UTSA president Ricardo Romo re-capped the school's progress toward Tier One status in his state of the university address Wednesday.
Dr. Romo outlined some of the new initiatives to help incoming students - such as the new Graduation Rate Improvement Plan, or 'GRIP.' GRIP will proactively work with 250 high-school students in San Antonio to make sure they are prepared for college-level courses, with the goal of helping them avoid remedial classes when they get to college.
Another initiative, University College, will connect junior and senior students with freshmen to mentor them through their first academic year.
Romo also updated the school's capital campaign, which he said is ahead of its goal of raising $120-million by 2015.
Some major gifts have come to UTSA in recent days. Business owners John and Bobbie Nau pledged $1-million over the next five years to establish a scholarship fund for history students. Last week, the school received a $1-million grant from the Economic Development Administration.
The money supports UTSA's Architecture and Public Policy programs and the Institute for Economic Development in six modules that will help build infrastructure for the Eagle Ford Shale communities.
