University of Texas Permian Basin

Public university in Odessa, Texas, US

University of Texas of the Permian Basin

Former name

| University of Texas of the Permian Basin (1973 to 2021)[1]
Motto|

Disciplina Praesidium Civitatis (Latin)

Motto in English

| "The cultivated mind is the guardian genius of democracy"[2]
Type| Public university[3]
Established| February 4, 1969; 55 years ago (February 4, 1969)[4]

Parent institution

| University of Texas System[5]
Accreditation| SACS[6]

Academic affiliation

* Space-grant

President| Sandra Woodley[7]

Academic staff

| 166 Full-time and Part-time 140 (Fall 2023)[8]

Administrative staff

| 140
Students| 5,848 (Fall 2023)[9]
Undergraduates| 4,640 (Fall 2023)[10]
Postgraduates| 1,208 (Fall 2023)[11]
Location|

Odessa

Texas

United States

31°53′24″N 102°19′43″W﻿ / ﻿31.88992°N 102.328687°W﻿ / 31.88992; -102.328687
Campus| Midsize City, 644 acres (2.61 km2)
Other campuses| Midland[12]
Colors| Falcon orange, white, black, and blue

Nickname| Falcons[13]

Sporting affiliations

| NCAA Division II[14] – Lone Star[15]
Website| www.utpb.edu

The University of Texas Permian Basin (UTPB) is a public university in Odessa, Texas. It is part of the University of Texas System.[16] UTPB was authorized by the Texas Legislature in 1969 and founded in 1973. UTPB is now home to over 7,000 students and 250 teaching faculty.[17]

## History

[edit]

University of Texas of the Permian Basin entrance sign

The University of Texas of the Permian Basin began in 1973[18] as a university that initially offered only junior, senior, and graduate level programs. Among those who pushed for the establishment of UTPB was the oil industrialist Bill Noël, who with his wife, Ellen Witwer Noël, became major philanthropists of the institution.[19] A rivalry with Odessa College (OC) got underway from the very beginning, when OC students taunted the UTPB students that they were too old to produce a streaker. A student finally agreed, and with only his head covered, streaked across the campus.[20]

In 1991 the university began accepting freshmen and sophomore applicants, and in 2000, the J. Conrad Dunagen Library and Lecture Center was completed, featuring a twenty-station multimedia lab and classroom.

During 2006, the university was holding discussions with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission about the construction of a new High-Temperature Teaching and Test Reactor which, if successful, would finish licensing and construction around 2012. It would also be the first university-based research reactor to be built in the US in roughly a decade, and one of the few HTGR type reactors in the world.[21] In late November in 2016 the city of Odessa granted site permission. That was the first step in official authorization.[22]

On April 17, 2008, the university broke ground on a new Science and Technology Complex. The new building houses chemistry, biology, physics, computer science, and information technology programs. The new 70,000-square-foot (6,500 m2) building contains 41 labs, 56 offices, six classrooms, and three sunken lecture halls. Despite warnings from a UTPB Geology professor, the contractor failed to identify an underground aquifer that could cause the building supports to sink. Construction was delayed while the contractor reinforced the building supports after drilling into the aquifer; however, the building opened in time for the Fall 2011 semester.[23] The building houses classrooms, multiple laboratories including two large demonstration labs, a 200-seat lecture hall, and a state-of-the-art Data Communications Teaching Lab for undergraduate and graduate students. The Computer Science Department maintains a computer science research lab and a computer networking research lab.

A state-of-the-art building known as the Wagner Noël Performing Arts Center is now open in the Midland campus, off Hwy 191 and FM 1788. Construction began in 2009 and the center opened with a grand gala featuring Rod Stewart on November 1, 2011.[23]

In 2018, UTPB announced a new Kinesiology building at a cost of around 37 million dollars.[24] The following year, UTPB announced the opening of its 55 million dollar Engineering building.[25]

## Campus

[edit]

### Main campus

[edit]

Visual Arts Studios Stonehenge replica on the campus of the University of Texas of the Permian Basin in Odessa

A Stonehenge replica was added adjacent to the Visual Arts Studio.[26]

Gym Complex Science and Technology Building

* Parker Ranch House
* Mesa Building
* J. Conrad Dunagan Library/Lecture Center
* Founder's Building
* Visual Arts Studio
* Gymnasium Complex
* Gym Annex Building
* Falcon's Nest(Housing)
* Falcon's Court(Housing)
* Industrial Technology Building
* Science and Technology Building
* Student Activity Center
* Thermal Energy Plant
* Physical Plant
* PETS

Other places of interest

* Ellen Noël Art Museum
* Presidential Archives and Leadership Library
* Fire Station (City of Odessa)
* U.T.P.B. Park (City of Odessa)

### Midland campus

[edit]

* Center for Energy and Economic Diversification (CEED)
* Wagner Noël Performing Arts Center
* Performance Hall
* Rea-Greathouse Recital Hall

Future developments[27]

* Engineering Building
* Student Housing
* Academic Additions

## Academics

[edit]

The university offers bachelor's degrees and master's degrees, through its five colleges and schools:[28]

* College of Arts and Sciences
* College of Business
* College of Engineering
* College of Education
* College of Nursing

## Athletics

[edit]

Main article: Texas–Permian Basin Falcons

The Texas–Permian Basin (UTPB) athletic teams are called the Falcons. The university is a member at the Division II level of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), primarily competing as a member of the Lone Star Conference (LSC) since the 2016–17 academic year. The Falcons previously competed in the D-II Heartland Conference from 2006–07 to 2015–16; in the Red River Athletic Conference (RRAC) of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) from 1998–99 to 2005–06; and as an NAIA Independent from 1995–96 to 1997–98. The teams' uniforms reflect the school colors of orange, white, and black.[29]

UTPB competes in 16 intercollegiate varsity sports: Men's sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, soccer, swimming & diving and tennis; while women's sports include basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, softball, swimming & diving, tennis and volleyball.[30]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ https://www.utpb.edu/about-us/mission-history
2. ^ "Seal of the University". University of Texas System. 23 May 2018. Retrieved October 9, 2020.Seal of the University
3. ^ https://www.utpb.edu/about-us/mission-history
4. ^ "UT Permian Basin History". August 1994.
5. ^ https://www.utsystem.edu/about
6. ^ https://sacscoc.org/institutions/?institution_name=university+of+texas&results_per_page=25&curpage=2&institution=0011N00001h9EGuQAM
7. ^ https://www.utpb.edu/university-offices/presidents-office/
8. ^ "College Navigator - the University of Texas Permian Basin".
9. ^ "College Navigator - the University of Texas Permian Basin".
10. ^ "College Navigator - the University of Texas Permian Basin".
11. ^ "College Navigator - the University of Texas Permian Basin".
12. ^ https://www.utpb.edu/life-at-utpb/maps-and-directions/
13. ^ https://utpbfalcons.com/
14. ^ https://web3.ncaa.org/directory/orgDetail?id=30088
15. ^ https://lonestarconference.org/index.aspx?path=utpb
16. ^ "UT System Institutions | The University of Texas System". www.utsystem.edu. 2024-06-17. Retrieved 2024-07-29.
17. ^ "Student Enrollment". utpb.edu. Retrieved 18 July 2018.
18. ^ "Happy 40th, UTPB!". Retrieved 2 August 2018.
19. ^ King, Grace; Meacham, Gem (June 15, 2010). "William Douglas Noël". The Handbook of Texas. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved June 27, 2011.
20. ^ "The University of Texas of the Permian Basin". links.communityos.org.
21. ^ "Backgrounder on New Nuclear Plant Designs". United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission. December 12, 2014. Retrieved June 18, 2015.
22. ^ "Odessa City Council approves initial resolution for UTPB plan to bring nuclear reactor". 23 November 2016.
23. ^ a b "Archived" (PDF). www.utpb.edu. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 8, 2017. Retrieved 2023-04-09.[dead link]
24. ^ "University Breaks Ground on Human Performance Center - the University of Texas Permian Basin | UTPB".
25. ^ "UT Permian Basin Engineering Building Grand Opening Ceremony - the University of Texas Permian Basin | UTPB".
26. ^ "America Unhinged". RoadsideAmerica.com. Retrieved February 7, 2012.
27. ^ "UTPB master plan, renaming approved". Archived from the original on August 26, 2012. Retrieved Aug 24, 2012.
28. ^ "Academics - Schools". University of Texas of the Permian Basin. Retrieved June 18, 2015.
29. ^ "UTPB Athletics History". UTPB Falcons. Retrieved February 7, 2012.
30. ^ "Athletics". UTPB Falcons. Retrieved February 7, 2012.

## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to University of Texas Permian Basin.

* Official website
* Official athletics website

* v
* t
* e

Odessa, Texas

History|

* Kiss and Kill
* 2019 shooting spree

Education|

* Ector County ISD
* Odessa HS
* Permian HS
* George H.W. Bush New Tech Odessa
* Midland ISD (For portions in Midland County)
* Odessa College (For portions in Ector County)
* Midland College (For portions in Midland County)
* UT Permian Basin

Landmarks|

* Ector County Coliseum
* Globe of the Great Southwest
* Music City Mall
* Presidential Museum and Leadership Library
* Ratliff Stadium
* White–Pool House
* Nearby: Odessa Meteor Crater

Transportation|

* Midland International Air and Space Port (in the Midland city limits)

Media|

* Odessa American

Culture|

* Friday Night Lights: A Town, a Team, and a Dream
* film
* template on related TV show
* Odessa Jackalopes
* Midland-Odessa Sockers FC (in Midland)
* West Texas Warbirds

This list is incomplete.

* v
* t
* e

The University of Texas System

Academic Institutions|

* Arlington
* Austin
* Dallas
* El Paso
* Permian Basin
* Rio Grande Valley
* San Antonio
* Stephen F. Austin
* Tyler

Health Institutions|

* MD Anderson Cancer Center
* UT Medical Branch
* UT Southwestern Medical Center
* UTHealth
* UT Health San Antonio

Former Institutions|

* Brownsville (Merged into Rio Grande Valley)
* Pan American (Merged into Rio Grande Valley)
* UTHSC Tyler (merged into UT Tyler)

Administrative Buildings|

* O. Henry Hall (owned 1968–2015, leased until 2017)

* Category:University of Texas System
* Portal:Texas

* v
* t
* e

Lone Star Conference

Members|

* Angelo State Rams & Rambelles
* Cameron Aggies
* Dallas Baptist Patriots
* Eastern New Mexico Greyhounds
* Lubbock Christian Chaparrals
* Midwestern State Mustangs
* Oklahoma Christian Eagles
* St. Edward's Hilltoppers
* St. Mary's Rattlers
* Sul Ross State Lobos
* Texas A&M International Dustdevils
* Texas A&M–Kingsville Javelinas
* Texas–Permian Basin Falcons
* Texas Woman's Pioneers
* UT Tyler Patriots
* West Texas A&M Buffaloes
* Western New Mexico Mustangs

Future members|

* UT Dallas Comets (joining 2025)

Football associates|

* Central Washington Wildcats
* Western Oregon Wolves

* v
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* e

Texas state universities

University of Houston System|

* University of Houston
* UH–Clear Lake
* UH–Downtown
* UH–Victoria

University of North Texas System|

* University of North Texas
* UNT Dallas

University of Texas System|

* Arlington
* Austin
* Dallas
* El Paso
* Permian Basin
* Rio Grande Valley
* San Antonio
* Stephen F. Austin
* Tyler

Texas A&M System|

* Prairie View A&M
* Tarleton State
* Texas A&M
* Texas A&M University at Galveston
* Texas A&M International
* Texas A&M–Central Texas
* Texas A&M–Commerce
* Texas A&M–Corpus Christi
* Texas A&M–Kingsville
* Texas A&M–San Antonio
* Texas A&M–Texarkana
* West Texas A&M

Texas State System|

* Lamar
* Sam Houston State
* Sul Ross State
* Texas State

Texas Tech System|

* Angelo State
* Midwestern State
* Texas Tech

Texas Woman's|

* Texas Woman's

Independent|

* Texas Southern

See also: Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board

Authority control databases

International|

* ISNI
* VIAF

National|

* United States

Geographic|

* MusicBrainz place

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