(June 3, 2019) – In the summer of 1969, with the ink barely dry on the legislation that created UTSA, administrators at the University of Texas System began working on a plan to bring UTSA, their newest institution, to life. Chancellor Harry Ransom said he was “bubbling with ideas” for UTSA in an interview with the San Antonio Light newspaper on June 26, 1969, stressing that his personal dream for UTSA was that it take “instant and long-range advantage” of some unique opportunities afforded by having San Antonio as its home.
It’s amazing how accurate Ransom’s foresight was 50 years ago.
First, he explained, was the location in San Antonio, a city that is multicultural—more than bilingual. Ransom’s dream came to fruition. Since its beginning, UTSA has connected with the history and way of life of its hometown. From offering studies in bicultural-bilingual education on day one, to embracing traditions like Fiesta UTSA and mariachis at Commencement, and the multitude of ways that the university embraces the culture of San Antonio and South Texas, UTSA has become a beacon for young scholars. Now UTSA is a thriving Hispanic-majority institution with an ambitious goal to be a model for student success.
Next, Ransom said that working with existing institutions and federal establishments in San Antonio could bring success to UTSA by providing training in related fields. He said inter-institutional cooperation would be a real factor in the development of programs at the university and, today, UTSA’s collaborative work with the military, tech and medical sectors, for example, is producing sophisticated research in cybersecurity, bioregeneration, infectious disease, population studies, and national security, among other areas.
Ransom also believed that UTSA, as a new institution, would have none of the disadvantages an elder college would have, particularly in experimental programs. Indeed, UTSA researchers’ work in cloud computing, data analytics, artificial intelligence, smart infrastructure and advanced materials is helping to bring partnerships to the university.
Because of leaders like Ransom and those who have followed him, UTSA has collected a list of achievements that rival institutions twice its age, including its ranking among the top 3.6% of universities in the world, according to the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2019.
UTSA’s founders and its subsequent leaders recognized the university’s potential to create prosperity and to drive socioeconomic mobility for South Texas. In essence, they laid the groundwork for San Antonio to become what it is today: one of the fastest growing cities in the nation, a city that people are drawn to for educational, professional and social opportunities.
Learn more about UTSA’s 50th anniversary.
View a timeline of events showing how UTSA evolved into the university it is today.
View a collection of historical UTSA photos and videos.
Connect with UTSA online at Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram and LinkedIn.
UTSA Today is produced by University Communications and Marketing, the official news source of The University of Texas at San Antonio. Send your feedback to news@utsa.edu. Keep up-to-date on UTSA news by visiting UTSA Today. Connect with UTSA online at Facebook, Twitter, Youtube and Instagram.
Huddle Against Hunger is a fundraising competition with Texas State that benefits our Roadrunner Pantry. Donations this week will help UTSA earn additional prize monies provided by RBFCU.
In-Person and VirtualJoin UTSA Libraries for an update on federal public access policies and how the library can assist with compliance.
Virtual EventWe invite you to join us for Birds Up! Downtown, an exciting welcome back event designed to connect students with the different departments at the Downtown Campus. Students will have the opportunity to learn about some of the departments on campus, gain access to different resources, and collect some giveaways!
Bill Miller PlazaThere are many citation managers. Which one is right for you? This workshop will explain what a citation manager is and how it can help you organize your citations, insert citations as you write your paper, and generate your bibliography.
Virtual EventPubMed is an essential database for anyone conducting biomedical or health-related research. This workshop will teach attendees how to effectively navigate this free resource and locate peer-reviewed articles using advanced search features, MeSH subject headings, and Boolean operators.
Virtual EventIn this hands-on workshop, participants will learn to setup an EndNote library, save references and PDFs, and automatically create and edit a bibliography. Attendees are encouraged, but not required, to have EndNote already installed on a personal computer.
Virtual EventJoin UTSA Libraries and Museums to learn more about the publishing discounts available for UTSA researchers. Current agreements include Elsevier, Cambridge University Press, Wiley, and more. Bring your questions and feedback for the library as we continue to pursue partnerships with publishers to reduce costs for our researchers.
Virtual EventThe 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, respect, collaboration and innovation are fostered.
