Global Initiative
Responding to the UT System Board of Regents Strategic Plan, the System is pursuing a global initiative that will assist in expanding global competitiveness, increasing numbers of students studying abroad and international research and clinical activities.
Academic Leadership Development Initiative
Academic and administrative leadership are critical to the success of UT System campuses and administration, and was identified as an area to emphasize during UT System Board of Regents' strategic planning process and in the work of the System's Faculty Advisory Council. Outcomes of this leadership initiative and forthcoming Leadership institute will include: smoother-running operations; better risk avoidance and problem solving; fewer emergencies and problems; more depth/redundancy for decision making; identification of potential leaders; better succession planning; better retention of chairs and deans; cost savings in reduced legal matters, and cost savings from reduced staff turnover.
Graduation Rates Initiative
The nine academic institutions in The University of Texas System have already improved students' access to their institutions, said Chancellor Mark G. Yudof. "Now we need to focus on improving our students' success once they come to our campuses," Yudof said. "Significantly raising our graduation rates is one of our greatest priorities."
Student Learning Assessment
The University of Texas System was the first major public university system to require use of and publication of results of student engagement and learning outcome assessments. These assessments are tools that support institutional accountability, and that contribute as well to for program planning and quality improvement.
Improving Doctoral and Postdoctoral Education
On November 9, 2007, The University of Texas System Board of Regents accepted a sweeping report based on a year-long study by a Task Force on Doctoral Education and the Postdoctoral Experience. Major recommendations are intended to increase recruitment, retention and graduation of doctoral students and postdoctoral, to make the System and the state more competitive, and to increase student success. Read the related press release.
Competitiveness Initiative
In August 2006, The University of Texas System Board of Regents endorsed an unprecedented investment of $2.56 billion to boost competitiveness in key scientific areas. "This investment is the largest commitment to science and technology infrastructure that has been made by a higher education system in the country since the National Academies' recent call for a comprehensive effort to bolster U.S. competitiveness in its report, RISING ABOVE THE GATHERING STORM," said UT System Chancellor Mark G. Yudof. These capital projects are focused on providing the UT System academic and health institutions with state-of-the-art equipment, facilities and start-up packages designed to recruit the world's brightest research scientists and faculty and to provide a world-class education in the sciences, technology, engineering, and health professions.
Shared Services Initiative
The UT System advocates a value-added philosophy of sharing resources among institutions of The University of Texas System. Beginning in October 2006, the shared services projects provide a means to consolidate redundant information technology and business services in areas with multiple institutions in close proximity. As well, this model allows for shared governance and permits greater flexibility.
Additional Current Strategic Initiatives of the UT System
- Enrollment management and admissions standards
- Community college partnerships
- K-12 science/math programs
- UT TeleCampus course redesign
- STARS investments
- Research collaborations (Texas Alliance for Nanotechnology [TxAN], Texas Nanoelectronics Research Initiative, Sandia research peer review and research collaborations, Texas Advanced Computing Center [TACC])
- Technology transfer regional and shared services
- Medical education program
- Electronic patient records
- Electronic order entry and joint purchasing
- Centralized payroll services
- Expanding Joint Application for Medical Programs
- Cognitive neuroscience program
- Business planning workshop
- Campus financial planning (FuturePerfect)
