, gain real-life work experience, and obtain resume-building skills.

For many students, going to university is the first time they are responsible for their schedule. From choosing their classes to navigating new social environments, no student has the same university life. With student employees, that individual freedom is enhanced as they are tasked with balancing their academic courses with their employee workload. Read more about the experience of three A&F student employees.

A&F’s Involvement with Frontier Fiesta

Frontier Fiesta has been a mainstay event at the University of Houston for the past 85 years. The three-day event includes cook-off competitions, musical performances, carnival booths and rides, and numerous fun events like paint by number and laser tag this year. As with many other UH traditions, multiple A&F employees and departments work behind the scenes to ensure the event runs smoothly. This year, Frontier Fiesta takes place in April. Learn more about how A&F assists with Frontier Fiesta by reading last year’s feature story.

UIT Sponsors University of Houston’s first-ever Ideathon

In March, the University Information Technology department hosted the university’s first-ever Ideathon event and by all accounts it was a rousing success. Ideathon is a 24-hour event that challenges teams of students to bring app ideas to life by using the Modo Campus platform. The event benefits students as it allows them to receive training and hands-on experience working on the Modo Labs platform which partnered with UIT to sponsor the event. Read more about UH’s first Ideathon.

Facilities/Construction Management Engages at TAPPA Conference

University of Houston staff members from the Facilities/Construction Management department attended the 2024 TAPPA Educational Conference and Business Partner Fair in San Marcos, Texas from April 7 – April 9. 

This state-wide conference allows attendees opportunities to gain knowledge and become even more informed on topics related to facilities management. It also creates networking partnerships with facilities peers at other colleges and universities. Read more about how F/CM's time at the TAPPA Conference.

CTAP Highlighted on Fox 26

The Cougar Textbook Access Program was featured recently on FOX 26 Houston. The news package detailed how the program has helped students financially and helped them be better prepared in their collegiate journey. The CTAP program has received recognition for its inventive method of providing equal access to required course materials for the entire undergraduate student body. By combining technological advancements with student support, the CTAP program saves students money and supports student success. Watch the FOX 26 report on CTAP.

Office of Sustainability Leads the Charge on Earth Week

Earth Day has been celebrated in April since its inception in 1970, and for the University of Houston, the celebration encompassed an entire week from April 22-26 with the Office of Sustainability taking the lead. 

Featured events included an e-waste drive, a food waste audit, a sustainability-themed farmer’s market, a greenhouse tour, a campus cleanup, and a plant-forward menu at Moody Towers Dining Commons. Read more about UH's 2024 Earth Week.

Cullen Performance Hall Continues Its Success In Bringing Live Entertainment to Campus

For the second year in a row, Tennesse Theatre Company rented the Cullen Performance Hall to perform shows for visiting local elementary school students. Busloads of school children from across the Houston area came to the university to see the day-long fairy tale performances.

The Tennesse Theatre Company is a non-profit professional touring organization that performs for students at different venues across the country to show K-12 students first-hand the process of putting on a production and what it entails. Learn more about this event and how Cullen Performance Hall staff successfully bring nearly 30,000 guests to campus for booked shows and events.

Human Resources Springs into Financial Wellness

Human Resources held a retirement seminar, Spring into Financial Wellness, for University of Houston faculty and staff to help them better prepare for and navigate the retirement process, whether they are close to or far from it.

The seminar was held at the M.D. Anderson Library, in the Elizabeth Rockwell Pavilion and featured workshops from financial institutions like Social Security, TexaSaver, Corebridge Financial, Fidelity, TIAA, and VOYA. This was the first Spring into Financial Wellness program led by UH Human Resources since before the pandemic. Read more about the return of HR's retirement seminar.

Stay Cougar S.A.F.E.

	Students Learn about Disaster Preparedness in Largest CERT Class The Office of Emergency Management and Fire Life & Safety held its largest spring Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training with 29 students, faculty, and staff, making it the largest CERT training at the University of Houston. While faculty and staff members have been heavily represented in past CERT trainings, this spring edition proved to be popular with students. They made up almost half of the spring class, with 13 students participating. Read more about the largest-ever CERT class.
	New Text Option Now Available for UHPD The University of Houston Police Department has added a new way for the campus community to communicate with them – text messages. If you need assistance but cannot call UHPD, you can now text them at 713-743-3333. While making a call is still recommended, texting is a good alternative if you cannot call. UHPD’s motto for this new effort is, Call If You Can, Text If You Can’t. To use the UHPD texting service opt-in by simply sending a text message to 713-743-3333. The message will pop up in a centralized dashboard at UHPD dispatch and be directed to an officer. By sending a text message to 713-743-3333 you are opting in to the service. Learn more about this new service from UHPD.
	Fire & Life Safety conducts Fire Safety Training for UH Chemical Engineering Fire and Life Safety recently conducted fire extinguisher training for all UH Chemical Engineering students. These students had the opportunity to attend one of four classes offered at the Cullen College of Engineering. The class was divided into two parts. The first part involved learning about the fire tetrahedron, the different classes of fire, and fire extinguisher limitations. The second part allowed students to practice extinguishing a fire with a digital fire extinguisher. If you would like this free training for your group, please get in touch with the Office of Fire and Life Safety at 713-743-5866 or fls@central.uh.edu.
	Inaugural Edition of Chemical Safety Moment Receives Positive Feedback and Impact The inaugural edition of the Chemical Safety Moment newsletter, launched by Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) in March, has been positively received within the University of Houston research/teaching community. The newsletter serves as a vital platform for disseminating essential chemical and laboratory safety knowledge, awareness, training resources, and lessons learned within the UH research community. The newsletter aims to share valuable insights on chemical storage, segregation, handling, and disposal to promote a safer work environment across the UH main campus. Learn more about the Chemical Safety Moment newsletter.
	OEM & SHRL Support Resiliency Through Planning and Logistics  Over several years, the Office of Emergency Management (OEM) and Student Housing and Residential Life (SHRL) have been working together on emergency and continuity of operations plans to prepare for various scenarios that could impact housing operations. One initiative was to acquire cots that could be deployed quickly if residential students were temporarily displaced from their residence hall. With the diligence of OEM and SHRL, the acquisition of the much-needed cots came to fruition in April. Thanks to the collaboration between Irene Tobias, SHRL’s Risk & Emergency Management Program Manager, James Aguanno, SHRL’s Facilities Program Manager, and Ginger Walker, Director, OEM, the cots have arrived. The 100 cots, purchased by OEM, will be used to support students during extreme circumstances. The capability to quickly deploy the cots to students in need will be a powerful reminder of the dedication to student success and well-being by SHRL and OEM.
	Job Scam or Job Opportunity? UIT Presents Tips to Avoid Job Scams For University of Houston students, April is an opportune time to secure summer job and internship opportunities. However, it also provides scammers with an opportunity to obtain students' personal information. The University Information Technology department notes that scammers target UH students via their email. To that end, UIT has created a decision tree, Job Scam or Job Opportunity, to help students navigate potential job scam emails they may receive. Read UIT’s tips to avoid job scams.

Cougar Cudos

Cougar Cudos goes to UIT members, Matthew Harvey, Maricela Rodriguez, Rafael Arroyo, Larry Nissen. Human Resources' Nikki Duncan, Cristian Garcia, Frank Martinez, and Nicole Babineaux also receive Cougar Cudos. Cougar Cudos also go to Facilities/Construction Management members, Lourdes Arizpe, Maria Mendoza, Zaakirah Holmes, and Lindsay Ware.

To nominate a fellow staff member, fill out the Cougar Cudos Nomination Form.

Chef Chad McDonald Wins Gold at Southern NACUFS Conference

University of Houston Dining Services Chef Chad McDonald won gold and placed first overall at the Southern National Association of College & University Food Services (NACUFS) conference. McDonald wowed the judges with his dish Fruit de Mer. The Senior Executive Chef will now compete at the NACUFS 2024 National Conference in Louisville, Kentucky, where he will compete in front of a live audience. See a video recap of McDonald’s participation at the Southern NACUFS competition.

Student Success Story | FSAC Chair Alyssa Green

Alyssa Green is a Food Service Advisory Committee Student-At-Large member and the soon-to-be graduate shares how being part of FSAC, the shared governance committee faciliated by Auxiliary Services, has helped her gain invaluable experience.

"My service as FSAC chair has contributed greatly to my success as a student. The responsibilities of my position extend far beyond running FSAC meetings as my position asks me to not only use my voice to represent the students but also create a space where other students are invited and asked to share their experiences as well. Being the FSAC chair has made me think more holistically about how the Dining Program can be the most responsive to the student body. In my time, I have naturally begun to think about the sustainability of the decisions that the Committee makes, not just quick fixes, but solutions and programs that will have a lasting legacy. My role as FSAC chair has fundamentally changed the way I view leadership, service, and my contribution to the University.”

POWER UP your Health & Well-being

Human Resources encourages employees to POWER UP their wellness! If your focus is on living a healthy lifestyle, take advantage of BCBSTX HealthSelect wellness resources that can help. Make a change and begin today with a support system to make it easier. As a HealthSelect participant, you can apply to participate in one of two different virtual weight management programs at no additional cost.

Learn new skills in a fun and convenient way that will serve you now and well into the future. Eligible BCBSTX HealthSelect members can participate in either the Wondr or Real Appeal programs. Enroll today and begin experiencing lasting results.

Experience Discounts and Deals Year-round

Whether you’re in need of a new computer, buying a major appliance or planning that much-deserved vacation, make your first stop the HR POWER UP Employee Wellness web page to view “Employee Discounts!”

The web page list different discount agencies that provide university employees with access to a wide variety of national and local discounts. Don’t forget that as a BCBSTX HealthSelect participant, you can earn Blue Points that are redeemable in their online shopping mall. Chances are you may already have points!  View the Blue Points video tutorial to learn more and obtain merchandise at little to no cost.