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,

Spring is in the air, and as we move through March, the Division of Administration and Finance has been deeply engaged in enhancing and showcasing the services it offers to the campus community. This month’s spring newsletter highlights the various ways our division has been active around campus during the past two months.

In February, Environmental Health & Safety observed Lab Safety Week, reminding everyone to stay informed and aware of best practices for safety in our campus labs. Additionally, February was Heart Health Month, so please take some time to review the heart-healthy tips to help build positive habits for your cardiovascular health.

February was also IPMA In-Plant Awareness Month, a time dedicated to recognizing the contributions of our in-house design, printing, mailing, and distribution professionals. Our Copy Print and Delivery Services department, now in its 76th year of operation at UH, plays a vital role in providing many essential services.

This month's newsletter highlights UH Dining Services’ support for our campus with dining events like the Go Texan Day celebration, and the Holi Festival of Colors.

Additionally, the Staff Appreciation Event Committee is putting the finishing touches on another stellar A&F Staff Appreciation Event. I look forward to seeing everyone on April 2nd as we celebrate and recognize our divisional employees.

Other notable items in this spring newsletter include:

• An article highlighting the Fire Extinguisher and Fire Drill training offered by Fire & Life Safety. 
• An article detailing the importance of registering one’s bike or scooter.
• A look into Cullen Performance Hall and all that it offers UH.

Please take the time to read and explore all the divisional updates, feature stories, and accolades in this month’s newsletter. I am grateful for each of you and the outstanding work and support you provide daily to strengthen our community and enhance student success.

What It Do BBQ Opens to Grand Fan Fare

The University of Houston welcomed a new dining establishment to campus with the official opening of What It Do BBQ this spring semester. The restaurant serves standard barbecue items such as brisket, baked potatoes, pulled pork, slow-smoked turkey, and wings. What It Do BBQ is located at TDECU Stadium along Cullen Boulevard, across from the Science and Engineering Research Center. Read more about What It Do BBQ's grand opening.

UH Dining Services Celebrates Go Texan Day

The University of Houston Dining Services team added an event to its Cultural Dining Series in late February by observing Go Texan Day at Cougar Woods Dining Commons. Go Texan Day, currently in its 71st year, marks the unofficial start to Rodeo season in Houston and features Houstonians dressed in Western attire. The idea for Go Texan Day at a dining common emerged after UH Dining Services, in consultation with Auxiliary Services, aimed to align programming with Houston traditions. Read more about UH Dining Services' Go Texan Day celebration.

Tabling event spells love: C-O-U-G-A-R C-A-R-D

Love connections were made at the Student Center South on Valentine’s Day, where students and faculty/staff were reintroduced to something they hold near and dear: their Cougar Card. The “Fall in Love with Your Cougar Card” tabling event provided the perfect opportunity for card owners to explore the card’s benefits and, for some, rekindle their appreciation for their cards. Read more about how students learned to love their Cougar Card.

Variety, Rentals, Volunteerism Star at Cullen Hall

Cullen Performance Hall, located in the center of the main campus of the University of Houston, has been a local showplace for a spectrum of entertainers and performances since it opened in 1950. The theater continues this tradition, offering tickets to the public online or through its box office, and discounted tickets to UH students for select shows. CPH is also available to UH departments and the community to hold their events and performances. Read more about all that CPH has to offer.

New Food Kiosk Now Operating at Student Center

The Student Center South has a new food destination, and it’s a unique one. Just Baked is a fully automated temperature-controlled kiosk that dispenses an array of warm baked goodies such as cinnamon rolls, potstickers, White Castle burger sliders, burritos, cookies, and more. Users use the touch screen to select their item, wait a couple of minutes for it to heat up, and when ready it dispenses the baked treat. Watch Just Baked in action to learn more.

Holi Festival of Colors Celebration Marks Spring with Vivid Colors, Flavors

University of Houston students and faculty /staff enjoyed the sights, sounds, and samplings of Indian cuisine during the Holi Festival of Colors at Cougar Woods Dining Commons. The celebration acknowledges spring, love, new beginnings, and good over evil.

The Cougar Woods Dining Commons was the perfect location to set up a grand colorful entrance to welcome and draw in people, allow the spring sun to shine in, and to hold the powder throw in the lawn space in front of the dining commons. Read more about the Holi Festival of Colors celebration.

Parking & Transportation Hosts Pop-Ups

The Parking & Transportation department has hosted nine pop-ups this semester at different parking locations to give students, faculty, and staff an opportunity to ask them questions about their permits, parking lots, or general parking questions. Aside from answering questions, the department is informing them of relaxed parking, Cougar Ride, and the importance of bike/scooter registration. Parking & Transportation will continue holding pop-ups to address students' concerns and inform them of services offered by the department.

Ride and Dine Pilot Program Launches

Parking & Transportation, in partnership with Auxiliary Services, have unveiled a new shuttle route dubbed, 'Ride and Dine'. The shuttle service will provide transportation for students living in residence halls to and from Cougar Woods Dining Commons. The 'Ride and Dine' shuttle will operate Friday and Saturday from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. See the live shuttle tracking page to see where the 'Ride and Dine' shuttle, and all other shuttle buses are on campus.

Phishing: Don't Get Reeled In

Phishing is when criminals use fake emails, social media posts, or direct messages to lure you into clicking a bad link or downloading a malicious attachment. One click on a phishing link could put you at risk of involuntarily handing over your personal information or could install malware onto your device. UIT has provided a handy document to help you learn how to recognize the commons signs of phishing. Learn more about the phishing, and how to spot it.

Stay Cougar S.A.F.E.

	Map Displays Emergency Call Boxes Across Campus A new interactive map on the UH Maps webpage now has the location of the emergency call boxes across the UH Main campus, as well as Katy and Sugar Land. These emergency call boxes are placed at various locations across UH and can place a call directly to the UHPD dispatch center to request police assistance. See the locations of the emergency call boxes on the interactive map.
	EHS Observes Lab Safety Week, Answers Students’ Questions For the third year in a row, the Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) department observed Lab Safety Week, a time dedicated to recognizing the efforts of laboratory health and safety programs. Additionally, the department uses this time to answer any lab safety-related questions from students and faculty. Stephanie Araiza, a radiation safety specialist with EHS and one of the University of Houston Lab Safety Week organizers, said this event allows the department to put a face to the safety emails they send out and get feedback from the campus research community. Read more about Lab Safety Week and how EHS employees assisted students.
	Environmental Health & Safety Director volunteers at Science & Engineering Fair of Houston Environmental Health and Safety Director, Lisa Benford volunteered as a new STEM judge at the Science and Engineering Fair of Houston (SEFH). The science fair is one of the largest STEM competitions in Texas and was sponsored by Chevron and UH. SEFH hosted the event at the Fort Bend Epicenter in Rosenberg, TX where over 1,000 students from around the Houston region and its surrounding 22 counties participated. Major categories included life sciences, physical sciences and engineering. “Everyone (at all levels) leaves the event feeling inspired," said Benford who added that she will continue to volunteer and encourage others to volunteer.
	Office of Emergency Management Collaborates with UH Building Coordinators In the latest Building Coordinators Meeting, emergency preparedness took center stage as Maia Solomon, Emergency Management Specialist, presented key resources and opportunities for collaboration between building coordinators and the emergency management team. The meeting highlighted the vital role that building coordinators play in ensuring safety and preparedness within their facilities. Read more about this first Building Coordinators meeting of the year.
	Fire and Life Safety Trains UH Student Center Student Workers Members of the Fire and Life Safety (FLS) Office taught 70 student workers from the Student Center about Automated External Defibrillator (AED) familiarization and fire extinguishers. The training culminated in the students having the opportunity to use a fire extinguisher. Any office or building who would like to learn how to use a fire extinguisher can email FLS at fls@central.uh.edu.
	Fire & Life Safety Conducts Safety Training for the Student Health Center The University of Houston’s Fire & Life Safety department recently conducted a General Fire Safety & Fire Extinguisher training for the Student Health Center and the attendees came away better prepared with fire safety knowledge and skills. Deputy Fire Marshal Sara Alexander led the class, supported by Assistant Fire Marshal Marcus Hicks, Deputy Fire Marshal Ernest Johnson, and Fire Safety Technician Chris Barrientes. The training covered crucial fire safety information, fire extinguisher usage, and proper fire drill procedures. Learn more about Fire & Life Safety's training.
	The Importance of Bicycle and Scooter Registration at the University of Houston As you move around campus, you might have noticed the increasing number of bicycles and scooters around the university this semester. With the rise in their usage, it's crucial to understand the importance of registering your bicycle or scooter with the university. Learn more about the usefulness of registering your bicycle or scooter.
	Spring Flood Safety Tips As spring arrives, increased rainfall can lead to rising water levels, overflowing rivers, and flash floods. These sudden floods can pose significant risks to communities, especially in low-lying areas that can be found in Houston. It's crucial to stay informed about weather conditions and be prepared to take action if flooding occurs. Even small amounts of standing or moving water can be dangerous, so exercising caution is essential. Read the flood safety tips to be better prepared.
	UHPD, Facilities Services, join DART Center in First Cougar Walk & Roll The University of Houston Police Department partnered with the university’s Justin Dart Jr., Student Accessibility Center, and Facilities Services to host the first Cougar Walk & Roll, an event modeled on the annual Walk in the Dark event. While UHPD’s Walk in the Dark event focuses on identifying areas that could benefit from increased lightning, the Cougar Walk & Roll asks participants to locate accessibility concerns on campus. Read more about the first Cougar Walk & Roll.

Cougar Cudos

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

Facilities/Construction Management Releases New Issue of Facilities in Review Magazine

Facilities/Construction Management’s latest issue of the ‘Facilities in Review’ magazine is now available to read. This year’s edition highlights accomplishments from the department in 2024. Highlights include the department highlighting the first Spanish First Aid class, and the Memorial Hermann Football Operations topping out ceremony to name a few. Read the full 'Facilities in Review Magazine' to learn more about Facilities/Construction Management.

CPD Team Takes Pride in Print, Delivery, Design

Copy, Print and Delivery Services would like to introduce the people who make up its dedicated team as part of its In-Plant Awareness Month celebration. The month of recognition was set up by the In-Plant Printing and Mailing Association to introduce the in-plant industry and the individuals who provide in-house design, printing, mailings, and deliveries. Learn more about the employees that make up CPD.

American Heart Month: A Time to Focus on Your Cardiovascular Health

February was American Heart Health Month, providing an opportunity to focus on our cardiovascular health. According to the American Heart Assocation (AHA), an American experiences a cardiovascular incident every 39 seconds, with heart disease being one of the leading causes of death for both men and women. Learn more about how to build better habits to keep your hearth healthy.

Introducing New Health Portal

The University’s EAP, Deer Oaks, will now be doing business as AllOne Health. This update also brings expanded benefit offerings and an ALL-NEW EAP Member Portal for you and your dependents. The new EAP Member Portal will provide enhanced features to access mental health support, financial wellness tools and new medical advocacy referrals, to name a few. To get started, visit AllOneHealth.com/DeerOaks to sign up.

Create Your Buena Vida Account - Live the Good Life

Create and log into your NEW Buena Vida account to view your health benefits and discover a variety of no-cost offerings such as Hello Heart, Hinge Health, Learn to Live, Wonder, Real Appeal and more! Buena Vida is a new wellness platform powered by WebMD that allows you to access your health benefits and many other helpful resources, including The Fitness Program, a program that provides one membership accepted at a variety of area gyms.

Enroll this month using code: MARCH25, and you’ll pay no initiation fee! Note: Your Buena Vida account is where you’ll find the new online health assessment required to apply for HR Power Up’s Wellness Leave program.

A&F Staff Appreciation Event Reminder

A reminder that the A&F Staff Appreciation Event will be held on April 2 at 11 a.m. in the Student Center South, Houston Room. This event is an opportunity to celebrate and acknowledge the 2024 accomplishments of A&F staff plus recognize employee service to the university. Learn more about the A&F Staff Appreciation Event by visiting the website.

POWER UP with an On-campus Health Checkup

Participate in an on-campus no-cost Catapult Health Checkup available to BCBTX HealthSelect plan members who have not had a preventive exam in the last 12 months. Thirty-minute appointments will occur in the Student Center South’s Heights Room #224 on April 7, 8 & 9, from 8:30 – 3:30 PM and provide you with information about your blood pressure, cholesterol, triglycerides, blood sugar and more. Fasting is not required.

Bonus: Participation will count as the physical exam requirement for Wellness Leave, AND you will receive $50 Buena Vida Bucks that can be used in the Buena Vida portal shopping mall.  Appointment times are limited. To secure your Catapult Health Checkup, register today.

On-Campus Mammograms Hosted by HR POWER UP

Mobile Mammograms come to campus for one day only this spring in The Rose’s mobile mammography unit located in Lot 19F between the Power Plant and Technology Annex! Eligible employees with BCBSTX HealthSelect or other accepted insurance plans are encouraged to participate Monday, April 14, from 9am – 3:30 PM. Register today (Code: UHCR) as limited appointments will be available. For assistance in English or Spanish, visit The Rose online or call 281-464-5136.