UTSA welcomes students to campus for spring semester classes

JANUARY 16, 2024 — A new year and a new semester have arrived. University buildings, eateries and classrooms will once again be filled with the hustle and bustle of Roadrunners returning to campus following the month-long winter break.

Students taking classes this spring are invited to celebrate Roadrunner Days, scheduled through Saturday, January 21. Held each fall and spring, Roadrunner Days allows students to immerse themselves in the culture, traditions and values of UTSA through programs and events.

Roadrunners Days includes events such as the Spring Get Involved Fair and the Transfer Student Welcome, which help give students a sense of belonging. The Spring Get Involved Fair is a great way for students to learn about the different student organizations on campus and how they can volunteer with them. Incoming transfer students will also benefit from the Transfer Student Welcome, where they will learn about campus resources specifically for transfer students.

Throughout the semester, students have the opportunity to cheer for the Roadrunners at men's and women's basketball, baseball, softball, tennis and track & field. Students get in free to all UTSA home sporting events. They can claim their free student tickets to each sport online.

Roadrunners can expect some new eats this spring, including the debut of Dragon Bowlz to the John Peace Library (JPL) Food Court. This fun venue offers Asian fusion meal options such as a selection of rice bowls, noodle bowls and pho, with sides including chicken wings, egg rolls and egg drop soup. It also serves vegetarian options and bubble tea.

Over the winter break, Sushic received a fresh look and is now adjacent to its previous spot in the JPL Food Court while Smoothie King has relocated from the JPL to a larger location in the H-E-B Student Union, across the Paseo from the Student Union Food Court.

Students will notice construction taking place on Blanco Hall, a new residential community that will house nearly 600 first-year students and sophomores on the Main Campus when it opens in June 2025.

As a living-learning community, Blanco Hall will feature educational resources, including a unique kitchen that will support UTSA’s program in dietetics. The complex will feature a variety of common spaces for study and community-building activities. Students will benefit from the hall’s proximity to dining options, existing residence communities and campus resources that enable students to develop personally and professionally.

Students can expect an improved Wi-Fi experience as they come back to campus. During the winter break, University Technology Solutions (UTS) made crucial upgrades to the AirRowdy Wi-Fi network. As classes begin, students will join faculty and staff in using the new, unified AirRowdy network, which has replaced the AirRowdy_FacultyStaff and AirRowdy_Student networks.

A valid UTSA parking permit is required to park on campus. A wide variety of permit options are available to suit various needs and budgets, including surface, garage, garage reserved and evening-only permits. Roadrunners can purchase their permit on MyParking.

Hourly paid parking options are also available. The reloadable FastPass is a convenient way to park in Main Campus garages without purchasing a permit. Another great hourly parking option is ParkMobile, which allows individuals to park in designated zones throughout campus and pay the hourly parking rate from their phone. 

Students who use the university’s shuttle service, The Runner, are also encouraged to track their shuttles in real time using The Runner GPS. Roadrunners also have convenient access to public transportation with  VIA U-Pass. To access their VIA U-Pass, ‘Runners can download the free VIA goMobile+ app and sign up with their UTSA email address.

— Valerie Bustamante Johnson