Integrated Planning Framework

Academic Affairs uses an intentional planning and operational framework to advance and guide the university’s systematic progress towards three destinations: to be a Model of Student Success, a Great Research University, and an Exemplar of Innovation & Strategic Growth. These destinations are outlined in UTSA’s strategic planning and implementation pathway set forth by President Eighmy in 2017. 

Academic Affairs is composed of three types of units that together achieve the desired, collective outcomes:

• Academic Colleges are home to high quality degree programs that attract students from across the globe, and are designed to support the university’s faculty in their instructional, research, and service efforts.
• Academic Support Divisions provide a portfolio of services in defined functions to  benefit students and faculty, and coordinate activities across the university, working with college leadership, to achieve the respective functional outcomes.
• Cross-cutting Sections promote integrated planning and service to the colleges and divisions, as well as with other university offices. These sections include Institutional Research & Analysis, Academic Finance & Administration, and Academic Strategic Communications.

College- and Division-Specific Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) define what each unit plans to accomplish together.

Specific KPIs pinpoint each college and division goal, facilitate operational awareness, and allow us to assess our continued progress.

Annual Targets chart our systematic course toward our destinations.

Through institutional analysis and matrixed articulation between academic colleges and support divisions, annual target metrics are determined and provided to help leadership visualize the incremental gains needed to achieve our goals.

A Focus on Student Thriving is foundational and universal.

Academic Affairs puts a significant focus on student thriving. Through major new initiatives and in our day-to-day activities, Academic Affairs creates work plans and tactics that address students’ immediate support needs while helping them plan for long-term success. College and Division leaders lay out their focus and activities for the year to move the dial, advance strategic initiatives and promote systematic gains towards our destinations.

Collaborative, joint teaming is our method.

Through intentional, cross-functional organization and integrative efforts, using participatory shared governance processes, Academic Affairs delivers key outcomes that support UTSA’s three destinations.

Continuous Evaluation provides direction for next steps.

Data dashboards and annual performance review form the basis of ongoing evaluation of our work and inform the selection and prioritization of future initiatives, tactics, and action steps.