University Of Texas President Outlines Goals Toward Diversity, Campus Safety [UPDATED]

AUSTIN, TX -- University of Texas at Austin President Gregory L. Fenves on Monday outlined a plan to make the school more accessible to students from middle-income students as well as promote diversity in its ranks.

The plan was detailed as part of Fenves' "State of the University" address. He spoke in ambitious terms, laying out a vision for embarking on "...enormous potential of students and scholars to change the world." This was Fenves' second such address since taking the helm of the university.

A key part of the mission is to set the standard among public universities in education and research. To that end, he outlined several goals:

• adding $15 million in financial aid for middle income families;
• hiring 50 additional faculty members and;
• creating a diversity action plan to improve campus culture.

"When we invest in our people, when we break down barriers, when we pursue knowledge, and when we invigorate our culture with a shared purpose, we will chart a bold path to progress, and create a rich legacy of achievement that exceeds the most glorious days of our past 133 years," Fenves said.

The university's president lauded the university's athletic accomplishments as well as its contributions to areas ranging from arts to technology.

"As we begin the new year, there is tremendous optimism, especially for Longhorn Football. I am very proud of our Coach Charlie Strong, his staff, and the student-athletes, not only because of their huge wins over UTEP and Notre Dame, but because Longhorn football is dedicated to winning the right way."

And he posited the past as prologue, given the ambitious goals laid out for the university at its founding that officials continually strive to achieve.

"One hundred forty years ago, the people of Texas laid out their will in the state Constitution that this be a university of 'the first class,' " Fenves said. "We are the flagship university of Texas, with a proud history. UT’s alumni, research, scholarship, and service have contributed to enormous progress: From the shale revolution that redefined energy production, to the technology innovations that launched the high tech industry in Texas, to the cultural treasures of our priceless collections that attract scholars from around the world — our university and our people have served as the intellectual center of Texas."

Fenves boasted that UT "...has no match within our state, and few peers beyond our borders." To illustrate, he ticked off some key accomplishments:

• UT researchers engineering an FDA-approved drug to treat and prevent anthrax;
• NSF granting $30 million to develop Stampede 2, keeping the Texas Advanced Computing Center at the forefront of scientific and engineering computation;
• A Liberal Arts professor’s scholarship leading to "...an important exhibit chronicling racial tensions along the U.S.-Mexico border a century ago that provides vital lessons for us today";
• UT researchers helping "solve" the “cold case of Lucy” — shedding new light on human evolution, concluding Lucy likely spent time in a tree, and died falling from its branches. (The theory has since been discounted by the scientist who discovered Lucy, leading others to question whether the case has actually been "solved.")
• The recent Dell Medical School graduation of 50 medical students in the inaugural class of the first new medical school at an AAU university in nearly 50 years.

The president said he plans to build on goals set during his first year at the helm, including preparing students to become successful leaders, conducting research that has a global impact, transforming the health care system and nurturing a campus cultures that listens and values every voice, university officials said.

To promote the development of future leaders, a state university must be affordable and accessible to everyone, he said. Already, families with incomes of less than $60,000 annually typically pay no tuition after grants and scholarships, he noted. But to help even more students $15 million will be earmarked for middle-income families.

“High quality education is the gateway to opportunity, and our unique role at the University of Texas is to educate the leaders of tomorrow,” said Fenves.

Fenves unveiled a new program dubbed "Bridging Barriers" intended to bolster interdisciplinary research. The initiative will work with scholars across campus to create incentives in developing cross-disciplinary work on pressing scientific, social and scholarly issues, Fenves said.

To support the undertaking, the university plans to add 50 new faculty positions in the coming years, Fenves said.

The university successfully defended its admission policies that promote diversity before the U.S. Supreme Court earlier this year, but more must be done, he said. To that end, Fenves will work with Vice President for Diversity and Community Engagement Gregory Vincent, Vice President for Student Affairs Soncia Reagins-Lilly and students toward developing a campus-wide diversity action plant to "...clearly define our goals, identify our shortcomings and chart a course for advancing our shared values."

Fenves' message was wide-ranging and suffused with optimism. But one point made related to campus safety -- an issue heightened as a priority after the murder of a student on campus earlier this year -- was the one challenge detailed in detail in the speech.

"Another responsibility we must meet is for every student, faculty member, and staff member to feel safe on campus," Fenves said. "We experienced a tragedy earlier this year. One of our students fell victim to a senseless crime, Haruka Weiser. Her death shook the foundation of everything we expect — a campus where any family can send their loved one without fear of harm."

Weiser, an 18-year-old dance major from Portland, was killed by a homeless teen on her way home from a night class. The killing shed light on campus safety deficiency, including inadequate lighting along the mile-long stretch of Waller Creek that runs through campus where Weiser was killed.

University officials last month received a security assessment commissioned from the Texas Department of Public Safety outlining recommendations to enhance safety on campus in light of the student's murder. Among the suggestions are bolstered police patrols and better lighting.

"Haruka spent much of her short time at UT in this building," Fenves said during his speech. "And she was preparing for a performance on this stage the evening she was killed. In her memory, we have joined with the Weiser Family to create a campaign — 'Walk with Me' — that empowers students to look out for one another."

He vowed to direct staff to make safety enhancements on campus, a pledge he also made in the days following the shocking April death of the young student, whose body showed signs of having been sexually assaulted before she was killed.

"As I said in a message last month we will improve campus safety and security," Fenves said. "We will hire additional police officers and guards, upgrade lighting and video monitoring, improve building-access controls, and engage with the community to address concerns about transient individuals on and around campus."

Another area of concern -- one not endemic to UT but pervasive throughout the nation's university campuses -- is the scourge of sexual assault and harassment. Fenves vowed to crack down on the scourge locally through a series of actions.

"We will also strengthen our education and Title IX programs to put a stop to sexual assault, harassment, and misconduct," he said. "Unfortunately, UT is not immune from this grave national problem. We must recognize the problem and make this a university where we do everything we can to prevent sexual assault, harassment, and misconduct, where everyone is empowered to report it, and where survivors are confident the university takes them seriously, investigates expeditiously, has due process, and disciplines offenders whether they are student, faculty, or staff."

In related news, the university recently announced the appointment of Reagins-Lilly as V.P. for student affairs and dean of students. She has served since June as interim vice president for student affairs, and, since 2006, as dean of students.

As vice president, she will she manage the Division of Student Affairs’ nine departments, which include the Counseling and Mental Health Center, Housing and Food Service, New Student Services, the Office of the Dean of Students, Recreational Sports, Texas Parents, The Center for Students in Recovery, University Health Services and the University Unions.

"Dr. Lilly is uniquely qualified for this role for UT Austin," Fenves said. "She has a deep knowledge of the university and, for the past decade, has been at the heart of our efforts to make this a welcoming and safe campus for every student. She is dedicated to UT Austin students — mentoring, guiding and supporting them as they balance their studies with the demands and pressures of university life and as they prepare for life beyond the Forty Acres."

For her part, Lilly said she welcomed the new challenge of her bolstered role.

“I am honored by this appointment and excited to continue our work with students, faculty, staff and all our community," she said. "The Division of Student Affairs has a critical role in the college experience of our students throughout their Longhorn journey, and I look forward to building on that foundation of excellence."

Prior to her arrival at UT Austin, Lilly was assistant vice chancellor of student affairs administration at the University of California, Los Angeles. She earned a bachelor's degree in economics at the University of California, Irvine, a master's degree in education at California State University, San Bernardino, and a doctorate in education administration at the University of Southern California.

Lilly replaces Gage Paine, who retired as vice president for student affairs during the spring.
Lilly's appointment is effective immediately.

To read Fenves full speech, click here.

>>> Photos of Fenves and Lilly via University of Texas at Austin