Downtown Campus
Annual Faculty/Staff Update
October 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 “PeptoBismol” 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—1,500
Public Policy—1,200
University 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 years
Enrollment Management by College of
Architecture
End of UTSA contract with VIA
Rising admission standards
Increased emphasis on departmental
efficiency and cost effectiveness
Today
Fewer course offerings by colleges
Limited 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 area
Police and Security provide excellent service
Facilities 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 Development
P-20 Initiatives
Prefreshmen Engineering Program
 Extended Education
Community Outreach
Mexico Center
Center 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 Downtown
Committee offered three scenarios to the
Provost
Tomorrow
• Relocate a college to the Downtown
Campus
Would require 1 or more additional buildings
• Relocate 1 or more departments to the
Downtown Campus
Would require 1 building or the movement of
programs not directly tied to academic
programming
Tomorrow
• Maintain Current Model
Programming 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 Trajectory
Bexar County Jail
Three bail bonds agencies within walking
distance
Two more possible bail bond agencies nearby
Center for Health Care Services Clinic across
the street
Increased presence of homeless and
panhandling populations nearby
Tomorrow
• Opportunities abound
A 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.