(Oct. 19, 2017) -- UTSA President Taylor Eighmy today announced the first of five initiatives he will launch this fall to support a vision for UTSA as San Antonio’s university of the future. The President’s Initiative on Student Success will take a student-centric approach to dramatically improving the university’s retention and graduation rates.
“It is no secret that student persistence is one of our most critical issues, and one that cannot be solved solely by attending to the needs of our enrolled students,” said Eighmy in an email sent today to the university community. “We must look at how UTSA can partner with the City of San Antonio to strengthen college preparedness of children in our local school districts. Likewise, it is imperative that our graduates are ready to enter the workforce with as little debt as possible and find the prosperity and professional satisfaction they deserve after earning their degree. Student success is integral to this notion of ‘cradle to career’ education.”
To fast-track this high priority initiative, Eighmy has established a 25-member Student Success Task Force and charged the group with developing an integrated plan that considers the K-12 continuum through recruitment, enrollment, academic progress, career development and placement. The Student Success Initiative will be chaired by Associate Vice Provost for Strategic Initiatives in Academic Affairs Rhonda Gonzales.
The Student Success Task Force will build on the priorities and work of the university’s Coordinated and Linked Approaches to Student Success (CLASS) initiative, led by Interim Provost Mauli Agrawal. Last year, UTSA’s four-year graduation rate increased by four percent overall, and by seven percent when omitting students in the Coordinated Admission Program (CAP) with UT-Austin.
To assist the task force, UTSA has hired EAB, a highly respected firm specializing in identifying analytics-driven best practices for supporting, retaining and graduating students. Together, the task force and EAB will examine some of the best practices of model research-intensive, Hispanic-Serving Institutions such as U.C. Irvine and Arizona State University. They are expected to deliver their final report in January 2018.
In today’s email, Eighmy also shared his intention to make additional announcements in the days to come related to strategic enrollment, the university’s finance and budget model, tuition and fees, and weighted student credit hours and formula funding.
Read the October 3 email President Eighmy sent to the UTSA community about his vision for the future.
Learn more about the President’s Initiative on Student Success.
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The Whataburger Resource Room at the Roadrunner Pantry has joined efforts with the campus community to put together the Move In Market! Come shop for some great items for your dorm room or apartment to get you started and set up for success.
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Denman Room (SU 2.01.28,) Main CampusHave you ever received an email invitation to publish in a journal you have never heard of with promises of lightning-fast peer-review and publication times? If so, you’ve probably heard of predatory publishing. During this workshop, participants will discuss this pervasive problem in academic publishing and how to spot the red flags through real-life examples.
Virtual (Zoom)Upon completion of this workshop, attendees will be able to: explain the history of Creative Commons, summarize the role of copyright law in the creation of Creative Commons, differentiate between different CC icons, identify the different layers and elements of CC licenses and tools, and list factors to consider when choosing a license for your project.
Virtual (Zoom)Join us for Coffee with Vets, a casual social event where veterans can come together, connect, and share camaraderie over a cup of coffee. This is a perfect opportunity to unwind, meet fellow veterans, and build community in a welcoming and relaxed environment.
Veteran Lounge (JPL 4.03.04,) John Peace Library, Main CampusStop by to ask questions or learn about how you can become involved in Wellbeing Services events and programs.
Window Lounge (SU1.02.00C,) Student Union, Main CampusArt of Wellbeing is a weekly workshop provided by Wellbeing Services! Join us as we use different art mediums each week as a way to improve our overall wellbeing!
Magnolia Room (SU2.01.30,) Student Union, Main CampusThe University of Texas at San Antonio is dedicated to the advancement of knowledge through research and discovery, teaching and learning, community engagement and public service. As an institution of access and excellence, UTSA embraces multicultural traditions and serves as a center for intellectual and creative resources as well as a catalyst for socioeconomic development and the commercialization of intellectual property - for Texas, the nation and the world.
To be a premier public research university, providing access to educational excellence and preparing citizen leaders for the global environment.
We encourage an environment of dialogue and discovery, where integrity, excellence, inclusiveness, respect, collaboration and innovation are fostered.
UTSA is a proud Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) as designated by the U.S. Department of Education .
The University of Texas at San Antonio, a Hispanic Serving Institution situated in a global city that has been a crossroads of peoples and cultures for centuries, values diversity and inclusion in all aspects of university life. As an institution expressly founded to advance the education of Mexican Americans and other underserved communities, our university is committed to promoting access for all. UTSA, a premier public research university, fosters academic excellence through a community of dialogue, discovery and innovation that embraces the uniqueness of each voice.
