View source for Organization:University of Texas Permian Basin

{{short description|Public university in Odessa, Texas, United States}}
{{Missing information|its history|date=July 2020}}
{{Infobox university
 | name                   = The University of Texas Permian Basin
 | image                  = UT Permian Basin seal.svg
 | image_upright          = 0.7
 | motto                  = ''{{lang|la|Disciplina Praesidium Civitatis}}'' ([[Social:Latin language|Latin]])
 | motto_lang             = la
 | mottoeng               = "The cultivated mind is the guardian genius of democracy"<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.utsystem.edu/board-of-regents/history/seal-university | title = Seal of the University | website = [[Organization:University of Texas System|University of Texas System]] | date = 23 May 2018 | access-date = October 9, 2020}}Seal of the University</ref>
 | established            = {{start date and age|February 4, 1969}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc277748/|title=UT Permian Basin History}}</ref>
 | type                   = Public university
 | faculty  =               166	Full-time and Part-time 140 (Fall 2023)<ref>https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?q=Permian+Basin&s=all&id=229018</ref>
 | academic_affiliation   = {{hlist|Space-grant}}
 | president              = Sandra Woodley
 | parent                 = [[Organization:University of Texas System|University of Texas System]]
 | city                   = Odessa
 | state                  = {{wipe|Texas}}
 | country                = United States
 | campus                 = Midsize City
 | campus_size            = {{convert|644|acre|km2}}
 | students               = 5,848 (Fall 2023)<ref>https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?q=Permian+Basin&s=all&id=229018</ref>
 | undergrad              = 4,640 (Fall 2023)<ref>https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?q=Permian+Basin&s=all&id=229018</ref>
 | postgrad               = 1,208 (Fall 2023)<ref>https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?q=Permian+Basin&s=all&id=229018</ref>
 | doctoral               = 
 | administrative_staff   = 140
 | mascot                 = 
 | nickname               = Falcons
 | sporting_affiliations  = NCAA Division II – Lone Star
 | colors                 = Falcon orange, white, black, and blue<br>{{color box|#F37D35}}&nbsp;{{color box|white}} {{color box|black}} {{color box|blue}}
 | coor                   = {{Coord|31.88992|N|102.328687|W|source:dewiki_region:US-TX_scale:5000_type:landmark|format=dms|display=title,inline}}
 | website                = {{URL|https://www.utpb.edu}}
 | logo                   = UT Permian Basin logo 2021.svg
 | footnotes              = 
 | accreditation          = [[Organization:Southern Association of Colleges and Schools|SACS]]
 | free_label1            = Other campuses
 | free1                  = Midland
}}

'''The University of Texas Permian Basin''' ('''UTPB''') is a public university in Odessa, Texas. It is part of the [[Organization:University of Texas System|University of Texas System]].  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.<ref>{{cite web |title=Student Enrollment |url=https://www.utpb.edu/about/index |website=utpb.edu |access-date=18 July 2018}}</ref>

== History ==
[[File:UTPB sign in Odessa, TX DSCN1246.JPG|200px|right|thumb| University of Texas of the Permian Basin entrance sign]]

The University of Texas of the Permian Basin began in 1973<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oaoa.com/news/education/utpb/article_79f92054-11bd-11e3-ba7a-001a4bcf6878.html|title=Happy 40th, UTPB!|access-date=2 August 2018}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |first1=Grace |last1=King |first2=Gem |last2=Meacham |url=https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/fno26 |title=William Douglas Noël |encyclopedia=The Handbook of Texas |date=June 15, 2010 |publisher=Texas State Historical Association |access-date=June 27, 2011}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://links.communityos.org/zf/profile/agency/id/30352 |title=The University of Texas of the Permian Basin |website=links.communityos.org}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/fact-sheets/new-nuc-plant-des-bg.html |title=Backgrounder on New Nuclear Plant Designs |website=United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission |date=December 12, 2014 |access-date=June 18, 2015}}</ref> In late November in 2016 the city of Odessa granted site permission. That was the first step in official authorization.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbs7.com/content/news/Odessa-City-Council-approves-initial-resolution-for-UTPB-plan-to-bring-nuclear-reactor-402555035.html|title=Odessa City Council approves initial resolution for UTPB plan to bring nuclear reactor}}</ref>

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 {{convert|70000|sqft|m2|adj=on}} 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.<ref name="utpb.edu">{{cite web |url=https://www.utpb.edu/media/pdf/public-information---pdf/REVISED11-WNPA-8160-GalaPlaybillDesign.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171108034946/https://www.utpb.edu/media/pdf/public-information---pdf/REVISED11-WNPA-8160-GalaPlaybillDesign.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 8, 2017 |access-date=2023-04-09 |website=www.utpb.edu |lang=en |title=Archived}}{{dl|date=April 2023}}</ref> 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.<ref name="utpb.edu"/>

In 2018, UTPB announced a new [[Engineering:Kinesiology|Kinesiology]] building at a cost of around 37 million dollars.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.utpb.edu/news/2018/09/human-performance-groundbreak|title=University Breaks Ground on Human Performance Center - the University of Texas Permian Basin &#124; UTPB}}</ref> The following year, UTPB announced the opening of its 55 million dollar [[Engineering:Engineering|Engineering]] building.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.utpb.edu/news/2019/10/engineering-building-grand-opening-ceremony|title = UT Permian Basin Engineering Building Grand Opening Ceremony - the University of Texas Permian Basin &#124; UTPB}}</ref>

==Campus==

===Main campus===
[[File:Visual Arts Studios, UTPB, Odessa, TX DSCN1250.JPG|200px|right|thumb|Visual Arts Studios]]
[[File:Stonehenge at University of Texas at the Permian Basin Picture 1851.jpg|200px|right|thumb|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.<ref>{{cite web |work=RoadsideAmerica.com |url=http://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/29025 |title=America Unhinged |access-date=February 7, 2012}}</ref>
[[File:Gym Complex, UTPB, Odessa, TX DSCN1252.JPG|200px|right|thumb|Gym Complex]]
[[File:Science and Technology Building, UTPB, Odessa, TX DSCN1249.JPG|200px|right|thumb|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===
*Center for Energy and Economic Diversification (CEED)
*Wagner Noël Performing Arts Center
**Performance Hall
**Rea-Greathouse Recital Hall

;Future developments<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oaoa.com/news/master-92408-plan-renaming.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120826003141/http://www.oaoa.com/news/master-92408-plan-renaming.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=August 26, 2012 |title=UTPB master plan, renaming approved |access-date=Aug 24, 2012 }}</ref>
*Engineering Building
*Student Housing
*Academic Additions

==Academics==
The university offers bachelor's degrees and master's degrees, through its five colleges and schools:<ref>{{cite web |website=University of Texas of the Permian Basin |url=https://www.utpb.edu/academics |title=Academics - Schools |access-date=June 18, 2015}}</ref>
* College of Arts and Sciences
* College of Business
* College of Engineering
* College of Education
* College of Nursing

==Athletics==

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.<ref name="athletichist">{{cite web |website=UTPB Falcons |url=http://www.utpbfalcons.com/sports/2011/1/25/GEN_0125110551.aspx?|title=UTPB Athletics History |access-date=February 7, 2012}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{cite web |website=UTPB Falcons |url=http://www.utpbfalcons.com/index.aspx |title=Athletics |access-date=February 7, 2012}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==

* [http://utpbfalcons.com Official athletics website]


{{UT system}}


{{Public universities in Texas}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:University Of Texas Permian Basin}}

[[Category:Public universities and colleges in Texas]]

{{Sourceattribution|University of Texas Permian Basin}}