2018 Updates

Racing to Reaccreditation
February 1, 2018

Racing to Reaccreditation

UTSA will undergo a Reaffirmation of Accreditation review from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) in 2019-2020. This review happens once every 10 years, and it is a very big deal.

UTSA expansion would bring more research downtown
February 1, 2018

UTSA expansion would bring more research downtown

San Antonio’s urban core is expected to become a more prominent center for research if UTSA President Taylor Eighmy fulfills his vision for a greatly expanded downtown campus.

Making the UTSA downtown campus the westside gateway
February 12, 2018

Making the UTSA downtown campus the westside gateway

It’s taken the vision of a newcomer – Eighmy – to turn a pipe dream into the first real plan for transformation in this long-neglected sector of downtown. For years now, San Antonio’s civic and business leaders have said great cities have great downtowns.

UTSA's Tuition and Fees Proposal
February 15, 2018

UTSA's Tuition and Fees Proposal

A message to UTSA students, staff and faculty regarding the tuition proposal President Eighmy will bring forward to the U.T. System Board of Regents.

Preventing Sexual Misconduct/Department of Title IX Services
February 20, 2018

Preventing Sexual Misconduct/Department of Title IX Services

Over the past several years, a number of systemic issues of sexual misconduct on university campuses have come to light. My position on this issue is straightforward and unyielding: sexual misconduct of any kind is unacceptable, and we must adopt a community ethos of zero tolerance.

Town hall series on presidential initiatives
February 1, 2018

Town hall series on presidential initiatives

A series of town hall meetings have been announced, that will give the campus community an opportunity to learn more about the progress of three Presidential Initiatives.

Tacos With Taylor
February 1, 2018

Tacos With Taylor

President Eighmy would like to get to know more UTSA faculty and staff by inviting them to casual meet and greets that are scheduled throughout the spring semester.

Pizza With the Prez
February 1, 2018

Pizza With the Prez

President Eighmy would like to get to know more UTSA students by inviting them to casual meet and greets that are scheduled throughout the spring semester.

Interim Vice Presidents for Student Success and Strategic Enrollment
March 21, 2018

Interim Vice Presidents for Student Success and Strategic Enrollment

In an email to the campus community, President Eighmy noted the prioritization of UTSA’s efforts around student success and strategic enrollment by naming two new interim vice presidents to serve on his senior leadership team. Rhonda M. Gonzales will serve as Interim Vice President for Student Success, and Lisa G. Blazer as Interim Vice President for Strategic Enrollment.

Inauguration news coverage
March 23, 2018

Inauguration news coverage

Special news coverage of the UTSA Presidential Inauguration which took place on Tuesday, March 20, 2018.

Reorganization of community services units
March 30, 2018

Reorganization of community services units

On Friday, March 30, 2018, President Eighmy announced new reporting lines for the units responsible for the university’s community engagement efforts.

Dream no small dreams
April 2, 2018

Dream no small dreams

In a message to the UTSA community, President Eighmy gives updates on key initiatives and university conversations.

New website for bias incident reporting
April 4, 2018

New website for bias incident reporting

UTSA’s new Campus Climate Team, which launched in November, has been actively monitoring and addressing bias incidents on campus. The Campus Climate Team has since launched a website to provide accurate information to the community regarding campus bias incidents.

UTSA as a hub for cybersecurity innovation
April 12, 2018

UTSA as a hub for cybersecurity innovation

The UTSA cybersecurity programs are already considered to be the top in the country. The time is right to take UTSA's cybersecurity leadership to the next level.

Presidential Initiative on the Downtown Campus
April 13, 2018

Presidential Initiative on the Downtown Campus

Imagine a Downtown “Centro” Campus that is just as vibrant and active as the Main “Norte” Campus—an urban academic enclave that provides a fully realized living/learning experience for students and serves as an intellectual gateway to San Antonio’s near west side and downtown.

A new face in the President's Office
May 8, 2018

A new face in the President's Office

There is a new face in the President’s Office, very happy to announce the hiring of Yvonne De Leon as the new executive assistant to the President.

New peer models of excellence
May 29, 2018

New peer models of excellence

Though we are forging our own, distinct path as San Antonio’s university of the future, there are lessons to be learned from the successes of others.

Where we've been, where we're going
June 1, 2018

Where we've been, where we're going

As our minds turn to preparing for the upcoming terms, I wanted to take a moment to share some thoughts regarding where we’ve been this year, and the vision for UTSA’s future in the decade ahead.

Strategic initiative on data governance and integrity
June 8, 2018

Strategic initiative on data governance and integrity

Making data-driven decisions is important to the success of any organization – but the decisions themselves are only as good as the data they’re based on. The primary goal of our next strategic initiative on Data Governance & Integrity is to provide all of us with the information we need to make effective decisions as faculty and staff here at UTSA.

Budget and merit increase for fiscal year 2019
June 15, 2018

Budget and merit increase for fiscal year 2019

Over the last several months, Vice President for Business Affairs Kathy Funk-Baxter and her team worked diligently to craft an institutional budget for fiscal year 2019 that balances a multitude of priorities.

Presidential initiative on the campus master plan
June 25, 2018

Presidential initiative on the campus master plan

Under the leadership of Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Kimberly Andrews Espy, this task force will establish a framework for the development of UTSA’s campuses over the next decade.

UTSA Downtown Campus expands course schedule options
June 27, 2018

UTSA Downtown Campus expands course schedule options

UTSA students taking classes at the Downtown Campus this fall will have more options to optimize their course schedules and reduce the need to travel between the Downtown Campus and Main Campus to fulfill degree requirements.

Presidential initiative on research excellence
August 3, 2018

Presidential initiative on research excellence

I am pleased to announce the launch of the Presidential Initiative on Research Excellence. Led by Dr. Bernard Arulanandam, Interim Vice President for Research, Economic Development and Knowledge Enterprise, this initiative will have a monumental impact on UTSA’s future as a multicultural discovery enterprise.

UTSA President calls for creating bigger downtown presence
August 8, 2018

UTSA President calls for creating bigger downtown presence

University of Texas at San Antonio President Taylor Eighmy forecasted the future of his school’s downtown campus and its potential to embed itself into the downtown landscape during a conversation with Centro San Antonio members on Wednesday.

Roadrunner Athletics Center of Excellence
August 10, 2018

Roadrunner Athletics Center of Excellence

This summer has been a busy one with the launch of our Campus Master Plan and Research Excellence initiatives, both of which will accelerate UTSA’s upward trajectory as a nationally-recognized university located in the fastest growing city in the U.S. Today I’m pleased to announce the launch of an initiative to move us closer to our goals for our athletics programs – a new Center of Excellence for Roadrunner Athletics.

Welcome back, faculty and staff!
August 21, 2018

Welcome back, faculty and staff!

Welcome to the new academic year! Seeing our students return to campus for the start of the fall semester is such an exciting time – one of the true joys of working in academia.

Welcome back, Roadrunners!
August 21, 2018

Welcome back, Roadrunners!

As you settle into your classes and adjust to the pace of the fall semester, allow me to offer you a few words to carry you through the year: Remember to dream big.

Operation Defend the Dome
August 27, 2018

Operation Defend the Dome

Join us in supporting “Operation Defend the Dome” for the football team’s home opener against Baylor on Saturday, Sept. 8, at the Alamodome to recognize and show appreciation to those who defend our country.

Our commitment to preventing sexual misconduct
August 28, 2018

Our commitment to preventing sexual misconduct

Now that the first few days of the new academic year are behind us, I’d like to take this opportunity to address a critically important topic: our unwavering, university-wide commitment to preventing all forms of sexual misconduct.

Freedom of Speech
September 10, 2018

Freedom of Speech

At our new student Convocation last month, I spoke about one of UTSA’s fundamental obligations: to prepare our students to be civically engaged so they can go forth and make the world a better place.

Student Success Initiative Update
September 12, 2018

Student Success Initiative Update

There’s a simple truth about UTSA that we don’t acknowledge often enough: we’ve seen dramatic increases in retention and graduation rates over the last decade.

Response to inappropriate banners on campus
September 20, 2018

Response to inappropriate banners on campus

Earlier today we became aware of multiple banners hung on our campus with highly inappropriate and offensive messaging regarding UTSA’s football game with Texas State University this weekend. I fully and resolutely condemn this action on the part of the students involved in the creation and display of these banners.

Annoucement regarding UTSA's Downtown Campus
September 18, 2018

Annoucement regarding UTSA's Downtown Campus

I’m excited to share some great news that builds on the recent $70 million commitment by the UT System Board of Regents to expand UTSA’s Downtown Campus.

Once mocked, UTSA graduation rate is soaring
September 28, 2018

Once mocked, UTSA graduation rate is soaring

The University of Texas at San Antonio increased its graduation rates once again in 2018, officials announced, crediting the school’s focus on counseling first-generation students for years of improvement.

Classroom to Career Presidential Initiative
October 1, 2018

Classroom to Career Presidential Initiative

Learning happens everywhere — not just in the classroom. The sentiment behind this statement is far more than a mere platitude. I believe that experiential learning opportunities can greatly enhance classroom instruction and have a profound impact on student learning outcomes.

Message regarding today's student protest
October 4, 2018

Message regarding today's student protest

The current national political dialogue was evident on our campus today in the form of a student protest on the Paseo. Though the protest at times was tense, it reflected our adherence to the Constitutional right to free speech. As evidenced by the passion and emotion in the crowd, that adherence can sometime be challenging.

Roadrunner Village Initiative
October 11, 2018

Roadrunner Village Initiative

I’m pleased to announce the launch of an exciting new project that will influence the character of the Main Campus, benefiting both the UTSA community as well as our surrounding neighborhoods: Roadrunner Village.

New Student Housing Initiatives
October 16, 2018

New Student Housing Initiatives

Fostering student success at UTSA requires a multitude of approaches, and we know that providing residential experiences is one of the many keys to this effort.

Free speech, civic discourse and moving forward
October 22, 2018

Free speech, civic discourse and moving forward

I have spoken with numerous students, faculty and staff in the weeks since the protests that occurred on our campus, and I know there are many in our community continuing to process these events. I am writing today to offer some follow-up and information on where we go from here.

Registration Issues
November 6, 2018

Registration Issues

Thanks in advance for your patience, and I apologize for any additional stress you may have experienced. My goal is to provide all students with a flawless, easy-to-use course registration experience.

Vote!
October 24, 2018

Vote!

Early voting for the 2018 Texas midterm elections is underway, and I have one simple message: The best way to make your voice heard is to vote.

UTSA's Dean of Students
November 5, 2018

UTSA's Dean of Students

I am writing today to let you know about a restructuring of the leadership team within the Division of Student Affairs.

Our strategic plan in action
November 2, 2018

Our strategic plan in action

This academic year we’ve been busy rolling out the next set of strategic initiatives to get UTSA closer to our destinations as a great research university, model for student success and exemplar for strategic growth and innovative excellence.

Veterans Day Message
November 9, 2018

Veterans Day Message

I wanted to take a moment this Veterans Day to acknowledge the enduring contributions to our country from all of our Roadrunners Veterans.

Newly established President's Student Advisory Council
December 4, 2018

Newly established President's Student Advisory Council

Nominations for council membership are being accepted through Monday, December 10. Interested students should seek nomination from their college dean or one of the campus administrators listed on the Council’s website.

Student Success Center Initiative Launch
December 6, 2018

Student Success Center Initiative Launch

Student success is one of our three institutional destinations, and our rapid progress is already garnering attention. We have aggressive retention and graduation rate goals and a rigorous Integrated Student Success Plan and Strategic Enrollment Plan in place to help us reach them.

UTSA's Eighmy has big plans for university, San Antonio's downtown
December 31, 2018

UTSA's Eighmy has big plans for university, San Antonio's downtown

Taylor Eighmy had been in office almost exactly a year when he cemented the support of city and county leaders and University of Texas System regents and secured millions of dollars for major campus expansions designed to reshape and revitalize significant chunks of downtown.

Organizational changes in Academic Affairs
December 12, 2018

Organizational changes in Academic Affairs

With our Integrated Student Success and Strategic Enrollment plans now in place, the time is right to evaluate the best organizational location for these two important units. Over the last several months it has become clear to me that full integration into our academic enterprise is key to maximizing our effectiveness in these areas.