(March 6, 2018) – UTSA President Taylor Eighmy today announced a fourth initiative in UTSA’s strategic planning portfolio. The President’s Initiative on Strategic Communications will focus on both internal and external audiences, elevating perceptions of UTSA among alumni and the San Antonio and South Texas communities. In a broader sense, this work will serve to raise the awareness of UTSA in Texas, the United States and the world.
President Eighmy has appointed a 28-member Strategic Communications Task Force and charged them with evolving UTSA’s brand commensurate using UTSA’s six themes and the university’s growth as an aspiring Carnegie R1, Hispanic-serving discovery enterprise focused on societal grand challenges.
The task force will work with University Communications and Marketing to develop a comprehensive, integrated marketing program for UTSA. This includes messaging, a visual identity, media strategies and internal communications. Joe Izbrand, associate vice president for communications and marketing and chief communications officer, will chair the task force.
“Now more than ever, it is time to reposition our brand and identity to distinguish UTSA from other research universities in Texas and beyond,” said Eighmy.
The Strategic Communications initiative is foundational in extending the reach of other task forces—particularly the President’s Initiatives on Strategic Enrollment and Student Success.
“The integration of this effort with those two task forces is especially important,” added Eighmy. “The strides we are making toward the vision for UTSA as a multicultural discovery enterprise and urban serving institution must be translated for a wide variety of audiences. In order to remain competitive in the marketplace, our prospective students, research partners, donors and local community members must receive consistent, compelling messaging about UTSA that resonates clearly. This is especially important given our intentions for strategic growth.”
The groundwork for these efforts began last year. UTSA engaged Stamats, a leading higher education integrated marketing firm, to conduct market research on the UTSA brand. Stamats surveyed UTSA students, faculty and staff, alumni, and Texas employers/hiring managers. The study identified institutional strengths and strategic differentiators for the university. These findings will form the basis of the task force’s work, and will be used to inform the launch of new brand positioning and advertising campaigns later this spring. Stamats will continue to act as a consultant for the task force for the duration of their work.
“To be truly effective, our communications must be audience-appropriate and data-informed,” said Eighmy. “We already have an excellent head start in this regard. I am certain this work will result in compelling new expressions of the UTSA brand.”
Learn more about the President's Initiative on Strategic Communications.
Learn more about the President's Initiative on Finance & Budget Modeling.
Learn more about the President’s Initiative on Student Success.
Learn more about the President’s Initiative on Strategic Enrollment.
Connect with UTSA online at Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram and LinkedIn.
UTSA Today is produced by University Communications and Marketing, the official news source of The University of Texas at San Antonio. Send your feedback to news@utsa.edu. Keep up-to-date on UTSA news by visiting UTSA Today. Connect with UTSA online at Facebook, Twitter, Youtube and Instagram.
The UTSA Office of Undergraduate is proud to celebrate National Undergraduate Research with an annual event sponsored by the (OUR) featuring students will showcase undergraduate student research and creative endeavors from all disciplines across campus.
Various LocationsDía en la Sombrilla, formerly Fiesta UTSA, is a festival hosted each spring as a part of Fiesta® San Antonio events. Sponsored by Roadrunner Productions, the event features music, food, confetti, games, event t-shirts, and more.
Sombrilla Plaza and Central Plaza, Main CampusFiesta Arts Fair features contemporary art from more than 100 artists from across the U.S., Fiesta favorite foods, drinks, live music by local and regional performers, and a Young Artists Garden providing opportunities for budding artists to learn, explore and express their creativity.
UTSA Southwest CampusJoin the PEACE Center and Wellbeing Services for Denim Day, a day of learning about the importance of consent and why we wear denim on the last Wednesday of the month each April during Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Stop by our Denim Day display to take a photo in front of our Denim Wall, spin the "Is It Consent?" Wheel, and get a Concha or goodie.
Student Union Window Lounge, Main CampusLearn to use Zotero®, a citation manager that can help you store and organize citations you find during your research. Zotero can generate bibliographies in various styles, insert in-text citations and allow you to share sources with collaborators.
Virtual EventCelebrate the accomplishments of College of Education and Human Development, College for Health, Community and Policy, College of Sciences and University College.
AlamodomeCelebrate the accomplishments of Alvarez College of Business, College of Liberal and Fine Arts and Klesse College of Engineering and Integrated Design.
AlamodomeThe University of Texas at San Antonio is dedicated to the advancement of knowledge through research and discovery, teaching and learning, community engagement and public service. As an institution of access and excellence, UTSA embraces multicultural traditions and serves as a center for intellectual and creative resources as well as a catalyst for socioeconomic development and the commercialization of intellectual property - for Texas, the nation and the world.
To be a premier public research university, providing access to educational excellence and preparing citizen leaders for the global environment.
We encourage an environment of dialogue and discovery, where integrity, excellence, inclusiveness, respect, collaboration and innovation are fostered.
UTSA is a proud Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) as designated by the U.S. Department of Education .
The University of Texas at San Antonio, a Hispanic Serving Institution situated in a global city that has been a crossroads of peoples and cultures for centuries, values diversity and inclusion in all aspects of university life. As an institution expressly founded to advance the education of Mexican Americans and other underserved communities, our university is committed to promoting access for all. UTSA, a premier public research university, fosters academic excellence through a community of dialogue, discovery and innovation that embraces the uniqueness of each voice.
