University provides April update on strategic initiatives

(April 18, 2018) -- In an email sent today to UTSA faculty and staff, President Taylor Eighmy announced new town hall meetings focused on the newly launched Downtown Campus Presidential Initiative. Additionally, Eighmy provided updates on presidential, strategic, tactical and operational initiatives underway to support UTSA’s strategic vision.

Downtown Campus Initiative Town Halls

Students, faculty and staff are invited to learn more about the initiative, ask questions and offer their perspectives.

Monday, April 23
1 - 2:30 p.m. | Buena Vista Street Building Aula Canaria (BVB 1.328) | Downtown Campus                                       

Wednesday, April 25
9 - 10:30 a.m. | Buena Vista Street Building Aula Canaria (BVB 1.328) | Downtown Campus                              

Thursday, April 26
1 - 2:30 p.m. | Student Union Retama Auditorium (SU 2.02.02) | Main Campus      

>>Watch livestreams and recordings of the town halls.                   

Student Success Task Force

The Student Success Task Force held town hall meetings last month to inform campus community members on its progress and share some of the key recommendations put forth by consultants from EAB. In line with those recommendations, President Eighmy created the senior leadership position of Interim Vice President for Student Success, appointing Rhonda M. Gonzales to fill that role effective April 15. Task force members convened on April 9 in anticipation of creating action teams to carry out other recommendations. The action teams should be formed by the end of the semester.

Strategic Enrollment Task Force

Earlier this month, the Strategic Enrollment Task Force met with consultant from Ruffalo Noel Levitz to review and provide feedback on draft action plans. The task force focused on university-wide recruitment coordination, course management, financial aid leveraging, online self-service improvements (ASAP), dual credit enrollment, scholarship and fellowship management, prospect and inquiry management, transfer student recruitment, and Customer Relationship Management solutions. The consultant also met with the Department Chairs Council to provide a strategic enrollment diagnostic. Additional strategies are being developed to help enhance graduate recruitment and action plans. The goal is to develop UTSA’s strategic enrollment plan by the end of May. Lisa Blazer has been appointed to the new role of Interim Vice President for Strategic Enrollment.

Finance and Budget Modeling Task Force

Last month, the Finance and Budget Modeling Task Force held two town hall meetings to update the campus community on its ongoing work with Huron Consulting. This FAQ document captures common questions about the initiative, including many raised at the town halls. Huron is now entering the third phase of its consulting work and continuing to gather input from stakeholders. Feedback will be gathered through upcoming meetings with individual deans and vice presidents, as well as a planned forum with department chairs. Educational meetings with campus leaders were also held last month to review revenue and expense factors that will be critical to any new budget model.

National Security Collaboration Center 

UTSA formally announced the launch of the National Security Collaboration Center (NSCC) through UTSA Today, the San Antonio Business Journal, Texas Public Radio and other media outlets. Earlier this month, UTSA hosted leadership from the Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity and the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency to build computational/cyber focused research collaborations in support of the NSCC. Bernard Arulanandam, interim vice president for research, economic development and knowledge enterprise, led a delegation to Washington D.C. earlier this week to meet with representatives within the Department of Homeland Security, Department of Energy and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency to promote and seek support for the NSCC and associated partnerships.

Dreamers Center 

Over the course of its first three months of operation, it has become evident that the scope of responsibilities involved in running the Dreamers Center are more complex than originally imagined. As a result, the decision was made to reclassify the Dreamers Center Program Manager position to an Assistant Director. The Assistant Director search is in progress, with interviews expected to take place later this month. In the meanwhile, Courtney Balderas-Jacob continues to lead the Center’s activities in her role as interim program manager.

Behavior Intervention Team

Roseanne McSweeney will begin as UTSA’s new Behavioral Intervention Specialist on May 1. In this role, McSweeney will formalize and support the existing BIT team, consisting of nine volunteers from across campus. In addition to setting up the infrastructure for the BIT office, McSweeney will act as the point person for new case management software that will allow for multiple offices on campus to collaborate. The procurement of the software is currently in the contract phase.

Sexual Violence Prevention and Support Task Force

Jessica Muniz, director and prevention coordinator for Title IX, is leading the search for a full-time confidential advocate to round-out staffing for the Department of Title IX Services. As April is Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month, Muniz is actively involved in providing education and advocacy to the campus community. She is also working with campus partners and stakeholders to establish processes for student intake, policies, procedures, training initiatives, publications, brochures and a departmental website. 

Learn more about the UTSA strategic plan.

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