Category: News

Did You Know?

Sacred Heart Conventual Chapel: A Historical and Spiritual Treasure

Did you know that one of San Antonio’s most recognizable sacred landmarks stands at the heart of Our Lady of the Lake University? Sacred Heart Conventual Chapel, completed in 1923, was listed in the National Register of Historic Places on July 26, 2021, recognizing its architectural and historical significance.

The chapel began as the vision of Mother Florence Walter, Superior General of the Sisters of Divine Providence. In 1895, she imagined a Gothic chapel rising above the lake, its spires pointing toward the Texas sky. Turning that vision into reality required years of sacrifice. The Sisters gave up treats, created and sold embroidery and needlework, and raised funds from the communities they served. Schoolchildren contributed pennies, while thousands of students helped fund the chapel’s Italian marble altar. Construction began in October 1921 under noted San Antonio architect Leo M. J. Dielmann and contractor August Fuessel. The chapel was dedicated in 1923 and solemnly consecrated in 1928 after its debt was paid.

Credit: OLLU Marketing and Communications
Credit: OLLU Marketing and Communications

Its English Gothic Revival design is rich with spiritual symbolism. Pointed arches draw the eye upward, while the cruciform floor plan directs worshippers toward the sanctuary. The 193-foot central spire is an iconic landmark that rises above San Antonio’s historic West Side. Inside, imported stained-glass windows from Munich, Germany depict the Joyful Mysteries, the Beatitudes and saints important to the Congregation. The Carrara marble altar features a replica of Leonardo da Vinci’s Last Supper, while the inscription in Latin, “I am the way, the truth and the life,” welcomes visitors at the entrance. Throughout the chapel, statues, murals and paintings depict individuals and sacred scenes important to the Catholic faith, including Jesus, the Virgin Mary, St. Joseph, St. Anne, Blessed John Martin Moye and other saints whose lives and teachings reflect the chapel’s spiritual heritage.

Credit: OLLU Marketing and Communications

More than a historic treasure, Sacred Heart remains an active place of worship serving the OLLU community. During academic semesters, Sunday Mass is celebrated in Sacred Heart Chapel at 7 p.m., and weekday Masses are held Tuesday through Thursday at 12:30 p.m. For worship information, chapel tours and additional details, visit OLLU’s Sacred Heart Conventual Chapel or Mission and Ministry webpage or to hear an audio tour of the full architectural details of the chapel, click on the video below.

From OLLU to Rutgers: Jaylem Covarrubias Explores Animal Science and Sustainability

This summer, Environmental Science & Sustainability student Jaylem Covarrubias expanded his academic experience through an exciting opportunity with Rutgers University’s Animal Sciences Discovery Program, as part of the TExAS FAST Scholars Program.

The three-week residency in New York brought together two USDA-NIFA Next Gen programs to provide students with an immersive, hands-on learning experience. During the program, Jaylem worked directly with livestock on a teaching farm, participated in veterinary anatomy and physiology labs, and developed practical skills in microtechniques.

Beyond the laboratory and farm, Jaylem worked alongside peer and professional mentors to strengthen his career-readiness skills and explore potential career paths. The experience provided a broader perspective on the connections between animal science, agriculture and sustainability—areas that complement his studies at OLLU.

Hear From Jaylem

Want to hear about the experience directly from Jaylem? Watch his video to learn more about his summer journey:

For more stories highlighting the experiences and accomplishments of OLLU students, visit the OLLU Math and Science Department YouTube channel:

OLLU Math and Science Department YouTube Channel

Congratulations, Jaylem, on making the most of this outstanding learning opportunity!

Annual Mandatory Employee Compliance Training Is Underway

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.

Start the Year Prepared: Download InformaCast & Campus Safety

As we continue to refine and strengthen our emergency notification capabilities, we encourage all members of the OLLU community to download the InformaCast Mobile App. This app is a critical component of our communication strategy, allowing users to receive real-time alerts and updates directly to their mobile devices, regardless of location.

To stay informed during real emergencies and important campus alerts, we encourage all students, faculty, and staff to download the InformaCast Mobile app. You can find it in your device’s app store by searching for “InformaCast Mobile.” Once installed, follow the setup instructions provided by our IT department to ensure you are properly connected to the university’s notification system.

Apple Store Download
Google play download

We appreciate your continued dedication to campus safety and thank you once again for your participation in this important initiative. If you have any questions or need assistance with the app, please don’t hesitate to contact the IT Help Desk.

Thank you for helping us keep OLLU safe and informed.

HACU Selects OLLU Academic Leaders for Competitive, Prestigious Research Program

Our Lady of the Lake University (OLLU) academic leaders Candace de León-Zepeda, Ph.D., Dean of Academics and Associate Provost, and Valerie A. Martínez, Ph.D., Associate Professor of History and University College Coordinator, have been selected to participate in the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities’ (HACU) prestigious VOLARÉ Institute, a national initiative designed to strengthen research capacity at Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs). Teresita Munguia, Ph.D., Associate Provost and Associate Professor of Chemistry, will serve as the Lead Administrator. 

The selection recognizes OLLU’s growing commitment to building a stronger research enterprise and places Drs. De León-Zepeda, Martínez and Munguia among a competitive cohort of higher education professionals focused on expanding institutional research capabilities. Their applications stood out among a competitive group of candidates selected to advance research initiatives at their respective institutions.

OLLU President Abel A. Chávez, MBA, Ph.D., praised the academic leaders for earning the opportunity.

“When I think about the future of OLLU, I think about leaders like Candace, Valerie and Teresita; scholars and practitioners who hold the tradition of our founding Sisters in one hand and the demands of a rapidly changing higher education landscape in the other. Their selection for the HACU VOLARÉ Institute will help us prepare our university for tomorrow. Our best days are ahead.”

VOLARÉ — Visioning, Organizing, Leading, and Advancing the Research Enterprise — provides participants with research capacity-building activities, mentorship and strategic support aimed at strengthening their skills and their institutions’ ability to compete for funding and elevate their research enterprise.

For OLLU, participation offers an opportunity to develop a systematic framework for strengthening the University’s research enterprise while receiving guidance from experienced mentors and collaborating with colleagues from institutions across the country.

The Institute emphasizes developing and implementing systematic research enterprise frameworks; creating communities of practice and regional consortia that allow institutions to share resources and expertise; and piloting new strategies that can support sustainable research growth.

Participants also gain tools to assess existing research capabilities, identify areas for growth and develop actionable strategies for strengthening research administration and infrastructure. The program is designed to increase institutional competitiveness for research funding while broadening participation in STEM and cultivating a more diverse research workforce.

Through their participation, Drs. de León-Zepeda, Martínez and Munguia will help position OLLU to identify institutional research needs, develop an action plan and explore strategies that can expand opportunities for faculty, students and collaborative research.

Additional details about OLLU’s research enterprise project developed through the VOLARÉ Institute will be shared as the initiative progresses.

Cybersecurity Awareness: Stay Vigilant, Prevent Cyberattacks

On Monday, August 17, 2026, UT San Antonio (UTSA) reported an attempted unauthorized intrusion at the edge of its network.  According to the university, the intrusion was detected before reaching core systems. UTSA’s technology team contained the attempt and subsequently took numerous systems offline as a precaution while investigating the incident and strengthening security.  While we are confident that UTSA is following its incident response protocol, it is also advisable that we keep cybersecurity awareness in mind when utilizing the OLLU network to avoid a similar situation.  Instances like this are stark reminders that universities are a prime target for cyber criminals, and we should all remain vigilant and ensure we adhere to our cyber training. 

Some tips to always keep in mind to stay cyber-safe:

  • Verify unexpected requests for payments or financial transactions through a trusted, independent communication method.
  • IT personnel will NEVER ask for your user name and password over email or text
  • University Personnel will NEVER ask a student to acquire gift cards from personal finances
  • Be cautious of messages that create urgency or pressure you to act immediately.
  • Examine the sender’s email address carefully, even if the display name appears familiar.
  • Never click links or open attachments from suspicious or unexpected emails.
  • Never approve authenticator actions you did not initiate.
  • Report suspicious emails immediately using the phishing reporting process.

During this time of year, colleges and universities typically see an increase in phishing and social engineering attacks. Your continued awareness and attention are essential to protecting both your personal information and our University systems and data.  If you encounter any suspicious activity, or have any concerns, please contact the University’s Chief Information Security Officer, Greg Garza: gjgarza@ollusa.edu immediately.

Thank you for your continued vigilance to keep our campus community secure.

OLLU Policies Site: Your Central Resource for University Policies

Dear OLLU Community,

The Office of Institutional Compliance (OIC) would like to remind all employees of the SharePoint OLLU Policies Site, our centralized resource for accessing University policies.
OLLU policies are organized by topic to make it easier to locate the guidance you need, including:

  • Academic
  • Compliance
  • Culture
  • Employment
  • Financial
  • Health & Safety
  • IT
  • Students
  • University Operations

    We encourage employees to become familiar with the site and refer to it whenever questions arise regarding University requirements, responsibilities, or procedures.
    Questions About a Policy?
    For questions regarding University policies or assistance identifying the appropriate policy or department, please contact the Office of Institutional Compliance at compliance@ollusa.edu. OIC will assist with your question or direct you to the appropriate University department.
    For questions specifically regarding Academic Policies, Procedures, Guidelines & Statements, please contact Academic Affairs at AcademicAffairs@ollusa.edu.

Access the OLLU Policies Site:
OLLUPolicies – Home

Make Plans to Attend: OLLU Is Marching in El Dieciséis de Septiembre Parade!

Saturday, September 12, 2026

Get ready to represent the Saints! Our Lady of the Lake University will be marching in El Dieciséis de Septiembre Parade on Saturday, September 12, joining the Avenida Guadalupe Association’s longstanding celebration of Mexican-American history, culture and community.

This annual parade brings the community together in San Antonio’s historic Westside and celebrates the cultural heritage and history connected to Mexico’s independence and the region.

We Need Saints to Join the March!

OLLU is looking for faculty, staff, students, alumni and friends who would like to walk with the university and show their Saints pride.

Whether you’re a longtime participant or joining for the first time, this is a great opportunity to represent OLLU, connect with the community and celebrate our city’s rich cultural heritage.

Make Plans to Attend:
📅 Saturday, September 12, 2026: Parade Step-Off @ 10 AM
📍 Avenida Guadalupe / San Antonio’s Historic Westside
💙💛 Represent OLLU. Walk with the Saints.

Want to Volunteer and March With OLLU?

For information about joining the OLLU contingent, contact:

Jesse Harasta
Director, Center for Service-Learning and Volunteerism
(210) 431-3990
joharasta@ollusa.edu

Come march with us and show San Antonio what it means to be a Saint!

A New Year, A Shared Mission: OLLU Welcomes 2026–27 at Faculty/Staff Convocation

Our Lady of the Lake University officially welcomed the 2026–27 academic year with Faculty/Staff Convocation, bringing together faculty and staff to celebrate OLLU’s accomplishments, recognize outstanding service and look ahead to the year ahead.

The gathering provided an opportunity for the university community to reflect on the progress and achievements of the past year while preparing for the opportunities and priorities that will shape the new academic year.

During the program, President Chávez shared remarks on what the OLLU community can expect in 2026–27, highlighting the university’s continued momentum and the important work ahead. The event also celebrated university accomplishments and the collective contributions of faculty and staff who help advance OLLU’s mission each day.

Celebrating Service to OLLU

A special part of the celebration was the recognition of this year’s Service Award recipients:

Veronica Martinez Borrell
From Left to Right: President Chávez, Newman Wong, Gianno Gomez, Dr. Heather Herrera
  • Dr. Heather Herrera
  • Newman Wong
  • Gianno Gomez
  • Veronica Martinez Borrell

Their dedication and contributions to the university were recognized as part of the celebration, honoring the important role employees play in strengthening the OLLU community.

Let the Games Begin: OLLU Lotería

The convocation also introduced a little friendly competition with the first-ever OLLU Lotería game.

OLLU Bingo Card_2026_8.10.26Download

Bringing a uniquely OLLU twist to a beloved tradition, the game gave faculty and staff an opportunity to connect, have fun and celebrate the university community in a new way.

From recognizing those who have dedicated their talents to OLLU to looking ahead to the year to come—and even playing a little Lotería—Faculty/Staff Convocation set the tone for 2026–27: a year of connection, accomplishment and continued momentum.

Here’s to a new academic year and another year of moving OLLU forward—together.