utsa uncovered: history
The University of Texas at San Antonio was founded on June 5, 1969, when Governor Preston Smith signed the act creating the University literally on the back of Representative Frank Lombardino, one of the bill’s sponsors. Since then, more than 25 years have passed. This is a chronological history of the university that began so modestly.
1970
In May, The University of Texas System Board of Regents accepted a donation of 600 acres bordered by Loop 1604 and Interstate 10 for UTSA. Later that summer the board named Arleigh B. Templeton as the University’s first president. Administrative offices for UTSA were set up in a former French restaurant called Maison Blanche, located in HemisFair Park.
1971-72
Temporary offices for the new University were established at the Koger Executive Center on Loop 410 at Babcock Road. Thirty-eight degree programs were approved, and construction of UTSA began at its present location. The construction of seven buildings at a cost of $41 million made UTSA the largest new university under construction in the United States.
1973
Arleigh B. Templeton was named president of The University of Texas at El Paso. Peter T. Flawn replaced him as the second president of UTSA. Former chair of the UT System Board of Regents John Peace donated his personal collection of early Texas and Mexico history books to the library now bearing his name.
Temporary classrooms were set up at the Koger Center. Graduate-level classes in business accounting were the first courses offered by the newest university in the UT System. Peggy Jo Tholen was admitted as the first graduate student.
1974
Spring graduate enrollment hit 1,171, and the first commencement ceremony was held. Degrees were awarded to 82 students. Susan Bolado was the first UTSA graduate, with a master’s degree in business administration.
1975
The UTSA campus opened with five colleges. Classes were held in the Humanities-Business Building (now the Humanities and Social Sciences Building), the first major academic building on campus.
The first undergraduate programs were offered. Margaret Aguilar was the first undergraduate student. By the end of the year, undergraduate enrollment had reached 2,247.
1976
The John Peace Library Building - containing the UTSA Library and all administrative offices - opened. In September, the Student Representative Assembly was formed.
1977-78
UTSA earned accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. James W. Wagener became president of UTSA following Peter T. Flawn’s resignation. The Alumni Association was formed with 3,065 alumni.
1979-81
Enrollment at the University topped 9,000; the first sorority, Sigma Kappa, and the first fraternity, Sigma Phi Epsilon, were started; the Paisano student newspaper was founded; and the men’s basketball team was established.
1982
The four current colleges were organized from the five that started; the UTSA Minority Business Development Center was established; undergraduate programs in engineering began; and the Recital Hall opened with a concert performed by the San Antonio Symphony.
1983-85
UTSA celebrated 10 years of student enrollment; construction began on the University Center; fall enrollment topped 12,000; a University Honors Program was initiated; and Wayne Terry and Patricia DeBerry, the first Homecoming King and Queen, were crowned.
1986
The Institute of Texan Cultures joined UTSA; the University Center opened in July; and Chisholm Hall, the first on-campus residence hall, opened its doors.
1987-89
The Tomas Rivera Office of Student Information and Retention opened; men’s basketball earned a first-round spot in the NCAA tournament; the first Women’s Walk for Athletics raised $25,000; and James W. Wagener resigned to teach full-time at UTSA.
1990
Samuel A. Kirkpatrick became the fourth president of UTSA; the library instituted an online catalog system; the first yearbook, Horizons, was published; the Student Computer Lab opened; the UTSA Ambassadors program began; and the UTSA Comprehensive Regional Center for Minorities was established.
1991
The Engineering Building opened; the Disabled Student Services office opened; men’s and women’s athletics joined the Southland Conference; the Alumni Programs office opened; the women’s cross country team won their first Southland Conference Championship; and enrollment topped 15,000.
1992
The first doctoral program, a Ph.D. in biology, was approved; UTSA played its first season of men’s baseball and women’s softball; minors were established as degree options; the first phase of University Oaks Apartments opened; the Office of Orientation and Freshmen Year Programs opened; and UTSA hosted its first family picnic, with more than 1,000 UTSA staff and faculty participating.
1993
Bill Miller Bar-B-Q Enterprises, Inc. bought and donated the Fiesta Plaza site for the future home of the UTSA Downtown Campus; the second phase of University Oaks Apartments opened; the speech and debate team ranked sixth in the nation; and UTSA received $71.5 million of the $352.4 million dedicated for the South Texas Border Region Initiative, with $20 million earmarked for the creation of the UTSA Downtown Campus.
1994
The first classes at Cypress Towers in downtown San Antonio were offered; the Tomas Rivera Center for Student Advising opened; the Center for the Study of Women and Gender was established; a ceremony commemorating the signing of the legislation that created UTSA took place in Alamo Plaza; and construction began on the University Center Expansion.
1995
Groundbreaking ceremonies were held for the Business Building; the Biosciences Building and the Downtown Campus.
1996
Construction began on the second phase of the Biosciences Building; the University Center Expansion opened; and the Business Building opened.
1997
Phase I of the UTSA Downtown Campus opened with two additional phases under construction; the Biosciences Building opened; and fall enrollment topped 17,400 students.
1998
UTSA hosted the NCAA Final Four Tournament in the Alamodome. The Tournament became the most successful in history bringing in over 300,000 visitors and $45 million in revenue during the 4-day event. The New Student Admissions office opened its doors in the Business Building.
1999
President Ricardo Romo became the 5th president in UTSA’s history; Phase II of the UTSA Downtown campus opened; fall enrollment tops 18,600 and the university is awarded $83 million in Permanent University Funding to help meet the needs of our ever-increasing student population.