OLLU is currently under a Demand Response request from CPS Energy. Please walk through your areas and ensure lights are off in unoccupied spaces, window air conditioners are set 4 degrees higher or turned to LOW/off in empty rooms, and all space heaters, coffee pots, and other unused appliances are turned off or unplugged. Response leads should complete their assigned actions immediately.
Thank you for your commitment to OLLU’s energy efficiency efforts.
The 2025–2026 Staff Annual Performance Evaluation period is now open from May 18, 2026, through June 12, 2026, and we ask that all evaluations be completed on or before Friday, June 12, 2026, through Teamflect in Microsoft Teams. This review period covers the current academic year, June 1, 2025 through May 31, 2026, and provides an important opportunity to reflect on accomplishments, recognize contributions, and support continued growth across our campus community.
Please note that annual evaluations are not required for employees hired within six months before May 31, 2026, as those employees will have already received a 90-day evaluation. For guidance on completing the Staff Performance Evaluation, please refer to the instructions available on the HR SharePoint site. We are grateful for your support and for the time and care you dedicate to this important process, and we encourage you to complete your evaluations promptly to ensure they are submitted on time.
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.
As we approach the end of fiscal year 2026, please keep the following important deadlines in mind:
• Goods & Services: Must be received by May 29, 2026, to be recorded in FY26.
• Invoices: Accounts Payable will process FY26 invoices through June 30, 2026. Invoices received after this date will be recorded in FY27.
• Credit Card Purchases: Any charges made after the May 2026 statement cutoff will be processed in FY27.
• Credit Card Settlements: Submit all outstanding FY26 credit card expense reports with supporting documentation by June 19, 2026.
• Employee Reimbursements: All FY26 reimbursements must be submitted by June 30, 2026.
Thank you for your attention to these deadlines, which are essential to a smooth fiscal year-end close.
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.
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
Jeni Brett, Coordinator for Student Programming in the Center for Student Involvement, has been selected to participate in the 2026 NASPA New Professionals Institute (NPI), a premier professional development experience co-sponsored by NASPA Region III and the Southern Association for College Student Affairs.
NPI is an intensive, week-long institute focused on leadership development, mentorship, and professional growth. Participants engage in interactive learning, small group mentorship, and collaborative dialogue designed to strengthen their effectiveness in the field. The experience also emphasizes meaningful networking, allowing participants to build lasting professional connections with peers and mentors across the region.
Jeni will attend the Institute in June 2026 in Arlington, Texas, joining a cohort of professionals committed to advancing student success in higher education. Through this experience, she will bring back new strategies, insights, and connections to further support student engagement, leadership development, and belonging at OLLU.
Monday – Thursday – 8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Friday – 8:30 a.m. – Noon
May 25 – Memorial Day
June 19 – Juneteenth
July 3 – Independence Day (Observed)
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:
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.
