University of Texas at Tyler

The University of Texas at Tyler

University of Texas - UT TYLER LOGO
Type	State University
Established	1971
President	Dr. Rodney H. Mabry
Provost	Dr. Peter J. Fos (previous)
Academic staff	378
Undergraduates	4764
Postgraduates	1373
Address	3900 University Blvd. Tyler, Tx, 75799 , Tyler , Texas , USA
Campus	Urban, 204 acres (0.8km2)
Sports	UT Tyler Patriots
Colors	Orange, Blue
Nickname	Patriots
Affiliations	NCAA Division III, American Southwest
Website	www.uttyler.edu

The University of Texas at Tyler (also referred to as 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 four 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 student body of over 6,100, a 16:1 student to faculty ratio, and a park-like campus centered around Harvey Lake.

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 bachelors and masters 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.

Academics

The university's majors include Nursing, Education, Business Management, Communications, Accounting, Marketing, Finance, Biology, History, Economics, and Health & Kinesiology.

Campus

The Riter Tower

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 less 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 1995. Once located well outside the city's corporate limits, by 2005, the campus was almost completely surrounded by residential housing, and is therefore limited to expansion within its current boundaries.

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 dollar gift from Mr. and Mrs. A.W. "Dub" Riter Jr. The instrument is not a true carillon, however; there is no console connected directly to the bells. All playing is done on a keyboard in a separate building. The title of largest carillon in Texas goes to the Kniker Carillon at The University of Texas at Austin in the Main Building (Tower); the Austin instrument also boasts a much larger tonnage than the one of Riter Tower.

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 two apartment complexes, Patriot Village, which is owned by UT Tyler, and University Pines, which is owned by an outside company but works in conjunction with the college.

Activities

Student rides in car made during art class

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
  • 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
• Recreational Sports
• Student Activities
• Student Government Association
• Student Organizations
  • American Society of Civil Engineers Student Chapter (awarded Best ASCE Student Chaper in Texas in 2008 and 2009. Ridgway Award (National Top Student Chapter) Finalist for 2009)
  • UT Tyler Youth for Ron Paul Student Chapter
• Online Communities
  • Reddit
• Honor Fraternities
  • Beta Alpha Psi
  • Beta Gamma Sigma
• Forensics

Athletics

UT Tyler Women's Basketball Team

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.

UT Tyler participates in the following fifteen sports:

• Baseball
• Basketball, Men's
• Basketball, Women's
• Cross Country, Men's
• Cross Country, Women's
• Golf, Men's
• Golf, Women's
• Soccer, Men's
• Soccer, Women's
• Softball
• Tennis, Men's
• Tennis, Women's
• Track, Men's
• Track, Women's
• Volleyball

Patriot student-athletes have won 15 American Southwest Conference East Division and overall championships, and had 71 ASC All Academic Team awards.

In May, 2007, UT Tyler finished their four-year provisional status with the NCAA as a start-up athletic program. In September 2007, the Patriots became full members of the NCAA, and for the first time eligible for national rankings and postseason events.

UT Tyler student athletes have been found to earn a higher grade point ratio than the student body as a whole.

External links

• The University of Texas at Tyler
• The University of Texas at Tyler Admissions Home Page
• The University of Texas at Tyler Housing Home Page
• The University of Texas at Tyler Athletics
• The University of Texas at Tyler Riter Tower
• UT Tyler Cowan Center
• Student Government Association
• Indian Student Association
• UT Tyler ASCE Student Chapter