Strategic Plan Home Initiatives Presidential Initiatives Westside Community Partnerships Creating Pathways to Educational Excellence

Creating Pathways to Educational Excellence

Charge

This task force will work to explore and establish UTSA enrollment pathways for Westside youth, as well as continuing education and professional development opportunities for adults. The group will integrate efforts among university faculty, K-12 school leadership, school staff, families and communities to successfully transform professional educator preparation and outcomes for K-12 students, ultimately increasing the number of students from the community that matriculate to, and graduate from, UTSA.

Task Force Members

Margo DelliCarpini, Chair Vice Provost for Strategic Educational Partnerships and Dean of the College of Education and Human Development
Mark Appleford Associate Dean of Undergraduate Programs, College of Engineering	Edwin Barea-Rodriguez Professor and Associate Dean for Student Success and Instructional Innovation, College of Sciences
Lynn Barnes Senior Vice Provost for Strategic Enrollme	Stacey Davis Assistant Chair & Associate Professor of Music, College of Liberal and Fine Arts
Sedef Doganer Associate Professor and Department Chair, College of Architecture, Construction and Planning	Belinda Flores Associate Dean for Professional Preparation, Assessment, and Accreditation
Jill Ford Assistant Dean for Student Success Center. College of Engineering	Rosa Garza-Girdy Assistant Dean of Undergraduate Studies, College of Business
Abel Gonzales Director of Instructional Outreach Programs	Greg Griffin Assistant Professor of Urban and Regional Planning, College of Architecture, Construction and Planning
Norma Guerra Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies, College of Education and Human Development	Belinda Harmon Senior Director of Community Outreach, P-20 Inititiatives
Joseph Kulhanek Associate Vice Provost Strategic Enrollment	Steven Levitt Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies & Curriculum and Professor of Communication, College of Liberal and Fine Arts
Kristi Meyer Senior Director for Special Programs and Student Development, Honors College	Lilliana P. Saldaña Associate Professor of Mexican American Studies, College of Education and Human Development

Possible Activities

Formation of the COEHD Westside Alliance, a partnership-based initiative, to provide the following:
- Assist in the development and evaluation of curriculum
- Provide professional development for teachers
- Place UTSA student teachers, tutors and interns in Westside schools
- Provide academic enrichment, academies, dual credit, CTE and career readiness education
- Assist in the design and instruction for after-school, weekend and summer programs
- Offer health, wellness and family and community support services
- Provide access to university facilities such as libraries, laboratories and auditoriums
- Participate in school governance, planning and operations
- Build on the research base of pedagogical best practices and through grant and other external sources help secure funding to support Westside schools
Conduct targeted outreach and mentorship to youth who may not consider themselves college-bound through partnerships with providers of youth development services and volunteer mentors.
Conduct targeted efforts to recruit and support the matriculation of students from the Westside—including a Westside Scholarship Fund—through partnerships with schools and providers of youth development services.