UTA’s IUS leads major rural planning initiative
What began as a single-campus planning initiative between The University of Texas at Arlington’s Institute of Urban Studies and Hill College has grown into a comprehensive, multi-campus effort to strengthen rural community development across North Texas.
Earlier this year, the Institute of Urban Studies (IUS) delivered an in-depth planning report for Hill College’s main campus in Hillsboro. An effort led by Interim Director Hannah Lebovits and lead Graduate Research Assistant Kena Nicol, the data-driven document was praised by college officials as both visionary and practical. Impressed by the results, Hill College has extended the partnership to include its two additional locations in Cleburne and Burleson.
“When we started this collaboration, we wanted to create something that could serve as both a guide and an inspiration for the future of Hill College,” said Dr. Lebovits, who also serves as assistant professor of public affairs. “Our goal is always to provide planning assistance that is meaningful, affordable, and actionable, especially for rural communities that may not have access to the same resources as larger cities.”
“This partnership with UTA has given us a roadmap that not only reflects who we are today but also where we want to go as a college,” said Hill College President Dr. Thomas Mills. “UTA’s Institute of Urban Studies understood our mission and delivered a plan that is both visionary and practical. It’s a model for how rural institutions can grow strategically while remaining deeply connected to their communities.”
The first phase of the project included detailed analyses of campus facilities, infrastructure, community needs and long-term growth strategies. This process can often take private firms more than two years; the UTA team completed it in just seven months.
“It’s the kind of product that would typically cost cities or educational institutions hundreds of thousands of dollars,” Lebovits said. “But through IUS, we were able to produce it at a fraction of that cost while maintaining exceptional quality and depth.”
With the expansion to Johnson County, the IUS team will integrate new findings into a single, unified report covering the entire Hill College district. Once completed, it will serve as the college’s most comprehensive planning blueprint to date.
Supporting rural communities
IUS’ work with Hill College underscores its commitment to supporting smaller and rural communities across Texas. The institute’s mission is to help under-resourced towns, counties and institutions develop sustainable plans for growth, land use and public services.
“This kind of work shows that urban planning isn’t just for big cities,” Lebovits said. “Rural communities need and deserve access to the same level of research, data analysis and policy guidance. That’s how we build stronger regions, not just stronger cities.”
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 42,700, 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.