OLLUNewsletter

Deadline to submit health insurance waiver is Aug. 31

The deadline for students to submit a health insurance waiver for fall 2013 is Aug. 31. The waiver can be completed online by logging in to the myOLLU Portal and completing the form under “Links to Forms.” After the waiver is completed and submitted, a confirmation email will be sent to the email on file.

Per Our Lady of the Lake University policy, international students are not allowed to waive coverage. Students who are enrolled in less than seven semester hours, or who are taking 100 percent online classes, do not need to complete a waiver.

OLLU men’s basketball adds junior transfer Warren ‘Theo’ Plowden from Daytona State College

OLLU has signed junior point guard Warren “Theo” Plowden, a transfer student from Daytona State College in Daytona, Fla.

Head Coach Russell Vanlandingham said, “Theo has all the qualities I look for in a recruit on and off the court. I expect him to display his keen abilities as a point guard immediately, and I fully expect him to excel in the classroom and to become one of our team leaders.”

Plowden, who is 6’0″ and 183 lbs., is a native of Ocoee, Fla., where he attended Ocoee High School. While there, he averaged 16 points, five rebounds and four assists per game his senior year. He graduated with honors as part of the National Junior Honor Society with a 3.75 GPA. Plowden was a member of the Central Florida All-Star Team. Read more online.

OLLU Saints close out third annual 8v8 at the Lake women’s soccer league

The third annual 8v8 soccer tournament sponsored by OLLU concluded last week, and according to officials, it was a huge success.

Bianca Ramirez, OLLU 8v8 Program Coordinator said, “We look forward to holding our event again next year, and we are hoping to add a men’s version, as well. Everyone had a great time, and even though we had three games rained out, the girls still came out to play.” Read more online.

Human Resources office post employee retirement investment fee disclosure on portal

Our Lady of the Lake University’s Human Resources Department has placed viable 403(b) information on the myOLLU Portal Human Resources page in an effort to help employees make well-informed decisions about investing for their retirement. Federal regulations require the Human Resources Department to provide specific plan and investment information on an annual basis that includes detailed information about investment options and expenses associated with those investments.

No action is required at this time; however, the information is being provided as required. (NOTE: Although employees may not participate with all of the investment providers listed below, information is being made available on the myOLLU Portal so that employees may review the information relevant to the plan(s) in which they are currently enrolled).

For information regarding specific 403 (b) funds, rollover options or other matters, use the following contact information:

TIAA-CREF Retirement
800-842-2776
www.tiaa-cref.org

DWS Scudder Investments
800-537-1036
www.dws-investments.com

American Funds
800-421-9900
www.americanfunds.com

OLLU opens new RGV location over the weekend

More than 350 spectators came to help OLLU celebrate the opening of its new Rio Grande Valley (RGV) site in La Feria, Texas, on Sunday. President Sister Jane Ann Slater, CDP, PhD, and Executive Vice President/Chief Academic Officer, Robert Bisking, PhD, along with dignitaries from the La Feria Independent School District and the city of La Feria, cut the ceremonial ribbon at the new site.

Guests included city officials, school board officials, current OLLU-RGV students and their families, alumni and their families, members of the local community and media.

La Feria Mayor Steven Brewer said during his remarks at the ceremony, “Today is a dream come true for me and for the citizens of La Feria to have higher education a part of our community.”

In 2008, OLLU became the first Catholic University to offer a doctoral program to citizens in the Rio Grande Valley. First located in Harlingen, this program provides students with executive-level preparation in professional management, leadership and ethics. The Bachelor of Applied Studies in Computer Information Systems and Security was the next program offered in the Valley. By moving Valley operations to La Feria, the University will be able to offer the Master of Business Administration in Healthcare Management, Master of Business Administration in Management and Master of Science in Organizational Leadership. All programs are being offered this fall.

OLLU’s new site in La Feria was made possible through a partnership with La Feria Independent School District, in conjunction with the city of La Feria.

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Betty Galvan named as new OLLU registrar

Dr. Robert Bisking, OLLU executive vice president, is pleased to announce that Betty Galvan, OLLU associate registrar, will be OLLU’s new registrar.

Galvan, who has provided OLLU 20 years of dedicated service, will take over as registrar following the retirement of Norma Anderson, OLLU’s current registrar.

Faculty members learn to incorporate service-learning into their classes

The 2013 OLLU Service-Learning Faculty Fellows participated in an intensive, weeklong training about the service-learning pedagogy and then worked all summer with the Center for Service-Learning and Volunteerism (CSLV) to redesign one of their courses to integrate an experiential learning component. Faculty can contact Jennifer Bendele at jbendele@lake.ollusa.edu for more information about how to incorporate service-learning in their classes.

Photo: Front row (left to right): Jennifer Bendele (CSLV director), Maria Tobin (religious studies),George Williams (education).

Back row (left to right): Nikki Nino (service-learning coordinator), Ronald Crowe (finance), Shelly McGee (mathematics), and Kathryn Anderson (psychology).

University Convocation for faculty and staff tomorrow

This year’s University Convocation for faculty and staff is tomorrow at 10:30 a.m. in Thiry Auditorium. Convocation will kick off OLLU’s 2013-2014 academic year and will include staff, faculty and members of the Board of Trustees. Its focus will include the State of the University, Strategic Plan and a celebration of the OLLU community. Lunch will be provided following Convocation at noon in Chapel Auditorium.

Those who are unable to attend should notify J. Oliveira at mjoliveira@lake.ollusa.edu.

OLLU community invited to retirement party for Norma Anderson

OLLU community invited to retirement party for Norma Anderson

The OLLU community is invited to attend the retirement party for OLLU Registrar Norma Andersontomorrow from 3-5 p.m. in Providence Hall, West Social Room. Anderson has served OLLU for more than 40 years, and OLLU would like to honor and thank her for the many years of dedicated service.

Those attending should RSVP to Maritza Salinas at mmsalinas@ollusa.edu or 210-431-3959.

OLLU welcomes new director of The Woodlands campus

OLLU welcomes new director of The Woodlands campus

Isiah Brown, PhD, has joined the OLLU community as the director of The Woodlands campus. Brown comes to OLLU from Texas Southern University, where he was the executive director for the Urban Academic Village. He earned his Doctor of Philosophy in educational leadership from Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University. He received his master’s degree in public administration and his bachelor’s degree in business administration from Savannah State University.