• UTA TODAY
MAVERICK MILESTONE
UTA achieves prestigious Texas Tier One designation, signifying its consistent excellence in academics and research • By Jeff Carlton
T
he University of Texas at Arlington has become just the fourth institution in the state to achieve designation as a Texas Tier One university, a significant milestone of excellence in academics and research that brings with it access to the state’s National Research University Fund (NRUF). The first university to achieve Texas Tier One designation in more than three years, UTA reached or exceeded rigorous benchmarks of quality established by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board for at least two consecutive years. Those benchmarks include: • Surpassing $45 million in restricted research expenditures; • Awarding more than 200 Ph.D.s each year, which UTA has done for six years in a row; • Being designated a member of the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society; • Enrolling a freshman class of high academic achievement, a criterion for which UTA consistently ranks the highest among universities in the running for NRUF designation; and • Having high-quality faculty, as illustrated by the increase in National Academy members, who are considered the foremost authorities on impactful research in the U.S. and who achieve membership only through significant contributions that advance their fields of study. “Congratulations to The University of Texas at Arlington for being designated as a Texas Tier One university,” says Governor Greg Abbott. “UTA joins the ranks of other Texas universities recognized by NRUF for their commitment to excellence in research and academics, and this achievement will open the door for additional research funding for the university. This designation will further bolster our state’s dedication to higher education, economic development, and cutting-edge research, and I congratulate the students, professors, and faculty of UTA for achieving this prestigious milestone.” “As an incubator for innovation and a champion of student access, UT Arlington already is a national model for urban institutions,” UT System Chancellor James B. Milliken says. “The NRUF designation and its exclusive research support will provide more momentum to UT Arlington as it continues its ascent to even greater prominence. 32
ARLINGTON TODAY • September 2021 • arlingtontoday.com
The culture of research excellence continues to flourish at UT Arlington, and this achievement reflects the campus’ exceptional – and resilient – leaders, researchers and educators.” Texas lawmakers established the NRUF in 2009 to provide a pathway for emerging research institutions to become national leaders in research output. Texas Tier One status not only signifies that UT Arlington is a leading research university, but also provides additional resources to ensure the University continues to recruit top faculty, pursue groundbreaking research and prepare students to enter one of the strongest workforces in the country. “This is a game changer for UTA that has been nearly 12 years in the making. Texas Tier One designation is a public invitation to take a fresh look at UTA’s academic and research excellence and the impact this special University is making on the region, the state of Texas and beyond,” says Teik C. Lim, interim president of The University of Texas at Arlington. “This designation is earned through demonstrated commitment to academic and research excellence, and it means that UTA is categorized in Texas as among a small grouping of the state’s highest-quality research universities.” UTA’s total research expenditures were approximately $125 million in 2020, with restricted and federal research expenditures of $52 million. The University’s ever-growing research portfolio attracts high-achieving students and faculty from across Texas and around the globe, all coming to Arlington to learn, teach, innovate and advance fields of knowledge across subjects as diverse as health care and hypersonics. Faculty and students engage in research on health disparities, gerontology, critical Texas infrastructure for transportation and natural disaster planning, advanced aviation technology, composite materials and much more. UTA, which has 19 fellows in the National Academy of Inventors, more than any other Texas institution, is among an elite group of 131 institutions designated as R-1: Doctoral Universities—Very High Research Activity, the highest designation, by the Carnegie
