THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT SAN ANTONIO
Community Engagement Team Meeting
June 27, 2006The "UTSA Community Engagement task Thematic Team" met for the first time this afternoon, Tuesday, June 27 for an hour. Discussion items were as follows: 1. Reflection of the UTSA May 2006 retreat and outcomes. 2. Discussed UTSA officials becoming engaged within the community and getting the community engaged in UTSA. 3. Discussed various existing entities on campus that conduct some sort of "community engagement" i.e, Athletics, ITC, K-16, Extended Education, External Affairs, Community Initiatives, Communications, Development, etc. 4. Discussed, SACS / COC and how SAC reaccredidation defines "community engagement" - need this from Provost office. 5. Discussed how we get UTSA "faculty and staff" involved in community engagement, particularly faculty when they are struggling to secure tenure, but there seems to be little support for faculty to do become engaged. Texas A&M commercialization concept to encourage faculty tenure was discussed, and what UT Systems response is. 6. Discussed model universities that have excelled in "community engagement, and how some universities constantly change and reinvent themselves depending on needs of local community, or region, or economy. Action Items were as follows: 1. Established tri-chairs and a Secretary for the task force Albert Carrisalez- UTSA 1604 Campus & Secretary Patrick Valdez - UTSA DT Campus John Davis – ITC 2. Formulate an outline of a survey to be circulated throughout university community. Purpose is to develop an inventory of activities, and a brief description of the activity, targeted audience, and office/individual that perform(s) some sort of community engagement activity. This would help us determine where UTSA is currently at and how we can bridge the gap of where we want to get to in 2016. 3. Start to identify and look at exemplary model campuses around the country that UTSA would aspire to in terms of community engagement, keeping in mind our own specific goals in this thematic area that were developed at the May 2006 retreat. 4. Begin refining goals that we outlined at the May retreat, add clarity, and produce realistic timelines. 5. Begin meeting monthly, at the end of each month to dialogue and rotate these meetings at one of the three campuses. 6. John Davis agreed to host next meeting at ITC. Suggested date is July 24, 25, or 26. |
July 25, 2006Present: Albert Carrisalez, Patrick Valdez, John Davis, Gina Mendez Absent: just a few folks Agenda Item: Review past surveys conducted by UTSA to assess faculty and staff involvement in our local community. Discussion: Gina Mendez provided copies of two previous surveys conducted by UTSA. One was conducted in November, 1993 and was produced by UTSA's Community Relations Coordinating Council. It reflects results of a questionnaire shared with over 1,000 UTSA employees and faculty to assess their individual level of community involvement. The Second survey shared was produced in September of 1997. This one was an inventory of various UTSA offices and departments which provide some sort of public service activity. Survey reflects what kind of community services does UTSA provide? Results of this inventory provided a brief description of the kinds of public service activities provided (i.e., urban systemic initiative, Hispanic mother-daughter program, international trade center, etc…). John Davis shared with us a list of community engagement activities at the ITC. It was clear that no ITC exhibit or program is carried out without community involvement and collaboration with UTSA faculty and staff. Conclusions: Agreement that the two surveys provided valuable data but from our group no one knew what the motivation was at that time and how these surveys supported an overall university strategic plan. We discussed possibly updating a survey but need specific direction from the UTSA Central Planning Committee to know exactly what we would use the information for and what's the return on the investment of another survey. Action items: Secure direction from Central Planning Committee on survey idea, secure a specific charge from the Central Planning Committee. Agenda Item: Also discussed other possible universities comparable to UTSA, and how their campus cultures are engaged in their respective communities. Discussion: Arizona State University was one example discussed. Conclusions: Agreed to secure specific examples of success at universities that have demonstrated community engagement. Discussed possibility of establishing a radio station at UTSA by the year 2016. Action items: Identify a few best practices around the country. Comments/concerns: Great discussions. A lot to accomplish by the year 2016. Need to streamline our goals and get more direction from the Central Planning Committee. Next meeting date: Meeting #3 for Community Engagement Task Force is set for Tuesday, August 29 at 1:30 p.m. at the UTSA Downtown Campus, Frio Street Building, room 4.452. |
September 7, 2006Present: Gina Mendez, John Davis, Albert Carrisalez, Barry McKinney, Jane Findling, Encarnacion Garza, Dennis Haynes, & Mark Blizard Absent: Patrick Valdez, David Gabler, Bob McKinley, Rudy Reyna, Lynn Hickey, Barbara Smith, Jennifer Storm Agenda Item: Goals and objectives, and surveys/inventories. Discussion: Discussed goals and objectives and the need to draft a report to the upcoming September 22 retreat gathering. Discussed the 1993 and 1997 UTSA surveys and whether or not we need to ask Central Planning Committee to pursue a similar survey that all retreat themes could use. Discussed student involvement off campus as a form of "community engagement" as well as how UTSA's internal student culture is perceived by the external community. Discussed UTSA's overall volunteer service (faculty, staff, and student man hours invested in the community in various service initiatives) and how we track/monitor that as a form of community engagement. Conclusions: 1. Agreed that Community Engagement is designed to support areas that are easily measured, and that it is difficult to measure the success of community engagement alone, unless it is attached to a measurable theme, i.e. infrastructure, research, enrolment. 2. Also agreed that the rate of UTSA's Community Engagement needs to increase at the same rate as the growth of the university. 3. Identified various levels/types of community engagement at each of the three campuses which include, but are not limited to (cultural events, facility use, education outreach, K-16, sports, alumni relations, and business and commercial). 4. Agreed that internal coordination or awareness at least, between campuses is needed to convey what community engagement activities campuses are involved in. Action items: Write report for the upcoming Sept. 22 retreat and refine goals and objectives. Comments/concerns: Assess goals and objectives of other thematic groups. Next meeting dates: Oct. 19, Thurs. 2:00 Downtown Campus, Frio Street Building FS 4.452 Nov. 16, Thurs. 12:00 noon Institute of Texan Cultures, 2nd floor Connally room Dec 15. Fri. 1:00 p.m. Loop 1604 Campus, Main Bldg, 4th floor President's Conf. room. |