FAQs

Integration is a people-focused and methodical process, involving stakeholder engagement to inform decisions as the institutions merge fully over the next 3 to 5 years. The first phase (September 2024 – August 2025) focused on acquiring accreditation for the integrated institution by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), as well as launching a mission statement and brand for the unified university, UT San Antonio. The second phase, that began in Sept. 2025 will focus on academic integration. This process is intended to be seamless for students and those we serve, supporting continuity of our day-to-day operations and missions while focusing on our boundless opportunities for the future. This phase also includes launching Functional Integration, which focuses on assessing the current state of each division across the university and using that understanding to design a transformative future state for the integrated institution.

Plans to merge the institutions, the integration process and proposed timeline were presented to the campus communities and included early engagement through campus task forces and working groups. The individuals in these groups provided valuable insights, data and ideas to best support the initial phase of the integration process. The universities worked together in the months that followed to prepare a prospectus — a plan that described the processes and procedures to be used for merging. The plan articulated the formal merger of two fully accredited, financially strong and well-respected institutions. The prospectus received approval by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) in June 2025 and was presented to the UT System Board of Regents by the Chancellor through ongoing updates. The work of integrating the two institutions is ongoing and includes various Task Forces, Working Groups and Functional Integration teams.

“The University of Texas at San Antonio” is the regental name of the overarching institution composed of all academic and research enterprises. “UT San Antonio “will also be used to refer to the university. Brand development has evolved to maintain a strong, integrated presence that supports the mission and enhances the university’s impact in education, health care and research.

The UT System Board of Regents officially named Taylor Eighmy, President of the integrated institution UT San Antonio on Aug. 20, 2025. He serves as the inaugural president of the institution created through the merger between The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio and The University of Texas at San Antonio.

UT San Antonio has many campuses, and the Main Campus remains as one of the academic campuses. Each of the campuses within the UT San Antonio campus network throughout San Antonio will retain its unique focus and mission, reflecting its specialized work and educational goals. This approach ensures that all campuses continue to excel in their respective areas — whether academic, research, patient care or community outreach — while benefiting from the new synergies created through integration. The strengths of each campus will be reflected to enhance the university’s overall impact and serve students, patients and communities more effectively. Exciting downtown expansion efforts continue.

The website for the unified new institution is utsa.edu, and the health campus is retaining its existing website uthscsa.edu. Each website will retain its unique content, and employees can continue to find information and tools to do their work on their respective websites.  Website changes for each institution’s existing sites will evolve over time to align with updates in the integration process.

The “UTSA” name retains powerful brand equity and cultural significance and will continue to be used selectively in contexts where it resonates most. This includes athletics, where “UTSA” remains prominently featured on team uniforms, facilities, and promotional materials. The name may also be used in select student-facing programs and initiatives that foster school spirit and uphold university traditions. Additionally, “UTSA” may appear in city signage and wayfinding applications, such as directional or street signs, where it aids in public recognition and continuity.

Yes, Rowdy remains our beloved mascot, and the Roadrunner spirit lives on in the new institution.

UTSA’s Athletics program is growing significantly in success and profile and is elevated even more through an integrated university. The growth of the university helps to further drive community engagement and regional and statewide pride in San Antonio. Enhanced visibility through athletics will continue to attract top talent, boost enrollment and foster alumni support. The existing supportive relationship between UTSA Athletics and UT Health San Antonio will continue to flourish with access for all students to needed specialists and high-quality health care services. As such an important part of San Antonio’s collegiate culture and hometown pride, UTSA Athletics will also serve to unify and energize the community, reinforcing San Antonio’s status as a nationally leading urban hub and enhancing the overall impact of the newly integrated institution.

Accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) ensures that the newly integrated institution continues to meet the rigorous standards for providing a high-quality education and remains eligible for federal funding (including financial aid for students) operating transparently and with integrity. Both UTSA and UT Health San Antonio were separately accredited by SACSCOC and complied with all standards of the Commission. The integration of the two institutions prompts what is categorized as a Substantive Change, which warrants a review of the accrediting standards and applicable requirements for the newly integrated university.

In August 2024, the university sought approval from SACSCOC to begin work on a prospectus, which was developed and formally submitted by March 2025. Approval from SACSCOC was received in June 2025. In October 2025, a site visit team from SACSCOC is scheduled to visit the newly merged university to verify ongoing compliance with all accreditation standards. Following the visit, the university anticipates addressing any follow-up items identified by the review team in spring 2026. At its June 2026 meeting, the university will formally request that the SACSCOC Board of Trustees affirm continued accreditation status as a single merged institution. Operational areas across both campuses will continue to integrate, and the university will provide updates and reports along the way to the UT System Chancellor, Board of Regents and government agencies for all necessary authorizations. In addition to SACSCOC, all accreditation requirements, such as those for CODA, CCNE and LCME, will continue to be met.

The application and admissions processes for the 2025–2026 academic year are not impacted. Any future changes will be carefully evaluated and communicated to ensure a smooth transition for prospective students. As part of the integration, dedicated working groups are exploring opportunities for program growth, enhanced collaboration, and improvements in admissions and recruitment processes — all with a focus on continuously enhancing the student experience. The members of the integration task forces and working groups remain committed to supporting prospective students by ensuring that the admissions process is clear, easy to navigate and provides meaningful value. Our goal is to enhance student access while aligning with the university’s long-term vision for growth and opportunity.

Additionally, the Health Science Center Student Career Planning Working Group will assess student recruitment, external application portals, and post-degree program pathways to ensure alignment across the new university for undergraduate students, while also addressing the unique requirements of students on the health campus.

Graduate admissions policies remain unchanged for the 2025–2026 academic year, ensuring stability for prospective students. As we look ahead, the Academic, Student, and Faculty Affairs Task Force has established dedicated Working Groups to explore opportunities for graduate program growth, increased collaboration, and enhanced admissions and recruitment efforts. Any future changes will be thoughtfully developed and communicated well in advance to support prospective students in their academic journey. This integration presents an exciting opportunity to strengthen and expand graduate education, fostering a more dynamic and interconnected university community.

There have been no changes for the 2025–2026 application cycle. The integration’s impact on the future application process for health sciences, medical and lab programs has not yet been evaluated but will be reviewed by the appropriate task forces.

The Academic, Student, and Faculty Affairs Task Force and the Health Education Task Force have established the Health Science Center Student Career Planning Working Group to evaluate student recruitment and external application portals, each with its own distinct processes and requirements. This work group inventoried admissions and post-degree program portals that require updates and developed a communication plan for prospective and current students.

The task force remains committed to ensuring a smooth transition and supporting the needs of all students throughout this process.

For the 2025–26 academic year, students will continue to pay the existing mandatory fees at their respective institutions, and no new mandatory fees are being introduced as a result of the integration at this time. All students will remain on the existing fee structure.

We are currently in a transition phase. As part of this process, the Academic, Student, and Faculty Affairs (ASFA) Task Force and the Mandatory Student Fees Working Group are overseeing the evaluation and planning of future student fee structures. These groups will provide options on how fee changes may be implemented and how transitions will be communicated to students.

Tuition and fee structures will continue to be determined independently by each institution for the academic year 2025-2026.

The most accurate and up-to-date cost of attendance information is available through the official websites of each university:

• UTSA Cost of Attendance
• UT Health Tuition and Fee Schedules

These websites serve as the central sources for information about program tuition, fees, and related costs.

As part of the integration process, the Academic, Faculty, and Student Affairs (AFSA) Task Force is leading efforts to enhance the student experience across both institutions. The task force has established working groups to identify opportunities for academic program development, increased collaboration, and improvements in admissions and recruitment practices. Composed of representatives from both universities, the task force is committed to supporting prospective students by ensuring that admissions processes are clear, accessible, and aligned with a shared vision for long-term growth, opportunity, and student success.

Currently, the Promise Plus Program is only for eligible undergraduate students. With SACSCOC approval, the merger between UTSA and UT Health San Antonio became official on September 1, 2025, kicking off a multi-year integration process. As part of this process, potential expanded funding for the program will be evaluated. At this time, we do not anticipate any changes to the eligibility of the program.

No changes will be made to graduate student stipends during the 2025-2026 academic year. Looking ahead, the Academic, Student, and Faculty Affairs Task Force has established dedicated working groups to explore opportunities for graduate education and support. Any future changes will be thoughtfully developed and communicated well in advance to support students in their academic journey.

For the 2025–26 academic year, there will be no changes to the academic calendar, and the new integrated institution will not have a single unified academic calendar. Instead, a master calendar will provide an overview, while allowing each program and school to continue managing their own internal calendars, reflecting the standards for programmatic accreditation as appropriate.

All currently enrolled students and new student matriculants at the Health Science Center who started their academic programs as of August 31, 2025, will be provided with two diplomas upon successful completion of their academic program. One diploma will be issued from The University of Texas at San Antonio; the second diploma will be issued from The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. Students filing for graduation will be responsible for paying the approved, customary graduation fee applicable at the Health Science Center; however, there will be no additional charge for the issuance of the second diploma. This provision of two diplomas will be provided within six years of the date of the institutional merger, September 1, 2025.

This will continue to be evaluated as thoughtful and comprehensive work is conducted by task forces and working groups composed of faculty, administrators, researchers, clinicians and staff. Most of the programs at the institution’s academic and health campuses are not competitive or duplicative, but in fact, are distinctive and complementary.

Yes. For $30/month, students and employees of the unified UT San Antonio (including the health campuses and facilities) can purchase a membership with full access to UTSA Campus Recreation facilities and programs (excluding intramural sports) through August 2026. Club sports are available with some additional fees. Memberships can be purchased at the Main or Downtown Campus recreation centers with a government-issued ID and employee ID.

Email addresses are not expected to change in the near future. Given the complexities of URL integration and the domain dependencies within each institution’s unique technology environment, maintaining stability is a key priority to ensure seamless operations across our systems.

As we move forward in our functional integration process, we will explore ways to fully showcase the breadth and depth of our new, unified university. Our goal is to leverage all of our assets — including digital identity and branding — to reinforce our position as a preeminent institution. Any future decisions about email and domain alignment will be carefully considered with input from our IT leadership and university community to ensure a smooth transition that best serves faculty, staff, and students.

We understand there are many important operational details to address over this multi-phased, multi-year process. At this time, there are no changes to employee benefits at either institution due to the integration. When any potential changes or enhancements are explored, employees will be provided with clear and comprehensive information.

The existing task forces address staff needs in numerous ways. Updates from these task forces will be communicated through the Integration Management Office (IMO), allowing timely and relevant updates to staff through established campus communication channels. This process ensures that staff needs and interests are consistently considered and addressed across various initiatives.

The Workforce Strategies Task Force launched in October 2025 to support our faculty and staff with a focus on current and future programs, offerings and related policies impacting our employees. Multiple working groups will be established with opportunities for stakeholder input, and Amy Tawney, MBA, SPHR, SHRM-SCP, will serve as the leader of Human Resources for our newly integrated university.

The primary focus of the integration is on expansion and innovation that will likely lead to the creation of new roles and opportunities. While it is premature to speculate on job numbers at this time, the collective aim is to foster an environment where talent can thrive, support new ventures, and contribute to overall success for those we serve, our city, Texas and the nation. The merger is designed to build on strengths currently situated at both institutions and position them for long-term growth.

Yes. Existing resources and library spaces remain available at each legacy institution, with expanded on-site access at the John Peace Library and Downtown Library for all legacy UTSA and UT Health San Antonio students.

Yes. The libraries are working together to expand access over time, balancing academic needs with licensing requirements and costs. Announcements will be shared in advance, and feedback is always welcome through the Libraries & Collections Working Group. For more details, visit the Libraries FAQ pages at your legacy institution.

• Legacy UTSA FAQs
• Legacy UT Health San Antonio FAQs

Integrating UT Health San Antonio and UTSA into a single premier university adds immeasurable value to San Antonio. By marshaling the full force of their complementary strengths as one, the unified institution expands academic programs and joint degree programs to attract more students, expand healthcare services and accelerate groundbreaking research — particularly at the intersection of the health sciences with the fields of engineering, applied sciences, and data science. It helps address the region’s burgeoning health needs, drives economic growth, advances innovation, draws new partnerships and turbocharges the university’s ability to compete with top national institutions and achieve its fullest potential as a premier global university.

UT Health San Antonio and UTSA have had strong trajectories, each with unique yet complementary strengths. Their educational and research programs did not compete; instead, collaborations and unified initiatives were steadily growing. Together, their combined size and scale brought significant advantages, expanded capabilities, and accelerated progress toward elevating San Antonio’s standing as a global leader in academia, health and research. This once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to bring those two powerful institutions together ultimately positioned UT San Antonio to stand among the nation’s top public universities.

The merged university includes over 42,000 students, a workforce of 17,000 employees, including almost 4,000 faculty and 1,400 health care providers, $486M in research expenditures, a combined budget of $2.4B, an endowment of $1.3B, and more than $7B in direct economic impact. Job growth is expected to increase to meet the growing demands of this institution particularly in research, academia and clinical care.

It is too early to know specific details about the positive financial and specific measurable impact; however, the integration of UTSA and UT Health San Antonio is designed to grow the overall institution. The goals of the merger include attracting significant research funding and philanthropic support, bolstering federal grants and industry partnerships, expanding program offerings and services, improving efficient operations to support large-scale medical and scientific initiatives, and reinforcing its status as a top-tier academic and health institution.

Merging the complementary institutions leads to:

• Expanding academic program offerings to attract more students and building a clear pathway from undergraduate to graduate programs for students, especially in the health sciences. It will also create more joint degree programs between academic and health professions, enhancing the potential for more joint STEM programs, and growing health-business programs beyond current MBA and executive leadership programs.
• Accelerating the research enterprise particularly around the intersection of the health sciences with the fields of engineering, applied sciences and data sciences, building new collaborations with industry and government partners, including the military, and increasing the competitive edge to attract more grants and contracts to San Antonio.
• Amplifying the clinical enterprise to catalyze new collaborations between the unified institution, the new UT Health San Antonio Multispecialty and Research Hospital, and the broader county health system. UT Health San Antonio is also vital to the operation and success of the South Texas Medical Center, which serves 38 Texas counties.
• Bolstering the development of a skilled professional workforce in high-demand health and industry areas critical to the region and Texas and positioning the combined entities’ new integration to bolster the number of essential healthcare, business and technology professionals drawn to a city with a comprehensive academic and health center.
• Fostering more seamless collaboration among faculty in teaching, research, healthcare and service to facilitate maximum success in the classroom, lab and across the continuum of patient care.
• Multiplying technological advancements and commercialization in areas such as biomedical devices, healthy aging, precision therapeutics, brain health and more. Such therapeutic advances will also provide major economic development for San Antonio by driving education, employment and biopharmaceutical infrastructure.
• Producing greater data-driven healthcare to improve individualized diagnosis and treatment and enhanced application of precision medicine.
• Combining and accelerating fundraising appeal and success to present collaborative opportunities for donors, foundations and agencies.
• Positioning the university well for future growth to build upon success within the San Antonio and Texas R&D landscapes, including the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H Texas) hub and many San Antonio nonprofit research partners including Texas Biomedical Research Institute (TBRI) and Southwest Research Institute (SwRI).
• Achieving recognition as a premier global university alongside new peers nationally and globally, including the best comprehensive research universities that are composed of health sciences, engineering, data science and a full range of other disciplines. From the visual and performing arts to athletics, education, business, urban planning, behavioral sciences, medicine, and much more, this new comprehensive university plants a flag in San Antonio and Texas that will be recognized around the world.

The idea of merging UTSA and UT Health San Antonio was studied in 2002 and 2010. Today, the advancements of both institutions over the years have been positive and steep, and the value proposition has never been greater. Both institutions have experienced positive growth trajectories while the educational and health care landscapes have evolved. The current strategic environment — marked by increasing national competitiveness in research and a growing demand and advantage for integrated academic and health systems—presented a new, exciting case for integration. This new opportunity aligns with the need to ensure a world-class university that will compete with top national peers.

There are many successful examples across the U.S. of universities where academic and health components have long existed as one institution or were integrated, resulting in strengthening the overall position as a global leading research university and medical center. Some of the top national universities with this structure include The University of Michigan, The University of California Los Angeles and The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

The UT System has a proven track record of successful institutional realignments and expansions, including the creation of The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley and its medical school, the merger of UT Tyler with UT Health Science Center Tyler, the acquisition of Stephen F. Austin State University as a UT institution, the creation of a UT MD Anderson hospital, a new UT Austin hospital on the UT Austin campus, and the planned expansion of UT Arlington into west Fort Worth.