ODESSA, Texas — With the Permian Basin growing, many workforce needs are projected over the next several decades. That’s where the University of Texas Permian Basin becomes so valuable as a direct path to meeting those challenges.
On Wednesday morning, UTPB held its first "State of the University" address that both celebrated the university's 50th anniversary and provided a chance to look ahead. Conversations included the impact on energy and innovation, workforce and quality of life, as the Falcons look to fly into the future.
UTPB is truly a regional university.
“We rely heavily on this university being strong," said Tracee Bentley, president and CEO of the Permian Strategic Partnership.
The university has a focus on meeting regional needs, says UTPB President Dr. Sandra Woodley.
“Making sure that our programs and our degrees are relevant for what’s needed here in the workforce," Dr. Woodley said. "We know we need more accountants and teachers and engineers and all of the behavioral health workers for the new behavioral health center.”
Over 38,000 jobs in the Permian Basin requiring at least a bachelor’s degree is the expectation in the next two decades.
Growing that workforce in the Permian Basin with native West Texans is a priority. Along with that, making sure their curriculum keeps up with evolving industries, such as energy production.
“We are pulling together geology and computer science and physics and math…into our engineering college," Dr. Woodley said. "More and more of energy is automated – there’s so much more analytics and technology involved in the energy business, and we want to make sure that our graduates have all of those skills as they leave here.”
Bentley knows the impact of UTPB.
“We’re going to heavily rely on the university, and so I think in the future you will find PSP supporting those growth efforts – specifically of course in the energy industry – but also in healthcare and education and so many other things," Bentley said. "The university is pivotal to our growth.”
Midland Mayor Lori Blong spoke on quality of life efforts being made with UTPB. She also sees the university’s value.
“We have a lot of kids in Midland who have a lot of intelligence and a lot of capacity, but they may not have the opportunity to go away to a four-year university, and so UTPB is able to get some of those kids trained and into our workforce," Mayor Blong said. "Also, with non-traditional students – people who have gone back to school -- UTPB is meeting a niche need in our community for not just the undergraduate but for graduate degrees to be able to advance our communities.”
With 50 years in the books for UTPB, sights are currently set on the next 50.
“I think we’ve just scratched the surface on the capabilities of this university, but it’s really going to become – it currently is a huge economic driver for our region – but I think it’s going to grow and it’s going to grow exponentially," Bentley said.
UTPB served about 7,500 students in the 2023 academic year, but Dr. Woodley noted that they will need to be twice that size to meet the needs moving forward. She added that the university is about to renovate it’s 50-year-old Mesa building, progress that they are excited to see in the next few years and beyond.