The monthly newsletter from UT Arlington Provost Tamara L. Brown

Colleagues,

Welcome back! As we embark on a new academic year, I am filled with optimism and excitement for the journey ahead. Our commitment to student success remains unwavering, and I am thrilled to introduce new technologies being rolled out this semester that will significantly enhance our support for students.

Through Civitas, our all-in-one student success platform, we have launched enhanced versions of MavPlanner and MavScheduler—tools designed to help students, faculty, and staff stay informed, organized, and better coordinated in supporting students’ academic journeys.

In Canvas, we have activated a streamlined early alerts system to help faculty quickly connect students with resources. We have also created an early alert webpage with tips and guidance on using this tool effectively. In addition, we have implemented Ad Astra Platinum Analytics to optimize class scheduling and support timely degree completion.

Later this semester, we will be completing our implementation of Slate, which will improve our communication with both prospective and continuing students.

I am confident that these initiatives will have a positive impact on our students, faculty, and the entire academic community.

We are welcoming 72 new full-time faculty to UTA this year! Our faculty play a crucial role in helping us keep our Maverick Promises, and their dedication to teaching and mentoring is invaluable. We are committed to providing our new and returning faculty with the tools and support they need to continue making a positive impact.

We are also mindful of recent legislative changes that affect higher education. Though a number of changes will be rolled out this academic year in response to the passage of recent bills, please know that we are committed to preserving our culture of shared governance, and our dedication to collaboration and transparency remains steadfast.

Let us all stay engaged, be solution-oriented, and approach our work with grace, patience, and curiosity this year. Together, we will continue to create an environment where every student can thrive and achieve their goals, and together we can make this academic year a remarkable success!

With Maverick Pride,

Tamara L. Brown, Ph.D.

Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs

Please welcome Patrick Wilson to UTA! He joins us as vice provost for online learning and academic innovation, and will lead the Division of Academic Innovation and report to the provost.

Dr. Wilson joins UTA from New Mexico Highlands University, where he served as the executive director of online learning. Wilson assumed his new position in Maverick Country on August 1.

You may learn more about Dr. Wilson, his academic background, and his journey to UTA here.

In July, Wayne Atchley joined UTA as its inaugural vice president for regional campuses. He will oversee UTA West and Fort Worth Career Cetner development and growth strategy.

He brings more than two decades of leadership in higher education, most recently serving as vice president for academic affairs at the Tarrant Community College Trinity River campus.

Read more about Dr. Atchley's community ties and his vision for UTA West here.

As part of the SACSCOC reaffirmation of accreditation process, the Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) Committee is seeking input from the UTA community and beyond to identify a topic that addresses a challenge or opportunity to improve student success. You can help by participating in one of the following ways:

📝 Complete the QEP survey by September 12.

👥 Join the QEP Committee for a World Café event on September 19 to discuss the process and potential QEP topics. Space is limited, and you may RSVP here.

For more details about these opportunities and the QEP process, visit the QEP website.

UTA has established the Francis Kobty Scholarship in Hospitality Management, honoring the legacy of beloved Arlington restaurateur Francis Kobty, founder of Prince Lebanese Grill near the UTA campus.

Made possible by a generous gift from the Kobty family via the Francis Kobty Foundation, the endowed scholarship will support undergraduate students majoring in hospitality management in UTA’s College of Business.

UTA launches two new hospitality management degree programs this fall to meet the region’s growing workforce needs and to help students build a strong business management and leadership foundation.

Coursework includes hotel and restaurant management, accounting, operations, marketing and sales, event planning, business analytics, information technology and more. Learn more about the hospitality management programs here.

Congratulations to our Outstanding Maverick Award winners! These Mavericks have been recognized for their exceptional contributions to the university, exemplifying our core values of Collaboration, Engagement, Excellence, Innovation, and Integrity.

Dariela Gonzalez - Admissions

Courtney Jackson - College of Nursing & Health Innovation Student Success Advising

McKenna Dowd – Physics/Planetarium

Lily Tanner - College of Liberal Arts

Qays Mohammed - Civil Engineering

Liz Richter - Division of Student Success

Academic Resource Planning Team (Kierra Godfrey, Holly Zander, and Kimberly Van Arsdale)

Find the full list of winners here.

The highlight of the University's yearlong 130th celebration, the Birthday Bash at Brazos, will be a party to remember! The event will be open to the campus, alumni, and the larger community.

The Birthday Bash will kick off at 10:30 a.m. on September 5 in Brazos Park. Keep an eye out for more information and we'll see you there!

Marketing, Messaging, and Engagement (MME) has launched the Find It. Fix It. Flaunt It. campaign to improve brand consistency across campus to make our recruitment, advancement, and community engagement efforts more effective.

As part of the campaign, the MME team is hosting in-person Munch and Learns sessions to answer questions about UTA branding guidelines. Find event details and the full schedule here.

In a recent employee engagement survey conducted by Student Success, burnout was identified as a key challenge among staff. To help address this, a small space in Ransom Hall has been repurposed into a Recharge Zone. The space is designed to promote well-being, provide a comfortable spot for breaks, and show appreciation for staff. It features soft, comfortable furniture, a sensory kit, a sound machine, and other calming amenities.

You may submit your Maverick Promise and how you are upholding that promise here.

The Provost continues to host monthly office hours! The next office hours will be Aug. 21 from 3-5 p.m. Faculty, staff, and students can drop by UAB 321 or sign up via email at provost@uta.edu.

Do you have an upcoming event that Provost Brown should attend or speak? If so, send us the details! Submit a request to the Office of the Provost via the form on our website and we'll let you know if she's available.

Have a story idea?

Have something that you want us to highlight in one of our future newsletters? If so, submit your idea to provost@uta.edu.

Missed an edition of the newsletter?

Prior editions of the monthly newsletter can be found online here.