86th Legislative Priorities
A new era in higher education is dawning at The University of Texas at San Antonio, consistently recognized for research and discovery; collaboration and diversity; community service and urban development; and for training professionals to succeed in the new global economy.
New Exceptional Item Request
College of Business Expansion to the Downtown Campus
UTSA proposes an expansion of its nationally-ranked College of Business with a new state-of-the-art building located in downtown San Antonio. The facility will feature high-tech classrooms and student meeting spaces, department offices and research centers to provide a multitude of academic and professional connections between students, faculty and the San Antonio’s business community.
New Exceptional Item Request
Leadership in Cybersecurity
UTSA—home to the number one cybersecurity undergraduate degree program in the U.S.—is requesting new exceptional item funding to build on the university’s national leadership in the field for the benefit of the state. This funding will create a “culture of security” to address escalating needs throughout Texas via an inter-agency partnership with the Texas Department of Information Resources.
New Exceptional Item Request
Fostering Educational Success for Students with a History of Foster Care: A Bexar County Pilot Project
The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA), Texas A&M San Antonio (A&M-SA), and the Alamo Colleges District (ACD) have developed an innovative pilot program to create a pipeline of educational support for the more than 600 foster care alumni currently enrolled on our campuses, as well as youth in foster care who aspire to go to college. The pilot will enhance existing resources and practices, and develop targeted support to increase access, retention, and graduation rates for foster care alumni.
New Exceptional Item Request
College Completion UTSA
UTSA has set aggressive 5-year goals to further improve first-year retention and graduation rates as one of the university’s top priorities. As a Hispanic and urban-serving institution, cultivating an environment of student belonging and connectedness is key to this effort. Funding for College Completion UTSA will support high-impact initiatives designed to enhance the student experience through student-faculty engagement, experiential learning and effective communications. This is a new exceptional item that has not been funded before.
Non-Formula Support Item Request Supporting UTSA's Academic & Research Enterprises
Institutional Enhancement
Institutional Enhancement funding enables UTSA to recruit world-class scholars to the university, while simultaneously reducing student-faculty ratios in light of rapid enrollment growth. Continued funding for this item is critical to attracting and retaining excellent faculty by ensuring that teaching and advising loads remain in balance, courses are readily available to students, and class sizes are optimal.
Non-Formula Support Item Request Supporting UTSA's Academic & Research Enterprises
San Antonio Life Sciences Institute
The San Antonio Life Sciences Institute (SALSI) leverages the collective power of UTSA and UT Health San Antonio through formalized collaborations and curriculum alignments. SALSI provides students at both institutions with opportunities to join together on research, utilizing faculty and laboratories at both campuses. The program facilitates joint doctoral degree programs in Biomedical Engineering and Translational Science, and has led to many joint publications, patents and copyright filings.
Non-Formula Support Item Request Supporting UTSA's Academic & Research Enterprises
Prefreshman Engineering Program
The Texas Prefreshman Engineering Program (TexPREP) is a rigorous summer program preparing middle and high school students for advanced studies and careers in STEM fields. Each year the program serves over 4,000 students from more than 125 school districts across the state. Over 80% of these participants are minority, and 53% women.
Non-Formula Support Item Request Supporting UTSA's Urban Serving Mission
Small Business Development Center
In cooperation with the U.S. Small Business Administration, UTSA’s Small Business Development Center (SBDC) promotes business and economic development across 79 counties along the southwest Texas border. Continued special item funding support will allow the SBDC to further its important work to promote growth, innovation, productivity and sound management for nearly 30,000 small businesses.
Non-Formula Support Item Request Supporting UTSA's Urban Serving Mission
Southwest SBDC Rural Business Program
The SBDC Rural Business program (RBP) increases the competitiveness of rural communities along the Southwest Texas Border. RBP offers services to promote small business economic activity and investment in areas of Texas where corporate expansions are uncommon, and state incentives—like the Enterprise Fund—are rarely accessible.
Non-Formula Support Item Request Supporting UTSA's Urban Serving Mission
The Texas State Data Center
The Texas State Data Center (recently re-named the Texas Demographic Center) provides demographic, economic and related data to Texas legislators, legislative committees, state agencies, counties and municipalities, and the private sector. Special item funding is vital to the Center’s ability to produce population estimates, biennial projections and trend analysis impacting the state of Texas.
Non-Formula Support Item Request Supporting UTSA's Urban Serving Mission
The Institute of Texan Cultures
Located in Hemisfair Park in the heart of downtown San Antonio, the Institute of Texan Cultures (ITC) serves as an important contributor to the city’s tourism market while living out its mission to give a voice to the rich cultures that make up the fabric of our state. Recent cuts in special item funding have made it challenging for ITC to maintain the level of exhibits, programs and teacher training opportunities befitting of the state’s center for multicultural education.
State Program Support
Texas Research Incentive Program
In 2009, during the 81st Legislature, House Bill 51 established The Texas Research Incentive Program (TRIP), making available state matching funds for private gifts intended to enhance research productivity and faculty recruitment at Texas’ eight emerging research universities. TRIP funds have a direct impact on UTSA’s trajectory toward becoming a nationally recognized research university.
State Program Support
National Research University Fund
In 2009, during the 81st Legislature, House Bill 51 established The Texas Research Incentive Program (TRIP), making available state matching funds for private gifts intended to enhance research productivity and faculty recruitment at Texas’ eight emerging research universities. TRIP funds have a direct impact on UTSA’s trajectory toward becoming a nationally recognized research university.
State Program Support
Texas Grants Program
The Toward Excellence Access and Success (TEXAS) grant is awarded to undergraduate Texas students who demonstrate financial need and meet academic eligibility requirements. Continued support of this program is especially important for UTSA’s first-generation, low-income students, a population that often has difficulties with accessing and affording a college education.
State Program Support
Formula Funding
From 2008-2018, UTSA’s student headcount grew by 8%, while the average per student appropriation only increased by 3%. UTSA’s average per student appropriation is well below the statewide average. An adjusted higher education funding formula that recognizes institutional growth and inflation rates is critical to UTSA’s trajectory as a nationally recognized research university and model for student success.
State Program Support
Hazlewood Act Benefit
The Hazlewood Act provides qualified veterans, spouses and dependent children with a generous tuition exemption at any public college or university in Texas. UTSA is committed to serving student veterans and their families, and is consistently ranked among the top Military Friendly Schools in the nation. UTSA requests the Texas legislature to continue to provide funding relief to public universities for Hazlewood exemptions.
