UTSA scholarship and awards dinner raises $3.1 million

More than 900 friends of UTSA attended the annual President's Scholarship and Awards Dinner Oct. 17, where the university recognized two outstanding South Texans and raised a record $3.1 million for scholarships and other academic programs. The black-tie affair honored Carlos Alvarez, president and CEO of The Gambrinus Co. and creator of the Carlos and Malu Alvarez Endowment for Student Success with a $2 million gift for scholarships. Alvarez received the Tom C. Frost Award, presented annually to an exceptional community leader. Honors also went to Bernard Rapoport, founder of American Income Life Insurance Co. and the Bernard and Audre Rapoport Foundation, for his support of the UTSA Downtown Campus.

Read the full story on UTSA Today.

University seeks input to create UTSA 2016 strategic plan

UTSA leadership participated in a two-day strategic planning retreat six months ago to begin discussion on how the university should grow over the next decade. During the retreat, nine central themes were selected for research and discussion. Early this fall, the UTSA community was invited to focus groups to discuss the themes: accountability, community engagement, enrollment management, globalization, research, infrastructure and facilities, resources, staff and faculty success, and student success. In November, business and community leaders, the UTSA Development Board and members of university advisory councils were invited to be a part of the Silver to Gold Commission to provide guidance and support as UTSA progresses through its strategic planning process. Visit the UTSA 2006 Year of the Plan Web site.

Read more on UTSA Today.

Lt. Gov. Dewhurst to speak at fall commencement

Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst will headline the list of speakers for the Dec. 14-16 graduation ceremonies at the UTSA Convocation Center. Dewhurst will address students graduating from the College of Education and Human Development at 5 p.m. Dec. 16. A total of 2,205 UTSA graduates will earn degrees in six ceremonies. Commencement speakers include David McComas, senior executive vice director of the Southwest Research Institute; engineer Lissa Martinez; Diane Rath, Texas Workforce Commission chair; and UTSA Provost Rosalie Ambrosino.

Read more on UTSA Today.

College of Business receives Brillante Award for Educational Excellence

The UTSA College of Business received in October the Brillante Award for Educational Excellence from the National Society of Hispanic MBAs (NSHMBA) in Cincinnati, Ohio. The award recognizes institutions with diverse enrollments and track records in Hispanic-targeted programs. More than 30 percent of UTSA MBA students are Hispanic; the national average is 4.5 percent.

Read the story on UTSA Today.

UTSA fall enrollment tops 28,000

Enrollment at UTSA grew to a record 28,379 students for fall 2006, an increase of nearly 5 percent over last year. President Ricardo Romo credits the record enrollment to increasing recognition of UTSA as an institution of first choice by a growing number of students.

Higher education has $2 billion annual impact

A study released Nov. 28 by the Higher Education Council of San Antonio (HECSA) calculates that higher education is a significant economic generator for San Antonio and surrounding communities, contributing $2.2 billion annually. According to the study conducted by the UTSA Institute for Economic Development, more than 100,000 students attend the 31 institutions of higher education in and around San Antonio.

Read more on UTSA Today.

UTSA receives athletics feasibility study

UTSA officials received Nov. 29 a final report from a national consulting firm on the feasibility of adding NCAA Division I football to the UTSA sports program. Before taking a position, UTSA plans to spend the next several months reviewing the study with representatives of the university and the local community. The report does not make a final recommendation about adding football. Administrators will meet with a number of constituent groups to evaluate external community support, both public and private, for expanded athletics programs.

Read the study and send feedback at the UTSA Athletics Feasibility Study Web site.

First Terry Foundation scholars arrive at UTSA

Last year, the Houston-based Terry Foundation selected UTSA as a Terry Scholars campus, and nine Terry Scholars arrived this fall. The foundation recently announced that 16 new UTSA scholarship recipients would be selected for next fall with plans to select 16 in fall 2008. The scholarships, which may be renewed up to four years, are for as much as $20,000 per student per year for tuition, books, campus room and board, and expenses. The largest private scholarship program in the state, the Terry program has helped more than 1,300 Texas students.

Read more on UTSA Today.

Nine universities team on border security issues

Nine research universities in Southwest border states announced Nov. 13 the formation of the Southwest Border Security Consortium (SBSC), an alliance that will develop and promote scientific and policy solutions to issues affecting the U.S.-Mexico border region. SBSC member institutions are UTSA, Arizona State University, University of Arizona, New Mexico State University, New Mexico Tech, University of New Mexico, San Diego State University, Texas A&M Engineering and University of Texas at El Paso.

Read more on UTSA Today.

UTSA engineering students build robots to assist military

View a WOAI TV video, Thursday, Oct. 19, 2006 (RealPlayer).

Immigrant children receive scholarship support from Biggs family

When Thelma Salazar immigrated to the United States in 1975, she had one goal in mind: to create a better life for herself and the two small children she left behind in her native Guatemala. She was to realize that dream, thanks to the compassion and support of her friends and employers, Ann and Glenn Biggs of San Antonio, who endowed a UTSA scholarship in her honor for first-generation immigrant children.

Read the story on the Development Office Web site.

UTSA fall commencement includes live Webcasts

In Dec. 14-16 ceremonies, 2,205 degree candidates will walk the platform in five ceremonies:

• Thursday, Dec. 14, 7 p.m. (College of Public Policy, College of Liberal and Fine Arts),
• Friday, Dec. 15, 7 p.m. (College of Sciences, College of Liberal and Fine Arts)
• Saturday, Dec. 16, 9 a.m. (College of Engineering, College of Business)
• Saturday, Dec. 16, 1 p.m. (College of Architecture, College of Business)
• Saturday, Dec. 16, 5 p.m. (College of Education and Human Development)

Read more and view UTSA Commencement ceremonies live on the Web.

Alumni Programs plans San Francisco-Tahoe tour

The UTSA Office of Alumni Programs will host an interest meeting for a San Francisco/Lake Tahoe trip at 6 p.m., Feb. 7 in John Peace Library Building Room 4.03.08, 1604 Campus. The seven-day trip will be in September 2007. For more information, visit the UTSA Alumni Association Web site or call (210) 458-4133.

---------------------------------------------------------

 

Editor: Tim Brownlee, Assistant Director of Public Affairs