The changing landscape of higher-ed
Writer: Jerrica DuBois
February 2022 — Institutions of higher learning have made a variety of adjustments to navigate the past two years. Invest: sat down with local leaders to discuss the current state of the education sector in San Antonio and what that landscape might look like moving forward.
Cynthia Teniente-Matson, President, Texas A&M University-San Antonio
We are in a moment of great change, and universities across the nation are in a period of transition and, ideally, responsiveness. One element that will not change is the university’s role in helping transform lives and communities. This is what universities are intended to do – we are at the forefront of contributing to how individuals become who they are meant to be. We do this by providing safe spaces for the process of discovery and sharing, ultimately helping our students to cross the stage with credentials that matter and prepare these individuals to be successful and career ready.
Taylor Eighmy, President, The University of Texas at San Antonio
We are very thoughtfully cultivating our economy here in San Antonio and Texas. On the human talent side, we and all other higher education institutions in this region want to graduate young people who are prepared to thrive in the workforce and in life. Of course, we are also focused on the economic development side of things and attracting companies to stay in, grow in or come to San Antonio to produce the jobs our young people need. Our greatest challenge is advancing the production of workforce talent and creating an economy that fosters job growth, allowing our young people to remain and thrive within the region. This is all part of the grand approach to appropriately growing San Antonio in a way that allows all parts of our community to thrive. Education plays a critical role in that approach. We’re all born with the same potential but are not afforded the same opportunities. Education addresses that inequity – it is the greatest equalizer there is. The local business community is united on our path, and there’s an exciting, harmonious convergence taking place.
Adena Williams Loston, President, St. Philip’s College
Every educational institution — public, private, two-year, four-year — should have a protocol where everybody can have access to the learning environment. Everyone should have access to scholarships that ease or eliminate the cost barrier. We partner with universities across Texas to ensure that our students can transfer seamlessly into baccalaureate programs, saving them time and money. We partner with local businesses, including H-E-B, Toyotetsu Texas, University Health Systems, and CPS Energy on internships, so students can apprentice in their chosen fields while attending classes. Students get paid for their work and get a foot in the door before finishing college. In this way, we support regional economic growth.
Thomas Evans, President, University of the Incarnate Word
As a whole, higher education in San Antonio is working on accessibility and ensuring that we can meet students where they are. We work collaboratively with other universities and colleges in the city and make time to discuss the challenges and issues we face together. We want to maintain traditional methods, but also evolve to offer more options to meet students’ needs and situations to help ensure that students who want to pursue higher education have a pathway to be successful in a way that works for them and that benefits our larger San Antonio community.
I think hybrid learning is going to be a critical component in education for the foreseeable future. For instance, at UIW, hybrid course delivery has made communication with our campuses in Mexico more immediate and students more connected, despite the physical distance.
Danny Anderson, President, Trinity University
Each institution in the region plays a different role, providing a diverse talent pool. Each institution has a part in ensuring the success of its students and the local economy. The skills that our students receive from a liberal arts and sciences institution like Trinity will help them to stand out as critical thinkers, great writers and presenters, and emerging leaders. We want students to leave our campus with the knowledge of how to be a constant learner. In San Antonio alone, many of our alumni are founders of some of the most important businesses in the city. As you think about the workforce, Trinity’s approach is to be broad in preparing students to be adaptable. Our students are incredibly entrepreneurial and pragmatic. They’ll contribute in a way that makes a difference in the businesses they’re a part of.
Join these area leaders as they move the discussion forward on the importance of collaboration in the education sector at the Invest: San Antonio 2022 Launch Conference on Wednesday, March 2nd at 11AM Central Time.
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