Thursday, Sep 19, 2024 • Brian Lopez : contact

When Jennifer Cowley, president of The University of Texas at Arlington, began her tenure, she challenged students, faculty and staff to dream big.

Three years later, during the State of the University Address on Sept. 10, the President shared the progress the UTA community has made, showcasing how these dreams have become a reality and reminding the community that a lot more is ahead, as laid out in the strategic plan UTA 2030: Shared Dreams, Bright Future.

“That’s the magic of UTA,” Cowley said. “We dream big, but we also have the ingenuity and resources to develop plans that turn those dreams into reality.”

Over the last year, UTA’s impact was felt worldwide.

The University consistently ranks among the top 4% of all research universities, with dozens of academic programs ranked in the top 100 nationally. Research expenditures in 2023 hit $150 million, a new high. In the last two weeks, the Wall Street Journal and Washington Monthly have touted UTA as a top national university and the best in our region. UTA is also nationally recognized for serving Hispanic students, military veterans, and their families.

Students have taken notice of these accolades. This fall, UTA welcomed more than 10,500 new Mavericks, bringing total enrollment to more than 41,000. Students come to UTA from around the nation and 98 countries. There are so many new students that Maverick Hall, a new dorm, is under construction and expected to open fall 2025.

Maverick athletes had a big year as well. On the world stage, UTA students and alumni competed in the Olympics and Paralympics this summer, bringing medals home from both. Maverick Athletes played their first season back in the Western Athletic Conference (WAC), making their presence felt with several accomplishments, including regular season and tournament WAC championships for men’s tennis. A new track and scoreboard will be installed at Maverick Stadium to continue supporting athletes.

But even with all this, the University is looking ahead. About a month ago, the UT System Board of Regents approved UTA West, a new campus in west Fort Worth, and, the Fort Worth City Council approved $4 million toward its infrastructure construction.

“There is no doubt that our location has been one of the drivers of our success over the last 100 years,” Cowley said. “And establishing the UTA West campus will help expand our impact for the next 100 years.”

Also in Fort Worth, UTA recently announced the creation of a $2.3 million state-of-the-art outdoor netted drone facility named the Maverick Autonomous Vehicle Research Center.

While UTA continues to grow, Tamara L. Brown, provost and senior vice president for academic affairs at UTA, said student success is at the heart of everything. Part of that success is shown in how the University and students contribute to the Texas economy, where our alumni make an annual $28 billion impact.

“This University is big; why can’t our dreams be big as well?” Brown asked. “Our impact is vast and far-reaching.”

Student Success

Cowley said the University aims to give its 41,000-plus students the tools to succeed.

“Our goal is to help each of these students succeed, and many of our initiatives are aimed at enhancing the success of our students and supporting their well-being. We recognize our students holistically and are striving to meet their needs.”

She noted that courses at UTA are becoming more innovative, with many offering to equip students with licenses and credentials to get the most out of the field they will work in. For example, a new course was launched this fall that allows students to gain a license to operate commercial drones.

The University is also pairing undergraduates with faculty to conduct high-level research. Kara Stogsdill, a senior in physics, is leading the development of a new method of cooling large fluxes of atoms. She just received the Outstanding Undergraduate Research Award from the American Institute of Physics.

For first-gen students, Patrick Johnson, who works in admissions, worked with the Office of Transition Programs and implemented the Transition Support Initiative, which reaches out to first-gen students and encourages them to take advantage of campus and academic resources that will help them be successful.

But it’s not only about UTA helping students academically; it’s also about giving them the best quality of life. Cowley said that Counseling and Psychological Services now has an embedded counselor in every residence hall, and the new Foster Care Initiative provides comprehensive resources to students who have aged out of state support.

Research and Faculty Excellence

UTA continues to be a hub of innovation, as faculty continue to take on research that makes a difference in surrounding communities and the world.

“The scope of our research is as beneficial as it is broad. Our dazzling faculty are tackling climate change, teacher shortages, sustainability, homelessness, brain injuries, entrepreneurship, bridge safety and physician communication,” Cowley said. “You name it, we’re on it.”

For example, highlighted faculty included broadcast journalism specialist Julian Rodriguez. He was recently nominated for a national Emmy for his work on a transnational research project focusing on how access to public data can help people understand the effects of climate change.

It marked the first time The Weather Channel en Español partnered with a university to produce an hour-long special, and it’s now nominated for one of TV’s top awards.

Community Engagement

The University also continues to take research and faculty expertise to the Arlington community.

Cowley said the University served more than 32,000 learners this year through continuing education, professional micro-credentials, and certification and training courses, up 13% from last year.

The College of Education has partnered with Arlington ISD to create a pathway for aspiring teachers as Texas deals with a teaching shortage. Additionally, UTA is helping pilot drone delivery of groceries to families in need in Arlington, and RAPID, UTA’s autonomous rideshare partnership with the city of Arlington, has been providing free rides for students between downtown and campus.

“These innovations are why we are being considered for the Seoul Smart City Prize, an international competition recognizing inclusive innovations driven by information and communication technology,” she said.

UTA’s campus has also become more of a community hub. The University hosts district band competitions and basketball tournaments, regional track tournaments, and state baseball and softball games, which attract more than 25,000 people to campus every year.

The total solar eclipse celebration in April was a success on campus, with people in and around our community and the world choosing UTA to view it.

“What made it just as memorable for me was seeing our campus become a hub of community activity,” Cowley said.

Dedicated Support to UTA Excellence

It is through generous support of those who believe in the transformative benefit of a UTA education and UTA’s innovative research that faculty, students and staff can continue to dream big.

Alumnus and UTA supporter Raj Nooyi and his wife, Indra Nooyi, have made a $5 million commitment to the newly renamed Center for Innovation in Health Informatics. Their gift will support two new endowed professorships as well as competitive research awards for faculty studying health informatics. The research awards will serve as seed funding to help faculty garner additional research funding from external sources.

“This generous gift will serve as a bridge to the future, helping build stronger connections with industry partners and major philanthropic foundations,” Cowley said.

Shared Dreams, Bright Future

The success of the last academic year would not have been possible without the shared spirit of UTA’s students, faculty and staff, Cowley said.

“A research team’s breakthrough is not just the result of an individual’s insight but the culmination of shared efforts, open dialogue and mutual support,” she said. “An inspiring class is shaped by a professor’s knowledge, a student’s curiosity and the constructive feedback from peers. Every initiative, from groundbreaking research to transformative community projects, thrives on the strength of our collaborative spirit.”

And that same spirit allows the University and its people to keep reaching new heights.

“The collective power of collaboration can transform our ambitions into reality,” she said. “Alone, we each contribute our distinct talents and ideas. But together, we can create something extraordinary.”