The University of Texas of the Permian Basin (UTPB) is a public university in Odessa, Texas. It is part of the University of Texas System. UTPB was authorized by the Texas Legislature in 1969 and founded in 1973. Its official Spring 2016 enrollment was a record high 6,050, a 15% increase in headcount since the previous year. UTPB is now home to over 7,000 students and 250 teaching faculty.The university is enjoying rapid growth as a result of the oil boom occurring in the Permian Basin.