Opening the Door to More: UTA Libraries and the Honors College Connect Students to What UTA Has to Offer

A first-year student at The University of Texas at Arlington may know exactly what they want to study. They may have a graduation plan and even a pretty good idea of what comes next. 

 
What they may not know is where to begin when they want to get involved in research, find a scholarship to study abroad, get help with a big project, or learn that there is a podcast studio in the Central Library. 
 

That is where a new partnership between the Honors College and UTA Libraries comes in. 

Through the Honors College’s new Gateway experiences, students are introduced to people, places, and resources across campus through short, noncredit experiences that allow them to try something new, make connections, and earn experience points. 

 
For the Libraries, it is an opportunity to introduce students to the people and resources available throughout the building, often before they know they need them. 

 
Sometimes you just need someone to show you the door 

 
Collin Stephenson, Research Success Librarian, has worked closely with the Honors College for several years as its library liaison. He also teaches UNIV, the student success seminar for first-year Honors students. 

 
When the Honors College began developing Gateway experiences, Stephenson immediately saw a place for the Libraries. 

 
“Libraries staff, from the basement to the sixth floor, have all these amazing interests and experiences,” Stephenson said. 

 
The first round of library Gateways included visiting Special Collections, soldering in the C.R.E.A.T. Studio, and gaming in the Basement. Each gave students a chance to step outside the classroom and try something they might not otherwise encounter. 

 
That approach reflects what Honors College Dean Dr. Sean Kelly hopes Gateway will accomplish across UTA. 

 
“At an urban-serving university, students often balance classes with jobs, family responsibilities, commutes, and the pace of life in the Metroplex. It can be easy to focus on getting through classes and put campus opportunities off until later,” Kelly said. “By the time students are juniors or seniors, they sometimes find a resource or opportunity and wonder why they did not know about it as freshmen.” 

 
Gateway brings those introductions forward. 

 
Students can learn about research, study abroad, community service, capstone preparation, or  
creative spaces while they still have plenty of time to take advantage of them. 

 
The people behind the resources 

 
For Kelly, the partnership is about more than showing students what the Libraries have. It is about connecting them with the people who can help them use those resources. 

After touring the Libraries and talking with staff, Kelly was struck by the range of opportunities available to students. 

 
“Few libraries can teach students how to make clothes,” he said. “The FabLab, the Studios, equipment rentals, gaming spaces, and research services give students ways to learn and create that go well beyond the traditional idea of a library.” 

 
But the people matter just as much. 

 
“The people make the difference because that gives the students a safe space to go and ask what they may perceive as embarrassing questions,” Kelly said. 

 
For students who are unsure where to start, knowing whom to ask can make all the difference. 

 
A librarian can be a starting point 

 
Stephenson spent his first five professional years as a classroom teacher. He eventually left teaching but missed the connection that came from watching students learn and grow. 

Teaching UNIV brought some of that back. 

 
The course helps first-year Honors students think about how they want to spend their time at UTA, covering topics such as career preparation, personal and financial management, studying, and building meaningful connections on campus. 

 
Stephenson has also reshaped the course around experiential learning. 

 
Students build an “Honors learning plan” throughout the semester, creating a road map for their goals at UTA. They will also work with Libraries Studios to produce a podcast as a graded project, gaining experience with both the creative process and the technology behind it. 

 
His work with Honors has also created connections with other library departments and staff, giving students more ways to engage with the Libraries. 

 
“It lifts all of us up,” Stephenson said. 

 
Success means more than a good GPA 

 
For Kelly, student success goes beyond grades, retention, and graduation. He wants Honors students to leave UTA prepared to compete with the best graduates in the country. 

 
That can mean conducting research, studying abroad, completing a capstone project, engaging in community service, or finding mentors who can help them take the next step. 

 
“The importance of making those connections early was clear this year,” Kelly said. One hundred four of the 163 students who came in early to UTA expressed interest in getting involved in research.” 

 
Gateway gives students another way to find those opportunities. 

One recent Gateway focused on study abroad, with staff sharing information about programs, scholarships, and opportunities such as Fulbright. 

 
One first-year student attended without knowing what study abroad was. The student had heard people talking about it and decided to come to the Gateway to learn more. 

 
Making the unfamiliar familiar 
 

The Gateway program is still new, with a full launch planned for October. Its purpose is simple: connect students with more of what UTA has to offer. 

 
The partnership with UTA Libraries is a natural part of that effort. 

The Libraries provide spaces, equipment, collections, and expertise. The Honors College creates opportunities for students to encounter those resources early and see how they can become part of their education. 

 
A student who has never done a podcast, can make one. Someone interested in research can find a librarian who can help them get started. A student who has never considered studying abroad can learn how possible their dreams really are. 

 
Those experiences show what investment in students makes possible: access to people, spaces, tools, and opportunities that can turn curiosity into something more. 

 
For UTA Libraries and the Honors College, it starts with opening the door. 

And our Mavs are ready to step in.