1. Downtown Campus Annual Faculty/Staff Update October 23, 2014

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. 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.

7. 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.

8. 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.

9. 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.

10. 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.

11. 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.

12. 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.

13. 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.

14. 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.

15. 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.

16. 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).

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

18. 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.

19. 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.

20. 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.

21. 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

22. 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

23. 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.

24. 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

25. 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

26. 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)

27. 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

28. Tomorrow Downtown Campus is at a crossroads. Downtown Campus neighborhood is at a crossroads.

29. 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

30. 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

31. 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.

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

33. 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.

34. 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

35. 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.

36. Downtown Campus Council Helps coordinate communication and programming at the DT Campus. Membership includes Academic Affairs, Student Affairs, Business Affairs, Community Services.