Celebrating an Audacious 2016

Dear Members of the University Community:

It is truly a joyful time of the year when we come together to celebrate our students at graduation, enjoy fellowship with our loved ones and reflect on the close of another semester. Please join me at Commencement today at 4 p.m., where we'll witness 653 graduates and enjoy the faculty and staff reception at the Freeman Coliseum, immediately after the ceremony.  

As we end 2016, please take a moment to pause and celebrate our audacious year. I am extraordinarily proud of our collective accomplishments and the importance of Texas A&M-San Antonio in our region. Please take a moment to view a video montage of our year. 

Traditionally the New Year is a time for resolutions and reflections. As we look to 2017, we have much ahead of us. The 85th Texas legislative session will convene in January and the President's Cabinet will remain focused on the future by implementing our strategic plan and growing the financial, human and physical resources of our great University.  Throughout the spring semester we shall remain focused on the academic and student success initiatives that are underway and support the newly formed Assessment Committee under Provost Mike O'Brien and the Retention Committee under Vice President Melissa Mahan. As we enter the second semester as a comprehensive university we shall continue supporting and reviewing the newly launched high impact practices and initiatives to ensure they have the intended student, faculty or staff impact. As I often say "It's not perfect, yet," so, we must remain diligent in continuously improving student and academic success.

In the spring, I will elevate our collective campus dialogue about contemporary issues focused on equity and diversity. The President's Commission on Equity and Inclusive Excellence shall review practices to enhance our on-going commitment to educational equity and access. The Commission shall: (1) advise the President about pro-active support for the broadest forms of diversity, the intersectionality of various forms of identities and social relations on our campus community; (2) review relevant support services needed by students, faculty and staff; (3) bolster our efforts at professional development; and (4) examine campus communication methods to educate and inform our community about inclusive excellence. This group shall launch in late January 2017. If you're interested in serving in this group, please contact Ms. Jan Mundine, Executive Assistant at jan.mundine@tamusa.edu. 

I wish you a restful and joyous holiday season and I look forward to seeing you at Commencement.

Sincerely,

Dr. Cynthia Teniente-Matson
President