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Statement from The University of Texas System on the merger of UT Tyler and UT Health Science Center at Tyler

The University of Texas System is pleased to announce that the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges today approved an operational plan to merge UT Tyler (UTT) and the UT Health Science Center at Tyler (UTHSCT), one of the last critical steps in a process that began last year. Under this plan, UTHSCT will retain its status as a health-related institution while administratively becoming an instructional site of UTT. The UT System Board of Regents will meet later this month to take action on implementation of the merger, which begins January 1, 2021. 

The Board of Regents and Chancellor James B. Milliken announced an intention to unite UTT and UTHSCT a year ago, combining the talent, financial and physical resources of two outstanding institutions to more comprehensively serve the educational, health and economic needs of East Texas. Bringing these two institutions together will provide students, faculty and researchers exceptional opportunities to learn, teach, conduct research and deliver health care in a fully integrated academic and medical setting. Specifically, the proposed unified institution will result in an aligned university that is stronger than the sum of its parts and would:

  • Afford UT Tyler students the benefits of the combined resources and assets of both institutions;
  • Establish a unified, clear pathway from undergraduate education to graduate and professional programs, particularly in the health sciences;  
  • Provide a seamless opportunity for collaboration among faculty in teaching, research, and service; 
  • Provide a seamless, more robust experience for students and learners, particularly in the area of student life and experiential learning in the health sciences;
  • Increase potential for interprofessional education and cross-disciplinary engagement, particularly in STEM fields but also in disciplines such as engineering, business, and the arts;
  • Enhance UT Tyler’s profile and strengthen the competitive position of the unified institution to recruit faculty and students;
  • Unify and strengthen fundraising and outreach efforts;
  • Increase the ability to serve East Texas and beyond through a unified educational, research, healthcare, and service mission; and
  • Position the unified institution for continued growth, particularly as a catalyst for a proposed medical school in Tyler.

Today’s approval from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools was made possible by the work of a dedicated steering committee consisting of faculty, staff and community and business leaders representing both Tyler institutions.

About The University of Texas System

For more than 130 years, The University of Texas System has been committed to improving the lives of Texans and people all over the world through education, research and health care. With 14 institutions, an enrollment of nearly 240,000 students and an operating budget of $21.7 billion (FY 2021), the UT System is one of the largest public university systems in the United States. UT institutions produce more than 64,000 graduates annually and award more than one-third of the state’s undergraduate degrees and more than half of its health professional degrees. Collectively, UT-owned and affiliated hospitals and clinics accounted for more than 9.2 million outpatient visits and 1.8 million hospital days last year. UT institutions also are among the most innovative in the world, collectively ranking No. 3 for most U.S. patents granted in 2019, and the UT System is No. 1 in Texas and No. 2 in the nation in federal research expenditures. The UT System also is one of the largest employers in Texas, with more than 21,000 faculty – including Nobel laureates and members of the National Academies – and more than 85,000 health care professionals, researchers and support staff.

News Contact Information

Karen Adler: kadler@utsystem.edu • 512-499-4360 (direct) • 210-912-8055 (cell)