Students in the Recreation and Wellness Center

Overview

The wellbeing of our students is not only central to their individual success but is also vital to UTSA's mission as a leading urban-serving public university. Building upon the foundational work of the President's Initiative on Enriching Campus Wellbeing, this initiative represents a renewed commitment to prioritizing wellness across all dimensions of student life. Over the past several years, UTSA has expanded its support systems through partnerships like Wellness 360, which provides accessible mental and physical health services. This year, we are taking a more holistic approach by further enhancing resources and programs designed to support a balanced, healthy lifestyle.

By emphasizing wellness, we aim to foster an environment where Roadrunners can thrive personally, academically, and professionally. While the focus remains on student wellbeing, we also recognize that the benefits of a robust wellness infrastructure extend to all members of the UTSA community.

This initiative reflects our ongoing dedication to creating a campus culture that promotes not only academic excellence but also the emotional, physical, and social health of our entire university community.


Charge

The task force will conduct a comprehensive review of the UTSA undergraduate and graduate student experience to assess how university programs, policies and practices affect the student experience related to all eight wellbeing dimensions. By engaging students, faculty and staff, the task force will identify strengths and opportunities for improvement within the university’s current support systems.


Eight Dimensions of Wellbeing

Physical icon

Physical

Social icon

Social

Spiritual icon

Spiritual

Environmental icon

Environmental

Financial icon

Financial

Occupational icon

Occupational

Emotional icon

Emotional

Intellectual icon

Intellectual


Goals

The task force's recommendations should propose a new model for academic engagement, university culture, and university community that acknowledges a shared responsibility for creating an environment that is safe, nurturing and recognizes the importance of individual well-being for personal and academic success. 

Utilizing the eight dimensions of wellbeing framework, the task force will develop recommendations for the following:

Policies: Exploring, developing, and refining formal rules and guidelines that ensure institutional consistency and alignment.

Practices: Reviewing existing and updating future actions, behaviors, and routines used to bring day-to-day operations to fruition.

Programs: Examining, creating, and updating initiatives, activities, and services designed to increase learning and skill development in curricular, co-curricular, and extracurricular settings.


Timeline

The task force began meeting in October 2024 and anticipates delivering recommendations to the Provost in March 2025.


Task Force Members

LT Robinson
Senior Vice Provost for Student Affairs and Dean of Students
Co-Chair
Tammy Wyatt
Senior Vice Provost for Student Success
Co-Chair
Roselena Balderas
Executive Director, Student Disability Services
Carrie Charley
Associate Vice President, Campus Services
Mekhi Churchill (student)
Freshman Senator, SGA
Stefanie Cisneros
Assistant Athletics Director
Fernando Cordova
Student Development Specialist I, Honors College
Tracy Cowden
Director, School of Music
Yvonne De Cento
Wellness 360 Staff, UT Health/Medical Clinic
Katia Diamante
Social Media Manager, University Strategic Communications
Andrew Dotson (student)
Student Representative
Kayla Estrada (student)
Student Assistant I, TRC Downtown
Jill Ford
Assistant Dean and Student Success Director, Klesse College of Engineering and Integrated Design
Karina Franco
Head of Access Services, UTSA Libraries
Norma Guerra
Professor of Educational Psychology, College of Education and Human Development
Melissa Hernandez
Associate Dean of Students, Wellbeing Services
Shelley Howell
Director of Faculty Development for Online Programs, Teaching, Learning and Digital Transformation
Antonio Lopez (student)
Peer Mentor
Victoria Lopez-Herrera
Senior Associate Director of Student Development, Campus Recreation
Richard (Ricky) Magallanez-Flowers
Senior Program Coordinator, TRC Tutoring
Janeth Martinez
Postdoctoral Fellow, Undergraduate Studies
Rabia Rehman
Program Coordinator, First Year Experience Program
Gabriella Rodriguez
Academic Advisor
Giselle Torres-Vilarreal (student)
SGA Student Affairs Chair
Michael Vela
Associate Director, Wellbeing Services
Rhonda Waller
Assistant Vice Provost, Global Initiatives
David Weber
Associate Professor of Instruction, Psychology, College for Health, Community and Policy
Rebecca Weston
Professor of Psychology, College for Health, Community and Policy

Resources Members

KC Gonzalez
Director, Academic Communications and Creative Services
Jan Marie Hernandez
Wellness 360 Staff, UT Health/Counseling
Karen O'Rourke
Wellness 360 Staff, UT Health/Counseling