By JUDE RATCLIFF/Staff Writer
UT Tyler is set to undergo major construction projects as part of a plan to revitalize areas of the campus.
UT Tyler President Dr. Julie V. Philley presented the Master Plan proposal for the university’s infrastructure to the UT System Board of Regents in Austin in February. The board approved the plan which will serve as a blueprint creating improvements and additions to the design and layout of the campus.
The Master Plan does not have a timeline of when the improvements will take place.
Video by Orion Baker offers highlights of the Master Plan
“UT Tyler has grown from a primarily junior and senior level commuter school into a first-choice university for many freshmen across our region and state,” Philley said in a letter to the board members introducing the plan. “This proposed Master Plan includes projects focused on creating a campus environment that meets their needs today and well into the future.”
In her letter, Philley said the plan is focused on meeting the needs of students.
“We want to be known for providing an exceptional student experience, and that starts from the moment they first visit campus,” she said.
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The proposal lists four strategic goals:
- Foster Campus Identity by prioritizing projects that enhance the visual and physical identity of the university, reinforcing a sense of belonging and university pride.
- Increase Accessibility by ensuring the physical and digital campus environments are intuitive and welcoming for everyone.
- Enhance Student Experience by develop student centered spaces that improve campus life, including housing, recreation and engagement spaces.
- Support Long-Term Growth by ensuring that all infrastructure projects are designed to accommodate both current and future needs, promoting sustainable and scalable growth
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STUDENT HOUSING
Two new housing units of 350 students each, are planned to help accommodate projected enrollment growth. The proposed dormitories to house first-year students will be located in what is currently a wooded area near the baseball/softball complex and overlooking the proposed new lake.
A new dining hall is planned for this new campus village. Currently the only housing dining hall is in the University Center. Several of the existing student housing communities will also undergo renovations.
The Master Plan estimates UT Tyler will have more than 13,000 students enrolled by 2027, including online, graduate and undergraduate students. There were 10,353 students enrolled in fall 2024.
“Campus Village Phase 1 is the first step UT Tyler needs to take to catch up to enrollment growth and students’ desire to live on campus,” Philley’s presentation to the Board of Regents states. “This residential project will also be a catalyst for redefining the freshman experience at UT Tyler.”
The master plan further states: “This new facility will help us better serve our first-year students and promote participation in campus life while also creating the capacity to reclaim other apartment-style residential spaces for upperclassmen and graduate students.”
ACCESSIBILITY
The Master Plan notes that improving accessible walkability and pedestrian pathways on campus is a priority. To promote pedestrian traffic, the university has assigned a task force to create solutions for seamless and intuitive navigation on-campus. An interactive campus map is planned by the end of spring 2025, with a wayfinding plan planned for the fall.
Several new pedestrian pathways are planned as well, including routes at the following locations:
- New Lake Bridge
- New Housing Lakeside Common Space
- UC Pedestrian Connection
- East-West “Main Street Pedestrian Way Through Campus.
CAMPUS DESIGN AND ARCHITECTURE
The master plan includes concepts for a new main entrance and pedestrian bridge over University Boulevard, which will connect the main campus to nearby restaurants.
A new traffic signal is also planned for the intersection of University Boulevard and Liberty Lane.
The plan also includes the addition of a new lake, immediately south of Harvey Lake, which will double as both a landmark for the university and a way to control stormwater flooding.
A dam roadway across the new lake is included in the plans that would connect the East and West sides of the campus.
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