University of Texas at San Antonio
Encyclopedia
The University of Texas at San Antonio, commonly referred to as UTSA, is a state university
in San Antonio, Texas
. With an enrollment of more than 30,000 students, it is the third-largest of nine universities and six health institutions in the University of Texas System
and the eighth-largest in Texas
.
The university serves the San Antonio metropolitan area and the South Texas
region through three campuses: Main Campus, Downtown Campus in Downtown San Antonio
, and Hemisfair Park Campus (Institute of Texan Cultures). The Main Campus is 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 of Texas at San Antonio offers 133 undergraduate, 49 graduate
and 22 doctoral programs.
. In 1970, the University of Texas Board of Regents appointed the university's first president, Arleigh B. Templeton, who served from 1970 to 1972, and received a land donation of 600 acres (2.4 km²) in northwest San Antonio for the site of UTSA. Architects Ford, Powell and Carson Inc. were assigned to design a master plan for the university. Although the university was established in 1970, students temporarily attended class at the Koger Center, which also housed administrative offices until 1975, when construction on the northwest San Antonio campus was completed. UTSA began with five colleges: Business, Fine and Applied Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, Multidisciplinary Studies and Science and Mathematics.
All programs are fully accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
, and the UTSA College of Business is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business
.
The College of Business is the largest business school in The University of Texas System and is nationally ranked by Princeton Review, BusinessWeek and HispanicBusiness.
The College of Liberal and Fine Arts, which has the highest enrollment at UTSA, ranks second in the UT System for external research funding in arts, humanities and social sciences.
More than 50 percent of Honors College graduates have been accepted into postgraduate universities and medical and professional schools
The College of Sciences collaborates with other leading research institutions such as Southwest Research Institute. Since 2005, UTSA and Southwest Research Institute have maintained a joint doctoral program focusing on space physics.
The College of Public Policy's Center for Policy Studies is in the top five certifying institutions in the U.S. for American Humanics, a program that brings together universities, nonprofit organizations and community partners to prepare professionals to lead nonprofit organizations.
The College of Architecture ranks first in the nation in awarding degrees to Hispanic students, according to The Hispanic Outlook in Higher Education magazine.
In a 2007 study released by Academic Analytics, UTSA was ranked fifth for faculty scholarly productivity among other large research universities in the state of Texas.
Proposition 4 was passed by Texas voters in November 2009. This piece of legislation named 7 emerging research universities in Texas that could compete for additional state funds in an effort to increase the number of tier 1 institutions in Texas. Factors such as research expenditure, graduate degrees awarded, and scholarly productivity all play a part in which schools receive the most funding.
The school reached a new record of $48.6 million for research expenditures in fiscal year 2010. This represents a five-year increase of 50.5 percent.
UTSA is second in The UT System for research funding in biology, social sciences, arts and humanities, microelectronics and computer technology.
Division I institution with 16 intercollegiate sports including basketball
, cross country
, golf
, indoor track & field, men's baseball
, outdoor track and field, tennis
, fencing
, women's soccer, women’s softball
, and women's volleyball
. UTSA's rival in most sports is Texas State. UTSA's Basketball Team lost to Division II Tarleton State University in 2011.
In September 2007, students passed a referendum to increase funding for the athletic department by doubling the athletics fee over a five-year period. The additional funding allows renovations of existing athletics facilities, increased institutional support of existing intercollegiate sports programs, and an expansion of the athletics program with the addition of a Division I FBS football team, playing at the Alamodome
, by 2011. The plan was approved by the University of Texas System
board of regents in December 2008.
Music by Clarence ("Joe") Stuessy, retired professor and former chair of Department of Music.
"Hail UTSA"
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.
On March 1, 2008, UTSA Athletics unveiled it new logos during the Homecoming Game against Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi
. The athletic markings were changed due to noticeable similarities to the University of Kansas
Jayhawk
.
each spring, having been added to the official Fiesta San Antonio schedule in 1980. The Fiesta royalty are present at the ribbon-cutting ceremony that marks the official beginning of Fiesta.
Best Fest, an annual celebration held in October, began in 1978 (as "Bestfest") as "a special salute to five of the state's outstanding festivals," including New Braunfels's Wurstfest, Corpus Christi's Buccaneer Days, San Antonio's Fiesta
, the Texas State Fair in Dallas, and George Washington's Birthday Celebration in Laredo. It was presented by the student organization Variety 79. In 1979, the event was said to be "a salute to five of the city's outstanding festivals: Fiesta Navidena, King William Fair, La Feria del Rio, the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo, and the Texas Folklife Festival
." In the late 1970s, Best Fest included performances by the UTSA Brass Ensemble and UTSA Jazz Ensemble, several contests such as the jalapeño eating contest, egg toss, "Walking the Plank Contest," "Pee Wee Bicycle Races," and others. The modern Best Fest incorporates a Halloween theme with costume and booth-decorating contests.
A new $40 million dormitory to house 618 students is scheduled to open in August 2013. It is situated next to the Chaparral dorms.
More than 8,000 students live off-campus within walking distance of campus. These student housing complexes include:
Alpin Park, Aspen Heights, Avalon Place, Broadstone Ranch, Campus Side, Chase Hill, The Grove, High View Place, Highlands, Hill Country Place, Las Colinas, Madera, Maverick Creek, The Outpost, Villas at Babcock, and The Reserve.
UTSA also features an 11 acre (45,000 m2) campus located in downtown San Antonio
. Called the UTSA Downtown Campus, it houses the College of Public Policy and the College of Architecture. The UTSA HemisFair Park Campus stands as the third branch of UTSA, holding the Institute of Texan Cultures
museum.
A new bus-rapid transit line, VIA Primo
, is scheduled to open in 2012. This will allow students to quickly commute between the UTSA Main Campus and the UTSA Downtown Campus. A streetcar is also planned that will connect the UTSA Downtown Campus to the HemisFair Park Campus.
UTSA has also purchased 125 acre (0.5058575 km²) of land near the Main Campus in 2007. This land was named Park West in 2009 and became part of the school's Main Campus. The school has plans for more than $150 million in new athletic facilities at Park West.
The $83 million Applied Engineering and Technology building opened in 2009.
The school underwent an extensive remodel in 2009 of older buildings including the JPL, HSS, and MS buildings. North Paseo Building, a $15 million office building, will house ROTC operations when it opens October 2011. A new ceramics studio broke ground in 2009 and two adjacent science buildings underwent $24 million in renovations.
East Parking Garage, a $30 million 5-level parking garage, is planned to open July 2012. It will also include a coffee shop, apparel shop, and office space.
Dining services at UTSA also expanded in 2008 continuing through 2011. New additions include two Starbucks, Panda Express, Taco Cabana, Burger King, and Chili's Too. Other new services on-campus include a hair salon, technology store, UPS store, and DVD rental kiosks.
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:
.
It has remained fully independent of the administration since its inception in 1981. The newspaper is published weekly every Tuesday.
They offer opportunities in STEM outreach, host guest speakers, and compete in independent engineering competitions. Any student at UTSA's College of Engineering is considered a member and has a voice, but voting privileges is limited to 2 representatives from any engineering organization.
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. 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.
San Antonio is known for its tourist spots. In addition to research facilities, tourism along with congenial weather/temperatures play important roles in attracting many students.
State university system
A state university system in the United States is a group of public universities supported by an individual state, or a similar entity such as the District of Columbia. These systems constitute the majority of public-funded universities in the country...
in San Antonio, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
. With an enrollment of more than 30,000 students, it is the third-largest of nine universities and six health institutions in the University of Texas System
University of Texas System
The University of Texas System encompasses 15 educational institutions in Texas, of which nine are academic universities and six are health institutions. The system is headquartered in Austin and has a total enrollment of over 190,000 students...
and the eighth-largest in Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
.
The university serves the San Antonio metropolitan area and the South Texas
South Texas
South Texas is a region of the U.S. state of Texas that lies roughly south of and including San Antonio. The southern and western boundary is the Rio Grande River, and to the east it is the Gulf of Mexico. The population of this region is about 3.7 million. The southern portion of this region is...
region through three campuses: Main Campus, Downtown Campus in Downtown San Antonio
Downtown San Antonio
Downtown San Antonio is the central business district of San Antonio, Texas, United States.Downtown is encircled by three numerical freeways, I-35, I-37, and I-10...
, and Hemisfair Park Campus (Institute of Texan Cultures). The Main Campus is on 600 acres (2.4 km2), at the intersection of Interstate 10
Interstate 10
Interstate 10 is the fourth-longest Interstate Highway in the United States, after I-90, I-80, and I-40. It is the southernmost east–west, coast-to-coast Interstate Highway, although I-4 and I-8 are further south. It stretches from the Pacific Ocean at State Route 1 in Santa Monica,...
and Loop 1604 near the northern edge of San Antonio, Texas, in Bexar County
Bexar County, Texas
As of the census of 2000, there were 1,392,931 people, 488,942 households, and 345,681 families residing in the county. The population density was 1,117 people per square mile . There were 521,359 housing units at an average density of 418 per square mile...
.
The University of Texas at San Antonio offers 133 undergraduate, 49 graduate
Graduate school
A graduate school is a school that awards advanced academic degrees with the general requirement that students must have earned a previous undergraduate degree...
and 22 doctoral programs.
History
The University of Texas at San Antonio was founded on June 5, 1969 by Governor Preston SmithPreston Smith (Texas)
Preston Earnest Smith was the 40th Governor of Texas from 1969 to 1973, who earlier served as the lieutenant governor from 1963 to 1969.-Early life:...
. In 1970, the University of Texas Board of Regents appointed the university's first president, Arleigh B. Templeton, who served from 1970 to 1972, and received a land donation of 600 acres (2.4 km²) in northwest San Antonio for the site of UTSA. Architects Ford, Powell and Carson Inc. were assigned to design a master plan for the university. Although the university was established in 1970, students temporarily attended class at the Koger Center, which also housed administrative offices until 1975, when construction on the northwest San Antonio campus was completed. UTSA began with five colleges: Business, Fine and Applied Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, Multidisciplinary Studies and Science and Mathematics.
Academics
The University of Texas at San Antonio comprises the following colleges:- College of Business
- College of Education and Human Development
- College of EngineeringUniversity of Texas at San Antonio College of EngineeringThe University of Texas at San Antonio College of Engineering hosts undergraduate degrees in the fields of Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Computer Engineering, and Civil Engineering...
- Honors College
- College of Liberal and Fine ArtsUniversity of Texas at San Antonio College of Liberal and Fine ArtsThe University of Texas at San Antonio College of Liberal and Fine Arts is UTSA's largest college. It offers degrees through its 11 departments, administering 33% of all UTSA credit hours.-Anthropology:...
- College of Public Policy
- College of Architecture
- College of SciencesUniversity of Texas at San Antonio College of SciencesThe College of Sciences at the University of Texas at San Antonio is a fast-growing college in research and science education. The college hosts more than 5000 students enrolled in twelve undergraduate and fourteen graduate programs...
All programs are fully accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools is one of the six regional accreditation organizations recognized by the United States Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation...
, and the UTSA College of Business is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business
Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business
The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business was founded in 1916 to accredit schools of business worldwide. The first accreditations took place in 1919. The stated mission is to advance quality management education worldwide through accreditation and thought leadership. It is regarded...
.
The College of Business is the largest business school in The University of Texas System and is nationally ranked by Princeton Review, BusinessWeek and HispanicBusiness.
The College of Liberal and Fine Arts, which has the highest enrollment at UTSA, ranks second in the UT System for external research funding in arts, humanities and social sciences.
More than 50 percent of Honors College graduates have been accepted into postgraduate universities and medical and professional schools
The College of Sciences collaborates with other leading research institutions such as Southwest Research Institute. Since 2005, UTSA and Southwest Research Institute have maintained a joint doctoral program focusing on space physics.
The College of Public Policy's Center for Policy Studies is in the top five certifying institutions in the U.S. for American Humanics, a program that brings together universities, nonprofit organizations and community partners to prepare professionals to lead nonprofit organizations.
The College of Architecture ranks first in the nation in awarding degrees to Hispanic students, according to The Hispanic Outlook in Higher Education magazine.
Research initiatives
In addition to the educational advantages UTSA offers, the school generates more than $1.2 billion in annual business revenue in San Antonio and directly employs more than 5,000 people.In a 2007 study released by Academic Analytics, UTSA was ranked fifth for faculty scholarly productivity among other large research universities in the state of Texas.
Proposition 4 was passed by Texas voters in November 2009. This piece of legislation named 7 emerging research universities in Texas that could compete for additional state funds in an effort to increase the number of tier 1 institutions in Texas. Factors such as research expenditure, graduate degrees awarded, and scholarly productivity all play a part in which schools receive the most funding.
The school reached a new record of $48.6 million for research expenditures in fiscal year 2010. This represents a five-year increase of 50.5 percent.
UTSA is second in The UT System for research funding in biology, social sciences, arts and humanities, microelectronics and computer technology.
Athletics
UTSA is San Antonio's only NCAANational Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
Division I institution with 16 intercollegiate sports including basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
, cross country
Cross country running
Cross country running is a sport in which people run a race on open-air courses over natural terrain. The course, typically long, may include surfaces of grass and earth, pass through woodlands and open country, and include hills, flat ground and sometimes gravel road...
, golf
Golf
Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
, indoor track & field, men's baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
, outdoor track and field, tennis
Tennis
Tennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
, fencing
Fencing
Fencing, which is also known as modern fencing to distinguish it from historical fencing, is a family of combat sports using bladed weapons.Fencing is one of four sports which have been featured at every one of the modern Olympic Games...
, women's soccer, women’s softball
Softball
Softball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of 10 to 14 players. It is a direct descendant of baseball although there are some key differences: softballs are larger than baseballs, and the pitches are thrown underhand rather than overhand...
, and women's volleyball
Volleyball
Volleyball is a team sport in which two teams of six players are separated by a net. Each team tries to score points by grounding a ball on the other team's court under organized rules.The complete rules are extensive...
. UTSA's rival in most sports is Texas State. UTSA's Basketball Team lost to Division II Tarleton State University in 2011.
In September 2007, students passed a referendum to increase funding for the athletic department by doubling the athletics fee over a five-year period. The additional funding allows renovations of existing athletics facilities, increased institutional support of existing intercollegiate sports programs, and an expansion of the athletics program with the addition of a Division I FBS football team, playing at the Alamodome
Alamodome
The Alamodome is a domed 65,000 seat, multi-purpose facility that is primarily used as a football/basketball stadium and convention center in San Antonio, Texas, U.S...
, by 2011. The plan was approved by the University of Texas System
University of Texas System
The University of Texas System encompasses 15 educational institutions in Texas, of which nine are academic universities and six are health institutions. The system is headquartered in Austin and has a total enrollment of over 190,000 students...
board of regents in December 2008.
Alma mater
Lyrics by Alan Craven, former dean and professor of COLFA.Music by Clarence ("Joe") 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
- San Antonio.
School Colors and Mascot
The official colors of The University of Texas System are orange and white and, according to Board of Regents Rules and Regulations, "an institution may adopt one additional color to be used in connection with athletic and other activities of the institution." 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 roadrunner
Greater Roadrunner
The Greater Roadrunner, taxonomically classified as Geococcyx californianus, meaning "Californian Earth-cuckoo," is a long-legged bird in the cuckoo family, Cuculidae. Along with the Lesser Roadrunner, it is one of two species in the roadrunner genus Geococcyx...
, a bird representative of the Texas Hill Country and the Southwest, was voted the UTSA mascot
Mascot
The term mascot – defined as a term for any person, animal, or object thought to bring luck – colloquially includes anything used to represent a group with a common public identity, such as a school, professional sports team, society, military unit, or brand name...
in 1977. "Rowdy the Roadrunner
Rowdy (mascot)
Rowdy the Roadrunner is the mascot of the University of Texas at San Antonio Roadrunners, appearing as a supporter of athletics and other university sponsored events. The roadrunner was adopted as the official mascot in 1977 as a write-in option...
" attends many university functions and games.
On March 1, 2008, UTSA Athletics unveiled it new logos during the Homecoming Game against Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi
Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi
Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi is a state university located in Corpus Christi, Texas, United States, on Ward Island in Oso Bay. The university is part of the Texas A&M University System...
. The athletic markings were changed due to noticeable similarities to the University of Kansas
University of Kansas
The University of Kansas is a public research university and the largest university in the state of Kansas. KU campuses are located in Lawrence, Wichita, Overland Park, and Kansas City, Kansas with the main campus being located in Lawrence on Mount Oread, the highest point in Lawrence. The...
Jayhawk
Baby Jay
Baby Jay is one of the mascots of the University of Kansas's sports teams. She and fellow mascot Big Jay are Jayhawks. Baby Jay was created by student Amy Sue Hurst and "hatched" at half-time of KU's Homecoming victory in football over Kansas State University on October 9, 1971, and has served as a...
.
Best Fest and Fiesta UTSA
Fiesta UTSA, an annual event held in April, began in 1978. The first Fiesta UTSA was attended by over 1,000 students and included music, a jalapeño eating contest, a watermelon spitting contest, a dunk tank, and other activities. Fiesta UTSA features dozens of booths set up under the Sombrilla in a carnival atmosphere. The booths are run by Registered Student Organizations and offer food, drinks and games. The Campus Activities Board sponsors bands and other musicians throughout the day. Fiesta UTSA became the kickoff event for Fiesta San AntonioFiesta San Antonio
"Fiesta San Antonio" is an annual spring festival held in San Antonio, Texas with origins dating to the late 19th century. The festival began as a single event to honor the memory of the battles of The Alamo and San Jacinto....
each spring, having been added to the official Fiesta San Antonio schedule in 1980. The Fiesta royalty are present at the ribbon-cutting ceremony that marks the official beginning of Fiesta.
Best Fest, an annual celebration held in October, began in 1978 (as "Bestfest") as "a special salute to five of the state's outstanding festivals," including New Braunfels's Wurstfest, Corpus Christi's Buccaneer Days, San Antonio's Fiesta
Fiesta San Antonio
"Fiesta San Antonio" is an annual spring festival held in San Antonio, Texas with origins dating to the late 19th century. The festival began as a single event to honor the memory of the battles of The Alamo and San Jacinto....
, the Texas State Fair in Dallas, and George Washington's Birthday Celebration in Laredo. It was presented by the student organization Variety 79. In 1979, the event was said to be "a salute to five of the city's outstanding festivals: Fiesta Navidena, King William Fair, La Feria del Rio, the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo, and the Texas Folklife Festival
Texas Folklife Festival
The Texas Folklife Festival is an annual event sponsored by the Institute of Texan Cultures celebrating the many ethnicities represented in the population of Texas. The event will hold its 40th festival in 2011...
." In the late 1970s, Best Fest included performances by the UTSA Brass Ensemble and UTSA Jazz Ensemble, several contests such as the jalapeño eating contest, egg toss, "Walking the Plank Contest," "Pee Wee Bicycle Races," and others. The modern Best Fest incorporates a Halloween theme with costume and booth-decorating contests.
Housing
UTSA offers four 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 for 500 residents. It offers some of the largest residence hall rooms in a Texas public university, with rooms in 1- and 2-person configurations.
- University Oaks: Apartments with 1-, 2- and 4-bedroom configurations, second oldest housing complex on campus.
- Laurel Village: Similar in design to Chaparral Village, UTSA's newest housing complex completed construction in 2008.
A new $40 million dormitory to house 618 students is scheduled to open in August 2013. It is situated next to the Chaparral dorms.
More than 8,000 students live off-campus within walking distance of campus. These student housing complexes include:
Alpin Park, Aspen Heights, Avalon Place, Broadstone Ranch, Campus Side, Chase Hill, The Grove, High View Place, Highlands, Hill Country Place, Las Colinas, Madera, Maverick Creek, The Outpost, Villas at Babcock, and The Reserve.
Additional campuses
Downtown San Antonio
Downtown San Antonio is the central business district of San Antonio, Texas, United States.Downtown is encircled by three numerical freeways, I-35, I-37, and I-10...
. Called the UTSA Downtown Campus, it houses the College of Public Policy and the College of Architecture. The UTSA HemisFair Park Campus stands as the third branch of UTSA, holding the Institute of Texan Cultures
Institute of Texan Cultures
UTSA Institute of Texan Cultures is a museum and library located in HemisFair Park in downtown San Antonio, Texas. It serves as the state's primary center for multicultural education, with exhibits, programs, and events like the Texas Folklife Festival, an annual celebration of the many ethnicities...
museum.
A new bus-rapid transit line, VIA Primo
VIA Primo
VIA Primo is a Bus Rapid Transit service to be provided by VIA Metropolitan Transit in San Antonio, Texas. It will be located along the Fredricksburg Road Corridor from the South Texas Medical Center, through to Deco District to Downtown San Antonio. It is also going to connect the University of...
, is scheduled to open in 2012. This will allow students to quickly commute between the UTSA Main Campus and the UTSA Downtown Campus. A streetcar is also planned that will connect the UTSA Downtown Campus to the HemisFair Park Campus.
Expansion and growth
From 2006 to 2009 the school completed over $250 million in construction projects.UTSA has also purchased 125 acre (0.5058575 km²) of land near the Main Campus in 2007. This land was named Park West in 2009 and became part of the school's Main Campus. The school has plans for more than $150 million in new athletic facilities at Park West.
The $83 million Applied Engineering and Technology building opened in 2009.
The school underwent an extensive remodel in 2009 of older buildings including the JPL, HSS, and MS buildings. North Paseo Building, a $15 million office building, will house ROTC operations when it opens October 2011. A new ceramics studio broke ground in 2009 and two adjacent science buildings underwent $24 million in renovations.
East Parking Garage, a $30 million 5-level parking garage, is planned to open July 2012. It will also include a coffee shop, apparel shop, and office space.
Dining services at UTSA also expanded in 2008 continuing through 2011. New additions include two Starbucks, Panda Express, Taco Cabana, Burger King, and Chili's Too. Other new services on-campus include a hair salon, technology store, UPS store, and DVD rental kiosks.
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:
- 6 National Panhellenic ConferenceNational Panhellenic ConferenceThe National Panhellenic Conference , founded in 1902, is an umbrella organization for 26 national women's sororities.Each member group is autonomous as a social, Greek-letter society of college women and alumnae...
chapters: Alpha Omicron PiAlpha Omicron PiAlpha Omicron Pi is an international women's fraternity promoting friendship for a lifetime, inspiring academic excellence and lifelong learning, and developing leadership skills through service to the Fraternity and community. ΑΟΠ was founded on January 2, 1897 at Barnard College on the campus...
, Alpha Sigma AlphaAlpha Sigma AlphaAlpha Sigma Alpha is a US national sorority founded on November 15, 1901 at the Virginia State Female Normal School in Farmville, Virginia...
, Gamma Phi BetaGamma Phi BetaGamma Phi Beta is an international sorority that was founded on November 11, 1874, at Syracuse University in Syracuse, New York. The term "sorority," meaning sisterhood, was coined for Gamma Phi Beta by Dr. Frank Smalley, a professor at Syracuse University.The four founders are Helen M. Dodge,...
, Phi MuPhi MuPhi Mu is the second oldest female fraternal organization established in the United States. It was founded at Wesleyan College in Macon, Georgia. The organization was founded as the Philomathean Society on January 4, 1852, and was announced publicly on March 4 of the same year...
, Sigma KappaSigma KappaSigma Kappa is a sorority founded in 1874 at Colby College in Waterville, Maine. Sigma Kappa was founded by five women: Mary Caffrey Low Carver, Elizabeth Gorham Hoag, Ida Mabel Fuller Pierce, Frances Elliott Mann Hall and Louise Helen Coburn...
and Zeta Tau AlphaZeta Tau AlphaZeta Tau Alpha is a women's fraternity, founded October 15, 1898 at the State Female Normal School in Farmville, Virginia. The Executive office is located in Indianapolis, Indiana...
. - 5 North-American Interfraternity ConferenceNorth-American Interfraternity ConferenceThe North-American Interfraternity Conference , is an association of collegiate men's fraternities that was formally organized in 1910, although it began on November 27, 1909. The power of the organization rests in a House of Delegates where each member fraternity is represented by a single delegate...
chapters: Sigma Phi EpsilonSigma Phi EpsilonSigma Phi Epsilon , commonly nicknamed SigEp or SPE, is a social college fraternity for male college students in the United States. It was founded on November 1, 1901, at Richmond College , and its national headquarters remains in Richmond, Virginia. It was founded on three principles: Virtue,...
, Lambda Chi AlphaLambda Chi AlphaLambda Chi Alpha is one of the largest men's secret general fraternities in North America, having initiated more than 280,000 members and held chapters at more than 300 universities. It is a member of the North-American Interfraternity Conference and was founded by Warren A. Cole, while he was a...
, Kappa SigmaKappa SigmaKappa Sigma , commonly nicknamed Kappa Sig, is an international fraternity with currently 282 active chapters and colonies in North America. Kappa Sigma has initiated more than 240,000 men on college campuses throughout the United States and Canada. Today, the Fraternity has over 175,000 living...
, Sigma PiSigma PiSigma Pi is an international college secret and social fraternity founded in 1897 at Vincennes University. Sigma Pi International fraternity currently has 127 chapters and 4 colonies in the United States and Canada and is headquartered in Brentwood, Tennessee...
, and Tau Kappa EpsilonTau Kappa EpsilonTau Kappa Epsilon is a college fraternity founded on January 10, 1899 at Illinois Wesleyan University with chapters in the United States, and Canada, and affiliation with a German fraternity system known as the Corps of the Weinheimer Senioren Convent...
. Pi Kappa PhiPi Kappa PhiPi Kappa Phi is an American social fraternity. It was founded by Andrew Alexander Kroeg, Jr., Lawrence Harry Mixson, and Simon Fogarty, Jr. on December 10, 1904 at the College of Charleston in Charleston, South Carolina...
began colonization Fall of 2009. - 6 National Pan-Hellenic CouncilNational Pan-Hellenic CouncilThe National Pan-Hellenic Council is a collaborative organization of nine historically African American, international Greek lettered fraternities and sororities. The nine NPHC organizations are sometimes collectively referred to as the "Divine Nine"...
chapters: Alpha Kappa AlphaAlpha Kappa AlphaAlpha Kappa Alpha is the first Greek-lettered sorority established and incorporated by African American college women. The sorority was founded on January 15, 1908, at Howard University in Washington, D.C., by a group of nine students, led by Ethel Hedgeman Lyle...
, Alpha Phi AlphaAlpha Phi AlphaAlpha Phi Alpha is the first Inter-Collegiate Black Greek Letter fraternity. It was founded on December 4, 1906 at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. Its founders are known as the "Seven Jewels". Alpha Phi Alpha developed a model that was used by the many Black Greek Letter Organizations ...
, Delta Sigma ThetaDelta Sigma ThetaDelta Sigma Theta is a non-profit Greek-lettered sorority of college-educated women who perform public service and place emphasis on the African American community. Delta Sigma Theta Sorority was founded on January 13, 1913 by twenty-two collegiate women at Howard University...
, Kappa Alpha PsiKappa Alpha PsiKappa Alpha Psi is a collegiate Greek-letter fraternity with a predominantly African American membership. Since the fraternity's founding on January 5, 1911 at Indiana University Bloomington, the fraternity has never limited membership based on color, creed or national origin...
, Phi Beta SigmaPhi Beta SigmaPhi Beta Sigma is a predominantly African-American fraternity which was founded at Howard University in Washington, D.C. on January 9, 1914, by three young African-American male students. The founders A. Langston Taylor, Leonard F. Morse, and Charles I...
, and Omega Psi PhiOmega Psi PhiOmega Psi Phi is a fraternity and is the first African-American national fraternal organization to be founded at a historically black college. Omega Psi Phi was founded on November 17, 1911, at Howard University in Washington, D.C.. The founders were three Howard University juniors, Edgar Amos...
. - 6 National Multicultural Greek CouncilNational Multicultural Greek CouncilThe National Multicultural Greek Council is an umbrella council for ten Multicultural Greek Letter Organizations established in 1998. The purpose of NMGC is to provide a forum that allows for the free exchange of ideas, programs, and services between its constituent fraternities and sororities;...
chapters: Epsilon Sigma AlphaEpsilon Sigma AlphaEpsilon Sigma Alpha International is a collegiate and service organization for women and men ages 18 and older. The organization states that its purpose "is to inspire leadership and service by bringing good people together to pursue programs and projects that make a positive difference locally,...
, Kappa Delta ChiKappa Delta Chi----Kappa Delta Chi , also known as K-D Chi, pronounced Kay-Dee-Kie, is a Greek letter, intercollegiate sorority founded by Latina women in the United States...
, Phi Iota AlphaPhi Iota AlphaPhi Iota Alpha , established December 26, 1931, is the oldest Latino fraternity still in existence, and works to motivate people, develop leaders, and create innovative ways to unite the Latino community. The organization has roots that stem back to the late 19th century to the first Latino...
, Sigma Iota AlphaSigma Iota AlphaHermandad de Sigma Iota Alpha, Inc. --is a Latina-based Greek lettered intercollegiate sorority founded on September 29, 1990, by 13 dedicated ladies from four universities in the state of New York: SUNY Albany, SUNY Stony Brook, SUNY New Paltz, and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute...
, Sigma Lambda AlphaSigma Lambda AlphaSigma Lambda Alpha ', Sorority, Inc. is a Latina based Greek-lettered sorority of college-educated women, dedicated to the ideals of community service, academic achievement, and cultural awareness of the different Hispanic cultures and traditions...
, and Sigma Lambda BetaSigma Lambda BetaSigma Lambda Beta is the largest Latino-based social fraternity established on cultural understanding and wisdom. Founded on April 4, 1986 at the University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, the organization is committed to create and expand multicultural leadership, promote academic excellence, advance...
. Additionally, Delta Xi NuDelta Xi NuDelta Xi Nu Multicultural Sorority, Inc. is a multicultural sorority founded at Texas A&M University.Sisterhood, Culture, Education- ΔΞΝ History :...
and Iota Nu Delta began colonization in the Fall of 2009.
- 6 National Panhellenic Conference
- Student Government Association (SGA)
- Volunteer Organization Involving Community Education and Service (VOICES)
ROTC Programs
UTSA has one of the most extensive Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) programs in the United States and is the nation’s sixth largest Air Force ROTC program with over 240 cadets. In 2009, the school’s Air Force ROTC detachment won the Right of Line Award, the most prestigious award among all Air Force ROTC units. Ranking first in the Southwest Region out of 36 detachments for producing the most second lieutenants in the Air Force. At the national level, with 144 detachments, UTSA was ranked second along with Purdue University. UTSA also has the largest Air Force ROTC program among Hispanic Serving Institutions . In 2009, The AFROTC unit was awarded 36 slots for field training compared to rivalry school Texas A&M, which had 32.The Paisano
UTSA also hosts a nationally recognized weekly newspaper, The PaisanoThe Paisano
The Paisano is the independent student-run newspaper of the University of Texas at San Antonio. It was established in 1981 and publishes 7,000 copies weekly...
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It has remained fully independent of the administration since its inception in 1981. The newspaper is published weekly every Tuesday.
The Independent
UTSA's second student-run news organization was founded in September 2006. The Independent is an online newspaper experimenting with newer forms of media, such as podcasting. In Spring 2008, The Independent launched a monthly print issue. New online editions are published every Monday, print issues are published monthly. As of January 20, 2010, it appears The Independent is now defunct as the last issue was on April 29, 2009.The College of Engineering Student Council
The College Of Engineering Student Council is the student voice of The University of Texas at San Antonio College of Engineering. They are designed to serve and promote interaction among students and the engineering community. Their mission is to cultivate an active student body to encourage pride and tradition and to serve as the collective voice for all UTSA Engineering students. Their Vision is to serve as the cornerstone organization within engineering RSO's as acknowledged by their integration within the college of engineering and UTSA.They offer opportunities in STEM outreach, host guest speakers, and compete in independent engineering competitions. Any student at UTSA's College of Engineering is considered a member and has a voice, but voting privileges is limited to 2 representatives from any engineering organization.
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 while 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
University of Texas at Arlington
The University of Texas at Arlington is a public research university located in Arlington, Texas, United States. The campus is situated southwest of downtown Arlington, and is located in the Dallas–Fort Worth metropolitan area. The university was founded in 1895 and served primarily a military...
, and continues to draw more and more students every year. The CAP program has become more controversial as more freshmen are enrolled. 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.
San Antonio is known for its tourist spots. In addition to research facilities, tourism along with congenial weather/temperatures play important roles in attracting many students.