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. $54.08 million[1]
President	Ricardo Romo, Ph.D.
Faculty	2,332
Undergraduates	25,378
Postgraduates	3,755
Location	San Antonio, Texas, USA
Campus	Main Campus: Suburban, 600 acres
Colors	Orange, White, and Blue
Nickname	Roadrunners
Mascot	Rowdy
Website	www.utsa.edu

UTSA is San Antonio's largest university.

The University of Texas at San Antonio (also referred to as UT San Antonio or UTSA) is a state university located in San Antonio. With an enrollment of over 29,000 students^[2], it is the second-largest of nine separate components in the University of Texas System, the seventh-largest in Texas^[3], and the largest public university in Texas outside of the six flagship universities from the various systems.

The university serves to the San Antonio metropolitan area and the South Texas region through three campuses: Main Campus, Downtown Campus, and Hemisfair Park Campus. 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 of Texas at San Antonio offers 132 undergraduate and graduate programs in different fields including 64 bachelor's, 47 master's, and 21 doctoral degree programs.^[3]

History

The University of Texas at San Antonio was founded on June 5, 1969 by Governor Preston Smith.^[4] In 1970, The University of Texas Board of Regents appointed the university's first president, Arleigh B. Templeton, who served from 1970-1972, and received a land donation of 600 acres (2.4 km²) in northwest San Antonio for the site of UTSA.^[5] Architects Ford, Powell and Carson Inc. were assigned to design a master plan for the university.^[6] Although the university was established in 1970, students temporarily attended class at the Koger Center, where the administrative offices were held, until 1975 when construction on the northwest San Antonio campus was completed.^[3][5] UTSA began with five colleges: Business, Fine and Applied Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, Multidisciplinary Studies and Science and Mathematics.^[6]

New construction and additions to the campuses completed in 2008 include Laurel Village, a $40 million 680-unit housing complex; a $45 million expansion to the Recreation and Wellness Center; a $30 million parking garage/thermal energy plant; a $33 million expansion of the University Center; a $5 million expansion of the Roadrunner Cafe; as well as renovations to the UC Food Court, JPL, campus bookstore, and HSS.

Academics

UTSA is one of the UT system's fastest growing universities both in enrollment and in research.

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, and the UTSA College of Business is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.

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.

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. ^[7]

Athletics

UTSA's Roadrunner logo

UTSA Roadrunners baseball at Houston in 2008

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, 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. 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 FCS football team, playing at the Alamodome, by 2011. The plan was approved by the University of Texas System board of regents in December 2008.^[8]

In 2007 UTSA added icehockey to their Club Sports, which is part of the recreation center. The UTSA Roadrunners Hockey Team plays at the Northwoods Ice & Golf Centre which is located at US 281 & Loop 1604 on the North side of San Antonio.

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.^[9]

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."^[10] 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^[11]. "Rowdy the Roadrunner" attends many university functions and games.

On March 1, 2008, UTSA Athletics unveiled its 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.^[12]

Roadrunner Camp

View of the breezeway between the Biotechnology, Sciences and Engineering building and the Engineering building

Roadrunner Camp is a two-day leadership and social retreat for entering freshmen 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.

Best Fest and Fiesta UTSA

Fiesta UTSA, an annual event held in April, began in 1978.^[13] 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.^[14] 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 is the kickoff event for Fiesta San Antonio each spring, having been added to the official Fiesta San Antonio schedule in 1980.^[15] 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.^[13] It was presented by the student organization Variety 79.^[13] 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."^[13] 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. The recently remodeled lounge area includes a large projection television with a wide variety of movies on DVD available for viewing.
• 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.

According to UTSA's master plan, at least 3 new housing developments will be added to increase the amount of students living on campus to 5,600.

There are also many student apartment complexes within walking distance of the campus (listed by campus shuttle route):

• North "Green" route includes Chase Hill, Las Colinas, Alpin, Highview Place and Maverick Creek.
• Southeast "Purple" route includes the Highlands, Broadstone Ranch, and Hill Country Place.
• Southwest "Red" route includes The Reserve and The Outpost.

Additional campuses

UTSA's downtown campus.

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.

Expansion and growth

The university has focused its efforts on building a new engineering building estimated to be completed in July 2009 ($82,500,000), as well as a South campus parking garage to be finished in March 2009. ^[16]

UTSA has also purchased 125 acres (0.51 km²) of land near the Main Campus in 2007, part of which will be used for a new $84 million athletics complex.^[17][18] This area was designated as "UTSA Park West" in March 2009.^[19]

Future outlook

In terms of long-term growth, UTSA has developed a master plan into 2030 for expanding the Main 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.^[20] 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. Recently, Valero Energy Corporation contributed $2.5 million to support graduate students in engineering and business. This gift will be matched through the state’s Texas Research Incentive Program (TRIP), allowing UTSA to receive $5 million in educational support. The Texas Legislature created TRIP to aid schools, such as UTSA, to become the state’s next premier research university, also known as a Tier One school.^[21]

Along with the development at the Main Campus, nearly $200 million in projects are planned at the Downtown Campus over the next several years.^[22] One prime goal for the university is the expansion of international programs and international reputation. Students from 88 countries studied at UTSA in the 2006-2007 school year, and many UTSA students are involved in a study abroad program which partners with major universities worldwide. Students are assessed an international fee as part of their tuition and fees bill that is used to help fund international programs, as well as bring professors from around the world to give weekend seminars for credit at the campus.

A feasibility report was recently completed that discussed future plans for UTSA to compete in NCAA Division 1 football, the possibility of changing to another conference division for sports competition, and to further expand the university's athletic program. In September 2007, a student referendum was passed to raise the $10 per hour athletic fee to $20 per hour. The referendum calls for a gradual increase in the fee over the next decade. With the highest student voter turnout in school history, the funds are intended to increase the athletics operating budget and add an NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision football program.^[23]

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:
  • 5 National Panhellenic Conference chapters: Alpha Omicron Pi, Alpha Sigma Alpha, Gamma Phi Beta, Phi Mu, and Sigma Kappa. On January of 2010, Zeta Tau Alpha will become the 6th installed chapter at the university.
  • 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)

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 ^[24] 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.

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.

Notable people

2008 Honor Code controversy

In March 2008, UTSA was accused of plagiarizing a new honor code from that which is in use at Brigham Young University.^[25][26][27] The UTSA honor code in question was a draft that students of UTSA put up on the Internet for review. Some of those who read it noticed it looked similar to that of BYU's. The final draft of the honor code that goes to the Faculty Senate will have to include proper citation before approval.^[28]

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: University of Texas at San Antonio

• 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

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