The University of Texas System recently hosted a reception at the Southwest Campus to recognize the forthcoming merger of UTSA and UT Health San Antonio and celebrate the significant impact it will have on the future of public higher education in our city and state. The event was attended by UT System leaders, state and local dignitaries, donors, champions of both universities and business and community leaders.
The reception’s program included remarks from UT System Chancellor James B. Milliken, UT System Board of Regents Chairman Kevin Eltife and UTSA President Taylor Eighmy. Each leader spoke to the immense value the new, merged university will bring forth, especially regarding academic, research and clinical services for South Texas.
“It is time to marshal the talent, size and scale of UTSA and UT Health San Antonio to multiply their roles as global leaders in education, health care and innovation,” emphasized Eltife.
“The impact of a unified presence is undeniable, and Texas will benefit immensely from this integration.”
The integration of UTSA and UT Health San Antonio reflects UT System’s strategic vision for Texas’ future. Together, the merged powerhouse institution will be positioned with the very best public research universities in the nation.
With UTSA’s strengths in engineering and computer science and UT Health San Antonio’s strengths in biomedical education, research and clinical care, the integration will reinforce and amplify successes in each field of expertise. It will also result in interdisciplinary synergies in research, broader educational opportunities for students and enhanced faculty and staff career development.
“The impact of a unified presence is undeniable, and Texas will benefit immensely from this integration, which, among many benefits, will enable greater public impact and enhanced global competitiveness,” said Milliken. “This initiative is about expanding and growing to align with the needs of the region and state, and to maximize the potential of two UT institutions that exist only miles apart.”
Upon integration in summer 2025, the newly unified university will stand as the third-largest research university in Texas (based on research expenditures), following the University of Texas at Austin and Texas A&M University. At the same time, it will encompass 40,000 students, 15,900 employees, $467 million in research expenditures, a $2.2 billion budget and $1.1 billion in endowments.
“Dr. Cigarroa articulated this so well; we are at a powerful inflection point toward greatness,” said Eighmy. “This opportunity is about us. It is what we do with this moment that is everything.”
