Student Centers Celebrates National Custodian Appreciation Day
The Student Centers celebrated National Custodian Appreciation Day on October 2, 2021 by organizing a goodie bag distribution for all 20 custodians. The custodial staff ensures our facilities are always clean, sanitary, and functional. They are quick on their feet and are always willing to assist when needed, even for last minute requests. Their contribution has been especially valuable in the past year, as they have done a phenomenal job at keeping the facility sanitized during the COVID-19 pandemic. As front-line workers, they have ensured University of Houston students and staff remain healthy and safe while in the facility.
Items that were donated included t-shirts, umbrellas and hand sanitizer. Thanks to the following departments that contributed items:
Student Center Celebrates the Grand Opening of Asado
Asado Burritos and Bowls, a new dining option at the Student Center South, serves a customizable Tex-Mex menu and had its grand opening on August 24th, 2021. The celebration took place from 11:00 a.m to 2:00 p.m. There was a ribbon-cutting and guests received free food samples, swag items, and guest vouchers. This location has food pick-up lockers to help reduce lines and encourage physical distancing. Asado replaced Freshii in the Student Center South, following approval from the Student Center Policy Board.
July 19, 2021
Student Centers Welcomes New Sales and Events Manager
Carlos Rodriguez has joined the Student Centers team as the Events and Sales Manager.
Carlos is responsible for helping customers with event space reservations and providing leadership to Conference and Reservations Services (CARS) within the Student Centers. He will work with Registered Student Organizations and student groups, campus departments, and off-campus clients to understand and navigate building and space use policies and procedures when going through the reservations process. Additionally, Carlos will work to understand each group’s needs and help connect them with necessary campus resources to ensure successful events.
Carlos has a B.S. in Kinesiology-Sports Administration & M.S. in Hospitality Management both from the University of Houston. In his previous role, Carlos worked with the Sugarland Skeeters and most recently as the Operations Manager at the Hilton Americas-Houston.
"I’m looking forward to providing memorable experiences for all of our clients and being able to give back to the university that gave me so much," Carlos states.
Join us in welcoming Carlos Rodriguez to the Student Centers.
July 8, 2021
Student Centers’ Program Manager Selected into ACUI’s 2021-2022 ‘Closing the Gap’ Cohort
Andrea Trevino, former Program Manager for the Student Centers’ Information and Operations and current Program Manager for Conference and Guest Services for Student Housing and Residential Life, has been one of nine individuals selected into the Association of College Union International’s (ACUI) Closing the Gap 2021-2022 Cohort.
Trevino has been an employee of the University of Houston for almost twelve years as both a student and full-time employee. Trevino said when she first applied for the cohort, she felt like she was back in school, standing on the court sidelines waiting to be “picked to be on the team.”
"Often times as a person that doesn't fit the standard type of society’s stereotypes, we start to lose hope and believe we aren't capable of being more than what others have placed before us,” Trevino said. “To be mentored by a great group of individuals who themselves have many intersectionalities will hopefully provide an atmosphere for personal and professional growth.”
Now in its second year, the Closing the Gap Career Advancement Program aims to provide Black, indigenous, and other professionals of color looking to advance into senior leadership roles with cohort-based education and mentorship. Participants gain insightful knowledge, tips, support, representation, and a larger network of student affairs professionals who understand the challenges and successes they have daily.
“I've had a few mentors and sponsors in my life that have helped me along the way, and I hope to gain and be rewarded with working relationships that build into friendships so I can help mentor, coach, and sponsor the next generation of higher ed professionals,” Trevino said.
Participants and supporters engage in virtual gatherings, one-on-one meetings, and offline connections that:
Facilitate peer networking across identities
Enhance visibility and success of leaders from marginalized identities within ACUI
Support professional development of mid-level professionals
Provide opportunities for cross-generational learning
Increase potential employers' access to a diverse pool of talented leaders
It is ACUI’s hope that Closing the Gap participants and supporters form a coalition that boosts representation in the field of higher education and removes the silos of marginalized groups often present in social justice work.
"Warren Buffett once said, ‘someone is sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago,’ ” Trevino said. “I hope to plant a seed that will grow into a tree to provide shade for the next generation of individuals that struggled through life — like I did and still do. We have lots of work in closing many of the gaps that exist in life, but I'm hopeful for the foundation that is being paved with the ACUI Closing the Gap program.”
March 30, 2021
Student Centers' Student Employee of the Month
The Student Centers would like to congratulate our Student Employee of the Month for February; Amanda Wood, Information Center and Marketing. Amanda was nominated by her fellow Student Centers' student employee co-worker, Rida Umar, for her display of our core values: Customer Service, Communication, Diversity & Inclusion, Education, Fun, Innovation, Integrity and Team Work.
From Nomination: "Amanda has gone above and beyond for not only the Information Desk but also other departments making sure they have the help they need. She always is a light to work with and her energy permeates throughout the team. Her communication and flexibility inspire me to do more!"
March 30, 2021
Sustainability Updates
ACUI Excellence in Innovations in Sustainability Award The Excellence in Innovations in Sustainability award recognizes campuses that solve environmental challenges through innovation and sustainable practices or creative partnerships. The award is designed to encourage and reward a campus on the leading edge of facilities trends through its production and application of sustainability outcomes.
The 2021 Excellence in Innovations in Sustainability recipient is Cohesive Culture of Sustainability at the University of Houston. The Student Centers at the University of Houston incorporated three actions in their role in raising awareness and fostering a better understanding of the interconnectedness of the term “sustainability.” Recycled materials were used to incorporate artwork within their facility that shared sustainability facts about the Student Centers. A partnership with an existing film series that engaged students in discussions about societal issues resulted in a highlight of films with sustainability as a component. Finally, Sustainability Lunch and Learns offered education on different sustainability topics and provided a healthy, well-balanced meal. Congratulations to Andrea Trevino, chair of the Student Centers Sustainability Committee, and all of its members for their hard work in leading these efforts!
E-Waste Drive An E-waste drive will be held on April 22, 2021, from 8:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. in the Student Centers Circle Drive. Items that can be accepted as E-waste are: cable/wire, circuit boards, computers, drivers, fax machines, mainframe, monitors, networking equipment, power strips, printers, scanners, servers, telephones/cell phones, and VCR/DVD players.
Items not accepted as E-waste are: ferrous materials, hazardous materials, household appliances, larger copiers, non-computer plastics, paper, refrigerators, televisions, University of Houston-owned property, and wood. For more information, please contact Andrea Trevino.
March 30, 2021
Weekly Blood Drive
By Appointment Only Downtown Room - 261
These are the final opportunities this semester to donate blood in partnership with Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center. You can make your appointment for one of the following three dates:
Thursday, April 8
Tuesday, April 13
Wednesday, April 21
March 30, 2021
Race Card Project
The Student Centers has launched a new virtual program, the Race Card Project. This program aims to provide students with a safe and comfortable platform to speak out against racial injustice, and in the process, feature our students' feelings on the subject. This gives them the opportunity to give a personal perspective and share their individual story as it pertains to race. Tell us your story and see other student features by visiting the Race Card website.
Wednesday, April 21st, 4:00 – 6:00 pm, SC Theater
Promising Young Woman
The Student Centers Film Series, in partnership with UH Wellness and the Women and Gender Resource Center, will screen 'Promising Young Woman' during Sexual Assault Awareness Month. This film focuses on a young woman facing the traumas of traumatic* events in her past. A discussion with UH Wellness and WGRC will take place the following day via Zoom.
*Content warning: This film contains violent themes including, but not limited to, sexual assault, domestic violence, sexual harassment, sexual language, asphyxiation, substance abuse, murder, and suicide. This film does not show graphic on-screen scenes of sexual violence but does show one graphic scene of physical violence.
*Closed for Memorial Day on Monday, May 31 *Closed July 3-5th for Independence Day
January 28, 2021
University of Houston’s Student Centers To Host ‘Because I Said I Would’
The University of Houston’s Student Centers are proud to host Because I Said I Would (BISIW), a social movement and nonprofit dedicated to the betterment of humanity through promises made and kept. This virtual speaker event will feature founder, Alex Sheen, and will be live-streamed on Tuesday, February 2nd at noon and can be viewed on our BISIW website using UH Login.
Sparked by the loss of his father, Alex and his organization send “promise cards” to anyone anywhere in the world at no cost. Alex is someone who truly honors commitment. He once walked over 240 miles across the entire state of Ohio in 10 days to fulfill a promise. In just two years, ‘BISIW’ has sent over 12.3 million promise cards to over 153 different countries. The promises written on these cards have made headlines around the world. Alex is a five-time Tedx Talk speaker and his charitable work has been featured on ABC World News with Diane Sawyer, CNN, The Today Show, NPR, The Los Angeles Times and many other programs
Anyone in the UH Community can participate, Get Involved, and Make a Promise. The success of any movement is commitment. BISIW wants UH students, faculty and staff committed to being accountable to doing what they said they would do.
Participants can submit a promise card electronically or post on social media, tag @uhstudentcenter and use the hashtag #bisiwUH. Following appropriate approval and signing a waiver, promise cards will be displayed on the Student Centers Digital Art Gallery following the event.
For more information about the project, please contact Eve Esch (713) 743-3040.
January 28, 2021
University of Houston’s Student Centers Partners with GCRBC to Host Weekly Blood Drives
Beginning Tuesday, February 2, 2021, The Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center (GCRBC) will begin holding weekly blood drives in the Downtown Room of the Student Center South on the University of Houston campus.
The University of Houston Student Centers and GCRBC would like to continue this trend even amid the COVID-19 pandemic. “This partnership started over 20 years ago, but when we heard they were struggling, we agreed to host the drives inside, as we are currently the location of the university’s mobile COVID testing site,” explained Eve Esch, Director of the Student Centers.
The GCRBC’s donations have been down 80% since the pandemic started. They provide blood to 170 hospitals in the greater Houston area.
Since 2000, 796 blood drives have been hosted at the University of Houston with 25,331 blood donations which has saved 75,993 lives. Additionally, they are now conducting donation and collection of COVID-19 Convalescent Plasma (CCP). This is encouraging, as it may be an effective treatment when given early to hospitalized patients with COVID-19.
