About UTC

Vision

Internationally recognized centers of excellence, fully integrated within institutions of higher learning, that serve as a vital source of leaders who are prepared to meet the nation’s need for safe, efficient and environmentally sound movement of people and goods.

Mission

To advance U.S. technology and expertise in the many disciplines comprising transportation through the mechanisms of education, research and technology transfer at university-based centers of excellence.

Goals

1. Education: a multi disciplinary program of course work and experiential learning that reinforces the transportation theme of the Center.

2. Human Resources: an increased number of students, faculty and staff who are attracted to and substantively involved in the undergraduate, graduate and professional programs of the Center.

3. Diversity: students, faculty and staff who reflect the growing diversity of the U.S. workforce and are substantively involved in the undergraduate, graduate and professional programs of the Center.

4. Research Selection: an objective process for selecting and reviewing research that balances multiple objectives of the program.

5. Research Performance: an ongoing program of basic and applied research, the products of which are judged by peers or other experts in the field to advance the body of knowledge in transportation.

6. Technology Transfer: availability of research results to potential users in a form that can be directly implemented, utilized or otherwise applied.

Purpose and Objectives

• Advance transportation expertise and technology in the many disciplines that comprise transportation through research, education and workforce development, and technology transfer;
• Provide a critical transportation knowledge base outside the US DOT; and
• Address vital workforce needs and educate the next generation of transportation leaders.

In addition, the UTC Program and each individual Center share the following objectives:

• Research:  To conduct basic, advanced, and applied research, the products of which are judged by peers or other experts in the field of transportation to advance the body of knowledge in transportation.
• Education and Workforce Development:  To provide an education program relating to transportation that includes multidisciplinary course work, participation in research, and workforce development activities and programs to expand the workforce of transportation professionals.
• Technology Transfer:  To deliver an ongoing program of technology transfer that makes transportation research results available to potential users in a form that can be implemented, utilized, commercialized, or otherwise applied.

 
Although every Center has the same broad objectives, US DOT encourages diversity in the program participants and in the approaches individual Centers take to achieve the program objectives.  US DOT encourages unique approaches to research, education, workforce development and technology transfer, building on or reflecting institutional expertise, facilities, and partnerships.  Finally, in order to achieve its vision of a truly multimodal integrated system,  US DOT encourages UTCs to engage in research, education and workforce development, and technology transfer activities that cut across disciplines and span multiple modes of transportation, enabling improvements to the Nation’s surface transportation system, inclusive of rail, maritime, highway, pipelines, transit, and any links to aviation.