University of Texas at San Antonio

The University of Texas at San Antonio
Motto	Disciplina Praesidium Civitatis (A Cultivated mind is the guardian genius of democracy)
Established	June 5, 1969
Type	Public university
Endowment	U.S. $60.31 million[1]
President	Ricardo Romo, Ph.D.
Academic staff	1,319 [2010 Fall][2]
Admin. staff	4,000 [2010 Fall][2]
Students	31,114 [2011 Fall][3]
Undergraduates	26,377 [2011 Fall][3]
Postgraduates	4,484 [2011 Fall][3]
Location	San Antonio, Texas, USA
Campus	Main Campus: Suburban, 600 acres
Colors	Orange, Blue and White
Nickname	Roadrunners
Mascot	Rowdy
Website	www.utsa.edu

UTSA is San Antonio's largest university.

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,^[4] it is the third-largest of nine universities and six health institutions in the University of Texas System, the eighth-largest in Texas.^[5]

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.^[6]

History

The University of Texas at San Antonio was founded on June 5, 1969 by Governor Preston Smith.^[7] 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.^[8] Architects Ford, Powell and Carson Inc. were assigned to design a master plan for the university.^[9] 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.^[5][8] UTSA began with five colleges: Business, Fine and Applied Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, Multidisciplinary Studies and Science and Mathematics.^[9]

Academics

University rankings (overall)
National
Forbes[10]	253
U.S. News & World Report[11]	203–268

The University of Texas at San Antonio comprises the following colleges:

• College of Business
• College of Education and Human Development
• College of Engineering
• Honors College
• College of Liberal and Fine Arts
• College of Public Policy
• College of Architecture
• College of Sciences

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.^[12]

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.^[13]

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.^[14]

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.^[15]

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.^[16]

UTSA is second in The UT System for research funding in biology, social sciences, arts and humanities, microelectronics and computer technology. ^[17]

Athletics

Main article: UTSA Roadrunners

UTSA's Roadrunner logo

UTSA is San Antonio's only NCAA 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.^[18]

Spirit and tradition

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.^[19]

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."^[20] 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, a bird representative of the Texas Hill Country and the Southwest, was voted the UTSA mascot in 1977.^[21] "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.^[22]

Best Fest and Fiesta UTSA

Fiesta UTSA, an annual event held in April, began in 1978.^[23] 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.^[24] 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 Antonio each spring, having been added to the official Fiesta San Antonio schedule in 1980.^[25] 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.^[23] It was presented by the student organization Variety 79.^[23] 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."^[23] 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

Laurel Village housing office

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

UTSA's downtown campus in Downtown San Antonio

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.^[26] 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 acres (0.51 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.

• 

  UTSA entrance sign

• 

  West Paseo

• 

  University Center II, Second Floor

• 

  UTSA is one of the UT System's fastest growing universities

• 

  Entrance to John Peace Library atop Sombrilla Plaza

• 

  John Peace Library, Second Floor

• 

  Main Building

• 

  McKinney Humanities Building

• 

  Business Building

• 

  UTSA Convocation Center

• 

  UTSA Recreation Center (side view)

• 

  UTSA Rec Center Outdoor Pools

• 

  BSE Building Atrium

• 

  Biotechnology Sciences and Engineering Building, designed by FKP Architects

• 

  Biotechnology Sciences Building

• 

  Sombrilla Plaza, designed by O'Neil Ford

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 Conference chapters: Alpha Omicron Pi, Alpha Sigma Alpha, Gamma Phi Beta, Phi Mu, Sigma Kappa and Zeta Tau Alpha.
  • 5 North-American Interfraternity Conference chapters: Sigma Phi Epsilon, Lambda Chi Alpha, Kappa Sigma, Sigma Pi, and Tau Kappa Epsilon. Pi Kappa Phi began colonization Fall of 2009.
  • 6 National Pan-Hellenic Council chapters: Alpha Kappa Alpha, Alpha Phi Alpha, Delta Sigma Theta, Kappa Alpha Psi, Phi Beta Sigma, and Omega Psi Phi.
  • 6 National Multicultural Greek Council chapters: Epsilon Sigma Alpha, Kappa Delta Chi, Phi Iota Alpha, Sigma Iota Alpha, Sigma Lambda Alpha, and Sigma Lambda Beta. Additionally, Delta Xi Nu and Iota Nu Delta began colonization in the Fall of 2009.

• 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 . ^[27] In 2009, The AFROTC unit was awarded 36 slots for field training compared to rivalry school Texas A&M, which had 32. ^[28]

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.

The Independent

UTSA's second student-run news organization was founded in September 2006. The Independent^[29] 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, 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.

Notable people

Main article: List of University of Texas at San Antonio people

References

1. ^ "Fall 2010 Fact Book" (PDF). 2010-08-31. http://utsa.edu/ir/pdf/factbook/2010/FactBook2010_Full.pdf. Retrieved 2011-04-19. 
2. ^ ^{a b} http://www.utsystem.edu/news/files/FastFacts2010.pdf
3. ^ ^{a b c} http://www.utsa.edu/today/2011/09/fallenrollment.html
4. ^ Antonio, San (September 16, 2009). "UTSA increasing graduate student enrollment". http://sanantonio.bizjournals.com/sanantonio/stories/2009/09/14/daily25.html. 
5. ^ ^{a b} UTSA Overview - University of Texas at San Antonio
6. ^ "UTSA Fast Facts". University of Texas at San Antonio. http://utsa.edu/about/glance/. Retrieved August 31, 2011. 
7. ^ "UTSA Uncovered: History". http://www.utsa.edu/visitor/utsa_uncovered/utsahistory.cfm. Retrieved 2008-05-28. ^{[dead link]}
8. ^ ^{a b} "University of Texas San Antonio". Handbook of Texas Online. http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/UU/kcu13.html. Retrieved 2008-05-28. 
9. ^ ^{a b} "UTSA.edu - UTSA History". http://www.utsa.edu/About/History/. Retrieved 2008-05-28. 
10. ^ "America's Best Colleges". Forbes. 2011. http://www.forbes.com/top-colleges/list/. Retrieved October 6, 2011. 
11. ^ "National Universities Rankings". America's Best Colleges 2012. U.S. News & World Report. September 13, 2011. http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges. Retrieved September 25, 2011. 
12. ^ "Academic Highlights". University of Texas at San Antonio. http://utsa.edu/about/glance/academic-highlights.html. Retrieved 1 September 2011. 
13. ^ http://www.utsa.edu/impact/docs/ImpactTrifold.pdf
14. ^ UTSA ranks fifth in Texas research productivity, "UTSA Today", June 20, 2007.
15. ^ http://www.thecb.state.tx.us/reports/PDF/1899.PDF?CFID=5685577&CFTOKEN=72777635
16. ^ http://utsa.edu/today/2011/01/researchexpend.html
17. ^ "Marks of Excellence". University of Texas at San Antonio. http://utsa.edu/about/glance/marks-of-excellence.html. Retrieved 31 August 2011. 
18. ^ McBride Lewis, Marianne (December 18, 2008). "UTSA gets green light". utsa.edu (UTSA Today). http://www.utsa.edu/today/2008/12/football.cfm. Retrieved 2008-12-18. 
19. ^ "UTSA Undergraduate Catalog 2008-2010". http://www.utsa.edu/ucat/. Retrieved 2009-04-18. 
20. ^ http://www.utsystem.edu/bor/rules/RRRas1.pdf Rules and Regulations of the Board of Regents
21. ^ http://www.lib.utexas.edu/taro/utsa/00177/utsa-00177.html Inventory of the University Communications Records, 1973-2008
22. ^ UTSA Athletics unveils new logos, word marks
23. ^ ^{a b c d} http://www.lib.utexas.edu/taro/utsa/00150/utsa-00150.html Press release of April 1978, University Communications Records, UA 16.01, Archives and Special Collections, UTSA Library
24. ^ "The First Fiesta UTSA". UTSA Library, Archives and Special Collections Department. http://libtmp.lib.utsa.edu/blogs/index.php/2009/04/17/the-first-fiesta-utsa-1978?blog=7. Retrieved 2009-04-18. 
25. ^ http://www.lib.utexas.edu/taro/utsa/00177/utsa-00177.html "It's Official." UTSA Bulletin vol. 8, no. 2 (February 1980). University Publications Collection: University Serials and Journals Collection, UA 1.02.01, Archives and Special Collections, UTSA Library
26. ^ http://viabrt.net/Content/ProjectUpdates.aspx
27. ^ "Air Force honors UTSA for having country’s best ROTC". San Antonio Business Journal. December 16, 2009. http://www.bizjournals.com/sanantonio/stories/2009/12/14/daily24.html. Retrieved 31 August 2011. 
28. ^ "UTSA's Air Force ROTC Recognized As Best in Nation". Vlex. http://prensa-san-antonio.vlex.com/vid/utsa-air-force-rotc-recognized-nation-75794839. Retrieved August 31, 2011. 
29. ^ [1], The Independent

External links

	Texas portal
	University portal

• The University of Texas at San Antonio
• UTSA Master Plan
• UTSA Athletics
• Google Maps satellite view of UTSA

Coordinates: 29°35′N 98°37′W / 29.59°N 98.62°W / 29.59; -98.62