2016
Table of Contents | Past Issues
UTSA's literacy programs create impact in the San Antonio community.
IED brings an international scope to student learning.
Architecture students reimagine the Broadway Avenue corridor.
UTSA gives diabetes and health screenings for the community.
The UTSA Inspire U Mentoring Program creates lasting impact on students.
Alumnus creates awareness for campers with special needs.
First year review of UTSA's community-based work-study program.
UTSA Institute of Texan Cultures receives Santikos grant.
Student registers voters across college campuses.
UTSA Supports San Antonio's Tricentennial Commision
Encouraging Foster Youth to Reach their Goals
A Nutty Idea: Peanut Butter Payments
Engineering students team up with The DoSeum for STEM outreach
Empowering Students through Community Work
UTSA alumnus travels to Mexico to study impact of environmental policy
UTSA recognized by White House initiative for work with Hispanic community
Developing Young Professionals at UTSA
Dear Friends,
We are pleased to share this fourth issue of Community Connect magazine, highlighting the extraordinary ways our students, faculty and staff are engaged in outreach and service to the community. Having been recognized in January 2015 with the Community Engagement Classification of the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, the university remains committed to community and civic engagement.
This commitment is evident in the work of more than 20 centers and institutes empowering our community through their programming and support in areas from college readiness to architectural consultation. Student organizations are giving time and treasure, contributing more than 75,000 hours of service and raising $161,000 for local charities this past academic year. More than $18 million has been awarded to the university in the past year to support outreach and educational programs in the community.
Last fall, Chancellor William H. McRaven laid out an ambitious vision for the UT System. One of the "quantum leaps" he detailed in the plan was to "foster unprecedented levels of engagement and collaboration between higher education and pre-K-12, with a focus on improving literacy." UTSA has been engaged with literacy programs across the region for some time now, and this call doubles our resolve to combat illiteracy and to continue our engagement with college readiness initiatives. We have highlighted a few of those initiatives in our cover story.
Complementing UTSA's global impact as we reach for Tier-One status, the UTSA Institute for Economic Development has inspired students and business advisors to develop a small business model that has now reached Latin America and has been recognized by Secretary of State John Kerry as one of the most outstanding business centers at work in today's global economy.
We hope you enjoy reading this issue, and we welcome your comments and feedback at communityconnect@utsa.edu.
Ricardo Romo, Ph.D.
President
Jude Valdez, Ph.D.
Vice President for Community Services
Community Connect magazine is an annual publication produced by the Office of the Vice President for Community Services (VPCS). The mission of Community Services is to extend UTSA beyond its campuses into San Antonio and South Texas through public service, extension, outreach and community education. This mission is accomplished through a variety of programs and initiatives, some of which are showcased on this website.