1. What is the LEAD Summer Academy & how do I accept my offer?
The LEAD Summer Academy is an exciting in-person UTSA program for selected first-year students who will begin their college career during the summer with an enriching experience. The program provides opportunities for students to “take a LEAD” by enrolling in two courses, connecting with a peer mentor, developing strong academic skills, and learning about resources on campus.
To accept your LEAD Summer Academy offer, you must submit your LEAD agreement online using the link included in your offer letter no later than April 1. Space for this program is limited, so there is the potential for the program to fill.
You have been offered conditional admission to UTSA through the LEAD Summer Academy. Conditional admission means that you did not meet the guaranteed admission requirements which takes into consideration your high school class rank and SAT and/or ACT scores.
6. If I accept to be in the LEAD program and do not do well academically this summer, will I still be able to attend the fall semester?
We anticipate that you will succeed as a result of the academic and social support you will receive while in LEAD. However, if you fail one or both courses, withdrawal completely, or do not maintain adequate attendance at the LEAD required event, you will need to request special permission through an appeal process to continue into the fall term.
Petitions are considered on a case-by-case basis, and are not guaranteed.
Although, uncommon, there is a possibility that unsuccessful completion of the LEAD Summer Academy will restrict you from continuing into the fall term.
8. When will the LEAD Summer Academy occur and in which courses will I enroll?
The LEAD Summer Academy will occur July 2 - August 6, 2025.
You will be enrolled in a total of 6 hours, which is equivalent to two courses.
One course you will be enrolled in is the Academic Inquiry and Scholarship, which is a core curriculum course required of all UTSA students.
The additional course will be one of the following: US History: Civil War Era to Present (HIS 1053), US History: Pre-Columbus to Civil War (HIS 1043), Intro to American Politics (POL 1013), Intro to Sociology (SOC 1013), or Freshman Composition I (WRC 1013).
If you already have college credit in every course listed above or anticipate having an Associate’s degree by the time you graduate from high school, you will need to contact a LEAD representative as soon as possible to further discuss this situation. Students that have completed these courses may not be suitable for this program.
9. What does it cost to participate in the LEAD Summer Academy?
LEAD students will take 6 hours of coursework. Your cost is the tuition and fees for these 6 hours.
The cost for two summer courses is approximately $2,600 in tuition and fees. Textbooks, housing, meal plans, and other miscellaneous costs, are not included in the tuition and fees.
10. I did not expect to attend college in the summer. Is there financial aid available?
You must also complete the 2024-2025 FAFSA for this upcoming summer.
Based on your FAFSA submission, various options may be available, so it is important to fill out the application as soon as possible to increase your chances in receiving 2025 summer aid.
There is no guarantee grant funding will be available. However, students can qualify for federal loans if this option becomes necessary.
Please note that the 2025-2026 FAFSA for fall/spring is separate and it will not affect your financial aid for summer.
11. Why am I being admitted as an Exploratory Studies major and what does Exploratory Studies mean?
Many times brand new freshmen have not been exposed to the various majors and minors available at UTSA, so all LEAD students will be admitted as Exploratory Studies in order to have the opportunity to explore their options. Based on their academic progress, LEAD students may qualify to move into their intended major by the end of the fall term.
Exploratory Studies provides an opportunity to explore various majors and career options through courses you will take and academic advisors who will provide guidance towards your academic goals.
LEAD students who earn a cumulative GPA of 2.00 or higher by the end of their first fall term will be eligible to enroll full-time for the subsequent spring term and also declare their intended major.
Please note, any additional requirements for your intended major must be met in order to declare. You will be able to discuss this step further with your academic advisor throughout the semester(s).
The orientation sign-up portal will open in early March.
You will be asked to pay your non-refundable orientation fee by credit card in order to confirm your orientation at time of sign up. PELL-eligible students will have an option to defer their orientation fee at the time of orientation sign up.
Please note, although your Orientation requirement is online, there are additional in-person experiences you can sign up for at no additional cost! When you sign up for Orientation, select an in-person date for a one-day experience taking place on UTSA Main Campus.
13. I need information about on-campus housing. Who can I contact to plan my summer LEAD housing?
Living on-campus for the summer is optional, and not a mandatory part of the program. If you have access to transportation to campus Monday-Friday during the LEAD Summer Academy, you do not need to live on campus.
Please note, all summer academy programming will be on-campus.
You can contact the UTSA Housing & Residence Life office at 210-458-6200 or email studenthousing@utsa.edu. Please mention your participation in the LEAD Summer Academy.
14. What do I need to accomplish before summer classes begin in July?
The LEAD Summer Academy deadline to complete your Rowdy Ready checklist is June 10, 2025.
Visit www.utsa.edu/rowdyready for your Rowdy Ready “to-do” list. The following are very important tasks to complete & should be done by the above LEAD deadline:
Submit your Texas Success Initiative (TSI) assessment scores or prove an exemption. For additional questions regarding testing, contact Testing Services at (210) 458-4125 or visit their website at https://future.utsa.edu/ready/tsi-assessment.
Upload your meningitis immunization record to the Med+Proctor portal. For additional information how to upload your vaccination record and for additional information, visit the https://future.utsa.edu/ready/meningitis-immunization/
After online orientation is complete, meet with your academic advsior. See FAQ #14 for more information on the Academic Advising appointment steps.
Incoming students need to submit their final transcripts before they start classes at UTSA. While final transcripts are not required to complete orientation, it does impact registration for future terms.
15. When will I enroll in my summer and fall courses?
Once you complete all items on your Rowdy Ready “to-do” list, you will be eligible for registration.
Once you are “Rowdy Ready,” you will have the option to set up a registration day with an academic advisor. For more information regarding this step, please visit: New Student Orientation Appointments
Please note you cannot register for classes until all holds impacting your registration have been resolved. We recommend that you take care of your TSI and Meningitis holds before your advising appointment so that you can register for your classes when you meet with your academic advisor.
16. I have a family trip (or other obligation) planned during LEAD. Will this be excused and will this impact my standing in the program?
Summer courses are extremely fast paced and cover lots of material in a short amount of time. Missing one day of summer school is equivalent to missing almost an entire week in a regular fall or spring semester.
Students that plan to miss a significant amount of time during LEAD need to communicate their absence with their individual professors.
Professors create their own attendance policy and will decide on absences based on this policy.
Missed classes do have an impact on a LEAD student’s ability to keep up with program requirements, and ultimately, students are responsible for their attendance.
The LEAD Summer Academy has multiple mandatory events throughout the week. Excessive absences at these events may lead to your dismissal from the program and an inability to continue as a student at UTSA.
Parking anywhere on the UTSA campus requires a permit or payment for short-term hourly parking.
Once registered for classes, you will need to purchase a permit on-line through your ASAP account or in person at the Campus Services office (MS 1.01.52 – Main Campus).
18. What dining options are available for LEAD participants?
UTSA Dining offers Dining Dollars during the summer that can be loaded to your UTSA ID card. Please note that unused Dining Dollars do not roll over to the fall semester.
Summer dining plans are available for purchase at convenient dining locations such as RowdyMart, Market Place, P.O.D. and the Roadrunner Café throughout the summer.
In addition to a wide variety of brand name eateries on campus, Dining Dollars can also be used at the Roadrunner Café, UTSA’s only all-you-can-eat dining hall, with payment of the applicable door rate.
19. Who can I talk to if I still have questions about the LEAD Summer Academy program?
A representative from the LEAD Summer Academy program is happy to speak with you. If you have additional questions, you may call a LEAD representative at (210) 458-6529 or email lead@utsa.edu.
