Mission Statement

The University of Texas at Dallas serves the Metroplex and the State of Texas as a global leader in innovative, high quality science, engineering, and business education and research. 

The University is committed to (1) producing engaged graduates, prepared for life, work, and leadership in a constantly changing world, (2) advancing excellent educational and research programs in the natural and social sciences, engineering and technology, management, and the liberal, creative, and practical arts, and (3) transforming ideas into actions that directly benefit the personal, economic, social, and cultural lives of the citizens of Texas.

Vision

To be one of the nation's best public research universities and one of the great universities of the world.

Goals

The University of Texas at Dallas aspires to be:

• A first-rank public research university with focused centers of excellence, prepared to meet the challenges of a rapidly changing, technology-driven global society
• A global force in innovative, transdisciplinary research and education in emerging areas of  technology, science, and learning
• A ground-breaking leader in both framing and answering the questions faced by business, policy makers, healthcare, and the public
• A synergistic partner with local industry, government, and cultural organizations as well as local K-12 schools, community colleges, and universities
• One of the most creative, innovative universities in the nation and world.

Meeting these goals will require that all stakeholders—faculty, staff, students, business leaders, philanthropists, teachers, civic leaders—unite and work to help UTD establish world-rank stature in already established areas of excellence and in new areas that will be crucial in the different world that will define tomorrow.  Without internal synergy and active external collaborations, without diversity of opinion, without dedication to transcending traditional boundaries, UTD will not be able to fulfill its promise or meet the expressed aim of its founders—to become “a great university.”

Rationale

The University’s goals can be achieved because UTD:

• Resides in one of the nation’s largest, most vibrant metropolitan areas, one which urgently needs a top-tier research university.
• Focuses on areas that are of critical importance to the region, state, and nation—science, technology, engineering, business, cognition, and teacher preparation.
• Is a young, agile university undergoing rapid growth while maintaining highest quality teaching and research.
• Has an exceptionally talented student body, a world renowned faculty, and innovative transdisciplinary programs.
• Is surrounded by excellent community colleges, cutting-edge high tech industries, leading medical institutions, and innovative business partners who have a history of collaboration with the University.
• Is part of the dynamic UT System with the added benefits of a close association with UT Southwestern Medical Center (one of the world’s premier medical research facilities) in downtown Dallas and UTD’s sister institution, UT Arlington.
• Has a remarkable history of strong private and public support.

The combination of need, focus, youth, quality, location, collaboration, and UT System resources makes UTD’s goal to become one of the nation’s premier public research universities a realistic possibility.  UTD has consciously avoided the structure of the traditional university with traditional academic disciplines that often become academic silos.  Rather than trying to offer all programs for all people, the University will continue to build by adding to strengths, to those focused areas of excellence where individuals are encouraged to break free of constricted modes of thinking.  Although UTD does offer bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees in most of the core disciplines of the liberal arts and sciences, management, and engineering, there is a great deal of flexibility in all areas so that the programs and Schools can proactively respond to new ideas, new technology, and new challenges.

UTD faces significant challenges and is by no means assured success.  UTD’s youth contributes to its status as relatively unknown.  The University is too small, especially in terms of faculty size and infrastructure, to compete effectively with the nation’s premier research universities.  Moreover, UTD currently lacks the operating revenue and endowment income necessary to achieve its aspirations in the short term. 

This strategic plan defines the institution that UTD aspires to be, states its vision and mission, identifies its goals, lays out the strategies necessary to achieve these goals, spells out an implementation plan, and identifies measures of progress.  This strategic plan sets forth a proactive set of bold actions that over time will secure UTD’s place as one of the world’s great universities.

Strategic Initiatives

UTD will invest in 6 strategic initiatives for success:

1. Discovering Tomorrow’s Inventions Today
2. Preparing Students for Tomorrow’s Challenges
3. Managing Change in a Constantly Changing Society
4. Securing the Safety of the Future
5. Improving the Health and Quality of Life of Individuals and Society
6. Making a Great City Even Greater 

These six initiatives are interlocked and deliberately overlap each other.  They transcend traditional disciplines, involve the entire UTD community, and will enable UTD to better fulfill its mission to serve the region and the State.  The goal of these initiatives is to transform UTD into a dynamic, intellectual, research force that has direct and powerful impact on the quality of the intellectual, cultural, physical, and economic life of Dallas’s citizens as well as the citizens of the world, and the initiatives go hand in hand with meeting face-on the challenges which UTD must overcome.  Over the next ten years, these initiatives will provide a roadmap for UTD’s future.