Contact: Monty Jones, (512) 499-4363

Date: January 27, 2003

UT System News Release

Chancellor Praises President Witt, Plans Orderly Succession at U.T. Arlington

AUSTIN - The decision by the University of Alabama to hire Robert E. Witt as its next president "is a great loss for The University of Texas at Arlington and the U.T. System, but we wish him great success in his new position," U.T. System Chancellor Mark G. Yudof said on Monday.

"Bob Witt has served U.T. Arlington as president with high distinction, and everyone within the U.T. System is grateful for the extraordinary contribution that he has made," Yudof said. "The University of Alabama is to be congratulated on having hired one of the nation's most outstanding academic leaders. Everyone who knows Bob Witt can understand why he would be sought after for this exciting new leadership challenge."

The University of Alabama trustees voted unanimously on Monday to hire Witt as president. He is scheduled to begin March 1.

Witt has been president of U.T. Arlington since March 1996, and he served as interim president of the university for nine months before that. Previously, he was dean of the business school at U.T. Austin.

"Bob Witt accepted a very difficult assignment when he assumed the presidency of U.T. Arlington six years ago," Yudof said. "The university was facing declining enrollments, and a number of other very serious challenges had prevailed on the campus for some time. With wisdom, patience, and quiet authority, Bob immediately won the hearts of the faculty, students, and staff, as well as the larger community of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. He pulled the university together and set it on a course of enhanced service to the community, the region, and the state. His presidency has been a model of successful academic administration during a time of great change and challenge."

Yudof said he anticipates naming an interim president at U.T. Arlington soon in order to ensure an orderly transition.

The rules of the Board of Regents provide for the appointment of an advisory committee to recommend names of finalists for the presidency. The appointment of a permanent president will be made by the Board of Regents.

The advisory committee will include representatives of faculty, students, staff, alumni, the Board of Regents, the external community, and others.