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Chapter 1

ABOUT UTSA

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Mission

The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) is the premier public institution of higher education in South Texas, with a growing national and international reputation. Renowned as an institution of access and excellence at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, UTSA is committed to research and discovery, teaching and learning, and public service. UTSA embraces the multicultural traditions of South Texas, serves as a center for intellectual and creative resources, and is a catalyst for the economic development of Texas.


History


UTSA celebrated its 35th anniversary in 2004. It was created by a mandate from the 61st Texas Legislature on June 5, 1969, to be a university of the first class offering bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees “as are customarily offered at leading American universities.” The first class of 671 graduate students was admitted in June 1973. Upper-division undergraduates were admitted in September 1975; lower-division undergraduates were admitted in June 1976. The first commencement ceremony was in August 1974. The UTSA Alumni Association was formed in 1978, and UTSA has now conferred more than 64,000 degrees to students from South Texas and around the world.

UTSA received full accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools in February 1974. UTSA’s first endowed professorship was established in 1981 in the life sciences. The first endowed chair was established in 1985 in the College of Business. The UTSA Honors Program was initiated in September 1985 and became the UTSA Honors College in Fall 2002.

UTSA now has 60 undergraduate degree programs, 42 master’s degree programs, and 16 doctoral degree programs in eight colleges. UTSA will be introducing several new programs at each level during the next few years.

Ninety-eight percent of tenured and tenure-track faculty hold a doctorate or terminal degree in their fields. Fifty-two of UTSA’s faculty members have won Fulbright Fellowships to teach and conduct research in foreign countries. UTSA is also in the top 30 percent of public universities in the state in research expenditures.

UTSA is one of the fastest-growing universities in the state. The Fall 2005 enrollment was 27,291. UTSA’s growth in bachelor’s degrees awarded to Hispanic students places it in the top five of all Hispanic-serving public universities in the continental United States.

In 1986, the Institute of Texan Cultures became a part of The University of Texas at San Antonio. The UTSA Downtown Campus opened in 1997. Space on all three campuses now totals over 3 million square feet.


Organization


UTSA is a component institution of The University of Texas System. Governance of the University is vested in the nine-member Board of Regents of The University of Texas System, whose members are appointed biennially for six-year, staggered terms by the Governor, with the advice and consent of the Senate. The Board of Regents delegates administrative authority to the Chancellor of The University of Texas System. In turn, the administrative authority of each institution, such as UTSA, is delegated to the President of that institution.

The President at UTSA is assisted by a staff including a Provost and Executive Vice President, a Vice President for Business Affairs, a Vice President for Extended Services, a Vice President for Research, a Vice President for Student Affairs, and a Vice President for University Advancement. The President’s Office also includes the Office of Legal Affairs and the Office of Institutional Diversity.

The Provost and Executive Vice President provides the President with advice and counsel on academic matters; acts as a liaison between the Office of the President and faculty committees concerned with academic affairs; and has direct responsibility for the development, administration, and quality of all academic programs, the administration of the academic budget, information technology, development and implementation of academic policy, and all matters directly affecting faculty. The Vice Provost for the UTSA Downtown Campus has the responsibility for coordinating the development and delivery of the University’s academic programs at the UTSA Downtown Campus.

The Vice President for Business Affairs provides the President with advice and counsel on fiscal affairs and has direct responsibility for the business operations of the University, including operation of the Physical Plant, University Police, General Services, Human Resources, and the Business Manager’s Office. This officer is also responsible for budget preparation and analysis and contract and grant administration.

The Vice President for Extended Services provides the President with advice and counsel on outreach and community engagement. The Vice President is responsible for extending the University beyond its campuses and into San Antonio and South Texas through public service, extension, outreach, and community education. This is accomplished through the following: the Institute for Economic Development, the Institute of Texan Cultures, the Prefreshman Engineering Program, Proyecto Access, the Office of Community Outreach, the Office of Extended Education, the Downtown Campus Special Events Office, and the UTSA Mexico Center.

The Vice President for Research is responsible for overseeing UTSA’s research support services, including review of proposals, grant recruitment, and budgeting. The Vice President also has jurisdiction over the administration of research institutes at UTSA.

The Vice President for Student Affairs is responsible for overseeing student life; financial aid; admission; registration; athletics; academic support programs; student services, including counseling and health services; and for providing advice to administrators on all aspects of student activities at UTSA.

The Vice President for University Advancement provides the President with advice and counsel for all areas of advancement; acts as a liaison between the Office of the President and University advancement and development committees; has direct responsibilities with respect to the Office of Communications; serves as an executive-level representative of the President in the community; and is responsible for the development of new plans and programs to produce and promote the University identity as a premier public university for the South Texas region. The Vice President is also directly responsible for alumni affairs with the academic colleges and coordination of the three University campuses.


UTSA Downtown Campus


The UTSA Downtown Campus began operation in 1994 with over 500 students. Today, the campus houses the College of Architecture, the College of Public Policy, and the Institute for Economic Development and has an enrollment of over 6,000 students. The campus consists of the Frio, Buena Vista, and Durango Boulevard academic buildings; an on-campus parking facility; and several adjacent parking lots. The Downtown Campus also includes the Monterey Building across the street from the campus and the Urban Loop Studio only a few blocks away.

Those who live or work in the downtown area—both traditional and nontraditional students—are drawn to the campus not only because of its easy access and location, but also for the variety of undergraduate and graduate programs offered. Programs particular to this campus attract students from all over Texas.

The full UTSA undergraduate core curriculum is offered, as well as courses leading to both bachelor’s and master’s degrees for several disciplines in business, liberal and fine arts, public policy, education, and the sciences. Many of the undergraduate courses required in transfer agreements with area community colleges and the coursework necessary to complete teaching certification programs are also offered.

The Downtown Campus also provides professional development and career advancement for learners and helps identify solutions for rapidly changing public-sector needs. Through research, the University’s faculty, staff, and students foster technology and international growth; provide research and service to support educational transformation in primary and secondary schools; conduct public policy research; foster urban-design creativity; and sponsor cultural enrichment opportunities.

Each of UTSA’s colleges offers support for students at the Downtown Campus. Staff are available to assist students with admissions and enrollment, tutoring, supplemental instruction, academic advising, and health and counseling services. The campus is equipped with a state-of-the-art student-computing center, a library, distance-learning facilities, a bookstore, a food court, and a visitor center. A student center, art gallery, recreation facility, and a professional-level theater enhance the academic experience.


UTSA Student Graduation Rate


UTSA serves undergraduate and graduate students from a wide range of backgrounds. Some undergraduate students are recent high school graduates; others are completing a degree after pursuing other goals. Some students work full time or part time and extend their education over a longer period of time, and some students enroll in classes for personal or professional enrichment but choose not to pursue a degree.

For the portion of UTSA’s students who began their first semester of attendance at UTSA in Fall 1998 as first-time freshmen enrolled full time as degree-seeking students, the graduation rate within a six-year period was 35.5 percent. This percentage includes students who transferred to another four-year college to complete their studies. This percentage is not likely to include students who may have subsequently decided to attend college part time rather than full time, extending their education over a longer time period; nor does it likely include students who later chose to become non-degree-seeking students or who transferred from UTSA to a two-year institution.

Additionally, not considered in the calculation of this graduation rate are students who initially enrolled at UTSA as part-time students; who transferred to UTSA to complete their degrees after attending elsewhere; or who attended for reasons other than to obtain a degree.


Accreditation


The University of Texas at San Antonio is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033, (404) 679-4500, to award baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral degrees. Refer to Appendix H for more information and a complete list of accredited programs.

University Governance

University Assembly

The University Assembly is a governance body that operates to support The University of Texas at San Antonio. It is a broad-based informational organization whose membership is made up of faculty, staff, undergraduate and graduate students, and administrators. The purpose of the Assembly is to propose to the President recommendations concerning subjects such as the conduct of members of the UTSA community now covered by the Campus Code of Conduct, the Statement of Student Rights, or any other issues relevant to the operation of the University as a whole that may affect its member population.

Faculty Senate

The Faculty Senate at The University of Texas at San Antonio is an academic advisory body that makes recommendations concerning academic affairs to the University President and the Provost. The Senate’s authority is in accordance with the Rules and Regulations of The University of Texas System Board of Regents. Subject to approval by the President and the Provost, the Faculty Senate provides and distributes faculty rules and procedures.

The Faculty Senate also has the authority to propose recommendations concerning issues related to academic policies; requirements for admission, graduation, honors, scholastic performance; and approval for degree candidates.

Graduate Council

The Graduate Council at The University of Texas at San Antonio is an operating unit of the Faculty Senate with representation developed independently of the Senate. The Council recommends graduate program policies and monitors their implementation across graduate programs and by the various graduate studies committees. Specific functions include developing recommendations concerning content of disciplinary and interdisciplinary programs and graduate curricula for existing graduate degrees and the establishment of new graduate degree programs; recommending and reviewing all graduate courses of instruction at UTSA; reviewing graduate programs and monitoring their quality; and recommending policies and standards for appointment of graduate students to be teaching assistants, teaching associates, research assistants, and recipients of university fellowships.

Members are elected to the Graduate Council by the members of each graduate program committee and by members of the graduate faculty of the programs’ graduate program committees. The Dean of the Graduate School and the Dean of Libraries serve as ex officio members. A student representative to the Graduate Council is elected by the members of the graduate faculty in each college.

Staff Council

The University of Texas at San Antonio’s Staff Council is an advisory organization that functions to communicate recommendations to the President which are unique to UTSA staff. The Staff Council is comprised of classified and administrative and professional staff. The President and the Board of Regents of The University of Texas System give the Staff Council the responsibility of continually promoting staff involvement in campus governance and building a sense of community. Staff Council is the consultative voice providing staff with advice on university policy and procedures, advising the University on staff nominations to various University Standing Committees, and encouraging staff development.

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