Updates for March 22, 2020

UTSA is responding to the COVID-19 outbreak with a commitment to supporting the safety of the university community while enabling the academic progress of students.

Welcome back, Roadrunners, for your first week of remote learning. With all course instruction going online tomorrow and continuing through the end of the spring semester, know that everyone at the university—staff, faculty and fellow students—has your back. So if you need assistance, reach out. Someone will help you find answers. Here are some resources and details about university operations to keep handy:

ONLINE LEARNING & ACCESS

TECH CAFÉ: University Technology Solutions is staffing phone lines and email today until 7 p.m. If you need support, call 210-458-5555 or email techcafe@utsa.edu. Starting Monday, connect with a Tech Café team member online weekdays from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Or use the phone line or email.

BLACKBOARD LEARNING: Academic Innovation has compiled a checklist to help all students ensure they are ready for the first day of online classes tomorrow:

Blackboard Learn relies on your internet browser to display content correctly. Run the UTSA Browser Check to ensure compatibility with your browser. Looking for resources and tutorials on how to use certain Blackboard Learn tools? Visit Blackboard Learn Help for Students to look up specific tools to learn more about them. New to Blackboard Collaborate Ultra? If your instructor is using Blackboard Collaborate virtual sessions, get started with the basics and watch the video tour of Blackboard Collaborate in action. Check your course announcements daily for course updates or new information. Update your preferred email address in ASAP. Email clients, such as Gmail, may classify email from Blackboard Learn as junk mail. If you are having problems in getting emails from Blackboard, check your options for junk mail settings.

KNOW HOW TO COLLABORATE: Need to help to collaborate with fellow students, share documents and more? You can check out UTSA’s available Technology Resources for students to find the best choice for you.

CHAT WITH AN EXPERT: You can talk with a One Stop counselor online to get answers about financial aid, admissions, registration and more via UTSA’s One Stop Enrollment and Future Roadrunner new chat feature. Counselors are available weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (at 8:30 a.m. on Wednesdays).

INTERNET ACCESS: If you’re experiencing slower than usual internet speeds at home, internet service providers (AT&T, Spectrum, etc.) are seeing an enormous increase in usage. Save work on your computer frequently and upload it during slower usage periods. You can also test your connection speed online with SpeedTest.

TIPS FOR LEARNING FROM HOME Avoid distractions. Dedicate a space for your work or studies that is away from noisy areas. Your physical environment can be key to your success. Take care of yourself physically. Staring at a computer screen all day can be unhealthy. Get up, walk around, limit your time online and make sure that your work area is conducive to your health (proper chair, desk, lighting, etc.). Don’t procrastinate. This causes unnecessary stress and anxiety in an already stressful environment around COVID-19. Start ahead and stay ahead in case something comes up unexpectedly. Plan ahead. Remember, reaching out via email or phone takes a bit of extra effort versus stopping by your professor’s desk after a class or your colleague’s office.

CAMPUS OPERATIONS

LIBRARY ACCESS: Both the John Peace Library and Downtown Library will be open weekdays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

These services will be available: Access to computers, complete with internet and web browsers, Microsoft Office, SPSS, Adobe Creative Cloud and other productivity software Access to the AirRowdy wireless network Access to PrintSpot printing Access to KIC scanners Access to the Adaptive Technology Computer Lab

To encourage social distancing and promote everyone’s safety, some services will not be available: Group study rooms Group spot A & B Faculty Center common seating area Physical circulation of materials, including reserves and tech gear In-person reference Faculty Center reservations and events

The AET Library, Special Collections Reading Room and Special Collections Library at Hemisfair Campus will be closed to the public. Visit UTSA Libraries for a full schedule and to view available resources.

STUDENT UNION: The main building will be open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The H-E-B Student Union, food court, and Ski Lodge are closed. For more information on the Student Union operations and services, email studentunioninfo@utsa.edu.

ROADRUNNER PANTRY: Located on Main Campus in the Student Union main building, next to The UPS Store, the pantry will have grab-and-go food bags available weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. All UTSA students, faculty, and staff are eligible to get one food bag per day by showing their UTSA ID. The Whataburger Resource Room, located in the Durango Building on the Downtown Campus, is closed. For more information on the Roadrunner Pantry, please email RoadrunnerPantry@utsa.edu.

CAMPUS DINING: Pursuant to an order from San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg, Roadrunner Café will providing take-out service only, and is the only campus dining location open.

CHILD CARE: The Child Development Center is closed.

CAMPUS REC: All recreation facilities are closed.

HEALTH

STAY WELL: Student Health Services will be open on the Main Campus from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Call the nurse triage line at 210-458-4142 before visiting in person.

REACH OUT: Counseling and Mental Health Services is here for you. Main Campus office hours, effective March 23, are weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Phone calls and drop-ins are accepted. Students actively engaged with a counselor: You will be contacted and offered options appropriate for their case and circumstance. Based on that, students will be offered phone, video conference and/or in-person sessions.  Students active in group meetings: A facilitator will contact group members about video conference options. Students new to services: You can walk in or contact us by phone at 210-458-4140, select menu option 2, to connect to available services.

Watch a message from Melissa Hernandez, director of UTSA’s Counseling and Mental Health Services.

YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED

This past week, the university held two Student Town Hall meetings to get questions answered about online instruction and other services. If you couldn’t attend them, you can watch recordings of the broadcasts online.

Q&A Town Hall Tips for Online Learning

>> Stay up to date on UTSA operations on our Coronavirus Updates website. >> For real-time updates, follow @UTSA on Twitter , Instagram and Facebook. >> Keep up with university news on UTSA Today .