Wednesday, September 6, 2023

Dear Maverick Faculty,

I'm pleased to share my inaugural State of the University address, a celebration of our collective achievements and a glimpse into the exciting future ahead. This past year, we've witnessed the power of the Maverick Factor—your unique determination to shape a better world—fueling our collective successes.

State of the University

The full State of the University address highlights the unique Maverick Factor driving UTA’s achievements and the progress we are making on our strategic themes, from our upcoming UTA People and Culture Survey to student mental health support to the latest news on our ongoing construction projects.

A key highlight in the State of the University address is the announcement of the launch of the RISE 100: Recruiting Innovative Scholars for Excellence, a visionary endeavor supported by UTA and the UT System Regents Research Excellence Program. Over the coming years, we plan to welcome 100 new Maverick faculty members, amplifying our tenure-system faculty by 15% as we take on some of the biggest challenges of our times. The addition of these faculty will raise the undergraduate experience, enhance graduate education and will drive impact across strategic research areas, aligning with our strategic plan, UTA 2030, set to launch next year.

I know that our faculty have a lot of great ideas on research areas that offer the greatest promise for rising excellence. That is why Provost Tamara Brown, Vice President for Research and Innovation Kate Miller, myself, and our soon-to-be-appointed RISE 100 committee want your thoughts as we shape our hiring plan, based on UTA’s strategic research areas. Please share your ideas using our RISE 100 idea form.

Annual Report

Today, we also published my first annual report at UTA. It is an excellent summary of the timeline of progress our faculty, staff, and students have made. I invite you to read this year’s annual report and share with your partners and our community.

As we embark on the year ahead, the Maverick Factor will continue to guide us, driving our dedication to excellence in student success and the talent pipeline, groundbreaking research, and impactful community engagement. Thank you for your unwavering support—it's your commitment that propels us to make a lasting impact on our communities.

Mav Up!

Sincerely,

Jennifer Cowley, Ph.D.
UTA President