Category: Employee News

Uber’s Arrival Linked to 10% Boost in Texas Alcohol Sales and 5% Drop in San Antonio Drunk Driving Arrests, Study Finds

A new peer-reviewed study published in the Journal of Public Policy & Marketing finds that the introduction of Uber in Texas markets increased on-premise alcohol sales across the state by 10.1% while reducing daily drunk-driving arrests in Bexar County by about 5%.

The research, conducted by Samantha Galvan, Yongseok Kim, and Richard T. Gretz, suggests that ridesharing services can simultaneously support economic activity in the hospitality sector and improve public safety outcomes. Using statewide alcohol sales data and arrest records from San Antonio, the study highlights how expanded transportation options may reduce impaired driving while enabling safer participation in nightlife and dining economies.

Complete article here

Celebrating Faculty Promotions and Tenure for Upcoming Academic Year

Our Lady of the Lake University is proud to recognize several faculty members who have earned promotions and tenure for the upcoming academic year. These achievements reflect their dedication to teaching excellence, scholarship, and service to the OLLU community.

The following faculty members have received promotions:

  • Adam Bynum, MS
    Biology – Promotion to Assistant Professor
  • Brittany Chozinski, PhD
    Applied Social & Cultural Sciences – Promotion to Professor
  • Kimberly Gallegos, PhD
    Social Work – Promotion to Professor
  • Jessica Hajek, PhD
    Humanities & Social Sciences – Promotion to Associate Professor
  • Codruta Haselmayer, PhD
    Psychology – Promotion to Associate Professor and Tenure
  • Naomi Hernandez, MA
    Communication Sciences and Disorders – Promotion to Clinical Professor
  • Christopher Rose, PhD
    History – Promotion to Associate Professor

The university congratulates each of them on this important milestone and thanks them for their continued contributions to the OLLU community.

OLLU Celebrates National Employee Appreciation Day

In celebration of National Employee Appreciation Day, the President of Our Lady of the Lake University hosted a special “Tacos with the President” gathering to recognize the incredible dedication of our faculty and staff.

During this time of fellowship and gratitude, the President shared his sincerest thanks for the hard work, passion, and commitment that each employee brings to the university community every day. OLLU’s mission and success are made possible through the talent, service, and care demonstrated by our employees, and this event served as a small token of appreciation for all they do.

Thank you to our outstanding OLLU team for your continued dedication to our students, our mission, and one another.

State of the Lake Forum

Tuesday, March 17 | 12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. | Main Building, Room 311

You are invited to attend the upcoming State of the Lake Forum, an important opportunity for our campus community to come together, engage in meaningful dialogue, and hear updates about the university’s priorities, progress, and future direction.

This forum is designed to foster open communication and transparency while providing faculty, staff, and students the chance to ask questions and share perspectives. Your voice matters, and we encourage you to help shape the conversation in advance.

To ensure the discussion reflects the topics most important to our community, please complete the pre-survey and submit any questions, concerns, or comments you would like addressed during the forum. Please respond by Friday, March 13, by 11:59 p.m. 

Pre-Survey: State of the Lake

Your participation in the survey will help guide the dialogue and ensure that the forum is informative, responsive, and meaningful to all attendees.

We look forward to your engagement and hope you will join us for this important conversation.

A New Year, A New Approach

On Thursday, February 26, during the community hour of 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m., President Abel Chávez will present to faculty and staff the higher education landscape. A thought-provoking presentation that looks at national and local demographics, opinions on higher ed, and OLLU’s comparative standing in San Antonio.

This will be an in-person, brown bag gathering in San Antonio; Houston and RGV campuses will be provided a TEAMS link to attend virtually. Your presence is necessary in shaping a thoughtful direction. As a steward of our university, please join your colleagues for this presentation.

RSVP’s are required. The specific location on campus for San Antonio will be shared soon.

Amber Ortega, MFA, Awarded Texas Folklife Community Folklife Fellowship

Amber Ortega, MFA, Coordinator for the International Folk Culture Center has received The Texas Folklife, Community Folklife Fellowship in oral history, audio storytelling, and archiving.

Ortega joins a cohort of 12 culturalists across Texas who will receive training and guidance from Texas Folklife’s digital storytelling initiative, “Stories from Deep in the Heart” which includes mentorship from lead digital archivists in Texas.

Since 2023, Ortega has been conducting interviews with choreographers from Cayey, Puerto Rico to Miami, Florida, and San Antonio, utilizing her experience with curating transdisciplinary discussions and bridging dance practice to deeper insights into culture, human behavior, and research methodologies. During her fellowship, Ortega will be meeting and interviewing dance culture bearers in San Antonio to thread a cohesive narrative line between dance, history, and culture.

As Coordinator for the International Folk Culture Center, archiving the center’s history and preserving the greater story of dance in San Antonio particularly with how that story intersects with the IFCC and OLLU, is tantamount to the work of curating and coordinating dance, folk way, and culture at the center, on campus, and in our Westside neighborhood.

Ortega’s final work along with her cohorts will be released this May.

Employee IDs to Become Mandatory on Campus Beginning March 17

As part of OLLU’s continued commitment to Operational Excellence and maintaining a safe university campus, all faculty and staff will be required to visibly wear their employee ID at chest level while on campus.

This requirement will become mandatory on Tuesday, March 17.

Please note:

  • Name tags may still be worn at campus or external events; however, they will not serve as a substitute for the official employee ID.
  • Staff who wear OLLU uniforms that already display their names will not be required to wear their employee ID.
  • If you currently have an outdated ID, you may contact ITS to update your information and receive a new card.

Thank you for your cooperation and continued commitment to campus safety.

Leadership will receive additional details and will be responsible for sharing this information with their respective teams.

Important Update for OLLU Employees Receiving Overtime: New Information on Your 2025 W‑2 Form

An important reminder for all OLLU employees who may have earned overtime pay in 2025 from the payroll department:

Starting with your 2025 Form W‑2, a few employees may notice a new entry in Box 14 labeled “Qual OT.”
This entry will appear only for employees who received Qualified Overtime in 2025 under federal overtime rules.

This amount represents the premium portion of your overtime pay (the extra half‑time required under federal law) and is being provided to help you take advantage of a potential tax benefit created by recent federal legislation.

Key Points to Know
  • Not all employees will see this entry.
Salaried employees who are exempt from overtime and hourly employees who did not earn any Qualified Overtime in 2025 will not have a “Qual OT” amount on their W‑2.
  • This amount does not affect your taxable wages or your paycheck.
  • It is provided for informational purposes only to assist you when filing your 2025 federal tax return.
  • You may use this figure when determining eligibility for the new overtime deduction on your federal return.

If you have questions about how this information may affect your tax filing, please consult a qualified tax professional or visit IRS.gov for more details.

Thank you for reviewing this update. We are committed to keeping you informed about changes that may benefit you.

Campus Important Numbers and Staff Faculty Directory Rebuild Completed

IT and HR have completed the rebuild of the university’s Campus Important Numbers and staff faculty directory. The helpful numbers are publicly accessible on the university webpage and ensure the best communication path when contacting the university.

The staff and faculty directory is located on the Saints Connect portal and on HR’s internal SharePoint site. This information is accessible only when logged into the OLLU network, as a measure to protect it from misuse. A Departmental Directory is also available on a separate tab next to the University Directory, allowing you to easily find direct departmental front desk numbers when needed.

Directory updates are made automatically as individuals are onboarded or offboarded. If you need to request changes to your personal information or departmental listing, please submit a Help Desk ticket to HR so updates can be made in Colleague or Dialpad, as appropriate.