University of Texas Permian Basin

Last updated
University of Texas of the Permian Basin
UT Permian Basin seal.svg
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 [1]
EstablishedFebruary 4, 1969;55 years ago (February 4, 1969) [3]
Parent institution
 University of Texas System [4]
Accreditation SACS [5]
Academic affiliation
President Sandra Woodley [6]
Academic staff
166 Full-time and Part-time 140 (Fall 2023) [7]
Administrative staff
140
Students5,848 (Fall 2023) [7]
Undergraduates 4,640 (Fall 2023) [7]
Postgraduates 1,208 (Fall 2023) [7]
Location
Odessa
,
Texas
,
United States

31°53′24″N102°19′43″W / 31.88992°N 102.328687°W / 31.88992; -102.328687
CampusMidsize City, 644 acres (2.61 km2)
Other campuses Midland [8]
Colors Falcon orange, white, black, and blue
     
Nickname Falcons [9]
Sporting affiliations
 NCAA Division II [10] – Lone Star [11]
Website www.utpb.edu
UT Permian Basin logo 2021.svg

The University of Texas Permian Basin (UTPB) is a public university in Odessa, Texas. It is part of the University of Texas System. [12] 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. [13]

Contents

History

University of Texas of the Permian Basin entrance sign UTPB sign in Odessa, TX DSCN1246.JPG
University of Texas of the Permian Basin entrance sign

The University of Texas of the Permian Basin began in 1973 [14] 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. [15] 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. [16]

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. [17] In late November in 2016 the city of Odessa granted site permission. That was the first step in official authorization. [18]

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. [19] 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. [19]

In 2018, UTPB announced a new Kinesiology building at a cost of around 37 million dollars. [20] The following year, UTPB announced the opening of its 55 million dollar Engineering building. [21]

Campus

Main campus

Visual Arts Studios Visual Arts Studios, UTPB, Odessa, TX DSCN1250.JPG
Visual Arts Studios
Stonehenge replica on the campus of the University of Texas of the Permian Basin in Odessa Stonehenge at University of Texas at the Permian Basin Picture 1851.jpg
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. [22]

Gym Complex Gym Complex, UTPB, Odessa, TX DSCN1252.JPG
Gym Complex
Science and Technology Building Science and Technology Building, UTPB, Odessa, TX DSCN1249.JPG
Science and Technology Building
Other places of interest

Midland campus

Future developments [23]

Academics

The university offers bachelor's degrees and master's degrees, through its five colleges and schools: [24]

Athletics

The UT 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. [25]

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. [26]

Notable alumni

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">UT Permian Basin Falcons</span> Athletic teams representing University of Texas Permian Basin

The UT Permian Basin Falcons are the athletic teams that represent the University of Texas Permian Basin, located in Odessa, Texas, United States, in intercollegiate sports as a member of the Division II level of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), primarily competing in Lone Star Conference for most of their varsity sports since the 2016–17 academic year. A UTPB Falcons football team was added for the 2016 NCAA Division II football season to bring the total number of varsity teams to 16. UTPB 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wagner Noël Performing Arts Center</span>

The Wagner Noël Performing Arts Center (WNPAC) is a performing arts venue located between the cities of Midland, Texas and Odessa, Texas. WNPAC is owned by The University of Texas, and is built on a satellite campus of The University of Texas of the Permian Basin (UTPB). It houses an 1800-seat main concert hall and a 200-seat recital hall, and also houses the UTPB music department.

The UT Permian Basin Falcons football team represents the University of Texas Permian Basin in college football at the NCAA Division II level. The Falcons are members of the Lone Star Conference (LSC), fielding its team in the LSC since 2016. The Falcons play their home games at Ratliff Stadium in Odessa, Texas while Astound Broadband Stadium in the neighboring city of Midland, Texas serves as an alternate home stadium.

Kris McCullough is an American college football coach. He is the head football coach for the University of Texas Permian Basin, a position he has held since 2023. He was the head football coach for East Central University in 2022. He previously coached for Henderson State, Old Dominion, and Fairmont State.

The 2020 UT Permian Basin Falcons football team represented the University of Texas of the Permian Basin (UTPB) in the 2020–21 NCAA Division II football season as a member of the Lone Star Conference (LSC). The Falcons were led by fifth-year head coach Justin Carrigan.

The 2023 UT Permian Basin Falcons football team represented the University of Texas of the Permian Basin (UTPB) in the 2023 NCAA Division II football season as a member of the Lone Star Conference (LSC). They were led by first-year head coach Kris McCullough. The Falcons finished the regular season 10–1, going 8–0 in LSC play to win the conference title for the first time in program history. The Falcons received a bid for the NCAA Division II playoffs for the first time in program history, being selected as the third seed in Super Region 4.

The 2021 UT Permian Basin Falcons football team represented the University of Texas of the Permian Basin (UTPB) in the 2021 NCAA Division II football season as a member of the Lone Star Conference (LSC). The Falcons were led by sixth-year head coach Justin Carrigan. The Falcons played their home games at Ratliff Stadium in Odessa, Texas, with one home game played at Grande Communications Stadium in Midland.

The 2018 UT Permian Basin Falcons football team represented University of Texas of the Permian Basin in the 2018 NCAA Division II football season. They were led by third-year head coach Justin Carrigan. The Falcons played their home games at Ratliff Stadium in Odessa, Texas, with one home game played at Grande Communications Stadium in Midland, and were members of the Lone Star Conference (LSC). The team matched its record from the previous two seasons, finishing with a record of 2–9 and went 1–7 in conference play.

The 2022 UT Permian Basin Falcons football team represented the University of Texas of the Permian Basin (UTPB) in the 2022 NCAA Division II football season as a member of the Lone Star Conference (LSC). The team played its home games at Astound Broadband Stadium in Midland, Texas while Ratliff Stadium in Odessa hosted two home games. The Falcons were led by seventh-year head coach Justin Carrigan. On November 28, Carrigan announced that he would be stepping down as the program's head coach. The following day it was announced he would be stepping into an administrative role, being named the university's deputy athletic director.

The 2019 UT Permian Basin Falcons football team represented the University of Texas of the Permian Basin in the 2019 NCAA Division II football season. They were led by fourth-year head coach Justin Carrigan. The Falcons played their home games at Ratliff Stadium in Odessa, Texas, with one home game played at Grande Communications Stadium in Midland, and were members of the Lone Star Conference (LSC).

Kenneth C. Hrncir is an American college football coach and former quarterback. He is the co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for the University of Texas Permian Basin, positions he has held since 2024. He originally played for the East Central Tigers before transferring to the UT Permian Basin Falcons.

The 2024 UT Permian Basin Falcons football team represents the University of Texas of the Permian Basin (UTPB) in the 2024 NCAA Division II football season as a member of the Lone Star Conference (LSC). They are led by second-year head coach Kris McCullough. The Falcons play most of their home games at Astound Broadband Stadium in Midland, Texas while Ratliff Stadium in Odessa, Texas hosted one game. UTPB entered the 2024 season as the defending LSC champion.

Ryan Lusby is an American college football coach. He is the head football coach for Dodge City Community College, a position he has held since 2024. He coached for Texas A&M–Commerce, Henderson State, Coffeyville, Arkansas–Monticello, and UT Permian Basin. He played college football for Texas A&M–Commerce as a quarterback.

References

  1. 1 2 "Our Mission and History - the University of Texas Permian Basin | UTPB".
  2. ↑ "Seal of the University". University of Texas System . 23 May 2018. Retrieved October 9, 2020.Seal of the University
  3. ↑ "UT Permian Basin History". August 1994.
  4. ↑ "About the University of Texas System | the University of Texas System". February 2024.
  5. ↑ "Institutions".
  6. ↑ "President's Office - the University of Texas Permian Basin | UTPB".
  7. 1 2 3 4 "College Navigator - the University of Texas Permian Basin".
  8. ↑ "Maps & Directions - the University of Texas Permian Basin | UTPB".
  9. ↑ "UTPB Athletics - Official Athletics Website". UTPB Athletics.
  10. ↑ "NCAA Directory - Directory - Organization Detail".
  11. ↑ "Lone Star Conference".
  12. ↑ "UT System Institutions | The University of Texas System". www.utsystem.edu. 2024-06-17. Retrieved 2024-07-29.
  13. ↑ "Student Enrollment". utpb.edu. Retrieved 18 July 2018.
  14. ↑ "Happy 40th, UTPB!" . Retrieved 2 August 2018.
  15. ↑ King, Grace; Meacham, Gem (June 15, 2010). "William Douglas Noël". The Handbook of Texas . Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved June 27, 2011.
  16. ↑ "The University of Texas of the Permian Basin". links.communityos.org.
  17. ↑ "Backgrounder on New Nuclear Plant Designs". United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission. December 12, 2014. Retrieved June 18, 2015.
  18. ↑ "Odessa City Council approves initial resolution for UTPB plan to bring nuclear reactor". 23 November 2016.
  19. 1 2 "Archived" (PDF). www.utpb.edu. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 8, 2017. Retrieved 2023-04-09.[ dead link ]
  20. ↑ "University Breaks Ground on Human Performance Center - The University of Texas Permian Basin | UTPB". www.utpb.edu.
  21. ↑ "UT Permian Basin Engineering Building Grand Opening Ceremony - the University of Texas Permian Basin | UTPB".
  22. ↑ "America Unhinged". RoadsideAmerica.com. Retrieved February 7, 2012.
  23. ↑ "UTPB master plan, renaming approved". Archived from the original on August 26, 2012. Retrieved Aug 24, 2012.
  24. ↑ "Academics - Schools". University of Texas of the Permian Basin. Retrieved June 18, 2015.
  25. ↑ "UTPB Athletics History". UTPB Falcons. Retrieved February 7, 2012.
  26. ↑ "Athletics". UTPB Falcons. Retrieved February 7, 2012.
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