This Is UTA

The University you remember has changed, and it continues to evolve to meet the needs of our communities near and far. As a model 21st-century urban research university, it is what we are called to do.

Even before UTA President Vistasp Karbhari took the helm in 2013, he made a bold claim: UTA was well on its way to becoming a model 21st-century urban research university. His role, he said, was to lead the University to the realization of that goal and his objective is detailed in the University's Strategic Plan 2020 Bold Solutions | Global Impact. Guided by the plan's four broad themes health and the human condition, sustainable urban communities, global environmental impact, and data-driven discovery and bolstered by its guiding aspirations, the University has set a path to unprecedented excellence in research, teaching, and community engagement.

The role of the public research institution is well-defined. In simple terms: Most public research universities are founded and operated by state government entities. As such, public universities must serve the public; as a result, they must be nimble and adaptable, growing and changing to meet the needs of their ever-evolving communities.

For The University of Texas at Arlington to be the model 21st-century public research university, we had to become a university of constant assessment and action. It’s an ongoing, daily process: We evaluate where we are, uncover the unique challenges our communities are facing, find solutions and put those solutions into action. We then share those solutions with the state, the nation, and the world. They are absolute imperatives that guide everything we do.

In the coming pages, we have gathered stories that bring these imperatives to life. The stories highlight how research conducted on our campus can have a transformative effect on cities near and far, and how UTA is solving some of society’s most pressing problems. They illustrate that in times of crisis, the work UTA does can provide relief to those who need it most. Through all the work we do, we ensure equal access to higher education for all students. Together, these stories reflect a university constantly at work, striving for excellence above all and setting the standard for other universities to follow.

Illustrations by Guillaume Gennet, Represented by Lemonade Illustration Agency