UTSA announces new administrative leadership structure

(May 30, 2019) -- To provide a clear process for campus administrative planning, prioritization and decision making and to reflect UTSA’s core as an academic enterprise, President Taylor Eighmy today announced changes to the administrative leadership structure.

The new executive leadership structure designates the Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs as the individual primarily responsible for overall institutional tactics and internal operations driving the university to achieve its strategic vision and destinations. Under the new structure, the Provost will oversee the efforts toward achieving all the elements of the UTSA strategic plan.  

“This allows me to turn more of my attention outward,” Eighmy said today in an email sent to faculty and staff. “My ability to focus additional time and energy on stakeholder advocacy, external partnership building and fundraising—particularly in light of UTSA’s upcoming capital campaign—is essential for our advancement.”  

Beginning this summer, the senior leadership team will transition into three distinct administrative bodies with defined roles and areas of oversight: 

• President’s Cabinet
  The President’s Cabinet will consist of all Vice Presidents, the Chief of Staff, the Senior Vice Provost for Student Affairs and Dean of Students, and communications leads from University Relations. This group will advise Eighmy on timely institutional matters involving external stakeholders or impacting the university’s reputation, brand or relationships. Cabinet members will have the responsibility of communicating information and decisions back to their constituencies.
  
  
• University Leadership Council
  Led by Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs Kimberly Andrews Espy, the Provost’s Leadership Council will guide the administrative prioritization, planning and execution of institutional initiatives. Their charge also includes reviewing campus administrative policies and procedures, as well as assessing campus needs and resources. Members of the Provost’s Council include all academic college Deans, all Senior Vice Provosts and Vice Presidents overseeing campus functional areas, as well as leaders from shared governance bodies: the chairs of the Faculty Senate and Staff Council, and President of the Student Government Association.
  
  
• Academic Council
  The Academic Council will consist of all Deans, all Senior Vice Provosts, all Vice Provosts and the Vice President for Research, Economic Development and Knowledge Enterprise. Under Espy’s leadership, this group will provide institutional guidance regarding all academic programs, support and services. Their purview includes initial review of new degree proposals as well as academic policies, procedures and programs. They will also prioritize and make recommendations regarding strategic investments for academic units. 

Integral to this new structure is a clear decision-making process that delineates how new administrative programs, priorities and initiatives advance with designated points of input.

The new leadership structure works in tandem with the governance integrated into each of the university’s strategic initiatives through task forces, committees and steering groups. These groups, with representation from faculty, staff, students and occasional external stakeholders, ensure that all initiatives benefit from broad campus community participation and input.

These changes are designed to position UTSA to go the next step in bringing the strategic planning process to the unit level. Eighmy says next year, the university will focus on creating a framework for every college and administrative unit on campus to develop their strategic plan—aligned and connected to the university’s strategic vision— using selected key performance indicators to assess ongoing progress.

“This administrative leadership framework mirrors what one typically sees at large, public research institutions as they rise toward new levels of excellence and national recognition,” said Eighmy. “We have phenomenal leaders at UTSA, and I have a full appreciation for just how hard they work and the wherewithal it takes to lead in our fast moving, complex environment. This approach will not only position them to do their jobs well, but also help UTSA to be a more nimble and effective organization for the benefit of our students.”

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