Vol. 65, Issue 4
Est. 1981
February 14 - February 21, 2023
THE PAISANO
Independent Student Newspaper for the University of Texas at San Antonio Community /PaisanoOnline 1 | News
/ThePaisano 3 | Opinion
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TSA has banned the use of TikTok on university networks following Governor Greg Abbott’s directive from early December, which mandated a ban on TikTok for all government-issued devices. Local news reports, which emerged on Jan. 18, revealed UTSA’s plan to ban the social media site. “Per Governor Abbott’s directive to all state agencies, TikTok has been removed from state [and] universityissued phones and devices,” Joe Izbrand, UTSA’s chief communications officer, said in a statement to The Paisano. “Technical controls were put in place during the winter break that restrict individuals with personal devices from using UTSA networks to con-
nect to and use the platform.” TikTok is a video-sharing app that belongs to the Chinese tech company ByteDance Ltd. Since its launch in 2016, it has amassed over 85 million monthly U.S. users. The app uses algorithms based on user-generated data to track user habits and provide personalized content. According to a press release from the Office of the Texas Governor, Abbott’s decision to ban TikTok was made in response to the growing security concerns regarding the app’s harvesting of user data. Texas is among at least 26 other states that have enacted measures to limit or restrict the use of TikTok on government devices and networks. In a letter addressed to Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick and Speaker Dade Phelan, Abbott further explains that TikTok collects vast
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University implements TikTok ban per Gov. Abbott’s directive By Jessica McLaren Assistant News Editor
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amounts of user-generated data that could compromise sensitive information and critical infrastructure in the United States. Moreover, as outlined in the letter, Chinese companies such as ByteDance are not legally obligated to protect this data, as China’s National Intelligence Law requires them to assist in the country’s intelligence efforts, including data sharing. Beyond UTSA, several schools in Texas have acted in accordance with Abbott’s directive, including Texas State University, Alamo Colleges and the entire UT system. On the other hand, officials at private universities such as the University of the Incarnate Word, Our Lady of the Lake University and Trinity University have shared they have no current plans to block access to the social media app.
Najim center to expand to Downtown Campus By Gauri Raje News Editor Harvey Najim, a UTSA Campaign Leadership Council member, has committed two million dollars for the expansion of the Najim Center for Innovation and Career Advancement to the university’s downtown campus. “[Najim’s] most recent gift in December, $2 million, will provide more students with handson learning experiences that make them even more competitive,” Cié Gee, associate vice provost for career-engaged learning, said. “The funds will be used to support our Najim strategists — students working on real-world projects with our industry partners — and students involved in Najim’s personal and professional development programs such as “Innovate Yourself in 3D” and “Identity, Equity, and Connection.” “UTSA already has strong relationships with a significant network of great businesses and organizations in downtown San Antonio, and we look forward
to forging new partnerships as our efforts expand,” Gee added. Established in 2019 after a three million dollar gift from Najim, the center is a part of the university’s career-engaged learning division. The center “gives undergraduate and graduate students the opportunity to gain real-world, paid experience in the workforce,” Gee explained. At the core of the center’s philosophy is the concept of project-based learning. The center defines this as a “teaching method in which students gain knowledge and skills by working for an extended period of time to investigate and respond to an authentic, engaging and complex question, problem or challenge.” Since its opening, the center has given students the opportunity to participate in its Najim Strategist project, which allows students to “serve as consultants to an organization to aid in issues, challenges or opportunities they are currently facing.”
See Center on Page 2
Jonathan Porter/The Paisano
University College launches healthcare management degree this spring propel them in that arena.” Dr. Rhonda BeLue, associate dean for community engagement and partnerships at the UTSA is offering a multidisciCollege for Health, Community plinary studies degree program and Policy (HCaP), explained in healthcare management for that the multidisciplinary studies the first time this semester. The degree in healthcare managenew B.S. degree program ofment is just a stepping stone fered by the University College for a full bachelor’s degree in incorporates three areas of focus the discipline. If approved, a — healthcare administration, bachelor’s degree in healthpublic policy and data analycare management would sis and community health. help prepare students for Pearson defines healthgraduate-level degrees in care management as a field the field. BeLue hopes the that “encompasses the efseparate bachelor’s degree forts involved in planning, — a collaboration between directing, and coordinating HCaP and the Alvarez Colnonclinical activities within lege of Business — will be healthcare systems, orgaapproved by 2024. nizations, and networks.” “So the ultimate goal was Consistent with this definireally to have a bachelor’s tion, the university’s official [degree in healthcare website states the new management] and just program aims to “create a along the road [as] kind of a comprehensive experience, placeholder is the [multidisleaving students primed to ciplinary studies degree],” successfully transition into a BeLue said. leadership role in the public Furthermore, the fate or private sector that serve of the multidisciplinary the healthcare industry.” studies degree in healthThe projected job outlook care management when its for medical and health sercorresponding independent vices managers from 2021bachelor’s degree is offered 2031, as reported by the U.S. Dr. Rebecca Schroeder (pictured above) Bureau of Labor Statistics, explained that the degree launch was a com- is still being discussed. In the meantime, the new is 28% as compared to the bination of student demand and job market degree in healthcare manaverage growth rate of five analysis. UTSA Courtesy Photo agement joins the list of percent for all occupations. six other focused programs Dr. Rebecca Schroeder, assisexpanding right now,” Schroder under the multidisciplinary detant dean of curriculum and proadded. “And we look and see gree program that offer enrolled grams at the University College, [if we have something that] our students the opportunity to earn explained that the new program students could capitalize on to a Bachelor of Science degree. was created due to a combinaBy Gauri Raje News Editor
tion of job market research and student demand. “Within HCaP, students had really been showing interest in healthcare management type program[s],” Schroeder said. “Whenever we are researching different areas that we may want to [use] to create a niche area, we always are looking for [the top job markets] that are
See Managment on Page 2
Strategists pose with Najim during a team presentations.
UTSA Courtesy Photo
Participation in strategic plan refresh encouraged through four ways By Gauri Raje News Editor Last week, President Eighmy notified students via email of ways in which they can provide feedback to the university’s strategic plan refresh process, which was announced by the university in November last year. The plan will serve as a midpoint assessment of the university’s 10-year strategic plan. The strategic plan was launched in 2017 when President Eighmy joined the university. It includes three “strategic destinations” or goals and several initiative categories. “UTSA’s strategic plan was never intended to be a static vision. The refresh allows us to build on our momentum of success, celebrate our achievements to date, apply our lessons learned, adapt to a changing higher education landscape (indeed, a post-pandemic world), and align our resources to con-
tinue our trajectory of transformation,” the plan’s official website reads. According to the university’s official FAQ webpage for the strategic refresh process, “the refresh process is our opportunity as a UTSA community to take stock of what we have accomplished in the last five years, affirm which pieces are currently working well, and make revisions that will enable us to continue our trajectory of success.” As a part of this refresh process, President Eighmy held a town hall on Nov. 28, 2022. Furthermore, Eighmy has appointed Provost Kimberly Andrews Espy to chair the Strategic Planning Refresh Steering Committee. The committee includes university leaders along with members of the faculty senate, staff senate and SGA.
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