‘University College’ Announced

August 15, 2014

UT Tyler Office of Marketing and Communications

UT Tyler Announces New College Offering BAAS Degree Program for Working Adults

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August 15, 2014

Media Contact: Hannah Buchanan
Editor/Writer–Strategic Communications & Media Relations
Marketing and Communications
The University of Texas at Tyler
903.539.7196 (cell)

August 15, 2014

The University of Texas at Tyler has established a new college, Dr. Ross Sherman, interim provost and vice president for academic affairs, announced.

The new University College will house completely online degree completion programs for working adults as well as vital, innovative support services for students and faculty.

“As UT Tyler continues to grow, we want to expand our offerings to benefit the East Texas area while recognizing the worldwide reach the university can have in providing access to education,” Sherman said. “The University College is the perfect combination of how we can enhance services to our local students while providing degree completion programs to individuals with access to a computer and the Internet.”

Through the UT Tyler University College, adults with at least 60 college credits or who have an associate’s or technical degree from a junior college can complete their bachelor of applied arts and sciences 100 percent online, making the degree affordable and accessible for working adults. The degree programs will focus on 21^st century job skills, like entrepreneurship, creativity and leadership – and regardless of their prior coursework – students will be able to choose the concentration that works best for them.

In addition to housing the BAAS degree programs, the University College will also provide a centralized location for student and faculty support services. Examples of the types of student support programs include centralized student advising to help students stay on track to graduate in a timely manner, a tutoring center, 24/7 support for technology enriched courses and a center dedicated to helping transfer students succeed at UT Tyler.

The University College also will support faculty members by providing cutting-edge, innovative training on the latest educational tools to enhance lectures and course design.

The tools will be useful for faculty members dedicated to face-to-face, online or hybrid courses, which incorporate both face-to-face and online components into a single class. While faculty will benefit from the continuing education opportunities, the greatest advantage will be to students who will participate in classes taught by exemplary faculty with newly honed skills.

“We are excited to offer this new college to our current and future students,” said Dr. Scott Marzilli, assistant vice president for academic innovation and student success. “Everything we do, from the new BAAS programs to improving what is already excellent faculty instruction, will be focused on providing a second-to-none experience for our students."

Marzilli will lead the University College. The UT System Board of Regents approved the establishment of the college at their February 2014 Board Meeting.

For more information, contact Marzilli, 903.566.7465 or smarzilli@uttyler.edu or visit the college's homepage.

One of the 15 campuses of the UT System, UT Tyler features excellence in teaching, research, artistic performance and community service. More than 80 undergraduate and graduate degrees are available at UT Tyler, which has an enrollment of more than 7,500 high-ability students. UT Tyler offers courses at its campuses in Tyler, Longview and Palestine as well as a location in Houston.