The monthly newsletter from UT Arlington Provost Tamara L. Brown

December 17, 2025

Colleagues –

What a year!

We have so much to celebrate as we bring 2025 to a close. We have welcomed more than 100 new faculty members to campus and added thousands of new UTA graduates to our ranks, including more than 4,200 on Friday. We have advanced key strategic initiatives like Rise 100 and UTA West. Earlier this semester, we announced the highest one-year retention rate in our 130-year history.

And we have been recognized for our efforts. For the second consecutive year, The Wall Street Journal designated UTA the No. 1 University in DFW. UTA was also included in the 2026 Forbes America's Top Colleges List and ranked as the best university “for your tuition and tax dollars” in Dallas-Fort Worth by the Washington Monthly. And just last week , members of my staff were on hand in Austin to accept the Star Award for our excellence in student success from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.

I could go on and on! I hope you will take pride in these achievements as you enjoy the much-deserved break ahead. I am grateful for the dedication and generosity that each of you brings to our academic community, and I hope the coming weeks provide space for rest and renewal. And if you have not had a chance to do so, perhaps the break will provide the opportunity to explore Teaching with A.I., a thought-provoking read on how we may ethically and effectively enhance our work with the assistance of A.I.

May your holidays be filled with peace, gratitude, and the promise of our shared dreams and bright future.

With Maverick Pride -

Tamara L. Brown, Ph.D.

Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs

Thank you to the numerous faculty and staff who made our Fall 2025 commencement ceremonies so special for our graduates.

On Dec. 9, Luisa Havens Gerardo, vice president for enrollment management and Ashley Purgason, vice provost for student success, were on hand at the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board's (THECB) Higher EDge 2025 conference to accept one of six Star Awards.

The award recognizes higher education institutions demonstrating exemplary work across three key areas: student success, workforce education, and career development and transitions.

The THECB honored UTA's MavsRISE program for its innovative, transformative approach to student success. MavsRISE supports conditionally admitted first-year students with personalized guidance to help students stay on track for academic advancement and success after graduation.

View our Star Award video here.

After a competitive application process, the 2025-2026 appointed Nationwide Faculty Fellow is Dr. Bonnie Sue Boardman, Professor of Instruction for the Industrial, Manufacturing, and Systems Engineering Department in the College of Engineering.

Boardman is supported in her efforts by Dr. Ashley Purgason, Vice Provost for Student Success. Boardman will engage faculty and staff, liaise with the microcredential governance team, create a framework template, and design digital badges to align with curricular and co- or extracurricular strengths and student interests.

The Provost’s Nationwide Faculty Fellows Program for Student Success is an annual endowed opportunity for UTA faculty to support student access and exemplary success outcomes.

Congratulations to Dr. Boardman!

Students in UTA’s Criminology and Criminal Justice Department have helped Arlington Police Department detectives break a 34-year-old homicide cold case.

In November, a joint APD-UTA press conference, police announced an arrest was made on Nov. 6 in connection to the 1991 murder of Cynthia Gonzalez—one of three cold cases being reviewed this fall by 15 students in Patricia Eddings’ new cold case course. This work is the result of a new program between APD and UTA.

In addition to extensive coverage in the local media, the student-assisted arrest captured the attention of The New York Times, NBC News, and USA Today among other notable national news outlets.

Read more about the case and the incredible students behind the breakthrough here.

On Dec. 8, TCE announced via email that President Cowley has approved an extra day off during the upcoming winter break so you may enjoy more time with friends and family. All UTA offices are authorized to close on Friday, Jan. 2, 2026. Normal operations will resume on Monday, Jan. 5, 2026.

Additionally, UTA offices may approve remote work, where it does not disrupt business operations, on Monday and Tuesday, Dec. 22-23. The University will be closed for the regular winter break from Dec. 24 through Jan. 2.

Campus Recreation, UTA Libraries, the University Center and Commons, Dining Services, and Parking and Transportation Services will post their service hours for the upcoming holiday break.

The Academic Program Futures Working Group has launched a comprehensive, university wide review of academic programs. This important initiative advances UTA’s strategic plan and reinforces our continued commitment to student success.

The group is focused on ensuring that UTA’s academic offerings remain affordable, deliver strong student outcomes, are financially sustainable, and evolve in response to the changing needs of our students and the communities we serve.

To learn more about the Academic Program Futures Working Group and follow its progress, please visit our website.

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

Provost Brown's next scheduled office hours session will be Friday January 16, from -11 a.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.