UTSA President Dr. Taylor Eighmy sent students an update on campus well-being via email on Feb. 28.

“Over the last couple of months, concerns have been raised regarding UTSA’s efforts to promote wellness and provide access to mental health services,” Eighmy said in the email. “I’ve heard these legitimate criticisms from many corners and know that we can do better on this front.”

In his first campus-wide email addressing the matter, Eighmy addressed the death of Cesar Caballero, a sophomore pre-music major who died by suicide at Alvarez Hall in December 2019.

“Nothing can erase the deep impact of losing our student Cesar Caballero to suicide last December, but in the wake of this tragedy we can channel our energies into making UTSA a better university,” Eighmy said.

Eighmy provided students with a list of actions the university has already taken to improve campus well-being: added three new staff positions to Counseling and Mental Health Services, planned for additional mental health resources in the future, added residential academic peer coaches and restructured student affairs to “create a stronger link between academics and wellness.”

Eighmy also stated the university will be hiring three more counselors as soon as possible.

According to Eighmy, the wellness initiative steering committee will send updates about the outcomes of the recent well-being forums as well as information about student, faculty and staff sub-committees.

The next well-being event will be on March 3 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Wellbeing Fair held in the Paseo. There will also be a well-being focus group from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. in the Mesquite Room.