UTSA Thrive initiative continues this fall with workshops for faculty, staff and students

SEPTEMBER 21, 2023 — Last year, UTSA embarked on a process to reimagine how it defines, supports and measures student success. Led by the division of Student Success, the UTSA Thrive initiative will create a student-thriving ecosystem that looks beyond traditional student success metrics and factors in engagement, psychosocial well-being and career-readiness as equally important components of student success.

The initiative specifically aims to enhance support and advocacy for the university’s first-generation students, those who are economically disadvantaged, and students of color. These groups make up a sizeable portion of UTSA’s student body.

In the spring, the division of Student Success hosted a speaker series and focus groups for faculty, staff and students to engage the community about what it means to be student thriving at UTSA. So far, more than 1,400 students have participated in the focus groups aimed at understanding and improving the pathways to help students thrive.

“Faculty and staff play a critical role in how students thrive, and our goal is to continue to provide training and professional development.”

This year, the Student Success team will engage university leaders, faculty and staff in discussions and action planning to address opportunities that can enhance UTSA Thrive. To facilitate this process, faculty, staff and student employees are invited to attend a series of workshops this fall.

On Thursday, September 21, UTSA will host a workshop titled “Disrupting Burnout” at 1 p.m. and again at 2:30 p.m. in the John Peace Library Assembly Room (JPL 4.04.22). The workshops will be facilitated by Patrice Buckner Jackson, Ed.D., an educator, public speaker and executive coach who teaches strategies for accomplishing purposeful work without burnout.

A second workshop on Wednesday, October 4, will focus on the concept of “servingness” at an Hispanic Serving Institution. The third workshop on Wednesday, November 1, will focus on how UTSA can help sophomore students thrive as they transition from their first to second year in college.

“Faculty and staff play a critical role in how students thrive, and our goal is to continue to provide training and professional development aimed at cultivating a student-thriving ecosystem at UTSA,” said Amy Buechler-Steubing, UTSA’s assistant vice provost for strategic initiatives and learning innovation.

— KC Gonzalez