Downtown CampusAnnual Faculty/Staff UpdateOctober 23, 2014

Yesterday

• The push for a UTSA downtown presence began before the site of the UTSA 1604 campus was selected in 1969.

• Continuing education courses were offered in the downtown area in the 1970s.Courses included education, history and small

business management.

Yesterday

• In 1980, the UTSA Center for Economic Development (now the Institute for Economic Development) opened at HemisFair Park.

• In 1986, the Institute of Texan Cultures became a part of UTSA.

Yesterday

• In 1984, Mayor Henry Cisneros created the Education Task Force for the Target ‘90 Goals for San Antonio.

• Target ‘90 adopted a UTSA downtown “satellite” as a goal.

Yesterday

• Target ‘90 efforts merged with UTSA’s ongoing outreach program with public schools to form the UTSA/San Antonio Alliance for Education and was housed in the downtown area.

Yesterday

• In 1987, the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) and the American GI Forum filed a lawsuit against the state of Texas for the violation of Mexican Americans’ constitutional rights (LULAC vs. Richards).

• One of the rights included equal access to a quality higher education in the South Texas border area.

Yesterday

• In 1993, the legislature passed a detailed plan for higher education in the border that became known as the South Texas Border Initiative.

• The Legislature provided special item funding as part of this Initiative for the 1994-95 biennium for the planning and development of the first UTSA Downtown Campus building.

Yesterday

• This initiative provided $302 million in new state resources at 11 institutions including five components of the UT System.

• UTSA received $71.5 million, $20 million of which was designated for the construction of the UTSA Downtown Campus.

Yesterday

• In 1993, UTSA endorsed the UTSA Downtown Strategic Initiative to enhance accessibility.

• The site selected previously housed the Fiesta Plaza Mall (also known as the “pink elephant” and the “Pepto-Bismol” mall) because of its coat of pink stucco.

Yesterday

• Bill Miller Bar-B-Q Enterprises, Inc. purchased the site for one million dollars in February 1993 and donated the property to UTSA in October 1993 to build the UTSA Downtown Campus.

Yesterday

• In Spring1994, UTSA Downtown began offering classes at Cypress Tower until 1997 when the Downtown Campus opened at its permanent location.

• Over 900 students were enrolled that first semester.

Yesterday

• In August 1995, construction began on the Frio Street Building at the permanent Downtown Campus site and was completed in 1997.

• The Buena Vista Building opened in 1999, and the Durango Street Building opened in 2001.

Yesterday

• A committee of faculty and administrators selected academic programming and curriculum to be added to the core in 1995.

• A Scholarship Committee raised 1 million dollars.

• The new campus opened in Summer 1997, and over 1,900 students enrolled for classes in Fall 1997.

Yesterday

• In 2000, two university committees recommended a strategic change for the Downtown Campus—programs could now be housed there.

• This change emphasized an urban and professional identity for the Campus. College of Public Policy (Criminal Justice,

Public Administration then Social Work and Demography) was established in 2000.

Yesterday

School of Architecture, now the College of Architecture, completed its move here in 2003.

The Department of Counseling and the Department of Educational Psychology were added in 2002.

Courses leading to previously identified degrees in most colleges continued to be part of UTSA’s plan.

Yesterday

• In 2005, the City of San Antonio exchanged property (Cattleman’s Square and property directly across from the Downtown Campus on Frio Street) for a parcel of UTSA-owned property at HemisFair Plaza (approximately six acres).

Yesterday

• In 2005, UTSA purchased the Business Technology Center (renamed the Monterey Building) from its owner for $8.2 million.

Today

• The Downtown Campus serves about 5,600 students.

• About 1/3 of all UTSA graduate students attend classes at UTSA Downtown.

• Several undergraduate and graduate programs and two doctoral programs are based here.

Today

• Other academic programs offer courses leading to degrees in COLFA, COS, COEHD, COB.

• The largest number of students are from:Education—1,500Public Policy—1,200University College—714

• The DTC Library has grown and changed.

Today

• Enrollments have decreased disproportionately to the decrease at Main Campus.

• The DT Campus reached a peak of 6,800 students, and the Main Campus reached a peak of 31,000 students.

Today

• Possible reasons for lower enrollments College of Business decreased its

programming over the past four yearsEnrollment Management by College of

ArchitectureEnd of UTSA contract with VIARising admission standardsIncreased emphasis on departmental

efficiency and cost effectiveness

Today

Fewer course offerings by collegesLimited Downtown Campus visibility

• UTSA Web Page(s)• UTSA Recruitment Materials• Marketing of the Downtown Campus

Texas A&M San Antonio Recruitment Efforts

Today

• Student Affairs has been a critical contributor since opening of the Campus in 1997 and continues to be so:Pioneered one-stop services for UTSA.Offers most of the services available at the

Main Campus.Maintains recreational space and sponsors

activities for undergraduates and graduates students.

Today

• Business Affairs continues its support of the Downtown Campus Fiscal Services was in original one-stop areaPolice and Security provide excellent serviceFacilities and Grounds Keeping have

undergone critical changes at both campuses.Dining Services are dramatically better:

Starbucks, Pizza Hut, Einstein, Salad Bar

Today

• Extended, outreach and research services help define the Downtown Campus:Institute for Economic DevelopmentP-20 InitiativesPrefreshmen Engineering Program Extended EducationCommunity Outreach Mexico CenterCenter for Policy Studies

Today

• Challenges:Lack of space for classrooms, library,

research space, design studios, and supporting faculty offices

Limited space for student support services (health services, academic advising, student life, wellness, recreation)

Today

Lack of space for bookstore and computer store.

Lower enrollments Need for a clear relationship to Tier 1 Goals,

GRIP, Freshman Academic Experience Limited near campus living options

Tomorrow

• Downtown Campus is at a crossroads.

• Downtown Campus neighborhood is at a crossroads.

Tomorrow

• Provost appointed a task force to develop a vision for the future of the Downtown Campus. Committee members included college deans

and Senior Vice Provost for UTSA DowntownCommittee offered three scenarios to the

Provost

Tomorrow

• Relocate a college to the Downtown CampusWould require 1 or more additional buildings

• Relocate 1 or more departments to the Downtown CampusWould require 1 building or the movement of

programs not directly tied to academic programming

Tomorrow

• Maintain Current ModelProgramming offered by colleges and

departments based here is viable and has potential for growth and diversification.

Programming offered by colleges not based here is becoming increasingly problematic due to a number of issues: space, resources, etc.

Tomorrow

• Until decisions regarding future programming are made, deans have agreed to continue supporting the current model.

Tomorrow

• University District (desired trajectory)A number of plans (COSA Neighborhood Plan,

Vista Verde, COSA Student Housing Market Demand Assessment) recommend and describe a university neighborhood around the DT Campus.

Other supporting factors: COSA bond election, Zona Cultural, Gateway Project, apartment buildings near the Downtown Campus, overlay district, and more.

Tomorrow

• Current Reality and Undesired TrajectoryBexar County JailThree bail bonds agencies within walking

distanceTwo more possible bail bond agencies nearbyCenter for Health Care Services Clinic across

the streetIncreased presence of homeless and

panhandling populations nearby

Tomorrow

• Opportunities aboundA revised Downtown Campus vision will be

adopted in conjunction with University strategic planning to ensure future growth and development.

A University District vision will emerge through the efforts of many partners.

Downtown Campus Council

• Helps coordinate communication and programming at the DT Campus.

• Membership includes Academic Affairs, Student Affairs, Business Affairs, Community Services.