For decades, The University of Texas at Arlington has worked in partnership with the city of Arlington to create a thriving community for students and city residents. That partnership continues with last month’s announcement of a $1 million matching gift from the Arlington Tomorrow Foundation, the city’s charitable arm, in support of the University’s new School of Social Work/Smart Hospital Building.
UTA broke ground on the new facility in February, and work continues with a projected completion date of November 2022. The 150,000-square-foot building will be the new home for UTA’s School of Social Work and the College of Nursing and Health Innovation’s (CONHI) Smart Hospital, ushering in a new era of interdisciplinary learning and collaboration between the two programs.
The gift serves as a dollar-for-dollar challenge grant with the goal of inspiring alumni as well as other members of the Maverick community to take part in bringing the state-of-the-art facility to life. Gifts donated in support of the building will be matched by the Arlington Tomorrow Foundation up to $1 million.
“Our gift recognizes the incredible contributions graduates of the School of Social Work and the College of Nursing and Health Innovation are making in the health and wellness of people throughout the North Texas region,” says Carolyn Mentesana, executive director of the Arlington Tomorrow Foundation. “Through this matching gift, we hope to inspire Mavericks to have a hand in creating a space that will benefit UTA and its students, as well as Arlington.”
Arlington Mayor Jim Ross says the foundation’s gift is both a recognition of the partnership between the University and the city of Arlington as well as an investment in the city and its residents.
“UTA has contributed so much to our city through its graduates who are working every day to create healthier and happier communities,” says Ross, who also serves as chair of the Arlington Tomorrow Foundation’s board. “This new facility will help both the University and Arlington continue to grow and flourish.”
UTA graduates the most nurses in Texas and has one of the largest nursing programs in the nation. In 2021, the nursing program was once again designated a Center of Excellence by the National League for Nursing, considered the premier organization for nurse faculty and leaders in nursing education.
For more than 50 years, UTA’s School of Social Work has promoted excellence in research, teaching and service to create educational opportunities for students and their communities with the goal of achieving a just society. The Master of Social Work program offers specialties in Mental Health and Substance Abuse, Aging, Community and Administrative Practice, Children and Families and Health and is consistently ranked among the best in the nation.
By creating an environment where both social work and nursing students can collaborate and innovate, UTA will graduate a new generation of social work and health care professionals uniquely equipped to meet the critical needs of North Texas communities.
“This generous matching gift from the Arlington Tomorrow Foundation brings us one step closer to completing a world-class facility that will benefit current and future students, North Texas, and beyond,” says Teik C. Lim, interim president of UTA. “This is a transformational opportunity for the Maverick and Arlington communities to join together to create meaningful impact.”
For more: uta.edu/giving/impact/ssw-sh.
