News Center - The University of Texas at Dallas

Mar. 6, 2013

UT Dallas has once again met or exceeded its major objectives toward establishing itself as one of the best research universities in the country. The achievements — in enrollment, student success, research, technology transfer, faculty growth and fundraising — are reflected in a newly released annual report that details the year’s successes.

This year, a snapshot of the University’s progress is offered in a new interactive online report that allows users to click more deeply into the statistics and the year’s most important success stories that show the University’s continued momentum toward becoming a Tier One University. Readers also will be able to download a full version of the “2012 UT Dallas Annual Report” print edition.

Among the highlights:

• An all-time high enrollment tally of 19,727 students, including 63 freshman National Merit Scholars.
• The addition of 39 new faculty members—the biggest one-year increase since 2005.
• A record number of invention disclosures, patent applications and licensing agreements, including the creation of two new start-up companies based on University research.
• The kickoff of the public phase of the University’s first comprehensive campaign.
• The plans to construct a fourth residence hall for fall 2013 and two parking structures by 2014.

Steady progress and an emphasis on maintaining quality standards have allowed the University to boost measures, increase the number of tenured and tenure-track faculty, expand facilities and make campus upgrades.

“Amid all the change, there are constants,” said President David E. Daniel. “UT Dallas has always stood for quality and rigor. Our focus is on serving our students and our community with excellence, and that focus will remain while we pursue a course of steady, intelligent growth.”

Student Success

In fall 2012, the University broke student enrollment records while also raising the academic bar.  Last year the freshman class had one of the highest average SAT scores among public universities in Texas at 1248. This year, the class average is 1270.

Last year’s 53 freshman National Merit Scholars comprised a group larger than the number of National Merit freshmen in the rest of the University of Texas System institutions combined. This year, 63 freshman National Merit winners arrived on campus for a total of 180 Merit Scholars.

Research and Technology Transfer

On the research and technology transfer front, the University had 66 invention disclosures, a 40 percent increase from the previous year. It also set a record for the number of patent applications and licensing agreements — a result of a growing technology transfer enterprise that helps move commercially viable research from the lab to the marketplace.

The pipeline for successful technology transfer begins with University researchers who have novel ideas. More than 120 research proposals were funded by external agencies, including the National Science Foundation, the National Institutes of Health and the Department of Energy. Total restricted and federal research expenditures were $90.6 million.

First Comprehensive Campaign

The University also launched the public phase of its first comprehensive campaign last spring. “Realize the Vision: The Campaign for Tier One & Beyond” is a $200 million, five-year initiative to bolster innovation, build the endowment and enhance excellence in academics and research.

Supporters have raised more than $125 million so far and have made progress in building the alumni base of support. In just the last year, the number of all donors and alumni donors increased by nearly 30 percent and 35 percent, respectively.

“It’s great to have this kind of news,” said Daniel. “The campaign’s success will enable a critical step toward having a nationally recognized academic research university in Dallas-Fort Worth. We are very close.” 

Media contact: Connie Piloto, UT Dallas, (214) 905-3049, cxp104220@utdallas.edu
or the Office of Media Relations, UT Dallas, (972) 883-2155, newscenter@utdallas.edu