The University of Texas at San Antonio

When UTSA was established in 1969, San Antonio was the only major city in the nation not served by a public university. Community leaders, legislators and the public knew that if San Antonio were to achieve its full potential, a university would be needed to offer a comprehensive array of courses and degree programs.

The University’s first two presidents, Arleigh B. Templeton and Peter T. Flawn, worked diligently to hire faculty, develop a curriculum and library, and finalize the plans for the new campus, which would be built on 600 acres of land. Construction took place from 1972 and 1976.

UTSA’s first official class was humble in comparison to today’s figures. In summer 1973, UTSA admitted 671 graduate students to degree programs in leased facilities at the Koger Center. There were 52 faculty members. In September 1975, UTSA began offering classes at the Main Campus to more than 4,000 undergraduate and graduate students.

UTSA experienced rapid enrollment growth throughout the 1980s while James W. Wagener served as president. New buildings were added and degree programs were developed. In February 1986, the UT System designated the Institute of Texan Cultures as UTSA’s second campus.

In 1990, UTSA’s fourth president, Samuel A. Kirkpatrick, began a new phase of university history by initiating a comprehensive strategic planning process and securing funds for building construction. In 1997, UTSA opened its Downtown Campus, west of Interstate 10/Interstate 35 in the historic Cattleman Square area.

In 1999, Ricardo Romo became UTSA’s fifth president and ushered in a new era of community involvement and academic excellence. UTSA now offers more than 135 degree programs to 31,000 students. More than 58 percent of UTSA students are from underrepresented groups, and more than half are the first in their families to attend college.

Ninety-eight percent of UTSA’s tenured and tenure-track faculty have doctorates or terminal degrees in their fields. UTSA scholars research Alzheimer’s disease, cyber security, energy and sustainability, and higher education.

UTSA is a university of continuing growth and achievement with nationally recognized academic programs, award-winning faculty and sophisticated science, technology and recreational facilities. Find out more at http://www.utsa.edu/