Nov. 4, 2019 — UTSA has received a $100,000 high-impact grant from the group Impact San Antonio to launch a six-day summer orientation program for incoming and transferring students with a history of foster care. The Early Start Experience program will launch in summer 2020.
Impact San Antonio is a collective-giving, grant-making organization that empowers women to make the most of their charitable donation to impact the Greater San Antonio community and the nonprofits that serve it.
“We are so grateful to the members of Impact San Antonio for this transformational grant,” said UTSA first lady Peggy Eighmy. “Because of this new partnership, UTSA is able to provide innovative programming and an inclusive and supportive community that will ease the often stressful and challenging transition to higher education and will best position our students with a history of foster care for success at UTSA and beyond.”
Approximately 60 incoming and transfer students with a history of foster care will be served by the ESE through Impact San Antonio’s grant award. The ESE is designed to bridge the transition to college by creating a sense of community among students and connecting them with academic programs and supportive staff before the semester begins.
Peer mentoring is a central component of the program, connecting incoming students with upperclassmen and graduate students with a history of foster care who can share lived experiences of foster care and navigating college life.
The Early Start Experience will have a signficant impact on first-year retention, GPA and overall campus engagement, which has an effect on future persistence and graduation. The ESE is a critical component of UTSA’s larger inititiave to support students with a history of foster care, and will be facilitated by the university’s Fostering Educational Success Center.
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.
Join us on your lunch or 30 minute wellness break and "Lego" of your stress with fun activities like Legos, PlayDoh, coloring pages, puzzles and more!
Mesquite Room (SU 2.01.24,) Student Union, Main CampusMove In To COLFA is strongly recommended for new students in COLFA. It gives you the chance to learn about the Student Success Center, campus resources and meet new friends!
Academic Classroom: Lecture Hall (MH 2.01.10,) McKinney Humanities BldgWe 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 PlazaCome and celebrate this year's homecoming at the Downtown Campus with food, games, giveaways, music, and more. We look forward to seeing your Roadrunner Spirit!
Bill Miller PlazaThe 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.
