Letter From President Romo

Success is a direction, not a place, and UTSA's master plan is an integral part of this university's direction. It reflects the values, goals and priorities of one of the fastest growing university communities in the state of Texas. UTSA now serves over 26,000 students with 103 degree programs at the bachelor's, master's and doctoral degree levels. The university's three campuses provide access and opportunity for large numbers of historically underrepresented students. UTSA serves an increasingly regional and culturally diverse population, with 42 percent of the students coming from outside Bexar County.

The purpose of this master plan is to provide direction for the future physical development of UTSA so that the university can best serve all its students, faculty and community stakeholders. As the city's only public, comprehensive university, UTSA's future direction must not only reflect the values, aspirations and traditions of the university community, it must also reflect the expectations and needs of the surrounding community and region.

As one of the youngest institutions in the 15-member UT System, UTSA has made remarkable progress in only 35 years and over the next decade, this new vision will transform UTSA into the premier research university that the eighth-largest city in the country deserves.

UTSA is now in a position to compete for the finest faculty in the country, which is critical to developing the programs and attracting the research funding and the top-level doctoral students that corporations seek. At the same time, we are introducing new programs to help us maintain our commitment to participation and access. We have succeeded in improving retention and graduation rates and we will continue to work for the success of our students -- to help Texas and San Antonio close the educational gaps that impede economic and social progress.

As more research funds are secured, the physical plant of UTSA will change. But even as we build more research labs, we remain committed to a quality learning experience at both the undergraduate and graduate level. Moreover, UTSA is now the second largest campus in the UT System and enrollment growth will challenge our current facilities.

This master plan serves as a common vision and a blueprint for progress, providing direction and a sense of place for our academic community. UTSA's future is in part a function of creative individuals who can imagine what the university will look like as it becomes one of the University of Texas System's flagship institutions. Dreams, aspirations and hard work will shape UTSA's future. It is my hope that this master plan will serve as a catalyst for the university's growth.

I thank everyone who worked on this project and encourage all constituents of our tri-campus community to review this plan.

Ricardo Romo

November 2004