Meet the VP
Dr. Frank Lamas More Information |
Dear Students and Members of the University Community, As the Vice President for Student Affairs, I am concerned with the successful passage of students from the day they attend orientation through their years as alumni. This requires, of course, that students apply themselves to the number one priority: striving for excellence in the classroom. Beyond that, it is clear from research and my twenty-five years as an administrator that involved and engaged students will have a rich university experience that could be four of the best years of their lives. They are also most likely to persist and succeed in college. During their college years, students will encounter many opportunities that will help them achieve their academic, professional and personal goals. All of us – faculty and staff – are here to support them in making the most of their possibilities at UT Arlington. We look forward to the expression of their ideas and talents. Eventually, we all look forward to the day they participate in their commencement ceremonies. Embarking on an educational career is a special life experience. I strongly urge new students to get involved and take advantage of all the opportunities the campus has to offer. For examples, lives are enriched when one becomes involved in a club or organization; there are approximately 300, representing a wide range of interests. Participation in these groups offers personal skills development, marketable career experiences and the opportunity to make lifelong friends. This website includes a wealth of information about these groups as well as various campus programs and services that will help a new student make a smooth transition to our campus and serve all of our students throughout their time at UT Arlington. Campus Recreation offers a wellness program, a full range of intramural team sports and individual recreation programs to release stress and to improve physical fitness. I encourage our students to get out and support our athletic teams and become an enthusiastic “Maverick” fan! Further, I urge students to attend the events, speakers and activities. If you want something that’s not here, suggest it. Together, we can establish campus programs, services and traditions that empower, enhance and transform students’ lives. Also included on the website are the Division of Student Affairs’ vision and mission statements, our core values and our goals and objectives. It also comprises an organizational chart, the names of students who have won prestigious awards, a Division directory and calendar, the student handbook/planner, which is called Mav Dates & Data, an FAQ section, and links to the departments that make up Student Affairs, the Academic Calendar and other helpful resources. At UT Arlington, we take pride in providing a student-centered environment. We care about our students’ personal and academic successes. The Division of Student Affairs is dedicated to inclusiveness and facilitating the active engagement of students in co-curricular experiences. We provide resources and professional support so that students may experience personal growth and reach their potential. We provide opportunities for students to embrace what may be new and different and to learn to appreciate students from other ethnic and cultural backgrounds. Opportunities for service-learning and other aspects of becoming an active citizen abound. Among the values we stress are collaboration, personal responsibility, integrity, trust and the free expression of ideas. Our most important advice to students is to get involved and create individual meaningful personal and academic experiences. Please feel free to contact me at studentaffairs@uta.edu or stop by my office at Davis Hall, Suite 350, if I can ever be of assistance. Best wishes, Dr. Frank R. Lamas |