Chancellor visits Arlington to see UTA in action
University of Texas System Chancellor James B. Milliken visited The University of Texas at Arlington on Monday to learn about the University’s far-reaching efforts to secure a safe campus environment for the fall 2020 semester.
Milliken joined UTA Interim President Teik C. Lim and several other senior UTA leaders to learn first-hand about UTA’s efforts to mitigate and prevent the spread of COVID-19 on campus as students begin to return for the first day of the fall term on August 26.
“It’s important to me to visit our UT System campuses to see how they’re implementing the plans our institutions have assembled this summer,” Milliken said. “UTA has completed an impressive amount of work and planning to open this fall while uniquely bringing faculty, staff and administrators together to construct their plans, and I wanted to see that in action.”
The day began with a tour of the North Texas Genome Center’s (NTGC) COVID-19 testing operation, established over the course of three months to bolster UTA’s on-campus testing capabilities and assist local public health agencies.
While at the NTGC, Milliken donned full personal protective equipment to walk through the life cycle of a COVID-19 test, from sampling to results.
Milliken also was briefed on the new hours, updated services and enhanced safety measures of UTA Libraries during a tour of the Central Library.
The chancellor’s visit concluded with a visit to the University Center (UC) to see how UTA has modified its dining areas and services to enhance social distancing. This includes a partnership with GrubHub for pickup and delivery, socially distant overflow dining areas and converted auditorium spaces to support classroom learning.
This fall, UTA is offering courses in a hybrid format, with some classes online, some in-person and some a mix of both.
“Even as we prepare campus for in-person and virtual learning, we remain steadfast in our commitment to health and safety, and ultimately advancing the education of our students,” Lim said. “I appreciate having Chancellor Milliken on our campus to see how the Maverick family has come together to safeguard our community.”
While on campus, Milliken praised UTA’s efforts to support social distancing through signage, placards and stickers prominently covering the campus.
He also was able to preview how UTA is continuing to build for its future while navigating the challenges that come with the coronavirus pandemic, as he saw renderings for the new School of Social Work and College of Nursing and Health Innovation building, as well as the nearly complete expansion of the UC.