UTSA announces reorganization of community services units

(March 30, 2018) – The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) President Taylor Eighmy today announced new reporting lines for the units responsible for the university’s community engagement efforts.

As of today, the following units have moved under new areas:

• The Institute of Economic Development will report to Interim Vice President for Research, Economic Development and Knowledge Enterprise Bernard Arulanandam.
  
  
• The Institute of Texan Cultures and Office of Extended Education will report to Interim Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Mauli Agrawal.
  
  
• The Institute for P-20 Initiatives will report to Interim Vice President for Strategic Enrollment Lisa Blazer.
  
  
• The Downtown Campus Special Events office will report to Vice President for Student Affairs Sam Gonzales.
  
  
• The Center for Civic Engagement will report to Interim Vice Provost and Dean of University College Heather Shipley.
  
  
• The Mexico Center will report to Dean of the College of Liberal and Fine Arts Dan Gelo.

“UTSA must be fully woven into the very fabric of our city, applying the talents of our people and our research prowess to help solve San Antonio’s grand challenges,” said Eighmy in an email sent to faculty and staff this morning.

“I believe that the best way to achieve this synergy is by integrating our community services functions within our academic, student development and research enterprises,” he continued. “Realigning our community engagement efforts into our core as a student-centric university will realize benefits on all fronts – fueling transformational student experiences as well as enhanced opportunities for all our community partners.”

The reorganization does not involve any staffing changes, only new reporting lines to the vice presidential and decanal levels. Employees within the affected units were apprised of these changes last evening, and their respective vice presidents and deans will be working with them on integration plans in the weeks to come. 

The reorganization follows the announcement made earlier this month that Vice President for Community Services Jude Valdez will retire this summer after nearly 40 years of service to UTSA. As a cost saving measure, UTSA will not refill the position of Vice President for Community Services.

— Anne Peters

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