(June 3, 2019) – In the summer of 1969, with the ink barely dry on the legislation that created UTSA, administrators at the University of Texas System began working on a plan to bring UTSA, their newest institution, to life. Chancellor Harry Ransom said he was “bubbling with ideas” for UTSA in an interview with the San Antonio Light newspaper on June 26, 1969, stressing that his personal dream for UTSA was that it take “instant and long-range advantage” of some unique opportunities afforded by having San Antonio as its home.
It’s amazing how accurate Ransom’s foresight was 50 years ago.
First, he explained, was the location in San Antonio, a city that is multicultural—more than bilingual. Ransom’s dream came to fruition. Since its beginning, UTSA has connected with the history and way of life of its hometown. From offering studies in bicultural-bilingual education on day one, to embracing traditions like Fiesta UTSA and mariachis at Commencement, and the multitude of ways that the university embraces the culture of San Antonio and South Texas, UTSA has become a beacon for young scholars. Now UTSA is a thriving Hispanic-majority institution with an ambitious goal to be a model for student success.
Next, Ransom said that working with existing institutions and federal establishments in San Antonio could bring success to UTSA by providing training in related fields. He said inter-institutional cooperation would be a real factor in the development of programs at the university and, today, UTSA’s collaborative work with the military, tech and medical sectors, for example, is producing sophisticated research in cybersecurity, bioregeneration, infectious disease, population studies, and national security, among other areas.
Ransom also believed that UTSA, as a new institution, would have none of the disadvantages an elder college would have, particularly in experimental programs. Indeed, UTSA researchers’ work in cloud computing, data analytics, artificial intelligence, smart infrastructure and advanced materials is helping to bring partnerships to the university.
Because of leaders like Ransom and those who have followed him, UTSA has collected a list of achievements that rival institutions twice its age, including its ranking among the top 3.6% of universities in the world, according to the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2019.
UTSA’s founders and its subsequent leaders recognized the university’s potential to create prosperity and to drive socioeconomic mobility for South Texas. In essence, they laid the groundwork for San Antonio to become what it is today: one of the fastest growing cities in the nation, a city that people are drawn to for educational, professional and social opportunities.
Learn more about UTSA’s 50th anniversary.
View a timeline of events showing how UTSA evolved into the university it is today.
View a collection of historical UTSA photos and videos.
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This event will acknowledge graduating seniors from the McNair Scholars program at UTSA before inducting the new cohort of scholars into the program.
North Paseo Building (NPB 5.140), Main CampusAt this memorable celebration, UTSA graduates will be introduced one-by-one to cross the stage and accept their doctoral degrees.
Arts Building Recital Hall, Main CampusRoadrunner Walk is an event for graduating students to have a memorable walk on campus to celebrate an important milestone and their achievements. Graduates will walk along the Paseo while being celebrated by the UTSA community, friends, and family members.
Student Union Paseo, Main CampusCelebrate the accomplishments of College of Education and Human Development, College for Health, Community and Policy, College of Sciences and University College.
Alamodome, 100 Montana St.Celebrate the accomplishments of Alvarez College of Business, College of Liberal and Fine Arts and Klesse College of Engineering and Integrated Design.
Alamodome, 100 Montana St.The 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.
