The University of Texas at San Antonio
89TH LEGISLATIVE SESSION
JOINT STRATEGY
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Will the two institutions have a joint Legislative Appropriations Request (LAR)?
No. For the 89th Session and for the foreseeable future, the two institutions will have separate LARs. As both institutions have been on a steep trajectory advancing research, it is critical for both institutions – and the future integrated university – to maintain established funding mechanisms that will continue to support ongoing growth and innovation in their respective fields. Below are the respective highlight legislative priorities:
UT Health San Antonio
• $20M in start-up funds to support the joint UT School of Public Health San Antonio.
• Formula Funding for physical plant and utilities per square feet, weighted (academic) programs, medical and clinical research, and Graduate Medical Education (GME).
UT San Antonio
• $32M for a new College of AI, Cyber, Computing & Data Science.
• $14M for the San Antonio Life Sciences Institute (SALSI).
2. What is UT Health San Antonio’s and UT San Antonio’s top joint legislative priority?
Support legislative investment to match community funding for The University of Texas School of Public Health San Antonio. Opened in August 2024 and already highly ranked, the “People’s School of Public Health” offers strong academic programs and focuses on research addressing South Texas community health issues. It also collaborates with public health entities across a 38-county service area.
3. Will legislative action be necessary to complete the integration?
No, not at this time. The integration process will adhere to the UT System framework established by the Board of Regents, drawing on protocols from prior institutional mergers, such as that of UT Tyler. This multi-year endeavor is expected to span three or more years. UT System, UT Health San Antonio, and UT San Antonio are steadfast in their commitment to maintain transparent and consistent communication with legislative leaders, members, and their staff.
4. Why are UT Health San Antonio and UT San Antonio in the process of integrating their complementary strengths into one, single university right before the 89th Legislative Session begins?
In August, the UT System Board of Regents instructed the leadership to begin collaborating further and produce an integration plan to achieve a unified institution to enhance educational opportunities, research growth, and clinical services. While maintaining separate bill patterns, both institutions will continue to move forward with their complementary missions and educational programs. Most importantly, the Board of Regents instructed both institutions to build on their unique strengths, and better align their legislative funding requests that encourage continued state investments. While the institutions remain separate for now, integration is intended to amplify opportunities, not to consolidate or reduce any programs. Integration will reinvigorate and drive economic growth in health and biosciences, and higher education for the communities served.
5. How can the Texas Legislature help UT Health San Antonio and UT San Antonio through this process?
Support the 89th Legislative Funding Priorities to integrate UT Health San Antonio and UT San Antonio into a premier university. This merger will leverage the complementary strengths of both institutions, fostering collaboration to amplify their educational and research impact on Texas and beyond. By maximizing legislative investments, they’ll enhance each other’s capabilities, accelerating San Antonio and South Texas’ status as a global leader in academia, research, and health. UT Health San Antonio’s addition of designated research centers builds UT San Antonio’s strength in areas such as dementia and cancer research. The Texas Legislature now has a unique opportunity to enable this integrated institution to rise among the top public universities in the nation.
6. What is the timeline for merger and integration?
The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) is expected to formally approve the merged instiution in Fall 2025. Overall integration will take place over a three to five-year period.
* Integration timelines may vary based on institutional, regulatory, and operational complexities involved in aligning two large universities.
7. What is the financial impact?
UT System Board of Regents Chairman Kevin P. Eltife states that combining UT San Antonio and UT Health San Antonio will elevate both institutions as global leaders in education, health care, and innovation. Similar integrations at universities like Michigan, UCLA, and UNC Chapel Hill highlight the potential for substantial growth. UT San Antonio President Taylor Eighmy views the realignment as a growth opportunity, not a consolidation, emphasizing that it builds on the unique strengths of both institutions to drive long-term expansion, not reduce costs. The merger aims to enhance capabilities, create new roles, and support innovation for Texas and beyond.
8. How can state government be leveraged to enhance realignment?
Legislative support will drive the integration of UT San Antonio and UT Health San Antonio, promoting collaboration in education and healthcare. State funding can support interdisciplinary research and create joint programs in high-demand fields like AI, cyber, and bioinformatics. These investments will enhance workforce development, align educational pipelines, and fund shared facilities, strengthening Texas’s health sciences and education sectors. State investments in research centers and infrastructure will also foster innovation that unites students, faculty, and researchers from both institutions.
9. Were UT San Antonio and UT Health San Antonio already collaborating before the alignment announcement?
UT San Antonio and UT Health San Antonio have long collaborated through initiatives like the San Antonio Life Sciences Institute (SALSI) and the UT School of Public Health San Antonio. Both institutions are committed to addressing community health care needs through joint programs, research, and educational efforts, particularly in biomedical sciences. Their collaboration fosters a vibrant exchange of ideas and expertise to improve health outcomes.
UT Health San Antonio Contacts:
Gilbert Loredo, Vice President for Governmental Relations loredoG@uthscsa.edu
Pete Arguello, Senior Director for Governmental Relations arguellop@uthscsa.edu
UT San Antonio Contacts:
Jason Hassay, Associate Vice President for Government Relations jason.hassay@utsa.edu
Albert Carrisalez, Associate Vice President of Community & Government Relations albert.Carrisalez@utsa.edu
