According to an email I received this afternoon from the Arlington Report.

She has been in the presidency for four years, which is a respectable length but a little on the short side.

No interim named, yet.

Nothing from the UTA news room; probably something tonight or certainly tomorrow.

May be timing does not mean anything, but it seems a touch odd to announce such a thing at the very start of a fall semester.

Interesting, l don't think that I have heard of this at the very beginning of a school year.

(08-31-2026 06:03 PM)UTArlingtonMaverick Wrote:  According to an email I received this afternoon from the Arlington Report.

She has been in the presidency for four years, which is a respectable length but a little on the short side.

No interim named, yet.

Nothing from the UTA news room; probably something tonight or certainly tomorrow.

May be timing does not mean anything, but it seems a touch odd to announce such a thing at the very start of a fall semester.

I agree. It probably doesn't mean anything. We've seen quite a few UTA presidents over the years. Since she is planning to stay and teach, it tells me that she is not being forced out for scandalous reasons, but is likely ready to move on from this role.

Regardless of the leadership situation, I don't see any potential for getting NCAA football added back to UTA until the current NIL/Portal/eligibility chaos gets cured at the national level. Maybe we should pursue NAIA or Club football.

https://www.texastribune.org/2026/08/31/...nts-leave/

(08-31-2026 08:05 PM)wewererebels Wrote:  

(08-31-2026 06:03 PM)UTArlingtonMaverick Wrote:  According to an email I received this afternoon from the Arlington Report.

She has been in the presidency for four years, which is a respectable length but a little on the short side.

No interim named, yet.

Nothing from the UTA news room; probably something tonight or certainly tomorrow.

May be timing does not mean anything, but it seems a touch odd to announce such a thing at the very start of a fall semester.

I agree. It probably doesn't mean anything. We've seen quite a few UTA presidents over the years. Since she is planning to stay and teach, it tells me that she is not being forced out for scandalous reasons, but is likely ready to move on from this role.

https://www.texastribune.org/2026/08/31/...nts-leave/

Yes, but don't forget that President Karbhari was forced to resign over some supposed minor scandal; he is a gifted teacher and researcher today in the College of Engineering.

I am not suggesting at all that there is any kind of scandal, but it feels like there is more than simply a desire to return to the classroom. It is a tough, tough job, but it is also highly compensated. She always seemed ambitious to me, i.e., winning national awards and leading national groups. I actually expected her exit to be to another presidency (which still would not, in time, surprise me).

She is a lefty; came in talking about "change" and was a vocal proponent of DEI. She was smart enough to quickly drop or disguise that talk. (The regents are all Governor Abbott appointees.)

She can point to numerous very big improvements to the campus, including a new campus in Parker County, so I give her credit for those.

The toughest thing for any athletics department is a constant change in leadership. The timing certainly seems odd.

On a potential positive note, UTA could add football with the next president.

(09-02-2026 01:47 AM)TexanFan Wrote:  On a potential positive note, UTA could add football with the next president.

I would be optimistic if NCAA football were not so screwed up. It would be a shame to have a Les Miles style squad of 100 5th year seniors all here for expected NIL riches.

Anyway, expect nothing to change with an interim president.

Glad the door didn’t hit her backside on the way out.

[quote='BlueDragon' pid='20743159' dateline='1788364511']
Glad the door didn’t hit her backside on the way out.
[/quote

I wont miss her. Her 610K per year salary can be better spent. IMHO

Another interesting development yesterday which my UTA friends here probably noticed.

The UT System announced that the System vice chancellor, Dr. Holmes, is taking over the UTA presidency IN A WEEK on an interim basis, while also keeping his vice chancellor role.

This is unprecedented from any case I have ever observed, certainly for UTA. All of this happened very quickly. Normally, a president will stay-on for a few weeks or month until an interim president is found (not a quick system fill-in from Austin) or very possibly stay-on for months until a permanent president is appointed. If things are going well, the latter would happen.

It certainly appears that Dr. Cowley is being removed. Notice also that none of her UTA VPs or provost is getting the interim title, which normally makes sense. Big red flag indicating dissatisfaction.

It will be interesting to see the changes that happen next.

Dr. Holmes looks highly qualified from his experience and academic background (electrical engineer). Frankly, because he is black, he will also be immune from criticism for any actions that are unpopular for some people, at least in the short term. (Just the way it is.) He will certainly have the confidence of the regents and chancellor.

Nobody I've seen so far is commenting or making interesting observations on social media, so folks, you are getting it here first!

(09-15-2026 12:13 PM)UTArlingtonMaverick Wrote:  Another interesting development yesterday which my UTA friends here probably noticed.

The UT System announced that the System vice chancellor, Dr. Holmes, is taking over the UTA presidency IN A WEEK on an interim basis, while also keeping his vice chancellor role.

This is unprecedented from any case I have ever observed, certainly for UTA. All of this happened very quickly. Normally, a president will stay-on for a few weeks or month until an interim president is found (not a quick system fill-in from Austin) or very possibly stay-on for months until a permanent president is appointed. If things are going well, the latter would happen.

It certainly appears that Dr. Cowley is being removed. Notice also that a UTA VP or provost is not getting the interim title, which normally makes sense.

It will be interesting to see the changes that happen next.

Dr. Holmes looks highly qualified from his experience and academic background (electrical engineer). Frankly, because he is black, he will also be immune from criticism for any actions that are unpopular for some people, at least in the short term. (Just the way it is.) He will certainly have the confidence of the regents and chancellor.

Nobody I've seen so far is commenting or making interesting observations on social media, so folks, you are getting it here first!

a cpl. of articles say she is staying on as faculty. since the highest paid faculty there are in the 400K range, quite a drop in pay. I wonder what else is behind this story and will she just quietly disappear from Arlington altogether. I would be happier with a replacement with more local or at least regional roots than a guy from UC Santa Barbara. IMHO

(09-15-2026 01:51 PM)runamuck Wrote:  

(09-15-2026 12:13 PM)UTArlingtonMaverick Wrote:  Another interesting development yesterday which my UTA friends here probably noticed.

The UT System announced that the System vice chancellor, Dr. Holmes, is taking over the UTA presidency IN A WEEK on an interim basis, while also keeping his vice chancellor role.

This is unprecedented from any case I have ever observed, certainly for UTA. All of this happened very quickly. Normally, a president will stay-on for a few weeks or month until an interim president is found (not a quick system fill-in from Austin) or very possibly stay-on for months until a permanent president is appointed. If things are going well, the latter would happen.

It certainly appears that Dr. Cowley is being removed. Notice also that a UTA VP or provost is not getting the interim title, which normally makes sense.

It will be interesting to see the changes that happen next.

Dr. Holmes looks highly qualified from his experience and academic background (electrical engineer). Frankly, because he is black, he will also be immune from criticism for any actions that are unpopular for some people, at least in the short term. (Just the way it is.) He will certainly have the confidence of the regents and chancellor.

Nobody I've seen so far is commenting or making interesting observations on social media, so folks, you are getting it here first!

a cpl. of articles say she is staying on as faculty. since the highest paid faculty there are in the 400K range, quite a drop in pay. I wonder what else is behind this story and will she just quietly disappear from Arlington altogether. I would be happier with a replacement with more local or at least regional roots than a guy from UC Santa Barbara. IMHO

Anyone removed from the presidency automatically gets faculty position. That's part of the original package: get hired as tenured professor and president. Happened with Amacher (absolute disaster and worst we ever had) and Karbhari (a very good president).

Cowley has very local roots: Arlington. I simply want the absolute best and most competent we can get. UC Santa Barbara, BTW, is elite, elite, elite.

(09-15-2026 02:12 PM)UTArlingtonMaverick Wrote:  

(09-15-2026 01:51 PM)runamuck Wrote:  

(09-15-2026 12:13 PM)UTArlingtonMaverick Wrote:  Another interesting development yesterday which my UTA friends here probably noticed.

The UT System announced that the System vice chancellor, Dr. Holmes, is taking over the UTA presidency IN A WEEK on an interim basis, while also keeping his vice chancellor role.

This is unprecedented from any case I have ever observed, certainly for UTA. All of this happened very quickly. Normally, a president will stay-on for a few weeks or month until an interim president is found (not a quick system fill-in from Austin) or very possibly stay-on for months until a permanent president is appointed. If things are going well, the latter would happen.

It certainly appears that Dr. Cowley is being removed. Notice also that a UTA VP or provost is not getting the interim title, which normally makes sense.

It will be interesting to see the changes that happen next.

Dr. Holmes looks highly qualified from his experience and academic background (electrical engineer). Frankly, because he is black, he will also be immune from criticism for any actions that are unpopular for some people, at least in the short term. (Just the way it is.) He will certainly have the confidence of the regents and chancellor.

Nobody I've seen so far is commenting or making interesting observations on social media, so folks, you are getting it here first!

a cpl. of articles say she is staying on as faculty. since the highest paid faculty there are in the 400K range, quite a drop in pay. I wonder what else is behind this story and will she just quietly disappear from Arlington altogether. I would be happier with a replacement with more local or at least regional roots than a guy from UC Santa Barbara. IMHO

Anyone removed from the presidency automatically gets faculty position. That's part of the original package: get hired as tenured professor and president. Happened with Amacher (absolute disaster and worst we ever had) and Karbhari (a very good president).

Cowley has very local roots: Arlington. I simply want the absolute best and most competent we can get. UC Santa Barbara, BTW, is elite, elite, elite.

evidently about 200 others in the administration took some kind of buyout to leave. makes me even more curious about what is going down.

Over $44m annual budget reductions, belt tightening, visa restrictions.

https://www.theshorthorn.com/news/campus...401ec.html

I was surprised to see that UNT actually has for the moment surpassed UTA in total enrollment, both at around 45,000. But unless there is a catastrophic collapse of undergraduate enrollment, I would not expect any impact on athletics.

(09-17-2026 01:48 PM)wewererebels Wrote:  Over $44m annual budget reductions, belt tightening, visa restrictions.

https://www.theshorthorn.com/news/campus...401ec.html

I was surprised to see that UNT actually has for the moment surpassed UTA in total enrollment, both at around 45,000. But unless there is a catastrophic collapse of undergraduate enrollment, I would not expect any impact on athletics.

so it will remain a low priority for the administration?

(09-17-2026 01:48 PM)wewererebels Wrote:  Over $44m annual budget reductions, belt tightening, visa restrictions.

https://www.theshorthorn.com/news/campus...401ec.html

I was surprised to see that UNT actually has for the moment surpassed UTA in total enrollment, both at around 45,000. But unless there is a catastrophic collapse of undergraduate enrollment, I would not expect any impact on athletics.

The recent budget reductions are all over academia.

(09-18-2026 08:03 AM)runamuck Wrote:  

(09-17-2026 01:48 PM)wewererebels Wrote:  Over $44m annual budget reductions, belt tightening, visa restrictions.

https://www.theshorthorn.com/news/campus...401ec.html

I was surprised to see that UNT actually has for the moment surpassed UTA in total enrollment, both at around 45,000. But unless there is a catastrophic collapse of undergraduate enrollment, I would not expect any impact on athletics.

so it will remain a low priority for the administration?

I think you are referring to intercollegiate athletics; who knows? You have a good idea. We've been through a lot of presidents and there is currently overall belt tightening. (But, we did recently add girls' flag football; part of President Cowley's clear priority of promoting women across the university.)

(09-17-2026 01:48 PM)wewererebels Wrote:  Over $44m annual budget reductions, belt tightening, visa restrictions.

https://www.theshorthorn.com/news/campus...401ec.html

I was surprised to see that UNT actually has for the moment surpassed UTA in total enrollment, both at around 45,000. But unless there is a catastrophic collapse of undergraduate enrollment, I would not expect any impact on athletics.

Fall enrollment article; favorable
https://www.uta.edu/news/news-releases/2...g-students

We are pushing 43K students; huge.

Notice that "freshman" is and has been a banned word under the Cowley administration.

(09-18-2026 11:03 AM)UTArlingtonMaverick Wrote:  

(09-17-2026 01:48 PM)wewererebels Wrote:  Over $44m annual budget reductions, belt tightening, visa restrictions.

https://www.theshorthorn.com/news/campus...401ec.html

I was surprised to see that UNT actually has for the moment surpassed UTA in total enrollment, both at around 45,000. But unless there is a catastrophic collapse of undergraduate enrollment, I would not expect any impact on athletics.

Fall enrollment article; favorable
https://www.uta.edu/news/news-releases/2...g-students

We are pushing 43K students; huge.

Notice that "freshman" is and has been a banned word under the Cowley administration.

I didnt read that but I dont doubt it. as an ex maverick club member and donor for many years in the past, I get fundraising letters from time to time. the last request I got from someone in the athletic depart started off with an introduction of her name and pronouns. I lost interest in her message at that point. I replied to write me again when the school plans to restart football.

(09-18-2026 03:31 PM)runamuck Wrote:  

(09-18-2026 11:03 AM)UTArlingtonMaverick Wrote:  

(09-17-2026 01:48 PM)wewererebels Wrote:  Over $44m annual budget reductions, belt tightening, visa restrictions.

https://www.theshorthorn.com/news/campus...401ec.html

I was surprised to see that UNT actually has for the moment surpassed UTA in total enrollment, both at around 45,000. But unless there is a catastrophic collapse of undergraduate enrollment, I would not expect any impact on athletics.

Fall enrollment article; favorable
https://www.uta.edu/news/news-releases/2...g-students

We are pushing 43K students; huge.

Notice that "freshman" is and has been a banned word under the Cowley administration.

I didnt read that but I dont doubt it. as an ex maverick club member and donor for many years in the past, I get fundraising letters from time to time. the last request I got from someone in the athletic depart started off with an introduction of her name and pronouns. I lost interest in her message at that point. I replied to write me again when the school plans to restart football.

Amen and amen! She can take her woke dei a** back to *unt (University of Not Texas) and be "she/her/it" there.