UTSA Day at the Capitol tells a story of momentum for San Antonio’s top research university

(April 23, 2019) -- UTSA’s momentum as a premiere public research university will be on display in Austin today for legislators and staff of the 86th legislative session. Approximately 200 students, faculty, staff and alumni from UTSA will head to Austin for UTSA Day at the Capitol, a full day of events designed to share UTSA student success and research excellence.

UTSA’s delegation will visit over 80 offices this year, almost triple the visits done in the past during this event.

“Roadrunner Nation is taking over the Capitol for the day - we’ll be everywhere” said UTSA President Taylor Eighmy. “We have very exciting stories to share with our legislators about our research momentum, our focus on student success and how UTSA is growing the downtown San Antonio knowledge economy. It’s another great occasion to celebrate our 50th year as a university while we look toward our bright future.”

Roadrunners will share three priority requests with elected leaders at the 86th legislative session. The first is a $126 million Tuition Revenue Bond request to expand business education and career engagement to the Downtown Campus. The proposal includes a state-of-the-art interdisciplinary building with high-tech classrooms, student meeting spaces, department offices and research centers to create a multitude of academic and professional connections between students, faculty and the San Antonio business community.

The second request, new cyber funding for the benefit of the entire state, builds on UTSA’s success as a national leader in cybersecurity. This funding would create a “culture of security” to address escalating needs throughout Texas via an inter-agency partnership with the Texas Department of Information Resources.

To help more students achieve their dreams of earning a college degree, UTSA’s third request is for legislators to continue their support of the state’s neediest students through the TEXAS Grant Program. The grant program allows UTSA to reduce student loan debt yet the insufficient funding for the program in recent years has meant fewer students have been eligible to receive support. UTSA has a 69% overall retention rate for students in the TEXAS grant program, far surpassing the rate for the general population. 

Today’s itinerary includes a research rally on the Great Walk and Capitol South Steps. The UTSA Research Rally will showcase the innovative discoveries happening at UTSA. As San Antonio’s largest public university, UTSA students and faculty are working together to solve global grand challenges in cyber, health, fundamental futures and social-economic transformation. Student and faculty research displays will be complemented by refreshments, giveaways and plenty of Roadrunner spirit provided by the SOSA Pep Band, cheerleaders and Rowdy.

There will be two resolutions commemorating the 50th anniversary presented today. One in the House at 10 a.m. and one in the Senate at 11 a.m. President Eighmy, Student Government Association President Jack Rust and other UTSA leaders will be on the floors while the resolutions are read. The UTSA delegation will offer support from the galleries.

UTSA student musicians will celebrate the state’s rich cultures with musical performances in the afternoon. Groups performing include the SOSA Pep Band, UTSA Flute Ensemble, UTSA Saxophone Ensemble, and Overly Chromatic, an a cappella group. The students will entertain legislators and visitors with performances in the Capitol’s open air Rotunda. 

At the same time, the Cyber and Salsa Research Showcase will be displayed in the House Members Lounge, where visitors will get a taste of what UTSA is exploring and discovering in the cyber realm through virtual reality demonstrations and research exhibitions.

The day will conclude with a reception for alumni and friends at 800 Congress Ave. celebrating UTSA’s 50 years of excellence.

The momentum and key benchmarks that Roadrunners will share today with the state’s elected officials are a significant part of UTSA’s 10-year strategic plan, which aims to further propel UTSA as a model for student success, a great public research university and an exemplar for strategic growth and innovative excellence.

— Pamela Lutrell

Celebrate UTSA’s 50th Anniversary and share social media posts about the 50th using the hashtag #UTSA50.

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