Leadership provides next steps toward integration between UTSA and UT Health San Antonio

SEPTEMBER 27, 2024 — Editor’s note: The following message was sent via email from UTSA President Taylor Eighmy and UT Health San Antonio Acting President Robert Hromas to all faculty, staff and students.

In our last update, we introduced the process to unify UTSA and UT Health San Antonio into one world class university. In that message, we also announced the launch of an integration website to serve as a resource for updates, timelines, progress and more. Today, we’re writing to share the next steps of the process.

We have established a system to share and collect input on a unified mission statement.
The Integrated Steering Committee (ISC) is currently focused on the first phase of work, which includes essential planning for our accreditation applications. To prepare for submitting our prospectus to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), an institutional accreditor for quality assurance in higher education, we’ve drafted a combined mission statement that will be reviewed through each institution’s shared governance systems. Prior to submitting the statement to SACSCOC, we must first present it to the UT System Board of Regents for approval at their next board meeting in November. Then, our new mission statement, along with other critical items, can be submitted by March 2025 to receive approval from the SACSCOC Board of Trustees at their June 2025 meeting.

The ISC is launching task forces and working groups to support our path toward integration.
The ISC has begun to stand up task forces with focused areas of responsibility. Each will be co-chaired by a leader from UTSA and UT Health San Antonio and will be comprised of colleagues from both institutions. Task forces may elect to develop working groups to support specific goals. Task force and working group membership will evolve over time, as will the membership of the ISC.

Four task forces will be formally launched this week.
The ISC has formally charged four task forces with goals and deliverables to initiate their work. Visit our website to learn more about the Communications Task Force, Brand and Marketing Task Force, SACSCOC Accreditation Task Force and Health Education Accreditation Task Force. Additional task forces will be launched in phases over the coming months.  

Your input matters and we will continue to share engagement opportunities.
We have already heard from many of you and are grateful for your ongoing ideas, questions and support. We will continue to share engagement opportunities as they become available and encourage you to keep visiting the website for the latest information.

Please remain engaged and continue your excellent work. The success of our university is not possible without you, and we look forward to continue working together on this bold path ahead.