April 07, 2026  

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.

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

Join us for a Wellness Fair where benefit-eligible employees can explore the range of health and wellness programs and benefits offered by Texas A&M–San Antonio and its approved vendors. 

Monday, April 13 | 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
CAB 402, Vista Room

Join Dr. Katherine Bridgman for a guided discussion exploring the role of generative AI in higher education. Faculty from various disciplines are invited to share perspectives on AI in student writing, how course policies are shaping student experiences, and how classroom practices connect with student support networks.

Thursday, April 9 | 3:30 -4:30 p.m.
Classroom Hall 303

Join us as we 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

Join the Texas A&M–San Antonio Police Department for a free Citizens’ Police Academy and learn more about law enforcement and University PD operations. This hands-on experience will feature different learning materials each day, and participants who attend all three sessions will receive a certificate of completion. Lunch will be provided, and space is limited to 10 participants. For more information, contact Police Compliance Coordinator Paul Burgio.

April 29 | 12 – 2 p.m.
April 30 | 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
May 1 | 12 – 2 p.m.

CAB Courtyard Briefing Room

Join the University Library Archives & Special Collections and the Department of History for a special panel discussion 
covering two centuries of ranching in Texas in celebration of America’s 250th anniversary.

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

Dr. Frederick Luis Aldama, aka Professor Latinx, is an award-winning author and comic book creator. Join us as he discusses 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

We invite you to wear jeans on Denim Day, April 29, in symbolic solidarity with survivors and to help raise awareness about sexual violence. Denim Day is a global movement observed annually during Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Also, look for a Denim Day display that will be moved around campus during April. 

Members of the campus community can also stop by the Central Academic Building, Room 439, to write an inspirational message on a denim heart to help create a second display for ongoing victim support events.  

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.

Associate Professor James Finley is featured in a new PBS documentary on 19th-century writer Henry David Thoreau, produced by iconic filmmaker Ken Burns. Finley has written extensively about Thoreau and is co-editing an upcoming book about the author. The documentary explores Thoreau’s life, writings, and influence on issues like environmentalism and social justice, and includes contributions from prominent figures in film and entertainment. 

Blair Sohl has been named the University's inaugural head coach for the new men’s and women’s cross country and track and field programs. Sohl brings over a decade of coaching, strength and conditioning, and teaching experience, including a successful tenure at the University of the Incarnate Word, where he helped elevate the program to Division I success. 

Jordan Burbank, the University's athletic and annual giving officer, has been recognized by the National Association of Athletic Development Directors, with the Jason Galaska Rising Star Award. The highly competitive honor recognizes emerging professionals in athletics fundraising. Burbank is the first recipient from the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics to receive the award.  

More than 1,300 high school students and their families gathered at A&M-San Antonio for Future Jaguar Day, a signature event designed to introduce prospective students to the opportunities, resources and community that define the University’s fast-growing South Side campus. The free event offered a comprehensive, hands-on look at college life. Families from across San Antonio, Bexar County and throughout Texas attended, filling the campus with energy and anticipation. 

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

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.

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.

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.