Plans Revealed for UT Tyler's Future

February 26, 2016

UT Tyler Office of Marketing and Communications

Mabry reveals plans for UT Tyler’s future

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February 26, 2016

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

During his presentation of the university's new strategic plan Friday, President Rodney H. Mabry revealed plans for the next decade at The University of Texas at Tyler.

The strategic plan, said Mabry, was the result of a year-long effort by a large cross-section of faculty and staff and creates a framework that will allow the university to continue to grow and develop new programs. The Strategic Plan notes UT Tyler is on track to achieve a new Carnegie classification shortly, moving from Masters Level-Large to Doctoral University-Moderate Research (R3).

According to the plan, the university expects to expand to 14,000 students by 2025, purchase property, build at least 200,000 sq. ft. of academic space, and expand in Tyler as well as at the university's other campuses in Longview, Palestine and Houston.

"This is a plan that I believe will guide The University of Texas at Tyler as it seizes the opportunities of the coming decade," said Mabry. "Challenges in higher education are golden opportunities for us. We've clearly established ourselves as a strong, high-achieving institution that is known for excellence and adapting to change. We intend to become an even greater asset to the people of East Texas—an unparalleled catalyst propelling regional economic growth."

Mabry said many of the key ideas for specific areas of emphasis and expected centers of excellence in the plan are being developed rapidly and will be submitted to the UT System administration for approval, as appropriate.
"Our university started out small, but today it is a thriving campus, recognized on the national stage, and ready to move to the next level," said Mabry.

Some of the key proposed ideas in the strategic plan include:

· Expanding current honors programs into an honors college;

· Creating a leadership institute;

· Developing Expertise in Consumer-Based CyberSecurity;

· Integrated Pharmaceutical and Nanotechnology Engineering Sciences Center developing treatments for brain-related and central nervous system issues; including Alzheimer's and other dementia, stroke and concussions.

· A collaboration with Texas Spine and Joint Hospital and area foundations to create a Southwest Sports Medicine Research and Training Institute;

· UT Tyler Ingenuity Center and College of Education enhanced collaboration to recruit students across Texas into fields related to science, technology, engineering and math; and
· Center for Environment, Biodiversity and Conservation that includes faculty from three colleges across UT Tyler.

"We will continue to focus on what makes this university great," said Mabry, "and that is excellence and innovation, and then more excellence and innovation. We believe in meeting the needs of our students and those of our existing industries and the industries we hope to attract or create. Our heavy focus on quality and what matters to people should not change."

UT Tyler to will also add new doctoral programs, said Mabry. UT Tyler currently offers four doctoral-level degrees. Psychology, one of the strongest units on campus, wants to develop a doctoral degree in clinical psychology in cooperation with UT Health Northeast, and our education college wants to add a doctoral degree, he noted.
Those additions mean that the Carnegie Institute, the organization that determines how universities are classified, eventually will name UT Tyler a doctoral university with moderate intensity research.

"Currently, we're classified as a master's level-large university by Carnegie. The future designation will come naturally as we continue to build strong programs and start making inroads into more and more fields of research," said Mabry. "It is a change that I am excited to see because it will mean new opportunities for this university and this region."

There are still some final details to be determined regarding the strategic plan, said Mabry, but the plan should be final in May.

"This has been a truly collaborative effort," said Mabry. "We asked our students, faculty, staff and this community for their ideas about where we will go over the next 10 years, and they gave us some truly great ideas. I am grateful to everyone who helped with this process."

One of the 14 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 8,500 high-ability students. UT Tyler offers courses at its campuses in Tyler, Longview and Palestine as well as a location in Houston.