UTSA educates nearly 5,000 veteran and military-connected students.

(June 14, 2019) -- UTSA has once again been selected by Victory Media as a top 10 Military Friendly School for its support of its military student population.

This year, Victory Media ranked UTSA No. 6 in the nation, based on six areas of evaluation including academic policies and compliance, admissions and orientation, culture and commitment, financial aid and assistance, graduation and career, and military student support and retention.

“Our selection as a top 10 school is an indication of just how much UTSA values and appreciates all those who wear the uniform,” said Ret. Colonel Lisa Firmin, UTSA associate vice president of Veteran and Military Affairs. “The Office of Veteran and Military Affairs has been intentional about visibly supporting veterans and military affiliated students. This ranking is another validation of how focused we are on helping our military community succeed.”

This year, UTSA introduced priority registration for veterans, an online certification application process and a tailored Orientation session for new students from military backgrounds. The university has also consolidated its veteran services within a new Center for Military Affiliated Students (CMAS) to help members of the military community more easily navigate the university.

>> Learn about the resources that define UTSA as military campus USA.

“As part of the CMAS roll out, a vet hangout space is opening this summer. This is a place for our military affiliated roadrunners to network, socialize and be able to experience esprit de corps similar to what they had while serving,” said Firmin.

Firmin noted that UTSA is constantly working to sharpen its skills to help veterans successfully transition from military life to student life. For example, UTSA is facilitating a Veteran Academic Inquiry and Scholarship (AIS) course for the first time this year. This course will be titled AIS – Rules Of Engagement (ROE) for Vets and will consist of several components all designed to ease the integration from the military into higher education.

This is all a part of the vision for UTSA when it began 50 years ago.

“UTSA was founded in 1969 to serve the community and to help San Antonio achieve its full potential,” said Firmin.

According to the City of San Antonio’s Office of Military and Veteran Affairs, approximately 250,000 veterans live in San Antonio. About 15 percent of UTSA’s total student population, or 5,000 students, include active duty military members, veterans, reserves/guard, and their spouses or dependents plus ROTC.

Considering the large military presence in the city, as well as the diversity of the military population, UTSA is making a direct and strong contribution toward fulfilling the purpose the institution was charged with 50 years ago as the region’s first four-year, public, urban serving university.