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FRIDAY, JANUARY 30, 2026

UTA’s Smart Hospital celebrated its third anniversary. How is it set to grow?: The Fort Worth Report covered the third anniversary of the School of Social Work/College of Nursing and Health Innovation Smart Hospital—and the advanced simulations it uses to train tomorrow's workforce. "That's important because anybody can do simulation," said Erica Hinojosa, simulation technology manager at the Smart Hospital. "That does not necessarily mean that it's good simulation." (Photo: Fort Worth Report)

This tree orbited the moon. Now, it’s a symbol for space, conservation education at UTA: McKenna Dowd, UTA's planetarium coordinator, provided KERA insight into the sweetgum tree that UTA received in April 2024—one of nearly 2,000 seeds that orbited the moon as part of the 2022 Artemis I mission. “This living artifact will serve as a tangible representation of our dedication as a campus to scientific advancement, environmental stewardship, and global collaboration,” Dowd said. The Fort Worth Report also covered this story.

One in four teens face violence, higher substance use: A study conducted by social work Professor Philip Baiden—and shared by Mirage News—found that teens exposed to violence in their neighborhoods are more likely to turn to cigarettes, alcohol, or drugs to cope. "Our study reminds us that violence is not a rare or isolated experience for many young people," Dr. Baiden said. "Youth exposed to neighborhood violence often carry the psychological weight of chronic stress, fear, and trauma."

Why parents turn to social media about kids' drug use: Medical Xpress, the medical research arm of the Science X websites, which reach 10 million readers monthly, shared a Harvard Medical School study that includes a contribution from UTA social work Professor Dana Litt. The study found parents often turn to peer groups on social media when concerned about substance use among their children, but noted that much of the advice can be confusing, contradictory, and lacking an evidence-based foundation.

On campus: College football Hall of Fame names two with Tarrant ties: Former UTA standout and NFL champion Bruce Collie became the first Maverick named to the Hall of Fame, reported the Fort Worth Report. The online outlet's education notebook also highlighted UTA's online master's degree programs in education earning a top-10 national ranking by U.S. News & World Report.

Gov. Abbott freezes H-1B visa petitions at Texas universities, state agencies: The Dallas Morning News reported on Gov. Greg Abbott requiring Texas public universities and state agencies to freeze new H-1B visa applications until the next legislative session ends in 2027. According to federal data, the DMN reported, UTA sponsors 57 visa holders.