Rowdy posed under the Texas Capitol Rotunda as students, faculty and staff from UTSA and UT Health San Antonio visited with state lawmakers.
FEBRUARY 6, 2025 — This week, UTSA and UT Health San Antonio celebrated their role as drivers of research, health care and workforce development for Texas with a day of activities at the Capitol in Austin.
Students, faculty and staff from both universities traveled up Interstate 35 for UTSA and UT Health San Antonio Day at the Capitol, a full day of events designed to highlight the two institutions’ research and student success initiatives with state lawmakers.
The forthcoming merger of UTSA and UT Health San Antonio will create the state’s third largest research university, a theme woven throughout the day.
“Day at the Capitol helped not only remind legislative members of the amazing work in AI, cyber, space and biomedical research being conducted at UTSA but also the exceptional research in Alzheimer’s, dementia and cancer treatments being conducted by the comprehensive medical school at UT Health,” said Jason Hassay, UTSA associate vice president for government relations.
“The event allowed us to share how the merger of our two premier institutions, arguably represents the largest academic merger in the U.S., will have massive implications for Texas and the nation,” added Pete Arguello, UT Health San Antonio senior director for governmental relations.
Participants kicked off the day by attending the presentation of a Senate resolution — with a second from the House occurring later in the day — commemorating the institutions’ accomplishments and bright future.
At midday, performers from the UTSA School of Music entertained Capitol staff and visitors with mini concerts in the capitol Rotunda and Extension Open-Air Rotunda. Performing groups included the Clarinet Choir and Mariachi Los Paisanos.
Students and university leaders met with State Senator José Menéndez during legislative office visits.
Students, staff and leadership covered the Texas Capitol end-to-end in the afternoon, visiting all 181 legislative offices in addition to the House Speaker, Lieutenant Governor, and Governor’s offices. They shared background materials describing the groundbreaking discoveries and initiatives taking place at UTSA and UT Health San Antonio.
Another of the day’s highlights was a research showcase, where legislative members and their staff enjoyed displays and demonstrations illustrating the innovations underway at both institutions. Booths featured rockets, hypersonics, regenerative biology, artificial intelligence, health and disease, trauma care and secure manufacturing.
The day concluded with a reception for the state’s elected leaders, legislative staffers, Austin-area alumni and higher education stakeholders to celebrate UTSA and UT Health San Antonio’s many accomplishments and exciting future.
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Students, faculty and staff are invited to join UTSA's delegation at the annual César E. Chávez March for Justice in downtown San Antonio. Free transportation will be provided from the Main and Downtown Campuses, and all university community participants will receive a complimentary commemorative t-shirt (while supplies last)
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Virtual Event ( Zoom)The 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.
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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.
