Office of the President

From the President

As I consider the past year at UT Dallas, I feel a tremendous sense of gratitude. Through the efforts of our students, our faculty, our staff, our private supporters, our elected representatives, our UT System colleagues and our Regents, we’re meeting or exceeding our major objectives. We’ve got a remarkable story of success to tell.

Last year our freshman class had one of the highest average SAT scores among public universities in Texas at 1248. This year, the class average is a remarkable 1270, comparable to those of great universities across America. Last year, our 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, our number is even greater at 63 freshman National Merit Scholars. Our four-year graduation rate has risen to 51 percent, among the highest in the state, up from 31 percent in 2005.

All this progress takes place against a backdrop of growing enrollment. Our 19,727 students this fall represent an increase of 15 percent since fall 2010. We are attracting more women students, though men remain the majority. More than 30 percent of UT Dallas undergraduates are first-generation college students, a reflection of our continuing commitment to remain accessible to qualified students who are prepared to work hard.

Such growth in enrollment demands commensurate increase in faculty. I offer profound congratulations to our academic leadership on the growth of the tenured and tenure-track faculty this year. We added a net 39 new faculty, which is the biggest one-year jump since 2005. And we have seen a continuing expansion of facilities and campus upgrades, from laboratory space to residential housing to expanded parking, all part of the necessary response to our pursuit of growth.

At UT Dallas we are working to ascend to the ranks of the very best public research universities in America. We frame our efforts and give them meaning by tackling globally significant problems that are of great interest to local businesses and communities, believing this helps us earn the support and resources we need. I am extremely gratified and appreciative of the response thus far to our first comprehensive fundraising campaign. This report offers an update on Realize the Vision: The Campaign for Tier One & Beyond, a $200 million effort targeted to conclude in 2014.

Amid all the change, there are constants. 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.

David E. Daniel