UTSA Launches Initiatives to Improve Student Achievement

Promotion of open educational resources

Promotion of open educational resources (OER) aims to distribute free, customizable learning materials throughout UTSA, making learning more accessible and accessible to all students while improving the quality of teaching and learning.

The initiative builds on the university’s commitment to supporting student success and removing barriers to higher education. Since 2016, UTSA Libraries have been leader in OER advocacyhelping students save more than $13 million through programs like the Adopt-A-Free-Textbook grant.

“By eliminating the financial and accessibility barriers associated with expensive commercial textbooks, OER helps create a more equitable and engaging learning environment for students,” the company said. Dean HendricksUTSA Vice Provost and University Librarian.

Educators also benefit from the flexibility offered by selecting open educational resources.

“Using OER gives instructors more freedom to innovate their teaching while also ensuring students have immediate access to course materials,” the company said. Melissa VitoUTSA Vice Provost for Academic Innovation.

This task force, co-chaired by Hendricks and Vito, will evaluate the current use of OER, identify opportunities for expansion, and recommend strategies to integrate the implementation of high-quality, low-cost instructional materials at UTSA, particularly in the core curriculum and in high-enrollment courses. .

Improved well-being

Improved well-being The initiative builds on UTSA’s long-standing commitment to student well-being. Recent advances demonstrate the university’s focus on students’ physical and mental health, e.g. Partnership with Wellness 360 with UT Health San Antonio and 24/7 virtual TimelyCare platform. Besides, UTSA Wellness Services offers a variety of programs, services and resources focused on prevention, education and advocacy.

Co-Chair LT RobinsonSenior Vice Provost and Dean of Students at UTSA, and Tammy WyattUTSA Senior Vice Provost for Student Success, a new task force aims to continue these efforts by developing new opportunities that align with eight dimensions of well-being: emotional, environmental, financial, intellectual, vocational, physical, social and spiritual.

“We have made significant progress in supporting student well-being, and it is important to continue to expand our efforts to ensure we meet the growing needs of our community,” Robinson said. “Our goal is to create a campus culture in which every student feels empowered to seek the support they need to succeed—academically, socially, and emotionally.”

Well-being is fundamental to student success, Wyatt added.

“We are committed to making UTSA a leader in this area by integrating multidimensional aspects of well-being into the core of our academic and university culture,” Wyatt said. “This task force will ensure that every student, regardless of background or experience, has access to the tools they need to succeed.”

The task force will evaluate current programs, policies and practices, identify gaps, and develop strategic recommendations to increase resources and create a campus environment that actively supports student well-being.

Expanding Peer Mentoring and Leadership

Expanding peer mentoring and leadership programs The initiative aims to strengthen UTSA’s support for students’ personal, academic and professional growth.

UTSA offers a number of existing programs that provide mentoring and leadership development by supporting first-year, first-generation or transfer students, as well as through specialized university-wide and college-specific initiatives.

Co-chaired by Wyatt and Jill FleurierUTSA Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education, this task force will evaluate existing programs and national best practices to identify growth opportunities appropriate Carnegie’s Leadership for Public Purposes classification criteria. During this review, they will develop recommendations for creating scalable and effective mentoring and leadership opportunities that all students have access to from entry to graduation.

“This initiative will connect our students with mentors who can help them navigate the unique challenges of university life and beyond,” Fleurier said. “Our goal is to develop student skills and confidence while fostering a culture in which students feel supported and empowered to lead and meaningfully contribute to the vibrant life of the UTSA campus.”