Fall 2020 Edition
Roadrunner Days immerses new and returning students in the culture, traditions, and values of UTSA. Students will have the opportunity to engage with faculty, staff and fellow Roadrunners during programs and events that connect them to the resources, places, and people that make up our diverse community, contribute to their success, and help them discover a sense of belonging.
Before classes start...
It all starts on August 21...
Spirit Friday – Show Us Your Mask
Wear your UTSA gear today for #UTSASpiritFriday! Post a photo on your social media account in a shirt, hat, or even your mask, and tag #UTSARRDays.
Welcome Back Social featuring PlayFair
6 p.m.
The Welcome Back Social is a great way to meet new people and make new friends. You can also win some prizes! Playfair is a high-spirited, high-energy event that allows students to interact with each other and laugh with each other and feel a part of an exciting campus community. This year, we feature Playfair Online! as part of the event. Check it out and see who you will meet.
Saturday, August 22...
Campus Recreation VIP Day
1–6 p.m., Recreation & Wellness Center, Main Campus
Help us welcome back Campus Recreation with our VIP Day. Sign up for your social-distanced tour where you will get to experience some of the incredible programs and offerings we are bringing you this semester. Best of all, finish your tour with a FREE t-shirt, a chance at winning free Personal Training packages, and even discounted locker rentals for the semester. If you can't make it in person, don't worry, be sure to catch our VIP Day Live on Instagram @UTSARec where you can also win some swag!
Sunday, August 23
Student Union Experience
5-9 p.m., Student Union, Main Campus
The Union Experience will allow students to learn about the services and programs offered at the Student Union (SU), while having fun and receiving free giveaways! This event will be both in-person and virtual.
Students will be able to engage with the Student Union (SU) by attending this walk-through event in the SU Lawn and Ballrooms to pick up their Union Experience t-shirt and reusable tote bag full of essential supplies!
Please note: Attending the in-person event will require an RSVP in advance via RowdyLink. Students will RSVP for a specific time slot to ensure social distancing. Masks are required. Do Your Part ‘Runners!
Students can join the Union Experience virtually with a Live at the Lounge concert on Instagram Live, a virtual video game tournament, a Live Chat experience with the Info Desk, and more! Follow the Student Union @UTSA_StudentU for updates, contests, and live tours!
Monday, August 24
Adobe Creative Campus
Kick Off
10 a.m.
The Adobe Creative Campus Kickoff will introduce students to Adobe software and how they can use it to produce professional content for their courses. Students will learn about UTSA’s Adobe Creative Campus program and how they can access the software. Time permitting, there will be an overview of Adobe Creative Cloud.
Top 5 Must-haves for a
Digital Fall
11 a.m.
UTSA Academic Innovation and the Office of Digital Learning present the top 5 must-haves for a digital fall 2020. Learn how to access blackboard and find all your courses. Discover all of the digital tools UTSA provides to you for free. Get started in our Orientation Course and have fellow Roadrunners answer your questions.
Study Abroad Info Session
11 a.m.
Would you rather have travel or education? Culture or classroom? Why not choose them all? With studying abroad, you can combine experience with academics! Be part of the growing number of #RoadrunnersAbroad! These global opportunities are finding more relevance for students entering a more globalized workforce. Explore various opportunities with classrooms and companies worldwide, with your Education Abroad office. Learn about the hundreds of programs available, transferring credits, applying financial aid, scholarships, and more at our info session!
CACP & COE Campus Connect
3 p.m.
CACP & COE College Connect is an online gathering where students will be able to access helpful resources and connect with their department through a live session with faculty, alumni, and students. This is an interactive session where students are able to engage with current students and hear about updates in the college and alumni experiences.
Tuesday, August 25
Connecting with UTSA Wellness and Wellbeing Services
10 a.m.
Academic Innovation will be partnering with campus services from across the University to discuss the resources students have to be successful physically, emotionally, mentally, and academically for the Fall 2020 semester.
Multicultural Student Welcome
11 a.m.
This event welcomes all Roadrunners to campus and the start of a new academic year with opportunities to connect with student organizations, departments, and other students, as well as to learn about some of the events and programs we host throughout the year!
Safety Presentation
Police Dept. & Office of Emergency Management
12 p.m.
This session will give the participants a better understanding of the services available free of charge by the Department of Public Safety and the Office of Risk and Emergency Management. These services are designed to maintain a high level of safety on campus for the UTSA community. First, we will explore the services available by the Department of Public Service such as Rowdy Watch, LiveSafe App, Motor Assist, safety training classes and the Behavioral Intervention Team. The Office of Risk and Emergency Management will discuss the programs their office has in place to address a variety of potential safety risk on a larger scale such as severe weather and other man-made and natural disasters.
Get to Know Campus Services
1 p.m.
Campus Services will host a virtual presentation to educate in detail about our different services at UTSA. The presentation will be 30 minutes followed by a 30 minute Q&A for the audience to participate in.
Communicating Across Campus with Zoom
2 p.m.
Zoom is now available to all UTSA faculty, staff and students as part of the newly acquired university site license! Join us as we review the features best practices for using this software for education and think about the best way to use it to work with fellow students, provide opportunities for student organizations, and more.
Get to Know Us
UTSA PEACE Center
3 p.m.
The PEACE Center provides support services and prevention education to those who have been impacted by sexual violence. This event will give an overview of the office, introduce staff, discuss how our office came into operation and how our services can cultivate a culture of change, support a student in crisis, and prevent academic derailment.
Writing in a Nutshell
4 p.m.
Join us to learn more about how the Writing Center can help you become a stronger, more confident writer. Meet our friendly tutors and get a better understanding of how the Writing Process can help you succeed in college writing.
Wednesday, August 26
F|S Life Mix and Mingle
1 p.m. & 6 p.m.
Students are invited to attend the Fraternity|Sorority Life Informational and Mix & Mingle. This is an opportunity for students to meet and get to know members of the Fraternity | Sorority Life community.
Get It Together – Plan for the Best and Stress Less
2 p.m.
This online workshop will introduce students to foundational time management strategies, including the importance of balancing academics and their personal life. Students will be able to apply new knowledge of tools and resources for planning and prioritizing activities to support their academic and personal success and wellbeing, particularly in a remote learning environment.
UPM Meet and Greet
3 p.m.
Enrolled in UPM 1000 this fall? Come and meet your First-Year Experience (FYE) UPM Peer Mentor! As a first-year student at UTSA, you will be meeting with a peer mentor in your same Academic Studies area. They are here to support and guide you both academically and socially, as you navigate your first year of college. At the Meet & Greet, you will connect with your UPM peer mentor, schedule your first meeting, and ask any questions you may have on the first day of classes! Check your email for an invitation from your UPM peer mentor as well as more information about the UPM Meet & Greet. You can learn more about the First-Year Experience and your Academic Studies on the FYE website.
Hard won, Not done
7 p.m.
This event honors the 100th anniversary of the passage of the 19th Amendment that secured the right to vote for women. UTSA is joining the League of Women Voters in this virtual celebration on Wednesday, August 26, at 7:00 p.m. The event will include a keynote by Dr. Victoria M. DeFracesca Soto, faculty from UT Austin and moderated by Erika Prosper Nirenberg, first lady of San Antonio. This discussion will honor the passage of the 19th amendment and also recognize the continued work we must do to support voter equity. We hope that you will join us for an evening that will both honor the past and recognize the work still to be done.
Leadership and Volunteer Trivia
8 p.m.
UTSA students, join us for a night of UTSA Trivia! You’ll learn about leadership and volunteer opportunities offered through our office, but we like to throw in all types of questions to keep it interesting; expect trivia questions about pop culture, music, and more. Don't know anyone attending? You’ll have an opportunity to meet student leaders and university staff! This is purely for FUN.
Laugh and dance the night away! Song requests are always welcomed!
Thursday, August 27
Be Business Bold
11 a.m.
The College of Business is excited to meet with new students and introduce them to unique opportunities for personal and professional growth. Professors and current students will join the event to offer advice for succeeding in the college, and discuss all the benefits that come with majoring in business!
Guided Meditation
12 p.m.
Join the UTSA Counseling & Mental Health Services for a Guided Meditation Information Session. Relax and kick back for a guided meditation which includes progressive muscle relaxation, guided imagery, and breathing exercise. Then stick around for a Q and A about our services. Find out more about our new walk-in services, how to utilize them, and find out what else we have to offer to support student health and mental wellbeing!
Black Student Connections 2020
1 p.m.
The Black Student Connections 2020 event will be a time for incoming students to hear from returning students about tips for navigating college and getting involved. Leadership from Black student and faculty/staff organizations at UTSA will be provided to encourage student involvement and connection at UTSA.
Transforming Learning: Digital Tech, Tools, and Support with Academic Innovation
2 p.m.
Academic Innovation is a division at the University of Texas at San Antonio that brings together talents and skills from different departments focused on student and faculty success. Its expertise covers curriculum design, effective teaching strategies, instructional design, learning technologies, creative media and video production, online learning programs, and continuous education. The overarching goal of the division is to promote innovative, quality, and accessible teaching and learning experiences.
First Gen Virtual Networking
3-5 p.m.
This event for First-Generation students will build community virtually with meeting fellow Roadrunners. We will provide resources to students, create a sense of belonging and answer any questions about life at UTSA.
College of Sciences Top Ten Tips for Success
4-5 p.m.
The College of Sciences is committed to your success. This event will be a panel focused on sharing with students our ideas on what will help you be successful this semester. We will have topic experts to discuss tips on virtual learning, library's virtual resources, academic support, student organizations, professional development and more.
Transfer Virtual Networking
5-7 p.m.
The Transfer Virtual Networking event hosted by the First-Generation and Transfer Student Center will provide transfer roadrunners the opportunity to connect with other transfer college students. We will have community building activities, share important resources, create belonging, and answer any questions transfer students may have.
College of Sciences Trivia Night
6-7 p.m.
Come join us on a night of fun, games, and prizes!!! Show your knowledge about all things science, music, film, and much more while learning about the College of Sciences. Come to play or cheer on your new classmates and friends.
SGA Meet and Greet - Fall 2020
6-7 p.m.
Come meet your 2020-2021 Student Government Association representatives! Please join us on Zoom any time between 6-7pm on Thursday, August 27th for our annual Fall Meet and Greet!
Friday, August 28
Spirit Friday – Show Us Your Mask
Wear your UTSA gear today for #UTSASpiritFriday! Post a photo on your social media account in a shirt, hat, or even your mask, and tag #UTSARRDays.
Get to know the University Career Center
2 p.m.
During this event, attendees will learn about services and resources available through the University Career Center. Attendees will hear from UCC representatives and receive information on upcoming career-related programs and events.
Welcome Back
Graduate Students:
Who is Ready for Trivia?
3 p.m.
The Graduate School will host a trivia event as a welcome back for graduate students.
Welcome Back Social featuring PlayFair
6 p.m.
The Welcome Back Social is a great way to meet new people and make new friends. You can also win some prizes! Playfair is a high-spirited, high-energy event that allows students to interact with each other and laugh with each other and feel a part of an exciting campus community. This year, we feature Playfair Online! as part of the event. Check it out and see who you will meet.
UTSA Roadrunner Days presents
A Virtual Evening with Tiffany Haddish
7:30 p.m.
UTSA Roadrunner Days is excited to welcome special guest Tiffany Haddish to add to our Welcome Back festivities. Tiffany will be part of a discussion and a Q & A. Who knows, you might even win some prizes along the way. Don't miss this welcome event, exclusive to UTSA!
Saturday, August 29
Welcome Drive
6 p.m., Main Campus
Enjoy a guided tour of campus through a designated route while listening to a podcast featuring campus traditions, UTSA landmarks and all the campus areas that contribute to your success as a roadrunner.
For everyone's safety, please limit passengers to only those individuals with whom you have quarantined.
Accommodation Requests
If you need an accommodation to fully participate in any program or event, please contact UTSA Student Affairs at least 72 hours prior to the event via email at studentaffairs@utsa.edu.
