Creation of Tier One Universities in Texas

UT Dallas has been very generous in supporting Metroplex Math Circle which invests in the multi-year achievement and enlightenment of our students.  I read with great interest the the University of Texas at Dallas is also committed to a multi-year plan with the goal of become a Tier One Research University.

These twin investments will converge over the next 10 years as some of our most talented students are given the option to work with the world’s best faculty and students here in North Texas.  UT Dallas President, Dr. David E. Daniels makes the good point that this is not the case today and that our region suffers from it:

In Fall, 2006:

• Texas sent 10,163 high school students to doctoral granting universities in other states
• Texas attracted 4,358 high school graduates from other states to doctoral-granting Texas universities
• Texas had a net brain drain of 5,815 high school students to universities in other states in 2006
• The problem is worsening –the loss increased 54% from 2000 to 2006.

Following are some more documents from UT Dallas describing their plan to elevate the campus from an already leading research university to a true Tier One.

What is Tier One?

Texas is home to three outstanding Tier One universities: Rice, Texas A&M, and UT Austin. Maintaining the strengths of these institutions relative to the best universities in the nation is vital. But this will not be enough to keep Texas competitive in the face of what has become a global contest for talent, ideas, home-grown advances, and economic development. Texas must develop more top-tier universities, particularly in the major population centers of the state. Texas lags states such as California and New York in this area, and pays the price. read more

Tier One Proposal, Executive Summary

Thoughts on the Creation of Tier One Universities in Texas

Presentation on Tier One (Slideshow | Printable)

President David E. Daniel is interviewed about Tier One on KERA-FM