What Is Our Next
What Is Our Next History-Making Move? 1901 1957 1972 2018 2021 The Girls Industrial College is founded by an act of the 27th Texas Legislature to provide a liberal education and to prepare young women “for the practical industries of the age” with a specialized education. After 23 years as the Texas State College for Women, the college’s name is changed to Texas Woman’s University, making it the first woman’s college in the nation to achieve university status. Men are admitted into TWU’s graduate programs and undergraduate and graduate health sciences professional programs in Denton, Dallas and Houston. The Institute for Women’s Leadership is established to serve the State of Texas as a resource for scholarship and research and to prepare more women to take on successful roles in business and public service. Gov. Greg Abbott signs into law Senate Bill 1126, which establishes the three campuses of Texas Woman’s University as the state’s seventh university system and the nation’s first with a woman-focused mission. ENROLLMENT GROWTH TOP RANKINGS 173 2,493 16,326 1901 1957 2021 # 1 Best college for students with children (BestColleges.com) # 1 Ability to provide quality online learning during COVID-19 crisis (Educate to Career) # 3 Most affordable institution in Texas (Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board) # 4 Ranking in nation for student diversity (U.S. News & World Report)
QWhat was the driver behind becoming a system? What’s the why? An important why is being able to better respond to the local communities in Dallas and Houston. These are different cultures and different communities. So how can we offer programs that are of interest and needed in those communities—but also build partnerships with local entities like boards, community colleges, hospitals or other agencies? We already have three distinct campuses in three geographically dispersed regions. We’re different from a university that might have a few branch campuses. Becoming a > CARINE M. FEYTEN, Ph.D. Chancellor and President How you can get on board Watch the Chancellor’s Forum about the new system twu.edu/university-forum Shaping the Vision system is formalizing how most people already think of us. So what’s the potential for growth? With the population growth and demographics in Texas, universities have to pivot to meet the needs of the various people who want to be educated. We have that imperative, especially when we look at who we serve—mostly women, a very diverse student body and those who qualify for federal student aid. That is a growing slice of the population in Texas. But “growth” does not only apply to increasing enrollment. We can grow in research funding. We can grow in philanthropic investments. The best direction for us is to grow in all directions. How will this help the workforce? The economy and the market really are desperate for many of our graduates, especially in the health-related fields. But even sectors such as technology, cybersecurity and fields we haven’t ventured into—like aviation and engineering—need more women leaders with the required skills. The potential is enormous. What’s an example of a financial benefit of becoming a system? The philanthropic potential in Dallas and Houston is huge. Obviously donors want to give to an institution that is strong in their city. Therefore, in terms of philanthropic corporations, foundations, alumni and community supporters, system status will definitely raise our profile. What will you look for in the new campus leaders? This is the best way I can describe it: somebody who has fire in the belly. Somebody who can be a champion for those campuses. Somebody who wants to build, to grow, to give the campus its own personality and culture. And somebody, obviously, interested in building partnerships with outside groups, whether it’s hospitals or other agencies. How can we pull off a project that mixes bold vision with so many tiny details? President Kennedy did not know how he would put a man on the moon in 10 years, but the endeavor to do so made the U.S. much stronger as a nation. The country had something to work toward. And similarly, there’s much work to do in order for us to establish Dallas and Houston as independent universities. But the path there is ripe with opportunities that will make Texas stronger—and our mission more valued than ever before. You know what? The sky’s the “limit.” TEXAS WOMAN’S 5
