Dear Faculty,

Many of our colleagues have worked behind the scenes throughout the academic year to ensure our academic programs, policies, and calendars support our students and faculty as effectively as possible. These faculty-led interim working groups have modeled thoughtful collaboration, careful analysis, and a shared commitment to student success and UTA excellence.

We are grateful for the time, expertise, and good humor they have brought to this work, which is complex, consequential, and necessary. A healthy university continuously assesses its practices and makes improvements as part of normal operations—and your colleagues are leading the way.

We’d like to highlight the following efforts:

University Faculty Roundtable: This committee, facilitated by Rhonda Prisby, has met weekly to develop a Faculty Advisory Body and standing university committees for UTA that align with state law and UT System guidance. Nominations for this new body, which creates a direct and meaningful channel for faculty to engage on strategic issues with UTA leadership, are due April 17 and can be found here. We have met regularly with the Roundtable, which has effectively elevated faculty issues and provided counsel in an advisory capacity.
Reimagining the Core Curriculum Working Group: This group, led by Tom Ingram and Kim Breuer, has been reviewing our core curriculum to ensure alignment with Texas Senate Bill 37, Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board requirements, and expectations of the UT System. The principles guiding this group’s work on the core curriculum include relevance to civic and professional life, student success, degree completion, and affordability.
Learning Year Design Working Group: Co-chaired by Diane Lange and Bonnie Laster, this group has been focusing on thoughtful adjustments to our academic calendar that make sense for UTA and bring us more in line with our peer institutions.
Academic Standards and Policy Working Group: Co-chaired by Adam Annaccone and Nathan Brown, this group has been working to review academic standards, policies, and related procedures to promote fairness, consistency, academic integrity, and student success across the University.
Academic Program Futures Working Group: Chaired by David Arditi, this group has reviewed all bachelor’s and master’s programs to ensure our academic offerings create positive outcomes for students and are financially sustainable and responsive to the evolving needs of our students. The working group conducted a holistic, data-informed review of academic degree programs, and those identified for further review actively engaged in the process. The working group provided its recommendations to the provost, which include sunsetting, combining, or enhancing various academic programs. Final decisions will be communicated in an update in May.
Curriculum Review Committee: Chaired by Catherine LaBrenz, this interim committee has been reviewing curricular matters previously handled by the Undergraduate and Graduate Assemblies, curriculum proposals submitted by faculty, and recommendations from the Academic Standards and Policy Working Group.

What's Next

We are reviewing recommendations from each of the working groups. Their terrific work will allow us to make informed decisions about important academic operations, with the goal of creating a better, more efficient UTA for our students in alignment with the UTA 2030: Shared Dreams, Bright Future strategic plan.

For the next academic year, alongside the Faculty Advisory Body, we will be forming a number of ongoing committees to ensure that faculty remain actively engaged in the important work of our University.

We thank all of our colleagues who served on these working groups. Your collaboration, professionalism, and dedication embody the best of UTA and strengthen the foundation on which our teaching, learning, and research rest. Faculty voice, leadership, and partnership remain at the heart of our work together, and we are grateful for your continued dedication to shaping the future of our University.

Sincerely,

Tamara L. Brown, Ph.D.

Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs

Jennifer Cowley, Ph.D.

President