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UT San Antonio Launches College of AI, Cyber and Computing to Advance Innovation and Workforce Growth

UT San Antonio opened a College of AI, Cyber and Computing, uniting cybersecurity, computing and data science downtown. For 5,000+ students, it deepens research and industry ties.

3 min read
Science and research

UT San Antonio launches College of AI, Cyber and Computing to accelerate research, talent, and industry impact

The University of Texas at San Antonio has launched the College of AI, Cyber and Computing, uniting programs in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, computing and data science as of September 1. The move brings UT San Antonio's total number of academic colleges to nine and centers the university's tech-focused education and research in the city's urban core.

Planning began in January 2024 through a multi-phase process that included a task force, working groups and a public design charrette. By December 2024, the university announced the college's full structure, including departments, degrees and alignment with research centers. "The launch of the College of AI, Cyber and Computing reflects our university's long-standing commitment to advancing knowledge and growing the talent pipeline in critical areas that will advance economic development, grow the professional workforce and positively impact our community," said UT San Antonio President Taylor Eighmy.

Structure, scale and location

The college comprises four departments: Computer Science; Computer Engineering; Information Systems and Cybersecurity; and Statistics and Data Science. It will be based at the Downtown Campus, operating in San Pedro I and, in spring 2026, San Pedro II-putting faculty and students within reach of industry, government and community partners across San Antonio.

More than 5,000 students will be served by the college across disciplines with strong national demand. Projections indicate job growth exceeding 30% in related fields by 2031, with sizable talent gaps nationally. For example, data scientist roles alone are projected to grow significantly according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, and cybersecurity job tracking shows hundreds of thousands of openings across the country via CyberSeek. Since 2019, UT San Antonio has recorded a 31% increase in enrollment across AI, cyber and computing programs.

Program design for cross-disciplinary research

"Our programs are designed to create synergies across departments and give students new ways to explore their interests," said Fred Martin, professor of computer science and interim dean of the new college. "Being located downtown makes it easier for faculty to collaborate, which helps spark innovation and expand research."

Martin added that students will benefit from flexibility. "Students have the flexibility to discover the program that best fits their goals and move between disciplines while staying on track to graduate in four years." For research leaders, that means access to graduates who can work across AI, security, software and data science without silos.

Research engine: From School of Data Science to Center for Data Science

The college builds on the former School of Data Science, now the Center for Data Science. Faculty have secured major grants, formed industry partnerships and advanced work in generative AI, quantum computing and healthcare analytics. This continuity supports faster proposal cycles, integrated datasets and shared infrastructure across departments.

Funding and infrastructure

A $2 million gift from USAA will fund scholarships, a student success center and expanded research infrastructure. The investment supports both near-term student outcomes and longer-term capacity for sponsored research and workforce development linked to regional needs.

Why this matters for scientists and research leaders

  • Interdisciplinary teams under one college: streamlined collaboration between computer science, engineering, cybersecurity and statistics/data science.
  • Downtown proximity to partners: easier pathways for sponsored research, internships, advisory boards and pilot deployments with public and private stakeholders.
  • Shared spaces across San Pedro I and II: consistent access to collaborative environments that enable cross-lab work and multi-PI projects.
  • Stronger talent pipeline: 5,000+ students aligned to industry demand and research needs, with flexibility to build hybrid skill sets.

"The College of AI, Cyber and Computing is an important step forward for UT San Antonio," said Heather Shipley, provost and senior executive vice president for academic affairs. "This launch ushers in a new era of innovation and collaboration, giving our students the skills and experiences to lead in one of the fastest-growing sectors of our economy and empowering them to shape the future of technology."

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