A look at the changing Middle East: Page 4
Are you ready for a zombie apocalypse: Page 6
Independent Student Newspaper for the University of Texas at San Antonio
October 16, 2012
Volume 47
Runners suffer first defeat
Issue 22
UTSA to phase
out CAP program Magalieh Acosta Staff Writer
Richard Castillo/The Paisano
news@paisano-online.com
Sophomore tight end Cole Hubble and the UTSA Roadrunners suffered their first defeat of the season at the hands of the Rice Owls, 14-34. UTSA was the last unbeaten team in Texas this season. See Page 7 for more.
Construction keeping pace with UTSA’s rapid growth Intern
news@paisano-online.com UTSA will soon be home to a host of new buildings, athletic complexes, additional housing for future students and several new parking garages. The overall goal of these projects is to promote campus growth in what UTSA is calling the Master Plan. “UTSA’s master plan is an integral part of this university’s direction,” said UTSA President Ricardo Romo, on UTSA’s website. “It reflects the values, goals and priorities of an institution that is becoming a premier public research university. It is my hope that this master plan will serve as a catalyst for the university’s growth.” According to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, “The new Academic and Administrative Office Building supports Closing the Gaps’ (CTG) goal to increase participation rates by promoting an increase in fulltime equivalent (FTE) enrollment at UTSA. This increase in FTE enrollment is best explained by the impact that the project has in the CTG goals of success and excellence. The addition of classroom and class laboratory space will provide much needed capacity that allows more flexibility for students to schedule and enroll in the courses needed to complete a degree in a timely manner.” The Closing the Gaps’ plan is directed at closing educational gaps in Texas as well as between Texas and other states. The plan was adopted by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board in 2000. “UTSA received the maximum score for usage efficiency of class lab and classroom space and has an academic space deficit of 1,247,026 sq ft,” according to the Adjusted 2011 Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board Space Projection Model. This is the second
highest space deficit among state universities according to the Legislative Appropriations Request from the University of Texas at San Antonio to the Governor’s office and the legislative budget board. While UTSA uses its space efficiently it is clear that space is running out. Space for additional classrooms and laboratories could increase
course offerings each semester. Classes are sometimes cancelled because the university does not have the space to accommodate additional students. To address rising student needs, space will be assigned for 14 classrooms on the first floor of the North Paseo Building Phase I, along with research labs on the second floor. This building
is designed to address deficits in administrative, classroom and lab space. The North Paseo Building Phase II behind the University Center between the McKinney Humanities building and North Parking Garage was completed Oct. 8, 2011. See Construction, Page 2
Photo Courtesy of UTSA
Lorilee Merchant
When completed, the North Paseo Building phase I will house 186,000 square feet of research labs, classrooms, lecture halls and administrative offices.
UTSA will phase out of UT Austin’s CAP system within the next 10 years. The phase-out is designed to boost UTSA’s own retention and graduation rates. UTSA is currently the number one destination for CAP students. The University of Texas System created the Coordinated Admission Program (CAP) to broaden admission options to students interested in attending the University of Texas at Austin, according to UT’s Be a Longhorn webpage. The program gives students who were initially denied admission to UT Austin a chance to enroll at UT Austin if they attend another UT system university their first year and meet specific academic benchmarks. Of the 824 CAP students enrolled in UTSA this fall, only one-third are expected to stay at UTSA, according to UTSA Vice President of Admissions George Norton. On average, only six percent of those CAP students graduate within four years. “The CAP students do affect the current 12 percent four-year graduation rate… they come here with the intention of leaving,” Norton said. “About one-third stay, one-third go to UT Austin, and the other one-third either go elsewhere or drop out.” In order to stay on the path towards Tier One status, UTSA incorporated the Graduation Rate Improvement Plan (GRIP) in late 2011. The goal of the plan is to improve retention and four-year graduation levels. However, about 70 percent of CAP students leave UTSA after their first year, according to GRIP. That percentage represents about one-fifth of all freshmen and lowers UTSA graduation and retention statistics by 10 percent. “The institution wants to spend its resources on UTSA degree-seekers,” Norton said. Former CAP students have their own opinion on the change. “I personally think it is a good change for the university, but I don’t feel UTSA should completely eliminate CAP,” said UT economics major Alyssa Levine. “It brings in a lot of students to the college and a lot of my fellow classmates stayed at UTSA because they liked it so much.” Levine attended UTSA in the fall 2009 and transferred to UT Austin the following year. Although she understands the reason for the change, Levine admits to having mixed feelings. “I would be upset if I were an incoming CAP student.” In fact, Levine’s younger sister, undeclared freshman Cassidy Levine, was affected by the change. Although Cassidy was interested in CAP, UT did not offer UTSA as an option for her. Instead, she was offered UT Brownsville and UT El Paso as CAP school options. Although Cassidy finds the change “bittersweet,” she said Tier One status “benefits UTSA because… more people are going to want to come to study here.” The admissions department is aware that CAP students provide revenue and tuition that will be lost once the program is discontinued; however, the university has a plan to counter that loss. “We plan to be recruiting UTSA degree-seeking students to take CAP students’ place,” Norton said. The university also hopes to “convert” UT hopefuls to UTSA students. “Keep in mind, CAP students didn’t get into UT. Austin is not even in the picture,” Norton pointed out. “Although we love the Longhorns, we want students to be Roadrunners,” he said.