Hello!
My name is Dr. Jianwei Niu, and I am honored to serve as Dean of University College at The University of Texas at San Antonio.
At UT San Antonio, University College stands at the intersection of innovation, exploration, and student success. Our mission is to equip people to flourish in the world by providing an academic home for programs that transcend traditional boundaries—programs that prepare students to lead, communicate, and think critically in an ever-changing world.
Since its founding, University College has been a hub for interdisciplinary learning, applied leadership, and student engagement. From our Multidisciplinary Studies degrees at both undergraduate and graduate levels, Writing Program and Academic Introduction and Strategies (AIS) core courses, to our Leadership and Mentoring and Military Science (ROTC) courses, we embrace UT San Antonio’s charge to be a model for student success. We prepare our Roadrunners not only for their first career but for lifelong learning and purposeful leadership in any field they pursue.
To support these efforts, University College also has a Student Success Center, a dynamic resource that connects students to mentorship, experiential learning, research opportunities, and professional development. Through multiple initiatives, we cultivate critical habits of life, collaboration, and civic engagement that grow future leaders.
Our faculty and staff are deeply committed to student transformation—through teaching, mentoring, and research that bridges disciplines and engages real-world challenges. Whether developing innovative degree pathways, partnering with community organizations, or creating spaces for creative and global learning, University College helps students discover not just what they want to do, but who they want to become.
I invite you to explore our programs and initiatives across University College. Together, they reflect UT San Antonio’s broader vision to be a great public research university that serves its students, community, and the state of Texas with excellence and impact.
In this new world of artificial intelligence, I encourage you to learn to be flexible, agile and adaptable. Learn skills outside the classroom—connect with peers, alumni, and employers. Build your network. Join a student organization, seek out peers that challenge you and embrace that challenge.
The future is bright for University College. Our students, faculty, staff, and partners are defining what it means to learn, lead, and flourish in a world that demands curiosity, critical thinking, and adaptability!
Dr. Jianwei Niu
Dean, University College
The University of Texas at San Antonio
