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Dear Jaguars,
As I conclude my third month at A&M-San Antonio, I am more convinced than ever about what a special place this University is and of the great potential we have for the future. I’ve continued with my listening tour and will be scheduling two open forums for students in the very near future. In the meantime, I wanted to share a few campus updates that you may find of interest.
Listening Tour
My fall internal listening tour is continuing. Thus far, I have had 32 listening opportunities and several additional sessions are scheduled, with more to come. I have learned a significant amount about the important work that is being accomplished at the University and also about what we need to do differently or better.
When I’ve completed the listening sessions with all of the employee and student groups, I will be sharing the insights from them with several campus groups and leaders, including the Student Government Association, to seek their perspectives on how best to improve the learning and working environment for our campus community.
Dream Maker Gala
Our annual Dream Maker gala, which raises funds for scholarship support for students, was held on Oct. 25. We were fortunate that the forecasted rain held off and we were able to host a beautiful event in the Central Academic Building (CAB) courtyard. This year we raised a record $291,400 for student scholarships—up 20% from 2022!
Three-Year Academic Calendar
In order to assist faculty, staff and students in planning and preparing for upcoming academic years, we have established a three-year academic calendar that provides important dates such as the start and end of the semester, registration dates, add and drop deadlines, etc. Please note that while we don’t anticipate changes, adjustments could be made due to unexpected circumstances.
Clearing the Way for Education and Public Health Building
In order to prepare for the construction of our new Education and Public Health Building beginning in spring 2024, the portable buildings behind the CAB will be relocated elsewhere on campus. It is anticipated that the relocation will begin either late this month or in early December.
Parking
Last month, I announced the pilot program for a Lot 3 shuttle, which went into service on Oct. 30. I hope that it has helped to ease some of the frustration with parking but of course, longer-term solutions are needed. I am working with the Vice President for Business Affairs, Len Cullo, and the campus planning and parking teams on a long-term plan to address our parking needs and expect to be able to announce some solutions before the end of the semester.
Dining and Housing Task Force
In addition to outgrowing our parking capacity, we’ve outgrown our current housing and dining facilities. As you know, we are on track to open our second residence hall at the start of the 2024-25 academic year. The hall will house approximately 380 students, bringing our on-campus housing capacity to nearly 800. This planned increase in residential students, as well as the growth in our numbers of faculty and staff, also puts stress on our dining services. It is important that we examine our housing and dining capacities and prepare for continued growth. To that end, I have established a dining and housing task force to provide recommendations regarding these matters.
Exciting News from Intercollegiate Athletics and Recreational Sports
Track and Field and Softball Facilities
We have now finalized our agreement with Bexar County regarding their $10 million contribution to build softball and track & field facilities that will primarily serve our Athletics programs but also be shared with the community. This was the final hurdle to clear to move the construction project forward. A construction timeline will be shared as soon as it’s available.
Expansion of Athletics
As part of the commitment we made when seeking membership in the Red River Athletic Conference, we are required to reach a minimum of six sports. Darnell Smith, director of athletics, has led a lengthy planning process to make a recommendation on how best to satisfy this requirement. I am very excited to announce that beginning with the 2024-25 academic year, we will be adding men’s and women’s basketball to our roster of athletics programs.
Closing Thoughts
It’s hard to believe that the holiday season is just around the corner. I’m looking forward to my first Lights of Esperanza on Tuesday, Nov. 28, and encourage you all to attend with your families and friends. As we begin to approach the end of the semester, I wish you the best of luck as you complete your fall courses and begin to prepare for finals. Thank you for being a part of the Jaguar family.
Sincerely,
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