University of Texas at San Antonio
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The University of Texas at San Antonio |
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| Motto | Disciplina Praesidium Civitatis (A Cultivated mind is the guardian genius of democracy) |
| Established | June 5, 1969 |
| Type | Public university |
| Endowment | $46.6 million (Dec. 31, 2006) |
| President | Ricardo Romo |
| Undergraduates | 28,520 |
| Postgraduates | 3,448 |
| Location | San Antonio, Texas, USA |
| Campus | Suburban, 600 acres (2.4 km²) |
| Colors | Orange, white, and blue |
| Mascot | Roadrunner |
| Website | www.utsa.edu |
The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) is San Antonio’s largest public university and currently the second largest university in the University of Texas System. It currently holds the 5th largest enrollment in the state of Texas.
The main campus is situated on 600 acres (2.4 km²,) at the intersection of Interstate 10 and Loop 1604 near the northern edge of San Antonio, Texas in Bexar County. The university is also one of the UT System's fastest growing schools, maintaining a 12.04% increase in enrollment during 2001-2003.
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[edit] History
The University of Texas at San Antonio was founded on June 5, 1969 by Governor Preston Smith. UTSA now offers access and opportunity for more than 28,500 students, as mandated by the UT Board of Regents. UTSA has come a long way in just 35 years. Administrative offices for the first UTSA president, Arleigh B. Templeton, were set up in 1970 in HemisFair Park, and architects Ford, Powell and Carson Inc. began developing a conceptual master plan for the campus.
[edit] 1970s and 1980s
In 1973 Peter T. Flawn was appointed UTSA's second president. By this time, more than 670 students had enrolled in graduate level courses taught by 52 faculty members.
UTSA's earliest students attended college at the Koger Center, an office park. Master's degrees were offered in business administration, education, bicultural-bilingual studies, English as a second language, environmental management, Spanish, biology, mathematics and systems design. Thirty-eight degree programs were approved for the school.
In 1973 construction began on UTSA's original campus, now known as the 1604 Campus, on a 600-acre tract in the rolling foothills of San Antonio's northwest side. As enrollment grew, five colleges—Business, Fine and Applied Arts, Sciences and Mathematics, Humanities and Social Sciences, and Multidisciplinary Studies—opened in 1975. In 1976 the John Peace Library Building, which also served as the new administration building, opened. James W. Wagener was named UTSA president in 1978.
In the 1980s four new colleges were put in place and new undergraduate programs were offered in civil, mechanical and electrical engineering. Later in the decade, the College of Sciences and Mathematics was reorganized to form the College of Sciences and Engineering. Also, UTSA's athletics teams began competing as San Antonio's only NCAA Division I sports program.
More than 12,000 students enrolled at UTSA in this era. A recital hall, university center and the first on-campus residence—Chisholm Hall—opened. The Institute of Texan Cultures also became a part of UTSA during this period.
[edit] 1990s
Samuel A. Kirkpatrick became the fourth UTSA president in 1990. UTSA began offering classes downtown in the Institute of Texan Cultures, and as enrollment increased, the university began looking for a new location. Bill Miller Bar-B-Q Enterprises purchased the Fiesta Plaza site for the new campus. The Texas Legislature-funded South Texas Border Initiative (which provided $352.4 million for new educational programs and buildings at 19 universities in the South Texas border region) allocated $71.5 million to UTSA, with $20 million stipulated for the Downtown Campus.
The 11-acre Downtown Campus was dedicated in fall of 1997 and now has four academic buildings. A growing number of undergraduate and graduate degrees can be completed on-site at the Downtown Campus. Other facilities constructed or opened during the 1990s included the Engineering-Biosciences Building, Business Building, a campus visitor center, and a computer lab. The student-centered University Center has tripled its original size.
[edit] 2000s
Ricardo Romo became UTSA's fifth president in 1999 and was the first Hispanic president in the university's 30-year history. Academic reorganization the following year included a move to six colleges—Business, Education and Human Development, Engineering, Liberal and Fine Arts, Sciences, and Public Policy. A School of Architecture, Honors College and The Graduate School were subsequently developed.
New construction and additions to the campuses recently completed include the Downtown Campus Durango Annex, home of the UTSA Institute for Economic Development; a $19.3-million Recreation and Wellness Center and Child Development Center; the Main Building, a $52 million facility located just east of the John Peace Library Building on the 1604 Campus; and a $23 million Margaret Batts Tobin Laboratory Building that will be used to study emerging infectious diseases.
Completion of UTSA's $83.7 million Biotechnology, Sciences and Engineering Building occurred in early 2006. Chaparral Village, a $45 million, 1,000-bed student housing project, opened in the Fall of 2004. The complex, one of the UT System's largest residence halls, includes several three-story buildings with two and four-bedroom units and a dining facility.
[edit] Academics
UTSA offers 62 Bachelor's degrees, 43 Master's degrees and 19 doctorate degrees with several other doctoral programs being developed. UTSA currently has eight colleges including:
- Business
- Education and Human Development
- Engineering
- Honors College
- Liberal and Fine Arts
- Public Policy
- Architecture
- Sciences
All programs are fully accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
[edit] Research initiatives
In addition to the educational advantages UTSA offers, its economic impact directly and indirectly produces more than $1 billion in annual business activity in Texas, including more than 6,500 jobs and $200 million in personal income. Purchases by UTSA in FY 2004 totaled more than $30.8 million, with $6.5 million or 21 percent designated or obtained from historically underutilized business (HUB) vendors. The university currently has 7,000 employees.
UTSA has a goal to become a tier one institution (which recognizes at least 20 doctoral degrees a year in at least three disciplines) by 2007 and a doctoral/research extensive institution (at least 50 doctoral degrees a year in at least 15 disciplines) by 2015. As the premier doctoral/research university of South Texas and as a Hispanic-serving institution, UTSA will continue to provide educational opportunities for the underrepresented population of the region at the highest level of excellence.
[edit] Athletics
UTSA is San Antonio's only NCAA Division 1 institution with 16 intercollegiate sports including basketball, cross country, golf, indoor track & field, men’s baseball, outdoor track and field, tennis, women’s soccer, women’s softball, and women’s volleyball. UTSA's rival in most sports is considered to be Texas State.
The sport that attracts the most student attention is men's basketball. The UTSA team plays at the Convocation Center and is a member of the Southland Conference.
UTSA is one of the largest universities in the United States without a football team. However, The Paisano, reports that UTSA is currently in the process of expanding the athletics department. Creating a football team and building a sports complex are key possibilities currently being investigated.[1]
[edit] Spirit and tradition
[edit] Alma mater
Lyrics by Alan Craven, former dean and professor of COLFA. Music by Clarence Stuessy, retired professor and former chair of Department of Music.
"Hail UTSA"
- From our hills of oak and cedar
- To the Alamo,
- Voices raised will echo
- As, in song, our praises flow.
- Hail Alma Mater!
- Through the years our loyalty will grow.
- The University of Texas at San Antonio.
[edit] School colors and mascot
The official colors of The University of Texas System are orange and white. Upon recommendation from the UTSA Student Representative Assembly, the Board of Regents approved the addition of navy to the orange and white for UTSA's school colors. The colors however will soon be changed to a darker blue and a brighter orange than it is currently.
The roadrunner, a bird representative of the Texas Hill Country and the Southwest, was voted the UTSA mascot in 1977. "Rowdy the Roadrunner" attends many university functions and games.
[edit] Roadrunner Camp
Roadrunner Camp is a two-day leadership and social retreat for entering freshman held the week before the fall semester begins. Students sign up for camp during their Roadrunner Roundup Program. Started in 1993, Roadrunner Camp is designed to give new freshman an opportunity to socialize and learn about different leadership topics before the fall semester begins. At camp, students learn more about UTSA and socialize with other entering freshman. The camp has grown from 65 students in 1993 to over 250 students as of February 2007.
[edit] BestFest and Fiesta UTSA
BestFest and Fiesta UTSA, were started by Student Government in the early 1980s and continue under the organization of the Campus Activities Board (CAB). Both feature dozens of booths set up under the Sombrilla in a carnival atmosphere. The booths are run by Registered Student Organizations and feature food, drinks and games. CAB sponsors bands and other musicians throughout the day.
BestFest, in October, is UTSA’s answer to Wurstfest. It incorporates a Halloween theme with costume and booth-decorating contests. Fiesta UTSA is the kickoff event for Fiesta San Antonio each spring. The Fiesta royalty are present at the ribbon-cutting ceremony that marks the official beginning of Fiesta.
[edit] Housing
UTSA offers three selections for on-campus housing:
- Chaparral Village: Newly built apartment-like complex with 2- or 4-bedroom configurations, housing 1,000 students. Amenities include paid utilities and broadband internet access. Four "Neighborhood Centers" provide laundry and dishwashing appliances, pool/ping pong tables, and large widescreen televisions.
- Chisholm Hall: The oldest housing facility on campus, a 4-story building with traditional dorm-style housing. It offers some of the largest residence hall rooms in a Texas public university, with rooms in 1- and 2-person configurations. The recently remodeled lounge area includes a large projection television.
- University Oaks: Apartments with 1-, 2- and 4-bedroom configurations.
- Laurel Village: The university broke ground on this apartment-style residence hall in late December 2006. It is scheduled to open in mid-May 2008.
There are also many apartment complexes within walking distance of the campus: the newly opened Outpost apartments, the Maverick Creek Villas, Chase Hill Apartments, Las Colinas apartments, Alpin Apartments, Bluebonnet, The Reserve (opening Fall 2007) and many others.
[edit] Food services and vending
UTSA features a monopoly of Pepsi products in the numerous vending machines around campus. Food services are provided by Chartwells USA which operates three cafeterias, a Subway restaurant and a Starbucks on campus. The recently added Roadrunner Cafe is an all-you-can-eat buffet and features original artwork by current UTSA President Ricardo Romo. In the Fall of 2006, Einstein Bros. Bagels arrived on campus.
[edit] Additional campuses
UTSA also features an 11 acre (45,000 m²) campus located in downtown San Antonio that houses a variety of available classes, including an architecture program. The Institute of Texan Cultures stands as the third branch of UTSA, holding one of the most complete libraries on Hispanic culture.
[edit] Expansion and growth
As the university recently completed the Biotechnology, Sciences and Engineering building, expansion efforts are now on building the 680-room Laurel Village housing complex, expanding the Recreation Center, and constructing a new power facility that will serve a dual purpose of hosting a parking garage as well. An expansion to the University Center is also underway, which will feature a student organization complex with a new Student Activities office, a ballroom to accommodate 650 people and seven meeting rooms to accommodate 50-150 people each. Student Activities will then take over the existing space and bring in new vendors to transform the building into retail space, including a bank, dry cleaners, post office and hair salon.[2] The recreation center expansion will host new outdoor and indoor gyms, as well as a "lazy river" tubing experience for students.
The library is undergoing design renovations and another engineering building is expected to begin construction in the next few years that will house more laboratories for researchers. UTSA has also entered into a contract to purchase 125 acres of land near the 1604 campus, part of which will be used for a new athletics complex.[3][4]
[edit] Future outlook
In terms of long-term growth, UTSA has developed a master plan into 2030 for expanding the 1604 campus with several other new academic and research buildings, sports complexes, and additional student housing. The estimated cost of these long-term projects is $1.6 billion.[5] One of the larger plans is an entire east campus to be added, which will provide housing for engineering and science students, along with having more research labs. There is also student interest in developing a radio station.
A feasibility report was recently completed that discussed future plans for UTSA to compete in Division 1A football, the possibility of changing to another conference division for sports competition, and to further expand the university's athletic program.[1]
[edit] Student activities
At the heart of student life are 180 student organizations that represent a diverse array of interests: cultural, honorary, military, political, professional, religious, service, social Greek, special interest, and sports and recreation.
Among the most active groups are the sponsored organizations that receive funding from the University Student Services fee:
- Campus Activities Board (CAB)
- Greek Life
- Student Government Association (SGA)
- Volunteer Organization Involving Community Education and Service (VOICES)
[edit] The Paisano
UTSA also hosts a nationally recognized weekly newspaper, The Paisano. It has remained fully independent of the administration since its inception in 1981. The newspaper is published weekly every Tuesday.
[edit] Campus life
With the addition of more on-campus housing in recent years, campus life has evolved to become much more active. Before basketball games, tail-gate parties and body painting in the school's colors are common. There are many traditions as well, including Best Fest and Fiesta UTSA, both are events for students organizations to raise funds will providing entertainment and food to the student body.
A small percentage of incoming freshmen are in the CAP program, an agreement which allows students who are not initially accepted into UT - Austin to choose to come to UTSA. If they maintain a certain GPA and restrict themselves to taking specific classes, they will be granted admission to UT. The program is also in effect at other UT system schools, including UT–Arlington, and continues to draw more and more students every year. The CAP program has become more controversial as more freshmen are enrolled. Most freshmen, however get lured into the ways of college life and remain at UTSA. UTSA officials have stated that only about 30% of those in the CAP program end up at UT - Austin the following school year. Despite this, however, many students are opting to stay at UTSA, as the university has been recognized for its growing research and business programs.
[edit] Notable alumni
- George Antuna - Former Republican candidate for the State House of Representatives
- Bruce Bowen - NBA player for the San Antonio Spurs
- Devin Brown - NBA player for the New Orleans Hornets
- Jeff Clarke - Dell Product Group Senior Vice President
- Dayna Devon - Journalist and co-host of the infotainment show Extra
- Johan Edfors - Professional golfer
- Derrick Gervin - Former NBA player (brother of George Gervin)
- Arlen Glenewinkel Jr. - Vice President and Controller of Tesoro
- Rolando Gomez - Professional photographer
- George Muller - Vice President of Imperial Sugar
- Mario Marcel Salas - African American civil rights leader
[edit] Notable faculty and staff
- Norma Elia Cantú - Author and professor of English
- Peter Tyrrell Flawn - Former UTSA President
- Steven G. Kellman - Author and professor of English
- Que McMaster - Former Track and Field Coach
- Mark Olberding - Former NBA Player and UTSA basketball coach
- Zorica Pantic-Tanner - Former dean of the College of Engineering
- Darhyl S. Ramsey - Author and former professor
- Tomás Rivera - Chicano author (d. 1984)
- Ricardo Romo - UTSA President and respected photographer
- David J. Schneider - Psychologist and former professor
- Nevil Shed - Student Program Coordinator at the UTSA University Center and former NBA player. Played for the 1966 Texas Western Miners who's story was made into the movie Glory Road.
- Brooks Thompson - Former NBA Player and current UTSA head basketball coach
- Lynda de la Vina - Former Deputy Assistant Secretary for Economic Policy
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ a b Pigskin Pursuit, The Paisano, October 23, 2006.
- ^ Construction to bring new amenities on campus, The Paisano, September 4, 2006.
- ^ UTSA to buy 125 acres near 1604 Campus, The University of Texas at San Antonio, November 17, 2006.
- ^ New sports complex to be added on land purchase, The Paisano, February 13, 2007.
- ^ 2004 UTSA 1604 Campus Master Plan, The University of Texas at San Antonio, Last retrieved January 29, 2007.
[edit] External links
- The University of Texas at San Antonio
- UTSA Master Plan
- UTSA Athletics
- Volunteer Organization Involving Community Education and Service (VOICES)
- Google Maps satellite view of UTSA
- Google Earth image overlay of UTSA's master plan into the year 2030. Requires Google Earth
| Southland Conference |
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| Central Arkansas • Lamar • McNeese State • Nicholls State • Northwestern State • Sam Houston State • Southeastern Louisiana • Stephen F. Austin • Texas–Arlington • Texas–San Antonio • Texas A&M–Corpus Christi • Texas State |
