Phase I Report - Community Participation Workshops

Note: These briefs are summaries from workshops conducted during the 2001 update.

Meetings on Campus

The project team held meetings at each campus during the 2001 planning process to identify user needs and to elicit future aspirations for UTSA that could impact the master plan. Stakeholders and the general public were invited via direct mail, radio announcement, and the UTSA web page to three separate community participation workshops. Student meetings and faculty/staff meetings were also held at both the 1604 and Downtown campuses.

The ideas and suggestions that came from the meetings can be grouped into five major categories: to keep students on campus, to provide adequate parking, to improve transportation, to better connect with potential UTSA students, and to address specific facility improvements. Many attendees expressed a desire to have a greater sense of community and to create the feel of a metropolitan university at UTSA. Participants wanted to both unify the campuses and to maintain their individual character.

Student Life

Enticing students to remain on campus provided a wellspring of suggestions for campus improvement. The faculty reported that the 1604 Campus is virtually deserted at 3:30 every day. Attendees requested the addition of restaurants, recreation facilities, entertainment centers, housing and childcare facilities on or adjacent to the 1604 and Downtown campuses. The prevalent thought was that by providing places for students to eat together, play games together, live together and leave their children while they learn together, they will spend more time on campus. Participants discussed the pros and cons of requiring freshmen to live on campus as a way to create a stronger sense of community. Attendees pointed out that increased enrollments from areas beyond Bexar County suggest a greater need for student housing. They also mentioned the need for daycare facilities; students that do not have alternate arrangements have to bring their children with them to class. Contributors also expressed concerns for campus safety, as they relate to these activities.

Parking

Students felt that there was insufficient parking at both campuses*. One suggested solution at 1604 was to contract with Fiesta Texas for use of their extra parking. Attendees also called for improved parking under the expressway at the Downtown Campus.

* The meetings were held prior to the construction of additional parking at the 1604 and Downtown campuses.

Transportation

Students reported that shuttle bus service at the 1604 Campus is inadequate. Some thought that transportation between the two campuses needed improvement. Many asked for a connector road between the north and south halves of the 1604 Campus and for a multimodal center near the Downtown Campus. (VIA is planning to develop this facility adjacent to the Downtown Campus. It will have city and intercity bus terminals, a parking structure, and retail spaces).

Outreach

To better connect with potential UTSA students, it was repeatedly suggested that the ITC Campus project a more active UTSA image through its programs and facilities. Participants felt that the digital technology used at the ITC provides the UTSA with more opportunities for outreach. They also cited the ITC's connection to continuing education for seniors as a positive example of community outreach to non-traditional students.

Facilities

Some participants believed that the signage at all campuses is inadequate both in visibility and readability. There was consensus that entrances should project a unified image of UTSA and should be visible from major roadways. Some felt that signs should contain more directional information and should be more plentiful.

Some of the suggestions for improvement at the 1604 Campus included providing upgrades to older buildings, providing different sizes and types of furniture to fit a broader range of people, and to expand the University Center. Students mentioned that the Sombrilla is dark at night and that there is a need for more indoor and outdoor public spaces to ease overcrowding. Faculty and staff at the 1604 Campus expressed interest in more green space, developed both as sports fields and as undeveloped land. They would also like to see the area around the HHS Building restored as this kind of open space. Comments on the Downtown Campus were equally specific. Attendees agreed that an information center, technical upgrades, and an expanded library would greatly improve the campus. They would like to see a larger bookstore, more walkways, and increased accessibility for the disabled. It was generally agreed that a pedestrian link under I-35 would enhance the connection to the downtown central business district. Concerns for pedestrian safety at the intersection of Durango and Pecos-LaTrinidad surfaced several times during the discussions. One participant suggested that nearby Alazan Creek be developed as an outdoor activity space.