Category: Employee News

Dear OLLU Community,

The Adelante Professional Development Conference is set to begin May 20–21, bringing together our community for two days of learning, connection, and growth.

Hosted by Staff Assembly with support from the President’s Cabinet, this year’s conference features dynamic speakers from across the OLLU community, along with a special guest speaker who will lead an engaging keynote and masterclass on Emotional Intelligence.

Participants can look forward to a wide range of sessions, including topics such as data-driven decision making, workflow automation, well-being, cybersecurity, and more. The conference will also include a leadership panel and conclude with a wine and cheese reception.

📅 Wednesday, May 20 & Thursday, May 21, 2026
📍 San Antonio Campus (with hybrid options for Houston and RGV)
Adelante SharePoint Site- most up to date information

Employees are encouraged to attend in person for meaningful engagement, with hybrid access available for all sessions.

We look forward to learning and growing together—Adelante!

Our Lady of the Lake University is proud to announce its participation in the very first cohort of the Network Improvement Community (NIC). On April 27–28, five OLLU representatives traveled to Austin to join peer institutions in a collaborative effort to shape the future of Texas higher education.
   
Working alongside leaders from UTSA, St. Edward’s, St. Mary’s, TAMIU, TAMUCC, and TAMUK, the OLLU team engaged in data-driven strategy sessions aimed at fostering more inclusive and effective learning environments. This initiative is supported by the Hector and Gloria López Foundation in partnership with the Texas Higher Education Foundation.
   

Our OLLU Representatives:
   
   Dr. Beatriz Barkholtz, López Scholars Director
   
   Gianno Gomez, Data Visualization and Research Analyst
   
   Newman Wong, Director of Institutional Research & Analytics
   
   Sabrina Zertuche, Retention Specialist
   
   Dr. Stacy Ybarra Evans, Director of the Center for Teaching Excellence
   
By joining this inaugural cohort, OLLU reinforces our mission to provide an education built on faith and wisdom, ensuring our graduates are prepared to lead and transform their communities.

To ensure timely and accurate event preparations, please follow the process outlined below when submitting setup requests.

All event setup requests must be submitted through EMS at the time you make your room reservation.  These requests will be routed to Grace Rios, Director of Campus & Community Engagement gerios@ollusa.edu, and she will ensure that Housekeeping has the request in their queue.

If your event requires a special setup, diagram, or layout, it must be submitted to Grace at least one (1) week in advance.

• Set up requests for tables, chairs, linens, podium, trash cans must be submitted through EMS when completing your room reservation.
• Set up requests for canopies, bar-b-que pits, and outside electrical equipment must be submitted through SysAid (Facilities Workorder)  
• Requests for IT or audiovisual (AV ) services must be submitted through SysAid (Media Services Request)
• Please note that the portable stage is no longer available for use.

All linen requests need to be made through EMS at the time of reservation. We are no longer utilizing the Linen Request Form that was on Saints Connect.

Thank you for your patience as we fine tune our processes.

If you have any questions, you can email Grace Rios at gerios@ollusa.edu

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Summer University Hours – Effective May 18 – August 7, 2026

Monday – Thursday – 8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Friday – 8:30 a.m. – Noon

Summer Holidays

May 25 – Memorial Day
June 19 – Juneteenth
July 3 – Independence Day (Observed)

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In accordance with the Summer Hours policy (AD-HR-PO-049), official university office hours from May 18, 2026, through Aug. 7, 2026, will be Monday through Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Friday from 8:30 a.m. to noon.

All full-time employees are expected to work 40 hours each week, or in alignment with their employment agreement if they typically work fewer than 40 hours. Employees are also required to take a minimum 30-minute unpaid lunch break on full days. Department heads will provide final approval of each employee’s schedule to ensure appropriate office coverage and that university needs are met.

Some departments are exempt from the Summer Hours Policy and will remain open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. during the summer. These offices are:

• Undergraduate Admissions Office
• Graduate Admissions Office
• Registrar’s Office
• Financial Aid Office
• Student Business Office

Summer holidays for 2026 include Memorial Day on May 25, Juneteenth on June 19, and the Independence Day observance on July 3. Faculty and staff are also asked to avoid scheduling planned leave between Monday, Aug. 10, and Wednesday, Sept. 2, unless special circumstances are approved through the appropriate division leadership.

Our Lady of the Lake University proudly celebrates Dr. Bernadette Hassan Solorzano, who has been named Professor of the Year by the Texas Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (TAMFT).

This prestigious award recognizes a faculty member actively teaching in higher education who demonstrates excellence in preparing students for compassionate, ethical, and high-quality professional practice in the field of Marriage and Family Therapy. Dr. Solorzano was nominated in recognition of her outstanding mentorship, clinical supervision, and lasting impact on generations of future therapists.

Through her dedication to teaching, mentorship, and student development, Dr. Solorzano exemplifies OLLU’s mission of service, leadership, and community impact. Her work continues to shape professionals who serve families with compassion, excellence, and integrity.

Dr. Solorzano was formally recognized during the TAMFT Business Meeting and Luncheon on April 10, 2026, at the Tremont House in Galveston, Texas.

Congratulations to Dr. Solorzano on this well-deserved honor, and thank you for your continued commitment to advancing the field of Marriage and Family Therapy.

Reminder: