I was pleasantly surprised — no, almost shocked — to read in the spring issue that a major university in Texas has actually come out publicly with a "bold goal" to "provide the best undergraduate educational experience in Texas." This kind of statement virtually never shows up in strategic plans, certainly not at the top. I have never seen a situation where a major university had that courage.
My opinion is that this could be the beginning of something great. To start at the beginning, the core of why a university exists, establish excellence there and then build from that solid foundation — this will work for the benefit of students and for the university.
However, it is a broad challenge. The physical infrastructure must be made to attract all students from all backgrounds. The university must provide services and facilities for student comfort, activities, educational support and housing that will make students crave campus life.
The university must also provide leaders in the education of undergraduates, outstanding professors who teach and comfortable classrooms that invite students to be a part of the educational aspects of the schools.
This needs to be done by someone, somewhere, and North Texas is a deserving place to begin.
Bill Dwyer (’68, ’73 M.S.)
Houston