Five years ago, UT-Arlington had a big party planned for its 125th anniversary.
COVID threw a wet blanket on it.
Five years later, the party is back on. This time, the invitation reads, “UTA’s 130th Birthday Bash.”
The party started in January to mark the school’s life since its opening in 1895. Under various names, it was a primary school, a military academy, a junior college, and an agricultural school before assuming the name it has today – the University of Texas at Arlington – in 1967.
“It’s a whole year of celebrations and activities,” said Mark LaVelle, Assistant Vice President for University Events, Office of Development and Alumni Relations. “The culmination will be the first week of September, which is the actual anniversary.”
Birthday cake and picnic festivities are scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Sept. 5 on campus at Brazos Park. Students, staff, alumni and the public are invited, LaVelle said.
“This is another opportunity for us to thank the community for the support they’ve lent,” he said. “The city is such a strong partner. Many of the city council members are alumni. The mayor is always present when we ask him to come to something, and just a great champion of the university.”
It will also be a chance to toast UTA for its status as an “R1” research university. That’s the highest designation in the Carnegie Classification of Institutes of Higher Education, meaning the school spends at least $50 million every year on research and development and awards at least 70 research doctorates. Only 187 schools in the United States were R1 in the 2025 listing.
“We draw students from around the globe, especially in our graduate programs,” LeVelle said. “They come here to do research and work with our faculty.”
At the same time, UTA commits itself to making an undergraduate education possible for any qualified student, said Chief Communication Officer Joe Carpenter.
“That is something we pride ourselves on, being able to conduct both innovative and impactful research and providing a college education that is accessible and attainable for a wide range of students,” he said.
UTA keeps going. A new social work building and “Smart” hospital were dedicated in 2023, an addition to the Life Science building will be ready in 2027, and ground broke in April on UTA West, a campus in western Fort Worth on the edge of Parker County. It’s scheduled to open in 2028.
And, a new dorm, Maverick Hall, is ready to open in the fall to house 650 students.
The year-long anniversary celebration can spotlight such progress while also giving the school a chance to deepen its connection to Arlington.
“Arlington is our greatest strength in terms of the support we have,” LaVelle said, “and the fact that the citizens recommend UTA as a great place for their sons and daughters to get their education.”
The website uta.edu/130 lists the anniversary activities.
OK, Mavericks. Blow out the candles.
From Missed Milestone to Major Moment: UTA Celebrates 130 Years of Progress
by Carlos Mendez
