DEPARTMENT: Human Services
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Melody Woosley
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: Citywide
SUBJECT:
Establishing a Higher Education Student Advisory Board
SUMMARY:
This ordinance approves the creation of a City-appointed 11-member Higher Education Student Advisory Board to advise the Mayor and City Council on matters that are of interest to students who are enrolled in local colleges and universities in San Antonio with the objective to help increase college enrollment and retention of college graduates in San Antonio.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
On July 21, 2017, Councilman Rey Saldaña submitted a Council Consideration Request (CCR) to create a City-appointed Higher Education Student Advisory Board. This Board would advise the Mayor and City Council on matters that are of interest to students who are enrolled in local colleges and universities in San Antonio with the objective to help increase college enrollment and retention of college graduates in San Antonio. The City Council Governance Committee, at their December 12, 2017 meeting, approved that creation of a City-appointed Higher Education Student Advisory Board be brought to the City Council for consideration.
The Higher Education Student Advisory Board will be comprised of 11 members appointed by the Mayor and City Council. These appointments will come from a pool of students nominated by local higher education institutions. The following local colleges and universities would each nominate three students for the committee: University of Texas at San Antonio, Texas A&M University-San Antonio, University of Incarnate Word, St. Mary's University, Our Lady of the Lake University, Trinity University, San Antonio College, Northwest Vista College, Northeast Lakeview College, Palo Alto College, and St. Philip's College.
The advisory board would meet monthly during each month of the academic year (September to May). Students would be appointed to serve two-year terms on the advisory board. The board is proposed to have charges:
• First, the Board would provide input and recommendations regarding six priority issue areas: (1) Multi-Modal Transportation; (2) Environmental Sustainability and Public Health; (3) Housing and Affordability; (4) Jobs and Economic Development; (5) Public Safety; (6) Arts, Culture, and Recreation.
• Second, the Board would provide recommendations considering the following questions:
1) What steps can San Antonio take to retain local students and attract students from outside the San Antonio area to our colleges and universities?
2) What steps can San Antonio take to support college students from all areas of the city and ensure equity in educational opportunity?
3) What amenities, programs, or future developments would make college students interested in living in San Antonio for the long-term?
4) How can San Antonio ensure that students are supported when making the transition from education to the workforce?
Recommendations from the Higher Education Advisory Board would be included in an annual executive summary provided to the City Council. This new Advisory Board would also include a leadership component to promote civic involvement through other City Boards and Commissions.
Currently in San Antonio, the University of Texas at San Antonio Student Government Association supports the San Antonio Higher Education Representative Assembly (SAHERA). Members from the student government associations of all higher education entities in the city serve on SAHERA, which is comprised of those student government presidents and one additional representative. SAHERA discusses issues of access, equity, affordability and completion as it relates to higher education. The proposed City of San Antonio’s Higher Education Student Advisory Board would work with SAHERA to build a meaningful partnership intended to promote greater civic engagement and community organizing
ISSUE:
This action will authorize the creation of a City-appointed Higher Education Student Advisory Board. This Board would advise the Mayor and City Council on matters that are of interest to students who are enrolled in local colleges and universities in San Antonio with the objective to help increase college enrollment and retention of college graduates in San Antonio.
The Higher Education Student Advisory Board will be comprised of 11 members appointed by the Mayor and City Council. These appointments will come from a pool of students nominated by local higher education institutions. The table below provides the recommended City of San Antonio Higher Education Student Advisory Board Composition
|
Institution |
Council District Location |
Recommended Appointment From Councilmember |
|
Trinity University |
1 |
Mayor |
|
San Antonio College |
1 |
1 |
|
St. Philip’s College |
2 |
2 |
|
Texas A&M University-San Antonio |
3 |
3 |
|
Palo Alto College |
4 |
4 |
|
Our Lady of the Lake University |
5 |
5 |
|
Northwest Vista College |
6 |
6 |
|
St. Mary’s University |
7 |
7 |
|
University of Texas at San Antonio |
8 - Main Campus 5 - Downtown Campus |
8 |
|
University of Incarnate Word |
2 |
9 |
|
Northeast Lakeview College |
City of Live Oak/Universal City |
10 |
ALTERNATIVES:
As an alternative, City Council could recommend to not to proceed with the creation of a city-led Higher Education Student Advisory Board.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Staff support for this advisory board would be provided within existing resources in the Department of Human Services.
RECOMMENDATION:
The Department of Human Services (DHS) recommends the creation of an 11-member City-appointed Higher Education Student Advisory Board. The staff liaison to the Advisory Board would be the DHS Education Program Administrator. A leadership component (modeled on Leadership SA), is recommended to be incorporated into the program to prepare board members to continue civic participation through involvement in other City Boards and Commissions after graduation.