APRIL 28, 2021 — Editor’s note: The following message was sent via email today from President Taylor Eighmy to all faculty, staff and students:
I believe fully in the notion that universities have a responsibility to be accountable and as transparent as possible – especially when it comes to our efforts around preventing sexual assault and misconduct.
Building on the update sent by Dean LT Robinson last semester, I am writing to share our latest efforts to promote a zero-tolerance environment for sexual violence.
Preventing Sexual Assault and Misconduct Initiative
In 2019, UTSA joined the Culture of Respect Collective, a cohort of 37 institutions of higher education dedicated to ending campus sexual violence. UTSA is currently completing its closing assessment process, which will allow us to improve campus-wide education, survivor support and policies.
Furthermore, a faculty and staff Survivors Alliance was established to educate the community about sexual violence and provide continuing support for survivors. As always, confidential support and advocacy is available by contacting the UTSA PEACE Center at peace.center@utsa.edu or (210) 458-4077.
Sexual Assault Awareness Month
Every April, UTSA mounts a Sexual Assault Awareness Month campaign, and we hosted many events this month centered around the theme of Creating Safe Online Spaces. There are a few opportunities to get involved before the end of April. Today, you can participate in Denim Day. Tomorrow, Veteran and Military Affairs will host Women Warrior Empowerment, a virtual event focused on sexual trauma within the military community.
2019-2020 Annual Report: Equal Opportunity Services/Title IX Office
We have released our second annual report covering the 2019-2020 fiscal year as part of our ongoing effort to provide comprehensive data from investigations handled by the UTSA Equal Opportunity Services/Title IX Office. In addition to serving as a communication and awareness-raising tool, this report helps us to better quantify trends and determine where additional focus is needed.
I’d like to share a few takeaways from the report:
Clery Act Audit
As you may recall from my message last November, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Inspector General (OIG) initiated an audit in 2019 to review UTSA’s campus crime reporting during the 2015-2017 calendar years. The results of the audit were released last fall, and we responded with information regarding how UTSA was addressing the issues identified by the OIG and contesting findings where warranted. We expect to learn about any fines assessed to UTSA this summer.
Creating a Model Clery Compliance Program
To build upon the changes to our Clery compliance program I initiated in 2017, UTSA hired Margolis Healy and Associates LLC, a national consulting practice with vast Clery Act expertise. Last fall, Margolis Healy performed an assessment of past and current campus security functions. UTSA has partnered with Margolis Healy to implement their recommendations.
While the full assessment will be available this summer, almost all of Margolis Healy’s recommendations have been implemented to date. A few notable improvements to campus security include additional training, enhancements to university policies and procedures and the creation of a timely warnings and emergency notifications matrix.
We have made significant progress as we continue to raise awareness, improve transparency and implement critical prevention and remediation measures. While this progress is important, we have more to do and must continually strive to be a national model for preventing sexual violence. This community deserves nothing less.
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Come to the Alamodome for the season's first UTSA Football Home Game and participate in Rowdy Rush! Wear your best orange UTSA fit for this Orange Out game. Come to the Student Indoor Tailgate before kickoff to play games, eat food, and get hyped to cheer on the Roadrunners as they take on the Owls! Then be part of Rowdy Rush to form the tunnel for the players' entrance before kickoff.
AlamodomeCheer on the UTSA Soccer team as they take on Colorado State. Head over to Park West for this spirited experience!
Park West Athletic ComplexIn observance of Labor Day, UTSA will be closed on Monday, September 2. Plan a day exploring San Antonio with your roommate(s) and new friends.
Main Campus and Dowtown CampusLearn some planning, researching, and writing tips to help you with upcoming writing assignments.
Writing Center, (JPL 2.01.12D,) John Peace Library, Main CampusUTSA Police Department and Office of Risk and Emergency Management will host a safety information center with giveaways and interactive demonstrations. Both departments will provide information on services available to the UTSA community.
Student Union Window Lounge, Main CampusExplore ways of engaging with the community through our community-based work-study program. Voter registration and voter engagement opportunities with our community partners will also be shared.
McKinney Humanities Breezeway, Main CampusEnjoy an ice-cold paleta while learning about the parking options.
East Campus Lot 1 and Brackenridge Lot 5, Main CampusThe University of Texas at San Antonio is dedicated to the advancement of knowledge through research and discovery, teaching and learning, community engagement and public service. As an institution of access and excellence, UTSA embraces multicultural traditions and serves as a center for intellectual and creative resources as well as a catalyst for socioeconomic development and the commercialization of intellectual property - for Texas, the nation and the world.
To be a premier public research university, providing access to educational excellence and preparing citizen leaders for the global environment.
We encourage an environment of dialogue and discovery, where integrity, excellence, inclusiveness, respect, collaboration and innovation are fostered.
UTSA is a proud Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) as designated by the U.S. Department of Education .
The University of Texas at San Antonio, a Hispanic Serving Institution situated in a global city that has been a crossroads of peoples and cultures for centuries, values diversity and inclusion in all aspects of university life. As an institution expressly founded to advance the education of Mexican Americans and other underserved communities, our university is committed to promoting access for all. UTSA, a premier public research university, fosters academic excellence through a community of dialogue, discovery and innovation that embraces the uniqueness of each voice.