Category: News

Employees eligible to receive 2014 Service Award

The attached listing includes the names and years of service of all of the employees who Human Resources records show as being eligible to receive a Service Award Plaque during Spirit Day. Plaques will be given at the Mass of the Holy Spirit on Sept. 18.

Employees must have completed full-time service in increments of five years beginning with 10 years and counting in 2014 to be eligible to receive a Service Award.

Staff or faculty members, who think they are eligible for a service award, but do not see their name on the list, should contact Human Resources as soon as possible by emailing hrteam@ollusa.edu.

To view the Service Award recipient list, click here.

Click here to download and complete the 2014 Service Award Information form. This will let Human Resources know who will, or will not, be participating during Spirit Day. Forms need to be returned to Human Resources by the end of the day on Aug. 26.

Student Business Office refund policy

The following outlines the policies for student refunds:

Refund Delivery Policy – The University prefers that all refunds to students be delivered via electronic fund transfer (E-Refund). Students should enroll in E-Refund at least 10 days before their first scheduled disbursement.

  • Financial Aid refunds are processed weekly after the 100 percent drop period of the start of a term. Excess funds are required per federal regulations to be disbursed within 14 days from when funds are credited to the student’s account (not when awarded).
  • Students will be notified via email when an E-Refund has been disbursed to their bank account. Students should allow at least 24 hours for the funds to be credited to their bank account.
  • Students can set-up E-Refund by logging in to the myOLLU Portal. On the E-Commerce home page, click “refunds,” followed by “payment profile.” Here, students will have the option to add a payment method and complete the following steps:
    • Select electronic check
    • Enter checking account information
    • Check the box indicating that the account should be used for refunds
    • Click save

Credit Card Refund Policy – If a student made payment with a credit card, the University will refund up to the original amount charged or the amount of the refund only to the credit card used. Exceptions for certain employer-reimbursed students may apply.

If student does not enroll for E-refund – the financial aid refund will be disbursed by check. The check will be mailed to student’s preferred mailing address indicated in the system. If a check is not received after being placed in the mail, student must wait 10 business days before a replacement check will be issued.

Students can view when their funds are posted to their account at any time by visiting the E-Commerce section of the myOLLU Portal then clicking on “view current activity,” and “review disbursements.” Estimated financial aid listed is considered pending aid and is not subject to refund until finalized.

Deadline to submit student health insurance waiver is Aug. 31, 2014

The deadline for students to submit a health insurance waiver for fall 2014 is Aug. 31, 2014. 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.

Update parking permits to avoid receiving a citation

Staff Parking Permit
Staff Parking Permit

The OLLU Police Department changed to new parking permits for faculty and staff last summer and many community members are still using the outdated parking permits. Failure to update parking permits will result in a citation.

Supervisors are encouraged to make sure that everyone in their department has updated their parking permit.

Permits can be picked up in the Police Department during office hours.

The form can be found in the myOLLU Portal.

Festival offers OLLU students free events Saturday, Sunday

Each year on Labor Day Weekend in San Antonio, the People en Español Festival brings fun and music to the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center. OLLU’s Student Government Association and HALO are encouraging students to take advantage of festival’s many free events this Saturday, Aug. 30, and Sunday, Aug. 31, from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. This year’s theme “Inspiring the Next Generation” features speakers and activities on leadership, careers, education, health, and entertainment, as well as live performances and a autograph signings by top names. For tickets and prices for evening concerts, visit here.

OLLU baseball adds two San Antonio standouts

Aug2014SigningsOLLU announces the signing of JB Martinez and Enrique Ruiz III to the inaugural men’s baseball team that will begin competing in the spring of 2015. Martinez and Ruiz signed a letter of intent on Aug. 6.

Head Coach Freddy Rodriguez said, “We are excited to sign JB and Enrique today. JB is an exceptional infielder, while Enrique is well-known as a phenomenal outfielder. They are what we are looking for in our baseball program both with their excellent academics and athletic abilities.”

Martinez, a freshman who graduated from MacArthur High School in San Antonio, was in the National Society of Leadership and Success and Sigma Alpha Pi. His athletic honors include the Hispanic Sports Foundation for Education Scholarship Award. The 6’3″, 200 lb. first baseman received all-district honors for three years and was a Texas Select All-Star. In addition, the San Antonio Express-News named Martinez Newcomer of the Year in his sophomore year. He plans to major in criminal justice.

Ruiz, also a freshman, is a graduate of Brandeis High School in San Antonio. He received all-district first team honors and was named defensive MVP, offensive MVP and Valley High All-Star. The 5’6″, 155 lb. outfielder plans to major in biology.

Senior Stephanie Diaz wants to leave her mark on the OLLU soccer program

diaz2Stephanie Diaz came to Our Lady of the Lake University (OLLU) as a freshman to play soccer in 2011. Now a senior, Diaz looks ahead to her final season as a member and captain of the women’s soccer team. In the past three years Diaz has played in 57 games where she has scored 25 goals and had 12 assists.

Last season she was instrumental in helping the women’s team capture its first-ever Red River Athletic Conference regular season and tournament titles leading the team in total goals. But the senior from Katy, Texas, is looking to add to her illustrious career as a Saint in her final season.

“I want to go out with a bang,” said Diaz. “There’s still a lot I want to accomplish.”

Over the summer, Diaz has worked on improving her skills. She was a member of the Houston Aces South Select team that competes in the Women’s Premier Soccer League (WPSL).

“Playing for the Aces was a great opportunity to play with other college level players and stay in rhythm,” said Diaz. Players from both the NAIA and NCAA participate in the WPSL.

However, playing in a competitive summer league is not where it ends for Diaz. She maintains a rigorous workout schedule to ensure she is in prime shape when she returns to OLLU.

“You have to be fit enough to play the entire 90 minutes,” said Diaz. “I try to prepare myself for that by running in the afternoons when the weather conditions are similar to what we play in.”

Diaz also takes her captaincy for the Saints very seriously. Despite being away for summer, she keeps in constant communication with the rest of her teammates and stresses the importance of the summer workouts.

“I text my teammates to make sure they work out and stay in shape and come in prepared when the season starts,” said Diaz.

She is confident that if everyone does their part, they can be back where they were last season – a national tournament appearance.

“I know we can win again. I want another ring,” she said.

However, for her senior year she wants to take it further. A national tournament appearance is not enough for Diaz. Last year the Saints lost in the opening round of the national tournament, a barrier that Diaz wants to get past.

It hasn’t all been work for Diaz this summer. Because of her involvement with the Aces, she’s had the opportunity to travel around the country. While traveling she was able to keep up with the World Cup games.

“I had the opportunity to watch the games with my teammates in hotel lobbies,” she said. “That was a fun experience, especially because some of my teammates are from different countries like Colombia, Netherlands and Mexico.”

Overall, Diaz is looking forward to her senior season at OLLU.

“It’s been an amazing experience. I’m glad I picked OLLU to play soccer,” she said. “It’s such a great program and I want to leave my mark and continue to contribute to the development of the program.”

The women’s soccer team will kick off its 2014 season as the defending conference champion Aug. 22 in a scrimmage against Texas Lutheran University.

Marcelo Chapa looking forward to senior season as Saints’ captain

chapa2Marcelo Chapa enters his senior season as a part of the men’s soccer team at Our Lady of the Lake University (OLLU) in 2014. Chapa has played a total 48 games over the span of three seasons as a Saint which includes both a Red River Athletic Conference regular season and tournament championships in 2012.

The senior from San Antonio is already thinking about the upcoming season in hopes that it is a memorable one on his part and it seems like soccer never stops in his life.

“I’m excited to get back in season,” Chapa said.

Over the summer, Chapa has helped men’s soccer coach, Shane Hurley, run and operate a summer league at OLLU for high school students and he coaches a local soccer club as well.

“Running that summer league made me want to come back and get started already,” he said.

Chapa is excited at the opportunity to get the ball rolling and sharing the field with his teammates. This year OLLU has recruited several international players to be a part of the Saints men’s soccer team.

“This is a different team,” he said. “We have people coming from different areas and they come in with the right attitude. That’s the exciting part.”

Captaincy is nothing new to Chapa. In fact, he has been a captain of the team since his sophomore season, but he knows that this year it will come with a different role.

“I’ve been a captain for three years now, but when I was a captain as a sophomore it was tough to get some of the seniors to follow your lead,” he said. “Last year Luis [Flores] was the senior so it was more of his show, but this year it’s up to me to set the tone.”

Chapa understands that he has to lead this team by example and put in the work in order to get to another championship like they did in 2012.

Last season the Saints jumped out to a 6-0 start as defending RRAC champions before losing two games in a row and finishing off the season 11-3-1. In post-season the men’s soccer team failed to make it past the first round of the conference tournament.

“We’ve had team meetings and discussed the problems that caused us to fall short last season,” Chapa said. “Last year we came in and thought we would win it again, but we hit a plateau and didn’t better our game.”
For 2014 he doesn’t want to commit the same mistake.

“This is a completely different team, and winning conference is our first goal, but we have to take it step by step,” he said.

Chapa has enjoyed his career at OLLU and is looking forward to his last season as a part of the team.
“It’s been great,” he said. “I’ve done a lot of great things here.”

The OLLU men’s soccer team will kick off their 2014 season at home when they face Texas Lutheran University in a scrimmage Aug. 22.

Bookstore continuing complementary beverages while cafeteria is closed

The Bookstore will continue its complimentary drink program for faculty and staff while the cafeteria is closed this week.

Employees can get one drink per day Monday-Thursday from 8:30-11 a.m. The drink can be either a bottled beverage or coffee, but not both.

Employees are allowed two drinks on Fridays—one in the morning and one in the afternoon. The two drinks cannot be purchased at one time.

Employees must present their University ID in order to receive their complimentary beverage.