Editor's Note: UTSA President Taylor Eighmy sent this email to UTSA faculty and staff today.
(Dec. 12, 2018) -- Dear Roadrunners,
I am writing to share some changes to our Academic Affairs division.
Last March I created two Interim Vice President positions to stand up Presidential Initiatives on Student Success and Strategic Enrollment and establish new campus divisions dedicated to these areas. Dr. Rhonda Gonzales and Dr. Lisa Blazer have done outstanding jobs in these interim roles.
With our Integrated Student Success and Strategic Enrollment plans now in place, the time is right to evaluate the best organizational location for these two important units. Over the last several months it has become clear to me that full integration into our academic enterprise is key to maximizing our effectiveness in these areas.
As a result, I have decided to transition these two positions to report to Dr. Kimberly Andrews Espy, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs. In January we will embark on national searches to fill these two roles, and I have encouraged both Rhonda and Lisa to become candidates. Both positions will continue to serve on UTSA’s Senior Leadership Team.
Academic Affairs, Student Success and Strategic Enrollment already work very closely together due to their multiple points of intersection. This new organizational structure—a common model found at many UT System and peer model institutions—formalizes their relationship as a cohesive team, facilitating broader faculty engagement throughout these areas and full alignment across academic program delivery.
I am proud of the excellent work Lisa and Rhonda have done with their teams over the last nine months. Under their leadership, we have already made significant progress toward our ambitious enrollment, retention and graduation rate goals. I am looking forward to their ongoing contributions as we continue to move the dial in these areas that are so vitally important to UTSA’s future.
With appreciation,
Taylor Eighmy
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Join us for an engaging conversation with President Eighmy to learn more about UTSA’s progress to date on the strategic plan, the goals of the mid-point refresh process and its importance to the Roadrunner community.
Buena Vista Theater (BV1.326), Downtown CampusJoin us for our annual Winterlude concert series featuring students from across all areas in the School of Music for a half-week of holiday cheer and delight. This three-day celebration continues to showcase both contemporary and traditional holiday works and will include performances by the UTSA Orchestra, Choirs, Bands, Jazz Ensemble, Lyric Theatre, and Dance Studio.
Recital Hall, Main CampusJoin us for our annual Winterlude concert series featuring students from across all areas in the School of Music for a half-week of holiday cheer and delight. This three-day celebration continues to showcase both contemporary and traditional holiday works and will include performances by the UTSA Orchestra, Choirs, Bands, Jazz Ensemble, Lyric Theatre, and Dance Studio.
Recital Hall, Main CampusLavender Graduation is a celebration of the academic accomplishments of LGBTQIA+ students. Students are given a stole to wear for Commencement showing their pride. This is a validation and celebration of each student and their identity. The Lavender Student Leadership Award is presented during the celebration.
Denman Ballroom (SU 2.01.28,) Main CampusJoin us for our annual Winterlude concert series featuring students from across all areas in the School of Music for a half-week of holiday cheer and delight. This three-day celebration continues to showcase both contemporary and traditional holiday works and will include performances by the UTSA Orchestra, Choirs, Bands, Jazz Ensemble, Lyric Theatre, and Dance Studio.
Recital Hall, Main CampusOne of the seven principles of Kwanzaa, Ujima stands for collective work and responsibility. This graduation celebration honors Black students and their academic accomplishments. Students are given a custom stole to remind them to continue to work collectively to better the communities in which they work and live. The UJIMA Student Leadership Award is presented during the celebration.
HEB Student Union Ballrooms, Main CampusThe Doctoral Hooding Ceremony will take place for doctoral graduates at 7 p.m. on Friday, December 8, in the H-E-B Student Union Ballrooms (HSU 1.104).
H-E-B Student Union Ballroom (HSU 1.104,) 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 ending generations of discrimination and inequity. UTSA, a premier public research university, fosters academic excellence through a community of dialogue, discovery and innovation that embraces the uniqueness of each voice.
