Community Engagement Programs
Culture and Policy Institute
DB 4.226
Phone: (210) 458-2650
Fax: (210) 458-2655
This institute fosters relationships among researchers, community practitioners, analysts, government units and other organizations to conduct research that facilitates public awareness and understanding of community and societal problems and solutions. The Institute has four research concentrations: Culture and Community, Culture and Health Care, Culture and the Environment; and Culture and Literacy. The Institute maintains a state-of-the-art Survey Lab and Data Center which are used to conduct public surveys, maintain community and cultural indicators, and to generate customized maps using national, regional, and local data sets. For more information, call 458-6449 at the 1604 Campus.
Extended Services
BV 4.306
Phone: (210) 458-2401
Fax : (210) 458-2405
UTSA is involved in numerous community outreach programs that enhance the quality of life of San Antonio and South Texas residents. The following programs all fall under Extended Services responsibilities.
*Extended Education
BV 1.320
Phone: (210) 458-2411
Fax: (210) 458-2410
Extended Education provides continuing education offerings to a national audience, along with continuing to offer South Central Texas and the San Antonio communities with top quality programs and workshops. Extended Education offers a variety of quality workshops and programs in professional and career development, computer training, test preparation, and certification programs. Workshops and courses are offered in classroom and online settings.
Extended Education also offers the Extended Studies Program (ESP). This program allows non-UTSA students the opportunity to enroll in selected regular undergraduate curriculum courses on a space-available basis. ESP is intended for individuals seeking personal and professional development, or for individuals seeking a certificate in a particular discipline sponsored by a UTSA academic department. No degree may be earned through this program. ESP students may earn up to 18 credit hours in the program. ESP students pay UTSA regular resident or non-resident tuition. Additional ESP fees include registration, parking, "Friends of the Library" card, transcript fees, and other applicable course related fees.
*Institute for Economic Development (IED)
DB 2.312
Phone: (210) 458-2020Fax: (210) 458-2425
The 10, interrelated programs of the Institute provide management and technical assistance and small business training. The IED offers the most comprehensive and expertly staffed program to promote economic development services for small to medium-sized businesses in Texas, Louisiana and Oklahoma, with specialized services available nationwide. Visit the IED at www.iedtexas.org for more information.
The programs of the IED include the following:
| Phone | Fax | |
|---|---|---|
| South-West Texas Border SBDC Regional Office | 458-2450 | 458-2425 |
| Minority Business Development Center | 458-2480 | 458-2481 |
| San Antonio Small Business Development Center | 458-2460 | 458-2464 |
| Center for Economic Development | 458-2476 | 458-2481 |
| SBDC National Information Clearinghouse | 458-2747 | 458-7840 |
| SBDC IRS Compliance Alliance | 458-2467 | 458-2464 |
| SBDC International Trade Center | 458-2470 | 458-2491 |
| SBDC Technology Center | 458-2458 | 458-2754 |
| SBDC Human Capital Program | 458-2430 | 458-2095 |
| Southwest Trade Adjustment Assistance Center | 458-2490 | 458-2491 |
| Center for Community & Business Research | 458-2750 | 458-7840 |
| Institute for Economic Development | 458-2020 | 458-2425 |
BV 4.307
Phone: (210) 458-2903
Fax: (210) 458-2405
The mission of the Office of Community Outreach (OCO) is to work with educational, business, and civic leaders in targeted communities served by UTSA to identify and address barriers that inhibit or prevent area residents from attending UTSA. The OCO develops partnerships or collaborative agreements to address those barriers and works closely with the Admissions Office as well as other university offices that support student recruitment efforts.
*Prefreshman Engineering Program (PREP)
Monterey Building
301 S. Frio, Suite 180
Phone: (210) 458-2060
Fax: (210) 458-2061
The Prefreshman Engineering Program (PREP) identifies achieving middle and high school students with an interest in mathematics, science, engineering and technology and establishes the foundation of careers in these and other mathematic-related areas.
PREP is a seven-week, mathematics-based academic program, presented over the course of three summers. Students in grades six through eleven are encouraged to apply (see website for eligibility requirements). The program, held at nine local colleges and universities, stresses the development of abstract reasoning and problem solving skills. A fourth summer of San Antonio PREP offers college credit at UTSA. In 1986, PREP was replicated statewide as the Texas Prefreshman Engineering Program (TexPREP) and is currently operational in 13 Texas cities. Visit the website at www.prep-usa.org for more information.
*Downtown Special Events Office
BV 1.320
Phone: (210) 458-2409
Fax: (210) 458-2410
The Downtown Special Events Office is responsible for scheduling, coordinating, and managing special events at the UTSA Downtown Campus for on and off campus users. The office operates as a "one-stop" center for UTSA departments and outside organizations that desire to use UTSA Downtown facilities as a venue for special events other than classes.
*Mexico Center
FS 4.428
Phone: (210) 458-2849
Fax: (210) 458-2569
The UTSA Mexico Center fosters academic, research, cultural and programmatic exchanges with universities and organizations in Mexico engaging students, faculty and staff and promoting a better understanding of Mexico and its relationship to the United States. The UTSA Mexico Center provides a forum for communication between policy makers, scholars, business representatives and professionals from the United States and Mexico to bring about mutual understanding and productive relationships.
*Ford PAS
Monterey Building
301 S. Frio, Suite 170
Phone: (210) 458-2059
Fax: (210) 458-2061
The Ford Parnership for Advanced Studies (Ford PAS), a rigorous, engaging academic curriculum developed by Ford Motor Company, provides high school students nationwide with high-quality interdisciplinary learning experiences that challenge them academically and develop their problem-solving, critical thinking, and communication skills. By building strong local partnerships with business and higher education, Ford PAS encourages and prepares students for success in college and professional careers in fields such as business, engineering, and technology. Ford PAS serves students throughout the school year at four San Antonio school districts, as well as offers the Ford PAS Summer Academy at UTSA.
*All of these programs fall under the auspices of Extended Services.
Center for Policy Studies
American Humanics National Certification
Nonprofit Management Certification Program
BV 4.304
Phone: (210) 458-2545
Fax: (210) 458-2633
The Center for Policy Studies is the service unit of the College of Public Policy. It currently houses both the American Humanics and the Nonprofit Management Certification programs.
The American Humanics program educates, prepares and certifies undergraduate and graduate students for management roles in nonprofit organizations. Students enroll in nonprofit coursework and participate in co-curricular activities to prepare them for employment in the field. UTSA is one of only three universities in Texas to offer AH certification at the undergraduate level and one of only 10 universities in the nation that offers graduate-level certification.
The Nonprofit Management Certification Program is an educational program designed to diversify the future leadership of nonprofit organizations. The program develops leadership and management skills of nonprofit professionals in key areas including volunteer management, grant writing, fundraising and strategic planning.
Certification in Nonprofit Management and Leadership is awarded after completion of the Nonprofit Management Program, a 15 session program, and the Summer Institute for Leadership and Stewardship, a three-day series featuring local, regional, and national speakers. For more information call 458-2691.
Office of Community Relations
FS 4.462
Phone: (210) 458-2712
Fax: (210) 458-2424
This Office fulfills a key role in interfacing with a wide range of university constituencies and provides direction for public relations, marketing, and customer service for the University. This Office plays a key role in facilitating two-way communication between community and civic organizations, city and county departments, and the President, the Vice Provost for the Downtown Campus, and other senior administrators. This Office reviews requests for use of UTSA facilities from the external community and if acceptable, forwards those requests to the appropriate UTSA office. This Office also reviews e-mails requests from prospective students and forwards their requests to the appropriate university office.
The Community Relations Office is responsible for updating the UTSA Downtown Campus and College of Public Policy web sites, producing the College of Public Policy brochures and electronic newsletter.
Office of P-20 Initiatives
BV 2.308
Phone: (210) 458-2769
Fax: (210) 458-2764
The Office of K-16 Initiatives provides leadership in the reform of public schools and facilitates university and faculty involvement in public education through research and service based on the concept of partnerships and collaborations. Programs they sponsor include:
- Advanced Placement
- All Stars
- America Reads/Counts Tutoring Program
- Community Education (CEPD): GRE/GMAT/LSAT/SAT/test prep workshops
- Dream Runners
- Early College High School (ECHS)
- Expanding Your Horizon
- GO Center
- HACHAR
- Hispanic Mother-Daughter Program
- Live It! (Employer Education Council)
- Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP)
- Mentoring Initiative - SA:MMAP
- Project Reconnect
- Roadrunner for a Day
- San Antonio Mentorship Association (SAAMA)
- Summer Camps
- Texas Grant
- UTEACH
Project LIBRO
BV 4.304C
Phone: (210) 458-2685
Fax: (210) 458-5692
Project LIBRO is a Department of Education Title III grant. The overall goal is to develop a comprehensive and interdisciplinary program for teacher preparation and leadership development in the area of bilingual education and English as a Second Language. Project LIBRO seeks solutions to barriers that affect the quality of education to Hispanic students in PK-12 by offering at the undergraduate, graduate and post graduate levels the opportunity to specialize in the area of reading.
Project TRAIN
BV 4.304C
Phone: (210) 458-2685
Fax: (210) 458-5962
The primary goal of the Tapping Resources to Activate Instructional Innovation (TRAIN) Title III Grant at The University of Texas at San Antonio is to increase the number of fully prepared Bilingual Education Teachers in the San Antonio area. This goal will be accomplished through the collaboration of UTSA and local school districts in pursuit of the following objectives:
- Increase the number of undergraduate and normalista students who are pursuing a BA in Bilingual Generalist EC-4 and Bilingual Generalist 4th -8th grade.
- Prepare individuals holding a B.A. degree to become elementary bilingual or all level ESL teachers through a Post-Baccalaureate Certification Program.
For more information, please call the Division of Bicultural Bilingual Studies, Rosaura Treviņo-Ligon at (210) 458-5578, Grant Coordinator.
Institute for Law and Public Affairs
BV 4.356
Phone: (210) 458-2990
Fax: (210) 458-2993
The Institute for Law and Public Affairs commenced on September 1, 2001, as an academic partnership between UTSA and the UT School of Law, operating at the Downtown UTSA Campus. The Institute has a three-part mission:
- Education: The Institute shall develop and implement one of the nation's premiere pre-law programs, enhancing the number of students from UTSA's geographic region that gain admission to and excel in high-quality law schools. Every summer, the Institute conducts a highly rigorous, academically intense Summer Law School Preparation Academy* that utilizes award-winning UTSA and UT School of Law faculty to provide students with a unique, enhanced, educational experience. The Institute also supervises a special Legal Studies Minor. The Institute is designing and implementing a similar program for undergraduates preparing to pursue careers in public affairs.
- Research: The Institute conducts multidisciplinary research in the areas of law and public affairs that have special interest to the State of Texas. Students engaged in the educational programs of the Institute can serve on projects as research assistants to enable them to participate in professional research.
- Service: The Institute enriches the UTSA's academic environment and its communication with the larger community through lecture series, symposia, and town meetings on topics of high importance to South Texas.
*The Summer Law School Preparation Academy
The Summer Law School Preparation Academy (SLSPA) provides students with the opportunity to acquire the intellectual and professional skills necessary to increase the probability of gaining admission to and excelling in this nation's quality law schools. The SLSPA provides intensive coursework designed to hone students' analytical skills, enhance their writing and critical reading abilities, and provide instruction in sophisticated legal research. The Academy's faculty consists of award winning UTSA and UT School of Law faculty and incorporates lectures from federal and state judges, leading members of the bar, and faculty from other universities. The SLSPA awards stipends to most students admitted to the program and offers students the opportunity to enhance their LSAT performance with special LSAT training. The SLSPA and Institute assist the enrollees in the preparation of materials for the submission of their law school applications. Law school deans, admission directors, and faculty provide information sessions throughout the summer. The Academy has two phases: Phase I accepts students after the sophomore year. Phase II enrolls students after completing the junior year. Each phase commits students to eight hours a day, five days a week. The University of Texas School of Law partners with UTSA in the design and operation of the Academy's pre-law program. Students receive twelve hours of academic credit for completion of the two phases and a Certificate in Legal Reasoning.