UTD's Jonsson School Receives $1.5 Million from Texas Instruments to Establish Chair, Graduate Fellowships

RICHARDSON, Texas (April 11, 2006) — The Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science at The University of Texas at Dallas (UTD) received a $1.5 million pledge from Texas Instruments Incorporated (TI) to establish an endowed faculty chair and graduate student fellowships. The gift was announced at TI/UTD Day, an event held at TI and hosted by the company’s University Relations Program to honor UTD faculty and alumni.

The gift will allow for the creation of two permanent endowments for the Jonsson School — the Texas Instruments Distinguished Chair and the Texas Instruments Diversity Graduate Fellowship Endowment.

Funds from the Texas Instruments Distinguished Chair endowment will support the research and scholarly activities of the chair holder as directed by the dean of the Jonsson School, Dr. Bob Helms. Funds from the Texas Instruments Diversity Graduate Fellowship Endowment will provide scholarships to graduate students enrolled in the Jonsson School. Recruitment of the scholarship recipients will be consistent with UTD’s strategic plan, which calls for a student body that exhibits not only excellence but also is reflective of the gender and ethnic demographics of Texas.

“TI and UTD have a rich history, and it has been with great pride that we have watched as the university has grown in national stature,” said Rich Templeton, TI president and CEO. “With this grant, we expect UTD to foster new discoveries that will change the world.”

“We are most grateful for our long partnership with TI, and their continued support,” Helms said. “This generous gift helps us attract more top faculty and more diverse student talent to UTD and propels the university forward to becoming a world-class institution.”

TI has been a long-time supporter of U. T. Dallas, which was established by three TI founders — former Dallas Mayor Erik Jonsson, for whom the engineering and computer science school is named, Cecil Green and Eugene McDermott. Green and McDermott also have buildings at UTD named after them.

Nearly three years ago, TI partnered with UTD in a major economic project that involved the State of Texas, private donors and the University of Texas System. Under the terms of the deal, TI agreed to build a $3 billion chip fabrication plant in Richardson, Texas, and UTD was to receive up to $300 million in public and private funds to expand and improve the Jonsson School. Part of that project includes the construction of an $85 million, four-story, 192,000-square-foot Natural Science and Engineering Research Laboratory on the UTD campus. The facility currently is under construction and is slated for completion by the end of 2006.

TI/UTD Day was created to further strengthen the relationship between UTD faculty members and TI leaders and technologists, and increase the synergy in respective research initiatives between the two organizations. The event is an outgrowth of TI’s existing relationship with UTD and a desire to see the university continue to build upon its goal of becoming one of the top 50 engineering schools in the country. Today’s event took place at TI’s headquarters in Dallas.

About UTD

The University of Texas at Dallas, located at the convergence of Richardson, Plano and Dallas in the heart of the complex of major multinational technology corporations known as the Telecom Corridor, enrolls nearly 14,500 students. The school’s freshman class traditionally stands at the forefront of Texas state universities in terms of average SAT scores. The university offers a broad assortment of bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree programs. For additional information about UTD, please visit the university’s website at www.utdallas.edu.