Leaders of UTA and Tarrant County College see their institutions’ partnership as the way to strengthen economic opportunities in North Texas. “We're united by a belief that when our students thrive, so does our entire region,” UTA President Jennifer Cowley told business and collegiate leaders at the Greater Arlington Chamber of Commerce’s third annual State of Higher Education event Thursday at College Park Center. At the event, Cowley and Elva LeBlanc, Tarrant County College chancellor, touted their colleges’ ability to prepare students to join the workforce. TCC is celebrating its 60th anniversary and UTA its 130th. Combined, the colleges serve more than 100,000 students annually, said Michael Jacobson, president and CEO of the Greater Arlington Chamber of Commerce. They have an economic impact of almost $30 billion within the state and region. LeBlanc said TCC prepares students for high-demand careers, from aviation and automotive technology to education and health care. The college, in partnership with the Fort Worth Film Commission, plans to offer four new certificates in spring 2026 to train production crews in preparation for North Texas’ boom in films and TV shows. TCC will continue to manage funding responsibly, including a move to zero-based budgeting in the upcoming fiscal year, LeBlanc said. The accounting method calls for justifying every expense each period. TCC is also providing free tuition to dual credit students from low-income families. “Our students and their families invest so much in higher education — their faith in us means everything,” she said. “And our taxpayers and partners trust us to use our resources wisely.” Cowley said she sees UTA’s and the City of Arlington’s progress as intertwined and unbreakable. UTA’s Blaze Forward program will fully cover tuition and fees for 65% of more than 5,000 incoming freshmen in the upcoming school year, Cowley said. The university is also serving more than 100 students through the Emerging Mavericks program, which supports those who aged out of foster care or experienced homelessness. The university is preparing for a new aviation innovation and management program in spring 2026, Cowley said. UTA has produced alumni in several fields, from veterans awarded the Medal of Honor to those working at NASA. They've served in the Texas Legislature. They have designed everything from Globe Life Field to a net-zero energy skyscraper, Cowley said. And they’ve worked with Frito-Lay to improve the seasoning of their chips. “Every time you snack on a perfectly seasoned and shaped Dorito, you have a Maverick to thank for that,” Cowley said to the audience’s applause. “You’re welcome.” @DangHLe news-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu

For the first time since the ’80s, football is returning to UTA. However, it will not be in the fashion that people expected. UTA President Jennifer Cowley announced Thursday that women’s flag football will join campus athletics as a varsity sport. The program will begin competing in spring 2027 as the first Texas NCAA Division I university hosting the sport and the fifth nationwide. The program was created to push UTA to the forefront of the emerging sport and increase offerings for its female athletes. The team will play at Maverick Stadium, and coaching staff will be hired later this year, with player signings anticipated after in the fall. The average roster contains 25 players. There are over 50 colleges and universities nationwide offering women’s flag football, and the sport will have its Olympic debut in 2028 in Los Angeles. Over 50 high schools in the Dallas-Fort Worth area now have the sport. Flag football’s growing audience and addition to the Olympics were deciding factors in the university’s decision to bring it to campus, according to a press release. UTA’s announcement follows similar efforts from the Arlington Independent School District, which launched a high school girls’ flag football pilot program with six schools in April with the support of the Dallas Cowboys. The Cowboys collaborated with school districts and partners statewide over the past nine months to create varsity-level 7-on-7 programs set to compete in spring 2025. “The response we've had by adding that, it's been really remarkable. The interest in the sport in just our first year, and the amount of student athletes that are showing up, participating in it,” said Eric White, Arlington ISD director of athletics, in a press conference. A couple of years ago, students voted to increase the number of women’s sports at UTA, and after planning and evaluation, flag football rose to the top, Cowley said in the press conference. UTA can readily host the sport in existing facilities, she added. “We felt it was just the right time to be able to start and create a pathway for those future Olympic athletes,” she said. Cowley made the announcement to UTA and Tarrant County College faculty and staff, along with various DFW stakeholders, during the third annual State of Higher Education event Thursday at College Park Center. Tiny footballs were placed on tables at the event to hint at the announcement, which was saved for last. Cowley told attendees she looks forward to having a future Olympian and encouraged people to cheer on the newest Lady Mavs in the near future. “Football is king in Texas, we all know that. But where is the queen?” she said. @PMalkomes news-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu

The UT System Board of Regents met with UTA President Jennifer Cowley and other stakeholders to discuss updates to UTA’s Campus Master Plan, the new University Center, UTA West funding and more during its Wednesday and Thursday meetings. The board approved the updated Campus Master Plan after a presentation from Cowley. The Campus Master Plan helps UTA re-examine physical campus improvements every 10 to 20 years and prioritize near, medium and long-term capital improvements. UTA has been following a road map to revise the master plan since fall 2023, using community feedback, data and analysis. Cowley said the plan is tightly aligned with UTA’s strategic plan, which leads to five main campus initiatives: enhancing the sense of place, aligning the student experience and mission, investing in academic and research space, building infrastructure and connecting with North Texas and beyond. The university is seeking funding for three near-term initiatives: a performing arts center, more student housing and an improved library mall. Cowley said the Fine Arts Building’s orchestra performance space isn’t big enough to fit UTA’s orchestra. Building a performing arts center is an “urgent need” that would address deferred maintenance and provide modern performance spaces, she said. The new library mall aims to reimagine the space as a plaza with outdoor gathering areas and a shade structure. “The spaces between our buildings, they create living rooms across our campus, and so we’re focused on the library mall,” Cowley said. With the growing need for student housing, she said she hopes to present a project to the board in the fall adding 770 apartment beds. “We need to have a mix of both the residence hall style [housing] and apartments to support our student needs,” Cowley said. The updated master plan also focuses on improving deferred maintenance for aging buildings, which for the main campus brings an estimated cost of more than $136 million. Replacing outdated buildings often improves energy efficiency, according to Cowley’s presentation. “Deferred maintenance is something we have to pay attention to, so a number of the buildings I talked about are ones that are reaching that point. It’s time for major renewal,” she said. Cowley also displayed a map highlighting the oldest buildings. The most at-risk structures are those on the immediate west side of the University Center such as Woolf Hall, the Earth and Environmental Sciences building and Science Hall. Later in the meeting, the board approved the new University Center project after Cowley presented key details surrounding the $175 million building. The oldest parts of the building will be demolished and replaced with a larger addition, she said. The building will have about 148,562 gross square feet demolished, with 96,220 gross square feet undergoing renovations and 166,444 gross square feet in new construction. The new addition will include meeting and event spaces, a computer lab, shared dining and common spaces, enhanced student engagement spaces and collaborative spaces. “This is helping to advance our goals around student success, making sure that we’re helping support a positive student experience and promoting community engagement,” Cowley said. On Thursday, the regents approved the City of Fort Worth’s $4 million reimbursement to UTA for the various infrastructure improvements resulting from the incoming UTA West campus. Two million dollars will be provided within 90 days of the contract being signed and the remaining $2 million within 90 days of UTA providing a copy of the Final Completion Report showing the completion of infrastructure work. @PMalkomes news-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu

Friends, family and Mavericks gathered Friday for UTA softball’s pre-game ceremony, honoring the late community benefactor and renowned professor Allan Saxe on his namesake — Allan Saxe Field. Saxe was a retired UTA political science professor and philanthropist known for his civic generosity. He died at 85 last June, and is survived by his wife Ruthie Brock, who threw the first pitch at the game against Seattle University. Angela Perry, assistant athletics director for governance and integrity, said the department wanted to have a ceremony for Saxe during softball season to keep his memory alive. “He’s been very involved with all of our upgrades here at UTA, and very supportive of athletics and softball, so we just think that it is a no-brainer. We want to honor him,” Perry said. An alumna, former student athlete and UTA softball coach, she said she’s only known the ballpark as Allan Saxe Field. It’s become synonymous with the sport. “It’s almost full circle for me, because I was a student athlete, I was a coach, now I’m an administrator, and I get to help facilitate and put this together,” she said. “It’s just an honor for us to be able to do that, honor him and his name and his legacy, what he means to our softball program community.” The ceremony kicked off with a video honoring Saxe’s impact and the legacy he left in Arlington, featuring various speakers, including UTA President Jennifer Cowley, head softball coach Kara Dill, deputy athletics director Debbie Garcia and Arlington Mayor Jim Ross. Before Brock threw the first pitch, she received a picture frame of Saxe from the softball team. While he wasn’t athletic, Brock said Saxe had a love for sports. He helped the athletics program greatly through donations and support. Brock said she was touched to see the impact Saxe had on the community and how UTA Athletics honored his work. “I’m here to just help keep Allan’s memory alive,” she said. Beyond philanthropy and athletics, Saxe’s influence extended to academics. Athletics director Jon Fagg said there are stories of students lined up to take Saxe’s classes. “His legacy is as much teaching as anything. He was a beloved professor,” Fagg said. “I think reminding all our students, while you’re going through school, pay attention to your professors.” On a deeper level, Saxe’s deeds didn’t falter either. He fostered personal relationships and supported his neighbors. Arlington resident Beverly Damon, 61, and a neighbor of Saxe, said Saxe and Brock encouraged Damon’s family and would watch her daughter skate at the mall. Damon attended the ceremony to support Brock and said her family treasures their relationship. Since Saxe’s death, they’ve been honored to stay close and help care for Brock, she said. Saxe’s life was about helping others and making their lives better, Damon said. With the late philanthropist’s name plastered everywhere in the city, she said it was only a matter of time until UTA held another event in his honor. “He is an icon. He was the neighborhood celebrity,” Damon said. @amandaLaldridge @_.lexlie_ news-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu

The UTA Planetarium and College of Science celebrated the one-year anniversary of their space-cultivated Moon Tree on Tuesday afternoon at the Planetarium, teaching attendees about the sapling’s off-Earth history. The Planetarium received the sweetgum sapling from NASA and the United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service on April 24, 2024, and planted it outside the Chemistry and Physics Building the next day, according to previous Shorthorn reporting. The sapling received its nickname Moon Tree after being one of several seedlings to orbit around the moon during Artemis I, an uncrewed lunar orbit mission. Since its arrival at UTA, Planetarium coordinator McKenna Dowd said in an email the Moon Tree has grown to be 54 inches tall. “I’m so thrilled that we’re a part of history in a sense,” Dowd said. Dowd gave a presentation about Artemis I’s mission during the event. Five different tree species seedlings orbited the moon: Douglas Fir, Loblolly Pine, Giant Sequoia, American Sycamore and Sweetgum. The seeds were sent into space for two reasons: to continue understanding how seeds can be taken into space and grow upon their return – a vital role for the future of human space exploration – and to give communities a living connection to space exploration, she said. NASA’s Orion spacecraft carried the seeds, performing a half revolution of six days in an orbit 43,730 miles from the surface of the moon. “It went farther than any human has ever travelled in space,” Dowd said. Researchers measured the seedlings’ growth after their return to Earth, and their findings suggest that if the seeds are stored in sub-optimal conditions for a short period, they will continue to grow despite space travel, she said. “This is huge for space exploration,” Dowd said in her presentation. Artemis I saplings have taken root at 236 locations across the United States and organizations are cultivating more than just trees, she said. They are sparking curiosity about space, nurturing community connections and fostering a deeper understanding of NASA’s missions. Once the show ended, guests enjoyed refreshments and participated in activities such as making a space souvenir and building a small, personal herb garden. Ashley Garza, College of Science special events and alumni coordinator, said she wanted to help Dowd celebrate the Moon Tree through the “build a herb garden” activity, as it was a great way to connect outer space with environmental science. “I think we’ve had a great turnout,” she said. “It’s simple, it’s also a study break for the students to do something.” Nursing juniors Jackie Rodriguez and Carolina Trevizo participated in building their own herb garden. Trevizo said she chose cilantro because she uses the plant often, and Rodriguez said she chose borage because of the beautiful picture of the plant shown at the event. “We were just walking in here and we saw everything set up and so we just came back when it started,” Trevizo said. “We were just interested by the plants and stuff.” Looking forward to next year, Dowd said she hopes more UTA students will get involved with the Moon tree and NASA research, whether they are an art major, environmental science major or pursuing any other field of study. “I’m super excited to just have a way for the community to learn about the Moon Tree and connect,” she said. “And hopefully get super excited and more involved with its presence on campus.” news-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu

With commencement for the spring semester coming up May 9 at Globe Life Field, here is everything graduates should know about the ceremonies. Graduates do not need commencement tickets, but must print and present their GradPass at the ceremony. GradPasses will be available through Tassel. Guest tickets will be released Thursday through the MLB Ballpark App or the My Rangers Tickets mobile browser. Printed or screenshotted tickets will not be accepted at Globe Life Field and seating is first come, first serve. All bags and purses must be soft-sided and not exceed 16-by-16-by-8 inches. Prohibitions include, but are not limited to: banners or items that may obstruct view, glitter or confetti, noisemakers, or drones. Backpacks are not allowed, even clear ones. Parking is free for ticketed guests, who can park at four nearby lots. Parking shuttles and wheelchair escorts are available upon request. The Globe Life Field parking map can be found online. Graduates should plan to arrive at Globe Life Field at least 75 minutes before their ceremony start time. Doors open 60 minutes before each ceremony for guests. UTA commencement ceremonies last about two to two and a half hours. Flash Photography will be present at all UTA commencement ceremonies and will take two photos of each graduate as they walk the stage. Complimentary proofs will be mailed to graduates one week after the ceremony. A live stream will be available at go.uta.edu/commencement. news-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu