UTA honored for transfer student success
The University of Texas at Arlington recently received the College Transfer Award at the 2025 Dallas County Promise Economic Mobility Awards for enrolling the highest number of transfer students among participating colleges and universities from 2018-2024.
Presented by Dallas College and The Commit Partnership, the awards recognize outstanding achievement or improvement across four key milestones that support long-term economic mobility: college readiness, college enrollment, college persistence and degree completion. The event also highlights the power of cross-sector collaboration among K–12 schools, higher education, and community organizations to ensure all students in North Texas have a clear path to higher education.
Dallas Promise is a coalition of 69 high schools and partner colleges and universities working to make a world-class education attainable for all.
“We are so honored to receive this award as a testament to all of the amazing transfer students we serve at UTA,” said Kara Hadley-Shakya, associate vice president in the Office of Admissions. “It also recognizes the tremendous amount of hard work and dedication it takes from the entire team in the Office of Admission to make this a reality. We’re proud of the work we do here to assist our students in their higher education journey.”
Related: UTA expands tuition and fees reimbursement program
Dallas Promise transfer students who hold an associate degree from Dallas College and meet eligibility requirements may qualify for funding through UTA’s Blaze Forward program. This initiative covers tuition and mandatory fees through a combination of federal Pell Grants, TEXAS Grants and UTA scholarships.
“We know how hard it can be for transfer students to be at a new university—especially since they’re already in the middle of their college careers—so trying to navigate how to fit in academically and personally can be really difficult,” said Gayonne Beavers, director of admissions and recruitment. “It makes me really proud to be at a university that recognizes these hurdles and works hard to find different avenues for each student to find their right fit here at UTA.”
About The University of Texas at Arlington (UTA)
Celebrating its 130th anniversary in 2025, The University of Texas at Arlington is a growing public research university in the heart of the thriving Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. With a student body of over 41,000, UTA is the second-largest institution in the University of Texas System, offering more than 180 undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Recognized as a Carnegie R-1 university, UTA stands among the nation’s top 5% of institutions for research activity. UTA and its 280,000 alumni generate an annual economic impact of $28.8 billion for the state. The University has received the Innovation and Economic Prosperity designation from the Association of Public and Land Grant Universities and has earned recognition for its focus on student access and success, considered key drivers to economic growth and social progress for North Texas and beyond.