The University of Texas at San Antonio marks its 46th anniversary
Gov. Preston Smith signs the bill creating UTSA
Gov. Preston Smith signs the bill creating UTSA
Share this Story(June 5, 2015) – The University of Texas at San Antonio marks its 46th anniversary today.
Since its founding, UTSA has produced thousands of top-tier teachers, scientists, architects, engineers, artists, entrepreneurs and leaders. About 70 percent of UTSA graduates remain in San Antonio. They are helping transform the community into a top-tier city.
On June 5, 1969, in front of the Alamo, Gov. Preston Smith signed the legislation that created UTSA. It was the first time a bill was signed by the governor outside of the capital.
Construction on the Main Campus at I-10 and Loop 1604 began in May 1972. It was the largest new university under construction in the nation, with seven buildings comprising 800,000 square feet. Classes were held at the Koger Center while campus construction was underway.
Since that time, UTSA has experienced tremendous growth. In 1976, the John Peace Library opened, also serving as the new administration building. The 11-acre Downtown Campus opened in 1997.
Since Ricardo Romo became president in 1999, UTSA has added 15 landmark buildings, including the Main Building, Margaret Batts Tobin Laboratories, Biotechnology Science and Engineering building, H-E-B University Center, and the Applied Engineering and Technology Building.
Today, UTSA is an emerging Tier One research institution, offering 158 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in nine colleges and the Graduate School on two campuses. It is also home to the UTSA Institute of Texan Cultures, housed on the HemisFair Park Campus.
UTSA's enrollment has grown from 1,113 in September 1973 to almost 29,000 students today. In 1974, UTSA awarded degrees to 82 students at its first commencement ceremony. Today, the UTSA community includes more than 100,000 alumni.
This year, UTSA began developing a new strategic plan, UTSA 2020 Blueprint. It will guide the university's development over the next five years and move UTSA closer to Tier One recognition. UTSA 2020 Blueprint is a university-wide process, with faculty, staff, students, alumni and community supporters working together to build the future of UTSA.
Visit UTSA's timeline for more university history.
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Connect online with UTSA on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Instagram.
Events
Join the PEACE Center and Wellbeing Services for Denim Day, a day of learning about the importance of consent and why we wear denim on the last Wednesday of the month each April during Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Stop by our Denim Day display to take a photo in front of our Denim Wall, spin the "Is It Consent?" Wheel, and get a Concha or goodie.
Student Union Window Lounge, Main CampusLearn to use Zotero®, a citation manager that can help you store and organize citations you find during your research. Zotero can generate bibliographies in various styles, insert in-text citations and allow you to share sources with collaborators.
Virtual EventThis event will acknowledge graduating seniors from the McNair Scholars program at UTSA before inducting the new cohort of scholars into the program.
North Paseo Building (NPB 5.140), Main CampusAt this memorable celebration, UTSA graduates will be introduced one-by-one to cross the stage and accept their doctoral degrees.
Arts Building Recital Hall, Main CampusRoadrunner Walk is an event for graduating students to have a memorable walk on campus to celebrate an important milestone and their achievements. Graduates will walk along the Paseo while being celebrated by the UTSA community, friends, and family members.
Student Union Paseo, Main CampusCelebrate the accomplishments of College of Education and Human Development, College for Health, Community and Policy, College of Sciences and University College.
Alamodome, 100 Montana St.Celebrate the accomplishments of Alvarez College of Business, College of Liberal and Fine Arts and Klesse College of Engineering and Integrated Design.
Alamodome, 100 Montana St.
