Leaders of UTA and Tarrant County College see their institutions’ partnership as the way to strengthen economic opportunities in North Texas.
“We're united by a belief that when our students thrive, so does our entire region,” UTA President Jennifer Cowley told business and collegiate leaders at the Greater Arlington Chamber of Commerce’s third annual State of Higher Education event Thursday at College Park Center.
At the event, Cowley and Elva LeBlanc, Tarrant County College chancellor, touted their colleges’ ability to prepare students to join the workforce. TCC is celebrating its 60th anniversary and UTA its 130th.
Combined, the colleges serve more than 100,000 students annually, said Michael Jacobson, president and CEO of the Greater Arlington Chamber of Commerce. They have an economic impact of almost $30 billion within the state and region.
LeBlanc said TCC prepares students for high-demand careers, from aviation and automotive technology to education and health care. The college, in partnership with the Fort Worth Film Commission, plans to offer four new certificates in spring 2026 to train production crews in preparation for North Texas’ boom in films and TV shows.
TCC will continue to manage funding responsibly, including a move to zero-based budgeting in the upcoming fiscal year, LeBlanc said. The accounting method calls for justifying every expense each period.
TCC is also providing free tuition to dual credit students from low-income families.
“Our students and their families invest so much in higher education — their faith in us means everything,” she said. “And our taxpayers and partners trust us to use our resources wisely.”
Cowley said she sees UTA’s and the City of Arlington’s progress as intertwined and unbreakable.
UTA’s Blaze Forward program will fully cover tuition and fees for 65% of more than 5,000 incoming freshmen in the upcoming school year, Cowley said. The university is also serving more than 100 students through the Emerging Mavericks program, which supports those who aged out of foster care or experienced homelessness.
The university is preparing for a new aviation innovation and management program in spring 2026, Cowley said.
UTA has produced alumni in several fields, from veterans awarded the Medal of Honor to those working at NASA. They've served in the Texas Legislature. They have designed everything from Globe Life Field to a net-zero energy skyscraper, Cowley said.
And they’ve worked with Frito-Lay to improve the seasoning of their chips.
“Every time you snack on a perfectly seasoned and shaped Dorito, you have a Maverick to thank for that,” Cowley said to the audience’s applause. “You’re welcome.”
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