The University of Texas at Tyler (UT Tyler) is a coeducational public university located in Tyler, Texas, United States. Founded in 1971, it is a component institution of The University of Texas System.
UT Tyler consists of five professional colleges and one traditional college of arts and sciences, offering over 90 academic degree programs at the bachelor, master, and doctoral levels. The University of Texas at Tyler is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. The university has a fall 2017 student body enrollment of 10,527, a 20:1 student to faculty ratio, and a park-like campus centered on Harvey Lake.
Video University of Texas at Tyler
History
The University of Texas at Tyler was founded in 1971 as Tyler State College. The school was renamed Texas Eastern University in 1975, and then joined the University of Texas System in 1979 as a result of action by the 66th Texas Legislature. Initially, UT Tyler was a "senior" level institution ("senior" as compared to community or junior colleges), teaching only upper division undergraduate courses for juniors & seniors, as well as graduate level courses, and granting bachelor's and master's degrees. Thus, until 1998, all U.T. Tyler students were transfer students from other institutions of higher learning--junior colleges or other universities. In 1997, the 75th Texas Legislature passed House Bill 1795, signed into law by Governor George W. Bush, authorizing the school to add classes for freshmen and sophomore students. As of the Fall semester 1998, UT Tyler became a 4-year and graduate institution, following the full U.S. university pattern, i.e. educating students from the freshman level through graduate and postgraduate levels.
Maps University of Texas at Tyler
Academics
The university's majors include Nursing, Education, Business (Accounting, Finance, Management, & Marketing), Communications, Biology, English, History, Industrial Technology, Industrial Management, Music, Economics, Health & Kinesiology, Computer Science and Information Systems, and Engineering (Civil, Electrical, and Mechanical). Additionally, UT Tyler offers doctoral studies in Nursing, pharmacy, and one of the only PhD programs in Human Resource Development in the United States.
Campus
UT Tyler's main campus is located on 204 acres (0.83 km2), just inside the eastern city limits of Tyler, Texas The UT Tyler campus is more than 40 years old, with a modern, master-planned and integrated architectural style of buildings. Because of vigorous growth in enrollment, many new buildings and sports facilities have been constructed at the main campus since 1996.
One of the most prominent features of the UT Tyler campus is the Riter Tower, an 88-foot (27 m) carillon featuring 57 bells. The tower was built with a $1.35 million gift from Mr. and Mrs. A.W. "Dub" Riter Jr. The instrument is played with an electronic keyboard connected at sites in the music department, the administration building or at the base of the carillon tower. The title of largest carillon in Texas for most bells goes to the Riter Carillon at UT Tyler, although the Kniker Carillon at The University of Texas at Austin boasts more tonnage.
The Herrington Patriot Center includes a state-of-the-art fitness center with cardio-theater and circuit training, racquetball courts, heated pool and spa, indoor walking/jogging track, and gymnasium/convocation area with basketball/volleyball court and seating for 2,300.
The R. Don Cowan Fine and Performing Arts Center attracts a wide array of cultural entertainment, and 26,000 patrons attend the performances annually.
On-campus housing options include one dormitory, Ornelas Hall, and three apartment complexes, Patriot Village and Eagle's Landing, which are owned by UT Tyler, and University Pines, which is owned by an outside company but works in conjunction with the college.
Activities
UT Tyler offers over 80 student organizations including Greek fraternities and sororities.
- Greek Sororities
- Alpha Chi Omega, Kappa Mu chapter
- Gamma Phi Beta, Zeta Upsilon chapter (Currently Inactive)
- Delta Gamma, Eta Xi chapter
- Delta Sigma Theta, Upsilon Epsilon chapter
- Greek Fraternities
- Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Texas Zeta chapter
- Pi Kappa Phi, Theta Pi chapter
- Kappa Sigma, Rho Nu chapter (suspended in 2016)
- Delta Sigma Phi
- Recreational Sports
- Student Activities
- Student Government Association
- Student Organizations
- American Society of Civil Engineers Student Chapter (awarded Best ASCE Student Chapter in Texas in 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013. Texas-Mexico Region Concrete Canoe Champions 2009, 2012, and 2013)
- Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Corona Chapter
- Association of Technology, Management, and Applied Engineering (ATMAE) Student Chapter. Only ATMAE student chapter in the world to win the Outstanding Student Chapter Award three consecutive years and to also win it a total of five times (2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, and 2016).
- Honor Fraternities
- Beta Alpha Psi
- Beta Gamma Sigma
- Kappa Kappa Psi
- Epsilon Pi Tau
- Phi Alpha Theta
- Forensics
Athletics
UT Tyler competes in the American Southwest Conference of the NCAA's Division III. Both the men's and women's sports teams are referred to as the Patriots.
The school does not have a football program.
UT Tyler participates in the following fifteen sports: Men's sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, tennis and track & field, while women's sports include basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, softball, tennis, track & field and volleyball.
Since 2005, UT Tyler student-athletes have won 29 American Southwest Conference Championships, 29 ASC East Division championships, made 32 team appearances in the NCAA postseason and had 26 students earn All-America or Academic All-America Honors.
In May 2007, UT Tyler finished their four-year provisional status with the NCAA as a new athletic program. In September 2007, the Patriots became full members of the NCAA, and for the first time eligible for national rankings and NCAA postseason events.
As of July 2017, the school is considering a move to Division II as a part of a strategy to be a more significant player in the region, possibly building a new athletic campus in the process.
On February 2, 2018, the school formally applied for NCAA Division II status; if approved, full membership would begin on September 1, 2021. No conference affiliation has yet been announced.
Notable alumni
- Bryan Hughes - Republican member of the Texas House of Representatives from Wood County since 2003
- Allen R. Morris - Emmy Award winning producer/director/writer; formerly with KLTV; frequent actor at Tyler Civic Theatre from 1979 to 1990; attended marketing and communications courses in early 80's while working on a master's degree.
- Craig Tiley - CEO of Tennis Australia and Director of the Australian Open
- Valari Staab - President, NBCUniversal Owned Television Stations
- Jimmy Pena - Founder, PrayFit Ministries
- Rachel Hackbarth - Morning anchor at KOB, Albuquerque, New Mexico
- Traci Kenner - United States Attorney
- Matthew Riccardi - Assistant General Manager Long Island Nets, NBA/NBADL Scout
- Michael Lujan - Owner, Mentoring Minds
- Bob Garrett - President & CEO, Fair Oil Company
- Jeff Austin III - Vice Chairman, Austin Bank, former Commissioner for the Texas Department of Transportation
- Glenn Canfield, Jr. (deceased) - Former President of Thermo-Tech Co., Chairperson of the Republican Party of Gregg County, Texas
- Alan K. Green - Democratic member of the Missouri House of Representatives for District 67; Consultant at Green and Associates
- Shirley McKellar - Democratic candidate for Texas's First Congressional District in 2012, 2014, and 2016; former U.S. Army Nurse
- Brandon Rhyder - Texas Country/Red Dirt singer
References
External links
- Official website
- UT Tyler Athletics website
Source of article : Wikipedia
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