The Merger That’s Redefining Higher Ed

In August 2024, The University of Texas System Board of Regents announced its intent to merge two powerhouse institutions — The University of Texas at San Antonio and The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio — creating the third-largest research university in the state.

While mergers in higher education are nothing new, the scope, scale and circumstances surrounding the integration of San Antonio’s two flagship institutions, which became official on September 1, 2025, stand apart. It comes at a pivotal moment for higher education, as both public and private institutions undergo significant transformation while working to clearly demonstrate their value and societal impact.

The story behind the newly unified University of Texas at San Antonio (UT San Antonio) has captured the attention of the higher ed community for its potential to serve as a model for a new approach to public higher education in our country. Its two visionary leaders, President Taylor Eighmy, PhD and Senior Executive Vice President for Health Affairs and Health System Francisco Cigarroa, MD recently sat down for a candid conversation about the circumstances that led to the merger and the momentum that it’s generating.

Here are three key takeaways from their conversation, offering best practices for higher ed leaders exploring similarly significant institutional transitions.

UTSA President, Taylor Eighmy, PhD and Senior Executive Vice President for Health Affairs and Health System, Francisco Cigarroa, MD

UTSA President, Taylor Eighmy, PhD and Senior Executive Vice President for Health Affairs and Health System, Francisco Cigarroa, MD

TAKEAWAY 1

Embrace the Shifting Higher Ed Landscape – Adapt and Innovate

Higher education is at a crossroads, and the changes leaders make now may very well determine academia’s trajectory for years to come. While the landscape is complex, Eighmy sees it as an opportunity for positive and powerful transformation.

“By staying nimble and agile,” he says, “we are creating a world-class foundation for our university that will hold us in good stead going forward.”

One way to do that is by leaning into the needs of your region. Since his arrival in San Antonio eight years ago, Eighmy has focused on building strategic partnerships with the city, county and state, creating a collaborative foundation for the university that is deeply rooted in serving the needs of South Texas.

Just as Eighmy has grounded his leadership in building strong partnerships across South Texas, Cigarroa brings a complementary perspective shaped by his stewardship of UT San Antonio’s Health Science Center and health system, UT Health San Antonio. A former chancellor of the UT System, he is equally focused on the broader responsibility this merger carries for the state and nation.

“We believe that we have a responsibility to the state of Texas and to this nation to do this,” he says, “especially as our population is continuing to grow and a need for educating the next generation of physicians, scientists, and healthcare providers to meet the demand is upon us.”

Eighmy and Cigarroa are uniting the missions and strengths of their two legacy institutions to build a powerful new model. The result is advancing signature programs in biomedical science, healthcare, AI and cybersecurity that transform lives locally while influencing national priorities.

Adopting this shift in mindset can be a meaningful journey for your campus community and stakeholders, one that may take time and collaboration to fully realize.

“Transformations of great consequence rarely come without challenge,” says Cigarroa. “Bringing together two venerable institutions, each shaped by decades of excellence, requires courage, conviction and a shared belief in something larger than ourselves. When you know the mission will uplift lives and strengthen the public good, you give it everything – because that is the right thing to do for those we serve and for our community overall.”

TAKEAWAY 2

Unite Around Clear, Unique Strengths

Merging two successful universities created a unique opportunity to highlight the legacy institutions’ strongest assets – healthcare and biomedical discovery, along with a proven ability to drive social mobility. Grounded in the needs of the region, these complementary strengths enabled UT San Antonio leaders to define a bold new institutional identity.

“We are a launchpad that feeds our greatest economic and workforce needs while also supporting upward mobility for our communities,” says Eighmy. “Our many recognitions as an institution that drives upward mobility and economic development and innovation perfectly embodies this notion.”

With San Antonio facing one of the highest poverty rates among major U.S. metropolitan areas, Cigarroa has often emphasized that “education is the most powerful healthcare initiative of all time.” He and Eighmy are prioritizing initiatives that ensure students have the tools and access needed to build healthier, more resilient futures for generations to come.

This approach fuels UT San Antonio’s ability to serve as a major contributor to the state’s workforce and economic development. Many alumni choose to stay in state after graduation, including 90 percent of recent bachelor’s degree earners, 99 percent of School of Nursing graduates and 90 percent of School of Professional Health graduates.

“A degree from UT San Antonio will change the trajectories of families for generations to come,” says Cigarroa. “I've always said that education saves lives and because they can navigate the world better, because of their education, their quality of lives and the lives of their loved ones will improve.”

“It’s one of the reasons why President Eighmy and I don't want to compromise access,” he continues. “We think access and excellence are synergistic, and we want to make sure that we can provide these opportunities for any student who wants to work hard and reach their highest potential.”

TAKEAWAY 3

When the Right Elements Combine, 1 + 1 = 10

Whether considering a merger with another institution, a formal partnership program, or any other significant institutional alliance, combining resources can create momentum in new and bigger ways.

Now with over 42,000 students, $486 million in research expenditures, a $2.4 billion-dollar budget and a $1.3 billion endowment, the new UT San Antonio is creating a true economic and educational engine for South Texas with a depth and breadth that rivals the nation’s top institutions.

As just one example, this year UT San Antonio was designated as one of only 21 universities in the nation—and one of only four in Texas—to hold both Carnegie designations as an R1 research institution and a “Opportunity University” for driving social mobility.

Once the momentum begins, it quickly escalates.

“Excellence attracts excellence. Excellence attracts opportunity. Excellence attracts resources. Excellence creates impact. Excellence drives the world,” says Eighmy. “It all goes down to this premise that if you create enough density of excellence here, it will create boundless opportunity.”

Ultimately, notes Cigarroa, the most important outcome of all this momentum is the significantly greater impact a university can have on making lives better.

“As physicians, we do everything it takes to save lives. But even when science and medicine offer no cure, we can offer hope, comfort and dignity – we can make a life better. That same calling extends beyond the walls of our clinics, hospitals and healing environments. We affirm our purpose by creating opportunity – through education, discovery and meaningful work that uplifts families and communities. That is the heart of our mission: to make a life better, in every way that matters.”

About The University of Texas at San Antonio

The University of Texas at San Antonio (UT San Antonio) is a nationally recognized, top-tier public research university that unites the power of higher education, biomedical discovery and healthcare within one visionary institution. It is the third-largest public research university in Texas in the seventh-largest city in the nation, and one of only 21 universities across the United States with Carnegie’s R1 classification for research excellence and Opportunity University designation for driving social mobility

About Taylor Eighmy

Taylor Eighmy, PhD, is the president of The University of Texas at San Antonio (UT San Antonio), which includes the UT San Antonio Health Science Center—South Texas’s only academic health center—as well as its clinical practice, UT Health San Antonio. Eighmy is passionate about the critical role that research universities play in creating and applying knowledge to improve the world. He is nationally recognized for advancing top research universities through strategic government-university-industry collaborations, public-private partnerships and community engagement. He is the inaugural holder of the Carlos Alvarez Distinguished Presidential Chair.

About Francisco Cigarroa

Francisco G. Cigarroa, MD, serves as Senior Executive Vice President for Health Affairs and Health System at The University of Texas at San Antonio. He is a renowned pediatric and transplant surgeon, former Chancellor of The University of Texas System, and continued public servant whose career reflects an unwavering commitment to excellence in health care, innovation and service. In this role, he oversees the strategic leadership and stewardship for UT San Antonio Health Science Center, including its academic, research and clinical missions, as well as the delivery of patient care through the clinical enterprise, UT Health San Antonio. . He is the inaugural holder of the Malú & Carlos Alvarez Distinguished University Chair.

This content was paid for and created by the University of Texas at San Antonio. The editorial staff of The Chronicle had no role in its preparation. Find out more about paid content.