(Dec. 13, 2017) – In an email sent today to UTSA faculty and staff, President Taylor Eighmy announced three new operational initiatives to advance UTSA as San Antonio’s university of the future. Additionally, Eighmy provided updates on the presidential and strategic initiatives underway to support the university’s strategic vision.
New Operational Initiatives Announced
A new initiative category is joining the strategic planning lineup. Operational Initiatives establish campus infrastructure to address critical needs. Characterized by rapid turnaround times, initiatives in this category reflect a nimble organizational approach and an emphasis on institutional responsiveness.
Three Operational Initiatives are currently underway to formalize and coordinate campus support resources for the Dreamers Center, Sexual Violence Prevention and Support and the Behavioral Intervention Team. The target completion date for all three is February 1, 2018.
Student Success Task Force
Following a series of campus meetings with UTSA faculty, staff and students in November, consulting firm EAB (formerly Education Advisory Board) is in the process of finalizing its diagnostic report for presentation to the task force in early January. The task force will review EAB’s findings and organize action teams based on their recommendations.
A subset working group of the task force—comprised of Óscar Chávez, Brian Cordeau, Rhonda M. Gonzales, Raquel Marquez, Antonio Petrov, Tammy Wyatt and René Zenteno—participated in a one-day conference with the Strategic Enrollment Task Force and a consultant from Ruffalo Noel Levitz.
Task force members also have reviewed select literature related to best practices in student success. Notable among their readings is Ventajas/Assets y Conocimientos/Knowledge: Leveraging Latin@ Strengths to Foster Student Success. This knowledge essay, released by the UTSA Center for Research and Policy in Education, looks at the unique challenges faced by Latino students entering college and how they might leverage their cultural wealth and experiences to overcome obstacles.
Strategic Enrollment Task Force
The Strategic Enrollment Planning Task Force participated in its first conference on December 5 and 6 to begin developing a situational analysis and initial strategy ideation. Additional members of the UTSA community were invited to participate in five working groups led by members of the task force.
The working groups discussed strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT) in their respective focus areas, which included undergraduate and graduate academic programs, finances/financial aid, student success and recruitment/marketing. The discussions led to identification of initial strategies, to be further developed at the task force’s next meeting scheduled for the end of January. In the weeks to come, the working groups will finalize the situational analysis for their respective areas of focus. This work will ultimately inform an overall diagnostic in preparation for creating an action plan and moving towards a comprehensive and strategic enrollment plan for UTSA.
Finance and Budget Modeling Task Force
The Finance and Budget Model Task Force met on November 29 to hear presentations on current budget practices from Interim Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Mauli Agrawal, Interim Vice President for Research Bernard Arulanandam, Vice President for Student Affairs Sam Gonzales and Vice President for Business Affairs Kathryn Funk-Baxter.
The vice presidents discussed practices in place prior to this year on the use of budget savings. Those savings created rollover funds originating from Educational and General and Designated Tuition funding in their respective cost centers. The 21 task force members in attendance were able to compare these four divisions’ practices.
At the group’s next meeting on January 11 they will discuss the financial diagnostic review of UTSA’s budget practices by Huron Consulting.
Tuition and Fees Committee
The final meeting of the Tuition and Fee Committee was held on November 15 where the group voted on recommended changes to tuition and fees. Subsequent to the meeting, Kathy Funk-Baxter, Vice President for Business Affairs, and Sam Gonzales, Vice President for Student Affairs met with the Student Government Association (SGA) to answer questions and discuss the proposal. The SGA passed resolutions in favor of the Tuition and Fee Proposal, which was then forwarded to President Eighmy for review. The proposal was submitted to UT System on December 4.
The proposal includes increases to the Athletic, Automated Services, Student Services and Transportation fees. In addition, it includes differential tuition for College of Business and College of Engineering undergraduate students taking upper division courses as well as graduate level courses. Designated tuition increases were also proposed, including an increase to support the Green Fund for sustainability projects.
Weighted Student Credit Hour Optimization Committee
The Weighted Student Credit Hour (WSCH) Optimization Committee met on November 17 and 30 to review the top recommendations from each of the subcommittees. The subcommittees explored ways to maximize UTSA’s formula funding via online courses, summer enrollment, transfer students and graduate education, among others.
Over the coming weeks, the subcommittees will meet to finalize their reports. The committee will meet again in mid-January to refine the final report which will be presented to President Eighmy in early February.
Learn more about the UTSA strategic plan.
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At 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 CampusJoin us for a tribute to Willie Velásquez, honoring the legacy of Willie Velásquez, a pivotal figure in shaping the history of Latino and Hispanic participation in the American voting process. Delve into his life and contributions as a champion of Latino voting rights. Moderated by UTSA's Teresa Niño, the event will feature influential voices, including Jane Velásquez, María Antonietta Berriozábal, Dora Oliva, and Anthony Gonzales.
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