Functional Integration

Functional Integration Team (FIT) launched, members include Sadie Basllesteros, Cara Bennett, Kathleen Blanton, Corina Castillo-Johnson, Virginia Galloway, Laurie James, Kris Kwolek, Terii Lopez, Natalee Marion, Jason Pirruccello, Sarah Pryor, Kristi Salazar, and Erika Valladares.

During FY25, seven working groups identified strong foundations and highlighted remaining work to be done within Office of Legal Affairs systems and procedure development. To complete the remaining work, new cross-functional groups focused on key priorities are being established to support a fully integrated, client-centered legal function.

• Texas Public Information Act (TPIA): ensure continued compliance with TPIA requirements, recommend future processes, cost recovery models, systems, and metrics that improve efficiency and service.
• Litigation & Professional Liability Claims: ensure ongoing support for litigation and clinical claims and recommend future processes that enhance client advocacy, procedural efficiency, communication, and records management.
• Third Party Agency Investigation: ensure effective institutional response to third-party agency investigations and recommend future processes to minimize disruption, support resolution, and improve coordination across stakeholders.
• Internal Investigations: ensure timely and effective legal support for internal investigations and recommend future processes and KPIs that enhance cross-functional coordination and internal case resolution.
• Transactions & Contracts: ensure contract and transactional support continues and recommend future processes, prioritization models, and potential incentives that enhance legal value and operational efficiency.
• Outside Counsel & Compliance (OCC): ensure proper engagement and oversight of outside counsel and recommend future compliance practices, engagement criteria, and systems for tracking legal services and institutional knowledge.

Functional Integration Team (FIT) has launched, members include Carlos Martinez, Gilbert Loredo, Jaymie Mangelsdorf, Jason Hassay, Albert Carrisalez, Pete Arguello, Hilda Lopez and Cynthia Rocha.

Five working groups have been established to focus on key priorities:

• Administrative Operations: develop and implement administrative processes and practices in the office that are efficient, comply with institutional policies, and ensure oversight, accountability, and sustainable over the long-term.
• Advocacy & Relationship Building: develop a strategic plan to guide and strengthen UT San Antonio’s advocacy efforts at the local, state, and federal levels, and key campus stakeholders. The purpose is to design an approach that cultivates and maintains strategic relationships to advance the university’s mission, priorities, and reputation before elected officials, staff, and key government offices. The working group shall include an approach that establishes OGR as the trusted resource to the campus community on emerging issues, legislation, and regulations. Recommend roles, workflows, and tools needed to support the plan. The resulting plan will align with the UT San Antonio’s strategic plan, mission and values.
• Early Knowledge & Communications: develop an Early Knowledge System to monitor, gather intelligence, and analyze local, state, and federal governmental activities and policy shifts that have the potential to impact the university’s strategic goals.  Recommend roles, workflows, and tools needed to sustain the system and ensure leadership receives timely, forward-looking intelligence for proactive decision-making.
• The Future of Westside Community Center: review the future of the Westside Community Center and, in collaboration with the Office of Research and Innovation and appropriate academic units, develop a plan to determine the best approach to advance the university’s priorities.
• Metrics & Key Performance Indicators (KPI): design a comprehensive performance framework for the Office of Government Relations (OGR) that defines key outcomes, benchmarks best practices, and develop balanced metrics. Recommend data collection methods and establish reporting processes to provide leadership with regular, actionable insights for accountability and continuous improvement.