The UTSA Transfer and Transition Student Success Services (T2S3) was selected as recipient of the 2022 John N. Gardner Institutional Excellence for Students in Transition Award by the National Resource Center for the First-Year Experience and Students in Transition. The award recognizes institutions that have designed and implemented outstanding collaborative initiatives to enhance significant transitions during the undergraduate experience.
The Center publicly acknowledged T2S3 senior director Barbara Smith, who accepted the award on behalf of her team and the university, during the Center’s recent National Conference.
“Transfer students are an important part of our Roadrunner family, and we are committed to supporting and celebrating their success throughout their academic journey,” said Tammy Wyatt, vice provost for student success. “This recognition by the National Resource Center for the First-Year Experience and Students in Transition affirms UTSA’s success in enabling and promoting transition pathways for aspiring students in San Antonio and Texas.”
“Transfer students are an important part of our Roadrunner family, and we are committed to supporting and celebrating their success throughout their academic journey.”
The award specifically recognized UTSA’s work with Alamo Colleges District (ACD) leadership to build an Admission and Enrollment Agreement between the institutions with cross-collaborative components across multiple areas, resulting in a seamless process for transfer students.
Approximately 40% of UTSA undergraduates are transfer students, and ACD is the top feeder college for UTSA transfer students. Last month, UTSA and ACD announced an expansion of their transfer partnership, to include the Promise-to-Promise program, which enables Alamo Colleges students in the AlamoPROMISE program to transfer to UTSA and have their tuition and fees covered for up to two academic years through the UTSA Bold Promise program.
In its ninth year, the John N. Gardner Institutional Excellence for Students in Transition Award has become a well-respected and highly competitive distinction. The award is designed to encourage and enable scholarly research on issues related to supporting student success.
“I expect this Admission and Enrollment Agreement between the University of Texas at San Antonio and Alamo Colleges will result in students who are more well-rounded due to the abundance of resources afforded to them through this program,” said Jennifer R. Keup, executive director of the National Resource Center for The First-Year Experience and Students in Transition.
UTSA is a Tier One research university and a Hispanic Serving Institution specializing in cyber, health, fundamental futures, and social-economic transformation. UTSA aspires to become a model for student success, a great public research university, and an exemplar for strategic growth and innovative excellence. The first-year retention rate for UTSA’s Fall 2021 transfer student cohort is 82% which is higher than the national average according to a report by the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center.
