The University of Texas at Dallas has been named one of the top colleges in the country for education outside the classroom.
UT Dallas received a Forage Experiential Learning Award for delivering outstanding experiential learning opportunities to students, ranking No. 10 among public universities in the country and No. 33 for all institutions.
Forage, an online platform for experiential learning, offers students virtual simulations of a workday at major companies, including Fortune 500 firms.
To select award recipients, Forage examined student engagement, faculty involvement and early participation in experiential learning opportunities at universities offering four-year degrees.
As students demand a more practical educational experience and employers seek work-ready talent, learning outside the classroom is becoming the most important way for universities to differentiate themselves, said Dominique Lange, former experiential programs coordinator who recently joined the Office of Undergraduate Education as an academic advisor.
“The mission of our programs has always been to connect students with employers to offer unique opportunities and programming to advance their success and professional growth,” Lange said. “This recognition confirms that our programs and services, including the Explore the World of Work externship program, the UTD|EXP on-campus internship program, international internships and the C.O.M.E.T. Treks networking programs, are meaningfully and successfully setting students up for career success.”
Nicolette Johnson, director of the University Career Center, said she and her staff were excited about the honor.
“The University Career Center and The University of Texas at Dallas strongly encourage students to proactively gain exposure to the world of work, because we know that it has a huge impact on early career success and satisfaction after they graduate,” she said. “We look forward to growing the University’s experiential offerings and initiatives in the future.”
Professor To Receive Doctoral Education Award
Dr. Meghna Sabharwal, professor of public and nonprofit management in the School of Economic, Political and Policy Sciences at The University of Texas at Dallas, will receive the 2022 Duncombe Excellence in Doctoral Education Award from the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration (NASPAA).
The award, established in 2014, recognizes a faculty member whose work with doctoral students is at a very high level.
Dr. Shilpa Viswanath, assistant professor of public management at The City University of New York’s John Jay College of Criminal Justice, nominated Sabharwal for the award. Sabharwal’s former doctoral students Imane Hijal-Moghrabi PhD’15; Rashmi Chordiya PhD’18; Trang Hoang MPA’15, PhD’19; Varaidzo Zvobgo PhD’20; Romeo Abraham PhD’20 and Shahrin Upoma PhD’21 wrote letters to the selection committee on her behalf.
Sabharwal said she is honored to receive the award and thankful to her former students.
“I am truly fortunate to work with such excellent students,” she said. “They inspire me every day, and they are the reason I absolutely love what I do. I am thankful to everyone who nominated me for this honor.”
David Marshall, chief membership engagement and diversity, equity, and inclusion officer at NASPAA, said the selection committee was impressed with the sustained commitment that Sabharwal has shown to doctoral students over many years.
“You are truly the type of dedicated educator that the Duncombe Award was established to recognize,” he said.
Sabharwal will be awarded $1,000 at the NASPAA annual conference in October in Chicago.
Accolades is an occasional News Center feature that highlights recent accomplishments of The University of Texas at Dallas faculty, students and staff. To submit items for consideration, contact your school’s communications manager.