UTSA educates nearly 5,000 veteran and military-connected students.
(June 14, 2019) -- UTSA has once again been selected by Victory Media as a top 10 Military Friendly School for its support of its military student population.
This year, Victory Media ranked UTSA No. 6 in the nation, based on six areas of evaluation including academic policies and compliance, admissions and orientation, culture and commitment, financial aid and assistance, graduation and career, and military student support and retention.
“Our selection as a top 10 school is an indication of just how much UTSA values and appreciates all those who wear the uniform,” said Ret. Colonel Lisa Firmin, UTSA associate vice president of Veteran and Military Affairs. “The Office of Veteran and Military Affairs has been intentional about visibly supporting veterans and military affiliated students. This ranking is another validation of how focused we are on helping our military community succeed.”
This year, UTSA introduced priority registration for veterans, an online certification application process and a tailored Orientation session for new students from military backgrounds. The university has also consolidated its veteran services within a new Center for Military Affiliated Students (CMAS) to help members of the military community more easily navigate the university.
>> Learn about the resources that define UTSA as military campus USA.
“As part of the CMAS roll out, a vet hangout space is opening this summer. This is a place for our military affiliated roadrunners to network, socialize and be able to experience esprit de corps similar to what they had while serving,” said Firmin.
Firmin noted that UTSA is constantly working to sharpen its skills to help veterans successfully transition from military life to student life. For example, UTSA is facilitating a Veteran Academic Introduction & Strategies (AIS) course for the first time this year. This course will be titled AIS – Rules Of Engagement (ROE) for Vets and will consist of several components all designed to ease the integration from the military into higher education.
This is all a part of the vision for UTSA when it began 50 years ago.
“UTSA was founded in 1969 to serve the community and to help San Antonio achieve its full potential,” said Firmin.
According to the City of San Antonio’s Office of Military and Veteran Affairs, approximately 250,000 veterans live in San Antonio. About 15 percent of UTSA’s total student population, or 5,000 students, include active duty military members, veterans, reserves/guard, and their spouses or dependents plus ROTC.
Considering the large military presence in the city, as well as the diversity of the military population, UTSA is making a direct and strong contribution toward fulfilling the purpose the institution was charged with 50 years ago as the region’s first four-year, public, urban serving university.
Learn more about what UTSA offers veteran and military students.
Celebrate UTSA’s 50th Anniversary and share social media posts about the 50th using the hashtag #UTSA50.
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.
All UTSA students, faculty, staff, alumni, and families are invited to march with the UTSA delegation in San Antonio's 38th annual Martin Luther King, Jr. March. Free transportation will be provided from the Main and Downtown Campuses.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Academy, 3501 Martin Luther King, Jr., San Antonio, TXJoin the UTSA Alumni Association for free coffee and breakfast to celebrate the start of the fall semester.
Sombrilla PlazaWarm up with a hot cup of coffee or a hot chocolate with Wellbeing Services to kick off the start of the Spring Semester! The Wellbeing team will be in the Window Lounge to welcome you to the first day of classes and highlight our events and programs for the semester.
Dreamers Resource Lounge, Main CampusJoin us in the HCAP Student Success Center for refreshments and get to know your HCAP Ambassadors, Peer Mentors, and staff!
HCAP Student Success Center (MS 2.02.36), Main CampusKlesse College is excited to welcome back our Klesse College of Engineering and Integrated Design students! Join us for a fun day full of community, food, and fun events. Food is free for all KCEID Students. Come get your T-shirts and connect with student organizations.
Atrium, Biotechnology, Sciences and Engineering Building, Main CampusStop by the Alvarez Student Success Center to learn about our services, meet our staff, and grab some goodies! Students can earn Career Compass spirit points by taking a photo with our frame and uploading it to the app.
Alvarez Student Success Center (BB 2.01.08,) Business Building, Main CampusCome meet student organizations and learn about different volunteering opportunities at the Spring 2025 Get Involved Fair.
HSU Ballroom (HSU 1.104-1.106,) 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 promoting access for all. UTSA, a premier public research university, fosters academic excellence through a community of dialogue, discovery and innovation that embraces the uniqueness of each voice.
