Screenplay: Andrea Teran
3 min read October 2024 — As the Dallas-Fort Worth region solidifies its status as an education powerhouse, institutions across the region are innovating to meet the diverse needs of their students and communities. University of Dallas is at the forefront Newly established The Institute has implemented an equity-focused agenda designed to address systemic challenges primarily faced by Latino and low-income students.
This commitment to improving access to education is further emphasized by the Dallas Transfer Collaborative. partnership It will be held between the University of Dallas, Texas A&M College of Commerce, Texas Woman’s University, and the University of North Texas at Dallas. This partnership supports the long-term economic stability of North Texas by allowing community college students to complete their bachelor’s degrees on time through a simplified transfer process and the introduction of “meta-majors.” .
Invest: spoke to North Texas higher education leaders who are navigating the evolving education landscape by forging strategic partnerships and implementing new technologies. From initiatives that support economic mobility to career-aligned programs, these institutions are committed to equipping students with the skills needed for the region’s high-growth industries.
Jennifer Cawley, President, University of Texas at Arlington
Over its nearly 130-year history, UTA has evolved into a nationally recognized research university proudly serving the North Texas community. Over the decades, UTA has grown by leaps and bounds, establishing itself as a central institution with a measurable impact on the region’s social, cultural, and economic landscape. You’ll see that embodied in a variety of ways, including offering comprehensive internship opportunities across many disciplines. Support local manufacturers. Launching the UTA Center for Entrepreneurship and Technology Development to help students, scholars, and researchers drive innovation, commercialize new technologies, and pioneer new companies. Partner with industry and the community to find solutions to challenges. Or collaborate in nursing or social work settings to help improve health outcomes in your community.
Earlier this spring, we announced our new strategic plan, UTA 2030: Shared Dreams, Bright Future. Our strategic themes are student success, alumni and community engagement, research and innovation, finance and infrastructure, and people and culture. Our community is united by a common dream and a firm commitment to building a brighter future for all. UTA’s recent announcement of its new West Campus in west Fort Worth is an example of UTA’s commitment to expanding access to educational opportunities and engaging the local community.
Lee Whittington, Satish and Yasmin Gupta Dean of Business, University of Dallas
We are in the launch phase of a completely new approach to graduate business education. We will be introducing a Leadership Masters program in January 2025. This program will benefit many people in industry, nonprofit organizations, educational institutions, and government agencies who need to develop their leadership skills.
Currently, MBA programs require courses in technology, even for students who do not have a master’s degree in technology. So this applies to all degrees we offer. In addition, all graduates from the University of Dallas are required to take the Gupta Core Curriculum. The curriculum consists of two classes: Virtuous Leadership, which aims to develop a virtue approach to character and ethics, and Business and the Common Good, which aims to teach morality. . That business is not just greedy capitalism, but a force for good in society.
The David B. Miller Business Quadrangle has been a focus of ours for several years now. After breaking ground in May 2022, we held our first classes in our newly renovated and expanded facility in August 2024. The 2024-2025 school year feels like a real turning point on campus, both in business education and the number of students enrolled. cox school. We have doubled the size of our graduate program and increased our incoming undergraduate class by almost 40% in the past year alone. So this building comes at the perfect time. This not only increases our capabilities but also represents a strong commitment to business education and interdisciplinary learning.
Lama Yerkul, Merrilee Alexander Kick Dean of Business Entrepreneurship, Texas Woman’s University 
The Merrilee Alexander Kick College of Business is at an exciting stage and on a growth trajectory. Our mission is to primarily educate women to become leaders in business and health care, bridging the gap between talent and opportunity. We attract a special type of student: one who is talented but doesn’t have the means to succeed in the workplace. Our goal is to provide a comprehensive business education and produce top-notch graduates who can succeed in any field of business.
Entrepreneurship classes, mentoring from resident entrepreneurs, intellectual property, patenting, regulatory compliance, packaging, supply chain management, and marketing through the Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship. This institute is transformative for us and we are thrilled that we can provide such comprehensive support for student entrepreneurship and create more women-owned businesses and entrepreneurs. It’s very gratifying to know.
Matthew Myers, Dean, Cox School of Business, Southern Methodist University
We have focused on strengthening strategic partnerships across a variety of industries, beyond traditional sectors such as oil and gas and real estate. Partnerships with McKesson and others in healthcare, venture capital and private equity are very important. We have moved from a transactional relationship to a strategic relationship.
These partnerships have supported us in everything from curriculum development and student recruitment to advancing our research activities. Without these strategic alliances, many of the successes we have achieved would have taken even longer. The pace of business is accelerating and we need to keep up. These partnerships are a critical component of our capabilities.
See below for more information.
https://www.uta.edu/
https://udallas.edu/
https://twu.edu/
https://www.smu.edu/
