March 31, 2026  

Texas A&M University–San Antonio will conduct a test of the emergency notification system on:

April 2, 2026 | 10 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. 

This is only a test. Messages sent during this time are for testing purposes and do not indicate an actual emergency. No action is required from members of the campus community.

This drill is part of ongoing campus safety efforts and helps strengthen the University’s ability to communicate quickly and accurately during real emergencies.

Come out to JAGRISE 2026, a premier research and innovation showcase scheduled for April 13–17. This annual event features undergraduate and graduate students, and your participation as faculty and staff is essential to its success.

Employees are encouraged to volunteer as panel moderators, JAGRISE guides, and assistants for the competitions.

While support is valued throughout the week, the event needs volunteers the most on Thursday, April 16. 

Don't miss your chance to make this day special for our Jaguars as they receive their class rings and continue a rich University tradition. Sign up to volunteer to help with Ring Days and be one of the first to congratulate our Jaguars on this achievement and celebrate them and their accomplishments! Free food and T-shirts for all volunteers.

Volunteer Shifts:

A&M–San Antonio will host its annual Employee Development Day on Thursday, May 28. This event provides employees with opportunities to engage in activities that enhance their skills, knowledge, and professional development.

Faculty and staff are invited to share their expertise by facilitating breakout sessions. If you are interested in leading a session, please submit a proposal using the link below.

Submission Deadline: Friday, April 10
Presenters will be notified once session selections are finalized.

Priority registration for Fall 2026 has begun. We encourage faculty and staff to remind students to check their registration holds, speak with an advisor, and know when their registration window opens.

Eligible students can begin registering for classes based on their classification and program.

Your hub for health and wellness resources for mental & physical well being.

The Division of Student Affairs invites you to contribute to the development of its forthcoming strategic plan. As we shape the mission and goals that will guide the division, we welcome feedback from our campus partners. All faculty and staff are encouraged to participate.

Please join us at one of the following sessions:

April 6 | 11 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Patriots’ Casa Ceremony Room

April 7 | 1 – 2 p.m.
Auditorium Lobby

Whether you are interested in linguistics, quantitative finance, biology, chemistry, or other research areas, this training will help you understand how High Performance Computing resources can support and accelerate your work. 

The workshop is open to all students, faculty, researchers, and staff. Participants must register in advance and bring their own laptop. Don't hesitate, space is limited.

Tuesday, April 7 | 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.

STEM 228 & 264 (Training)
STEM 256 (Research)

Join the University Library Archives & Special Collections and the Department of History for Two Centuries of Ranching in Texas: An America 250 Event. Celebrate America’s 250th anniversary with a special panel discussion exploring two centuries of ranching in Texas.

The discussion will be led by Dr. Amy Porter, Dr. Francis Galan, and guest speaker William V. Scott. Student Allison Dumore will also make a special presentation about the anniversary.

Thursday, April 16 | 2:15 p.m.
BLH Multipurpose Room (BLH 134)

Join the Student Counseling Center in recognition of Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month. A resource fair will feature interactive tabling activities designed to explore how education and awareness create a strong foundation for prevention. Highlights include appearances by General the Jaguar, the Spirit Team, and a self-defense demonstration.

Thursday, April 9 | 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
CAB Courtyard

Honor the lives of Jaguars who passed away during the academic year at the Jaguars Remembered ceremony. This annual tradition recognizes the lives and lasting impact of our students, alumni, faculty, and staff.

April 17 | 12:15 – 12:45 p.m.
President’s Rose Garden

Dr. Frederick Luis Aldama, aka Professor Latinx, is an award-winning author and comic book creator. Join us as he discusses Latinx Pop Culture and his upcoming comic: Shakespeare Reimagined: A Latino Comics Remix. Volume 1.

Monday, April 20 | 6:30 - 7:30 p.m.

Business Library Hall Multi-Purpose Room

The 2026 AI Learnathon is a system-wide, month-long initiative designed to build foundational AI literacy among faculty and staff. Running from March 27 through April 30, 2026, the Learnathon aligns with key events such as National AI Literacy Day, a CATIE webinar, the Chancellor’s Faculty Innovation and Impact Symposium, and National AI Week.

Enroll today for instruction and certification.

Through existing Grow with Google and ACUE training opportunities, participants will explore practical, ethical, and role-relevant uses of AI—gaining hands-on experience and working toward certification. This initiative supports faculty and staff in moving from awareness to action while strengthening skills applicable to higher education, research, and administration.

Visit JagSync for more upcoming events.

Texas A&M’s Vashisht College of Medicine, University Health, and Texas A&M University–San Antonio have formalized a partnership to expand medical education and address physician shortages in Bexar County and South Texas. Beginning in 2027, medical students will complete clinical rotations at University Health Palo Alto Hospital, while faculty physicians provide patient care, with plans to add residency programs. As part of the partnership, A&M-San Antonio will provide space for Vashisht College of Medicine students, faculty, and staff in their new Public Health and Education building, scheduled to open in Fall 2026.

Dr. Elena Foulis, an associate professor and director of Spanish Language Studies, has been elected to the board of the Texas Oral History Association. In this role, she will promote ethical research practices, support community storytelling, and help organize professional programming.  

The University's Honors Program hosted the San Antonio Honors Symposium for the first time, bringing together nine institutions and 45 student research projects. A&M-San Antonio students swept the first-, second-, and third-place awards in the research poster category for upper-division undergraduates.

Check out A&M-SA Today for more University news and featured stories.

As part of our commitment to employee development, we will hold four general staff meetings to discuss the upcoming performance review process. The meetings will cover the self-evaluation process, key competencies, and changes to the performance review cycle. Please make plans to attend one of the following scheduled meetings.

Updated locations

The University is seeking volunteers for Festival de Cascarones. Participants outside the A&M-SA community must pass a background check, including alumni.

Volunteers must be 16 or older and attend one of the following mandatory volunteer orientations: 

 Volunteers receive: 

Employees may work with their supervisor to flex their work hours during the week of FDC.

Fiesta season is upon us, and what better way to celebrate than for your department to have the official University Fiesta medal!   

A minimum order of 25 medals is required. The cost of the medal is $2.65 each and you MUST provide your department's account number on the order form. For this reason, it is better if a representative or department head makes the order on behalf of the department. 

 It is recommended that you make divisional orders or be part of a divisional order if your department number is small.

Southwest Airlines’ 2026 New Year Loyalty Offer is now live and available to TAMUS business travelers. This exclusive promotion allows eligible travelers to earn enhanced Rapid Rewards when booking with Southwest for business travel.

How to Participate:

To sign up for the offer, simply visit Southwest Business for the Texas A&M University System and follow the instructions.

You will need to log in to your Southwest Rapid Rewards account to register for the offer.

The Growler is the campus newsletter for faculty and staff of Texas A&M-San Antonio. The Growler is published every Tuesday from the start of the semester, providing insight into A&M-SA news, events, and announcements. If you would like to promote a University-wide event or announcement in The Growler, submit this form by 5 p.m. CT on a Monday the week before publication.