Category: Employee News

As many of you may know, OLLU is nearing full occupancy with our tenants at the Convent, with most offices on the first and second floors now occupied. As our tenant community continues to grow, additional parking is needed to accommodate those residing at the Convent.

Effective Monday, October 19, 2026, all parking spaces at the Convent (LOT L) will be reserved exclusively for Convent tenants. The handicap accessible parking spots will still be open to the OLLU community on a first come first serve basis. Lot A will not be affected by this update. Each tenant will be issued a parking tag to identify authorized vehicles.

We appreciate everyone’s cooperation and understanding as we make this adjustment to support the needs of our tenants.

For questions regarding this change, please contact University Police at 210-431-4022 or police@ollusa.edu.

Thank you in advance for your understanding and cooperation.

Click to access ollu-campus-map-2026.pdf

Dear OLLU Community,

As part of OLLU’s ongoing commitment to maintaining a clean, welcoming and well-cared-for campus environment, we invite you to share feedback about housekeeping services across the university.

Your input will help us better understand your experience with the cleanliness and upkeep of campus facilities, identify areas for improvement and ensure our housekeeping services continue to meet the needs and expectations of students, faculty and staff.

Please take a few minutes to complete the OLLU Housekeeping Services Survey:

The survey also seeks feedback about related campus services, including custodial, grounds, and facilities maintenance, and should take only a few minutes to complete.

We appreciate your time and candid feedback. Your responses will help inform continued efforts to improve housekeeping services and the overall campus environment.

Thank you for helping keep OLLU a clean, welcoming place to learn, work and serve.

We welcomed the 2026–27 academic year in true OLLU spirit at Spirit Day Mass 2026! The celebration brought our OLLU community together in faith, fellowship and school spirit as we kicked off another exciting year.

During the celebration, we also recognized and honored our dedicated staff members celebrating 10, 15, 20, 25, 30 and 35 years of service to Our Lady of the Lake University. Their years of commitment, dedication and service are an important part of what makes OLLU such a special community.

Thank you to everyone who joined us, showed their OLLU spirit and helped make Spirit Day Mass 2026 a memorable start to the new academic year. Go Saints! 💙💛

📸 View all photos from Spirit Day Mass 2026:
Spirit Day Mass 2026

OLLU is advancing several campus transitions designed to strengthen service, accessibility and the overall experience for students, families, faculty and staff. As offices complete planned relocations by Sept. 11, the university is also supporting continuity in payroll services during a staffing transition.

Improving Campus Access

As part of OLLU’s ongoing efforts to improve accessibility, collaboration and the campus experience, several offices are moving to new locations across campus:

Office	New location
Academic Affairs	Main Building, Room 416
Human Resources	Main Building, Room 417
Career Services	Moye Building basement
Advancement	Moye Building, Room 103
Marketing, Communications and Engagement	Casa Caritas
Enrollment Management	Main 104, Main 106, Main 125 and the Welcome Center

The relocations are intended to position Enrollment Management in a more visible, accessible and front-facing area of campus. Locating enrollment services closer to the center of the visitor experience will help OLLU provide a warmer welcome for prospective students and families, make it easier to access assistance and strengthen support throughout the enrollment process.

The relocation of the Marketing, Communications and Engagement office to Casa Caritas will also help support the university’s ongoing efforts to share OLLU’s stories, engage the campus community and communicate with prospective students, families, alumni and community partners.

All office moves are scheduled to be completed by Sept. 11.

Payroll Transition

OLLU also announces the departure of Henry Ornelas, Director of Payroll, effective Sept. 3. During eight years of service to the university, Ornelas provided important support to payroll operations and served faculty, staff and students with commitment and care. The university thanks him for his contributions and wishes him the best in his future endeavors.

To ensure continuity during this transition, temporary contractor Carole Kurtz will manage payroll activity remotely. Faculty and staff should send payroll-related requests to payroll@ollusa.edu.

For urgent payroll matters, contact Virginia Salazar, Senior Budget Analyst, at vmsalazar362@ollusa.edu or 210-431-6594.

Supporting the OLLU Community

Together, these transitions reflect OLLU’s commitment to ensuring that essential services remain accessible, responsive and focused on the needs of the university community. The university appreciates the patience, flexibility and support of faculty and staff as these changes are completed.

Microsoft is moving to passkeys as the preferred way to verify your identity when signing in a stronger, more phishing resistant method than text messages or phone calls. As part of this change, Microsoft will be retiring text message and phone call verification codes over the next several months. IT Services is preparing for this transition to help ensure uninterrupted access to Microsoft 365 and other University resources.  They are giving everyone plenty of time to get set up, so there’s no need to worry, but everyone should start preparing now.

What Will Change?

If you currently verify your sign-ins using a text message or phone call code, you’ll need to switch to the Microsoft Authenticator app on your mobile device. Authenticator lets you approve sign-ins with a simple tap, and depending on your device, you may also be able to use your PIN, fingerprint, or face recognition to verify it’s you. Setting it up takes about 2 minutes, and Microsoft walks you through the process step by step right on your phone.

This transition happens in two steps:

1. Install and set up Microsoft Authenticator (replaces text message/phone call codes for everyday sign-in verification)

2. Register a passkey inside Microsoft Authenticator, a follow up step you’ll be prompted to complete once Authenticator is set up, providing an even stronger, password free way to sign in

No Action Is Required Today

However, IT strongly encourages you to install and set up Microsoft Authenticator now, before you’re prompted to do so. Getting ahead of this will help you avoid any interruption to your access.

In the coming weeks, you’ll receive step-by-step instructions on how to:

• Install Microsoft Authenticator on your mobile device

• Connect Microsoft Authenticator to your OLLU account

• Complete the registration process

• Use Microsoft Authenticator when signing in

What Should I Expect?

    Beginning September 1, 2026, if you’re still using text message or phone call codes to sign in, you may start seeing prompts to set up a passkey. To complete this step, you’ll need Microsoft Authenticator installed first, which is exactly why they are asking you to set it up now, ahead of time.

    After February 1, 2027, text message and phone call verification will be fully retired. If Authenticator is not yet set up by that date, you will be unable to sign in until you register a passkey. There is no opt-out for this transition.

What if I Already Use Microsoft Authenticator?

    If you’re already using Microsoft Authenticator with your OLLU account, you’re ahead of the curve. You’ll simply be prompted to complete the additional passkey registration step when it becomes available to you, no need to do anything before then.

A Note on Security

     Please do not approve an authentication request you did not initiate. If you receive an unexpected Microsoft Authenticator sign-in prompt, deny it immediately and contact Information Security Officer Greg Garza: gjgarza@ollusa.edu.   IT Services is here to help every step of the way. If you have questions or need assistance getting set up, please reach out.

This fall, the following Walter Center offices will be closed for staff training on the third Tuesday of each month from 12 noon to 5 p.m.

Offices affected:

• Financial Aid Office
• Registrar’s Office
• Student Business Office

Staff Training Dates:

• Tuesday, September 15
• Tuesday, October 20
• Tuesday, November 17
• Tuesday, December 15

Spirit Day Office Closures

Additionally, in celebration of Spirit Day on Thursday, September 10, 2026, the Financial Aid Office, Registrar’s Office and Student Business Office will be closed from 10:45 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. to allow staff to participate in Spirit Day festivities.

We appreciate your understanding as our staff take time for professional development and campus engagement.

All OLLU employees are required to complete the Annual Mandatory Employee Compliance Training. The training began on August 22 and is available to all OLLU employees through September 4, 2026.

Access Your Training

Log in to Vector LMS, Higher Education Edition using your OLLU email address and follow the prompts to confirm your identity. Once logged in, you will see your assigned learning plan.

Your required training includes:

• Title IX & Clery – Building Supportive Communities (60 minutes): Recognizes concerns, explains reporting responsibilities and provides guidance for supporting members of the OLLU community. All OLLU employees are mandated reporters and must report incidents of sexual harassment, including sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence and stalking, regardless of where or when the incident occurred. Under OLLU’s Title IX Sexual Harassment Policy, reports must be made within 72 hours of learning of an incident.
• Protecting Youth: Abuse & Neglect Prevention (90 minutes): Helps employees recognize and respond to potential abuse or neglect involving minors.
• FERPA (20 minutes): Reinforces responsibilities for protecting student education records and confidential information.
• Accommodating People with Disabilities (45 minutes): Provides guidance for supporting equal access and responding to disability-related needs.

Training Deadline: September 4

All four trainings must be completed by September 4, 2026. Employees may complete the training at their own pace during the training period.

Each course includes individual modules, a pre-assessment and a final assessment. An 80% score is required to pass. Once a module is completed, your progress will be saved.

Compliance is a shared responsibility, and prevention begins with awareness. Thank you for doing your part.

For questions or assistance, contact compliance@ollusa.edu.