University of Texas at Arlington President Jennifer Cowley pointed to the University's exciting future while celebrating its current achievements during the annual State of Higher Education luncheon at College Park Center.
In touting her new strategic plan, UTA 2030, the president shared her core messages: that UTA will continue to champion student success, attract high-quality faculty and be a force for good in the Arlington community and beyond.
"We have made tremendous progress over recent decades, rising to become a national research university," Cowley said. "This new plan lays out our path forward to accelerate our progress and to deepen our connections as an engaged anchor institution right here in Arlington."
Cowley addressed a College Park Center crowd full of faculty and staff from UTA and Tarrant County College (TCC), as well as officials from the city of Arlington. She was joined by TCC Chancellor Elva LeBlanc and Michael Jacobson, president and CEO of the Greater Arlington Chamber of Commerce.
LeBlanc praised UTA's "relentless commitment to transformative education, community uplift and economic growth."
"The chamber, UTA and Tarrant County College absolutely are a bridge to the future," she said.
Jacobson said the two universities are economic drivers of Tarrant County. "Both TCC and UTA are the fuel that drives our economic growth," he said.
Student success
UTA is expanding its academic offerings as Arlington continues to grow as an entertainment hub, including a new Hospitality Training Program and a film credential that will certify students as "on-set ready" to work in the state's growing film industry.
Cowley said she is aiming to increase the percentage of students who earn their degree from UTA in less than three years. That number currently stands at about 5%.
"We are expanding our offerings year-round and increasing course flexibility to ensure our students can learn how and when they want," she said. "We are transforming our transfer system, making it easy for students to identify courses that will fulfill their UTA degree requirements."
High-quality faculty
UTA will spend more than $150 million on research and development this year to create real and meaningful impact, Cowley said. Already, that impact can be felt. The city of Arlington turned to UTA for help to reduce traffic congestion through the use of video analytics that use artificial intelligence to watch what is happening at six intersections in Arlington in real time.
This led to the creation of the first satellite traffic operation in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex and just the second in the state.
Cowley also highlighted the work of chemistry Professor Sherri McFarland, whose biotech company PhotoDynamic has combined a natural plant extract with light to create a powerful antimicrobial system used to prevent tartar from forming on teeth. Her invention is making its way into orthodontists' offices as a way to help keep teeth healthy while wearing braces.
McFarland's latest invention is a chemical compound for treating bladder cancer that is in clinical trials and is so promising it has been fast-tracked by the FDA.
"These innovations are why Dr. McFarland was inducted this year as a fellow of the National Academy of Inventors," Cowley said. "It's no surprise that we have had more National Academy senior members and fellows inducted than any UT System institution."
UTA also made its first Recruiting Innovative Scholars for Excellence initiative hire. Coined RISE 100, this faculty excellence initiative represents a substantial investment in the future of UTA: a $60 million effort, funded in part through the support of the University of Texas System's Regents Research Excellence program, to hire more than 100 new tenure-system faculty over the next three years. Hongtei Eric Tseng, the first hire under this initiative and a National Academy of Engineering member, will join the University as a distinguished university professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering.
Community work
A priority for the president is engaging with and helping cities in and around UTA. The University is partnering with the city of Grand Prairie for comprehensive internship opportunities across fields like accounting, real estate, public administration and criminal justice.
This summer, the University is also expanding its camp offerings for kids and teens. Campers can explore everything from structural engineering to filmmaking to forensic science to even learning how to be a secret agent, Cowley said. And in 2025, UTA will finalize an agreement with NASA to offer science and space camps.
Community members will also have a part to play at the University's upcoming 130th anniversary in 2025.
"I look forward to our continued partnerships and new connections as we create that shared bridge to the future as we work to achieve our aspirations for UTA 2030," Cowley said.
