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NEWS
| October 13, 2004
UT System
Spaniolo: residential status nears
Regents hear plans on achieving
traditionalism.
By Elaine
Marsilio
The Shorthorn Staff
DALLAS — With about 4,200 residential students on campus and
newly adopted traditions, university officials will work to enhance
the quality of life here, President James Spaniolo said Tuesday.
Spaniolo was one of more than five university presidents to attend
an academic retreat of the UT System Board of Regents at the Westin
Galleria Hotel. Spaniolo updated the board on where the university
is headed and how he plans to transform UTA from a commuter campus
to a more traditional campus, or more residential and interactive
for students.
“It’s a kind of state of mind,” Spaniolo said.
The university has increasingly become more residential over the
last few years with the building of residence halls, he said.
“I wouldn’t call UT-Arlington a commuter campus because
we have 4,000 students living in university housing, but I think
in terms of becoming a fully developed residential campus and interactive,
vibrant community, I think we still have a ways to go,” Spaniolo
said after the meeting. “We’re kind of in transition
from being a commuter campus to something new.”
The university is like an “oasis,” where there is a
lack of commercial development in the surrounding area, and UTA
is currently working with the Arlington Chamber of Commerce to redevelop
the community, he said.
“I think the belief is that getting a degree from UT-Arlington
is not the only objective, that your educational experience will
be more meaningful if you have a variety of experiences while you’re
enrolled at the university,” Spaniolo said.
To enhance campus life, Spaniolo plans to build on campus traditions
while continuing to add new ones — such as the fall convocation
— and will use the help of student leaders, the general student
body and faculty and staff to make progress each year, he said.
“There’s lots more we can do to build that bond and
create a greater identification,” Spaniolo said.
Although there is no deadline set for reaching a fully developed
residential status, the university community will have an opportunity
in the future to contribute ideas, he said.
Regent Rita Clements, who serves on the Facilities Planning and
Construction Committee, said part of the plan to build more university
housing was to start creating more residential campuses.
“I think UT-Arlington has been moving in this direction,”
she said. “I just think it would make really good sense to
encourage the community to start putting in restaurants or whatever
nearby to really enhance the quality of life with students not having
to get in the car to go somewhere.”
Regent Robert Estrada said he supports Spaniolo and the initiative,
which began before Spaniolo assumed the presidency in February.
“I think we’re on target to move forward with those
recommendations,” he said. “I think it’s very
realistic, and it’s very much in line with what we have been
trying to articulate as what we see as the future for the University
of Texas at Arlington.”
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