1. ABOUT UTSA
MISSION
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, serving as a center for intellectual and creative resources as well as a catalyst for socioeconomic development for Texas, the nation and the world.
HISTORY
UTSA 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 69,000 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 64 undergraduate degree programs, 47 master’s degree programs, and 21 doctoral degree programs in eight colleges. UTSA will be introducing several new programs at each level during the next few years.
Eighty-two percent of tenured and tenure-track faculty hold a doctorate or terminal degree in their fields. Fifty-three 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 2008 enrollment was 28,413. 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. In 2009, the Institute of Texan Cultures site was designated the UTSA HemisFair Park Campus. The UTSA Downtown Campus opened at the Cypress Tower Building in 1994, moving to its permanent site in 1997. Space on all three campuses now totals over 3 million square feet.
ORGANIZATION
UTSA is an 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 Vice President for Academic Affairs, a Vice President for Business Affairs, a Vice President for Community 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, the Office of Equal Opportunity Services, and the Office of Audit, Compliance and Risk Services.
The Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs 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 oversees the operation of the Downtown Campus. This includes coordinating the development and delivery of the University’s academic programs at the 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 Community 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, the Office of Community Outreach, the Office of Extended Education, the Downtown Campus Special Events Office, the UTSA Mexico Center, the Office of P-20 Initiatives, and the Child and Adolescent Policy Research Institute.
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 more than 500 students. Today, the campus houses the College of Architecture, the College of Public Policy, the Department of Counseling, the Department of Educational Psychology, and the Institute for Economic Development. It has an enrollment of more than 6,000 students. The Downtown Campus consists of the Frio Street, the Buena Vista Street, the Durango, and the Monterey academic buildings; an on-campus parking facility; and several adjacent parking lots.
Those who live or work in the downtown area—both traditional and nontraditional students—are drawn to the campus because of its easy access and location, and also for the variety of programs offered. Programs particular to this campus attract students from all over Texas.
The full UTSA undergraduate core curriculum is offered at the Downtown Campus, as well as a variety of courses leading to both bachelor’s and master’s degrees for several disciplines in architecture, 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. A doctoral degree in Counselor Education and Supervision is offered at the Downtown Campus.
The Downtown Campus provides professional development and career advancement for learners and helps identify solutions for rapidly changing public-sector needs. UTSA Downtown’s faculty, staff, and students 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 is available to assist students with admission 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 2001 as first-time freshmen enrolled full time as degree-seeking students, the graduation rate within a six-year period was 40 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.
The Graduate School is currently in the process of calculating and monitoring the graduation rates for the graduate population.
ACCREDITATION
The University of Texas at San Antonio is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award baccalaureate, master’s, and doctorate degrees. Contact the Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097 or call 404-679-4500 for questions about the accreditation of The University of Texas at San Antonio.
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 serves as an ex officio member. 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.