Texas bill would preserve UT-Austinโs admissions policies if U.S. Supreme Court strikes down affirmative action
State lawmakers passed legislation that would ensure the UT flagship can continue to cap the number of students it automatically admits because of their academic achievement at 75%, giving the university room to accept other students using different criteria.
University of Texas at Austin students will hold referendum on โEyes of Texasโ
The nonbinding referendum is meant to gauge student opinion on the divisive alma mater but would not result in any changes to the song. Student leaders called for it in response to a 2021 university report on the songโs history that found it was โnot overtly racist.โ
UT-Austin blocks access to TikTok on campus Wi-Fi networks
Students and faculty will not be able to access the popular social media app while connected to university internet servers. Itโs the latest step to limit access to the service after Gov. Greg Abbott directed state agencies to ban the app on government-issued devices citing cybersecurity risks.
In lawsuit, UT-Austin professor accuses Texas A&M faculty program of discriminating against white and Asian men
UT-Austin professor Richard Lowery is represented by America First Legal โ a group created by Stephen Miller, a policy adviser for former President Donald Trump, and Jonathan Mitchell, a former solicitor general for Texas and the legal architect of the stateโs six-week abortion ban.
As monkeypox spreads, health experts urge Texas universities to prepare for outbreaks
While the risk of exposure to monkeypox remains low, health experts say college students living in close proximity to each other could spur outbreaks. They encourage schools to share their plans and relevant information about the virus.
University of Texas selects new director โ and new name โ for its conservative institute
The University of Texas at Austin selected Justin Dyer to run The Civitas Institute, formerly referred to as the Liberty Institute. The center raised concerns among faculty after The Texas Tribune reported UT-Austin worked with conservative donors and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick to bring the institute to the flagship UT campus.
UT Austin will allow students to live together on campus regardless of gender or sexual identity
The two-year pilot program comes after at least 15 years of students asking for the change. It will allow UT-Austin students to live together in certain residence halls with students of any gender or sexual identity.
UT Austin President Jay Hartzell defends faculty tenure after Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick proposes to end it at all public universities
Patrickโs suggestion to end tenure at public universities received swift criticism from faculty and higher education experts who said it would negatively impact the reputation of Texasโ colleges and universities.
โAn invisible identityโ: This undocumented young Texan faces uncertainty after DACA applications are closed
A University of Texas at Austin student who planned to apply to an Obama-era initiative for immigrants who came to America as children is stuck in limbo after a Texas judge halted the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program.
Texas NAACP, students file federal civil rights complaint over UT-Austinโs โEyes of Texasโ
The complaint signals a continued desire among some UT-Austin students and alumni to push administrators to discontinue using the song as the universityโs alma mater, despite the universityโs insistence that it will remain.
From free tuition to concert tickets, Texas colleges lure students and employees to get vaccinated
Texas public universities forbidden from mandating vaccines are trying to entice students and faculty to get the shot. Those moves come as more people ages 18 to 29 years old in Texas are being hospitalized with the virus.
Tensions boil at UT-Austin over โThe Eyes of Texasโ, where students are refusing to work and a man with a gun crashed a virtual event
Dozens of students at the University of Texas at Austin who give campus tours to prospective Longhorns are refusing to work this week over a dispute about a plaque with โThe Eyes of Texasโ lyrics hanging in the Admissions Welcome Center.
Texas lawmakers consider limiting tenure after UT-Austin professor sued students over accusations of promoting pedophilia
Colt McCoy joined forces with rich UT-Austin alumni to help pressure university to keep โThe Eyes of Texas,โ emails show
Last month, the Tribune reported that dozens of UT-Austin donors threatened to pull funds if the university got rid of the song, which has been the subject of student protests. A recent report commissioned by President Jay Hartzell determined the song was not โovertly racist,โ though it was written in a racist setting. McCoy and Brigham were part of a large group email of Longhorns donors and fans who discussed the controversy among themselves on June 29. The Tribune attempted to contact McCoy through UT-Austin, a family member and the Arizona Cardinals but he could not be reached for comment. The latest emails from UT-Austin also included more examples of direct threats from donors over the song.
Black lawmakers, NAACP and students push back on UT-Austinโs โThe Eyes of Texasโ report, urge school to lose the song
โItโs humiliating to be required to sit for the song or be in the presence,โ said Gary Bledsoe, president of the Texas NAACP. Students have also called on the school to stop playing the song from the bell tower. In his report, Alberto Martinez provided documentation linking the phrase โThe Eyes of Texasโ to a statement made in reference to Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee. This complicates its understanding and explains how different people experienced the song in vastly different ways.โA UT-Austin spokesperson said the university stands behind its report. AdOn Monday, a UT-Austin band member said said the implications of protesting the song were unclear for students.
TribCast: Lawmakers look to limit Gov. Greg Abbott's emergency powers as Texas' mask order is lifted
Greg Abbott speaks at a press conference in Austin on Feb 13, 2021. Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune(Audio unavailable. On this week's episode, Matthew speaks with Ross, Cassi and Kate about the Texas Legislature's move to limit Gov. Greg Abbott's power during a pandemic. They also discuss the University of Texas at Austin's report on "The Eyes of Texas." Disclosure: University of Texas at Austin has been a financial supporter of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors.
UT-Austin releases report on history of "The Eyes of Texas"
The University of Texas at Austin on Tuesday released the findings of a report โ months in the making โ exploring the history of its alma mater song, "The Eyes of Texas." Over the summer, students protested and petitioned the university to rid the campus of the song, which has ties to minstrel shows. Officials said the song would stay, but announced a 24-member committee that would look into the song's history. AdLast week, The Texas Tribune reported that hundreds of alumni and donors wrote UT-Austin President Jay Hartzell over the summer and fall demanding he keep the song. Disclosure: University of Texas at Austin has been a financial supporter of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors.
โThe Bachelor After the Final Roseโ to be hosted by University of Texas football alum Emmanuel Acho
Emmanuel Acho, who played linebacker for the University of Texas at Austin and is a current co-host on Fox Sports 1, will host โThe Bachelor After the Final Roseโ following this seasonโs final rose ceremony. The host-to-be made the announcement official on social media on Saturday. ITโS OFFICIAL: Iโve accepted the Rose & am honored to be hosting the @bachelorabc After the Final Rose this year. ๐น โค๏ธ pic.twitter.com/eWBXT6Kv6J โ Emmanuel Acho (@EmmanuelAcho) February 27, 2021โIโve accepted the rose and am honored to be hosting The Bachelor After the Final Rose this year. Itโs been a pivotal season and this episode will hopefully be one of the most storied shows in TV history,โ Acho said on social media.
UT-Austin wonโt require SAT or ACT scores for 2022 applications due testing limitations because of COVID-19
The University of Texas at Austin is suspending the SAT and ACT test score requirement for fall 2022 applicants, citing continued limited access to testing opportunities for students due the COVID-19 pandemic. AdLast year, multiple Texas universities temporarily scrapped the testing requirement for the 2021 applicants, including Texas A&M University, Baylor University, Texas Tech University, Texas Christian University and Southern Methodist University. In Austin, St. Edward's University had been planning to permanently waive ACT and SAT requirements for months, Dean of Admissions Drew Nichols told The Texas Tribune last spring. Last year, the University of California system announced its campuses would begin phasing out the ACT and SAT immediately. AdDisclosure: Baylor University, Rice University, Southern Methodist University, St. Edwardโs University, Texas Christian University, Texas Tech University and University of Texas at Austin have been financial supporters of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors.
Point of Order: The outage and the outrage
Evan Smith, CEO of The Texas Tribune. (Audio unavailable. Disclosure: University of Texas at Austin has been a financial supporter of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune's journalism. Find a complete list of them here.
$34 million, private planes, cars and housing allowances: Hereโs how much UT-Austin is paying football coach Steve Sarkisian
Sarkisian, who was hired Jan. 2, will make $5.2 million in his first year as coach and is guaranteed a $200,000 raise each year. He will additionally receive a one-time payment of $1.2 million if he is still head coach on December 31, 2024. The board will also approve the guaranteed compensation of coordinators and assistant football coaches, most of which exceed $1 million. Sarkisianโs starting salary is over $5 million more than former head coach Tom Herman and $10 million more than former head coach Charlie Strong, according to the Dallas Morning News. Before that he was head coach for the University of Washington and the University of Southern California.
UT-Austin keeping most classes virtual through January as coronavirus infections soar in Travis County
The flagship university is keeping most classes online through January as coronavirus infections soar in Travis County. The University of Texas at Austin is shifting more spring semester classes completely online through the end of January as COVID-19 cases continue to ravage the city and state. When UT-Austin shifted entirely online the week of Thanksgiving, average daily cases hovered around 240 in Travis County. Texas A&M University is also requiring students who live on campus to get tested within the first week of classes, on or before Jan 22. Disclosure: Rice University, Texas A&M University, Texas Tech University and University of Texas at Austin have been financial supporters of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors.
Steve Sarkisian hired as new Texas Longhorns football coach; Tom Herman fired
This comes after the firing of previous head coach Tom Herman, as announced Saturday. Original:Tom Herman has been fired as head football coach of the Texas Longhorns. We thank Coach Herman for his service and dedication to our student-athletes, our program and our university,โ university officials said in a statement. His final game as Longhorns head coach was a victory over Colorado in the 2020 Valero Alamobowl. According to reports, Texas is looking to hire Alabama offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian to replace Herman.
UT-Austin's final football game canceled after 9 players, 13 staff test positive for coronavirus
The University of Texas at Austin's final football game of the regular season against the University of Kansas was cancelled after a COVID-19 outbreak infected nine players and 13 staff members. The University of Texas at Austinโs final football game of the regular season against the University of Kansas has been canceled because of a COVID-19 outbreak infecting nine players and 13 staff members. The UT game against Kansas had already been rescheduled due to an outbreak on the Kansas team last month. Itโs the only game Texas did not play this fall amid the pandemic. Disclosure: Baylor University, Southern Methodist University, Texas A&M University, Texas Christian University and University of Texas at Austin have been financial supporters of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors.
UT-Austin President Jay Hartzell poised to make $1.25 million annually, 40% more than former president
President of the University of Texas at Austin Jay Hartzell. The new president at the University of Texas at Austin is poised to make $1.25 million a year, a jump of $350,000 or 40% more than his predecessor, Greg Fenves. Fenves originally turned down a $1 million salary when offered the top job at UT-Austin in 2015. In June, the board approved an annual salary of $795,000 for Hartzell as interim president. The $1.25 million salary is โall-inclusive,โ and he will not receive additional stipends for housing, an automobile or cell phone.
As Texas universities prepare to send thousands of students home for the holidays, few are requiring COVID-19 safety precautions
Shortly after, they plan on visiting their family for Thanksgiving in North Texas. The two university students are halfway through a 14-day quarantine that their mother required of them before they could join the rest of the family back home in North Texas for Thanksgiving. Officials at UT-Austin and elsewhere in Texas say they are relying on students to voluntarily comply with safety measures. In another letter to students Friday, officials encouraged students to develop a safe travel plan and get a flu shot. โThen, weโre quarantining again to go home for Christmas.โDisclosure: Baylor University, Prairie View A&M University, Rice University, Texas A&M University, Texas Tech University, University of Texas at Austin and University of North Texas have been financial supporters of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors.
University of Texas to create center to study stuttering
AUSTIN, Texas โ A new center for research and education into stuttering is being created at the University of Texas at Austin, the university announced Monday. The Arthur M. Blank Center for Stuttering Research and Education is being underwritten by a 10-year, $20 million legacy grant from Home Depot co-founder Arthur Blank, who owns the NFLโs Atlanta Falcons, the MLS Atlanta United, and the venue where both play, Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The center will be founded and led by Dr. Courtney Byrd, a professor of speech, language and hearing sciences at the university. She also is a founder of other stuttering clinics and institutes at the University of Texas. He, too, is a person who stutters who previously attempted treatment to improve fluency, according to the statement.
Texas leaders hope rapid testing will restore normalcy in the pandemic. Health experts caution the tests have limitations.
Antigen tests โ typically nasal or saliva tests that can detect proteins on the outside of the virus โ are more prone to giving false negative results than other coronavirus tests that use genetic material. Rapid testing is gaining traction nationwide, with one manufacturer planning to ship 50 million tests across the country each month. He said rapid testing could restore the feeling of security needed for a true economic rebound. DSHS reported Wednesday 748,967 total confirmed COVID-19 cases out of 6,237,157 tests and 10,266 positive antigen tests out of 99,412. Disclosure: Texas Association of Business, Texas Christian University, University of Texas at Austin and University of North Texas have been financial supporters of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors.
As Texas college towns emerge as coronavirus hot spots, universities try to keep students from infecting locals
Fans walk toward the stadium for the first home football game of the season at the University of Texas at Austin. Thatโs compared to 23% in counties with a smaller proportion of students, including larger metropolitan areas like Houston and Dallas that also house universities. The Texas counties where university students make up the biggest share of the population are home to Texas State University, Texas Tech University, Stephen F. Austin State University, Sul Ross State University, Sam Houston State University, and several A&M campuses, including the flagship in College Station, Tarleton State University, Prairie View A&M University, Texas A&M University-Kingsville and Texas A&M University-Commerce. โItโs not about me,โ Cook said, in a mantra he has repeated to college students. Disclosure: Prairie View A&M University, Sam Houston State University, Sul Ross State University, Texas A&M University, Texas Tech University, Texas A&M University System, University of Texas at Austin, University of Texas System, University of Texas at El Paso and University of Houston have been financial supporters of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors.
Analysis: Texas reopenings tied more to COVID-19 severity than to spread
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for the Texas TribuneIf you would like to listen to the column, just click on the play button below. If you want to know whatโs happening with business reopenings during the pandemic in Texas, watch your local hospital. Instead of concentrating on the spread of the virus, the state is now concentrating on the severity of the spread. Whether and how much those reopenings have sped the spread of the coronavirus is still not clear. Hospitalization rates will tell you what share of the people in Texas hospitals โ by district โ are coronavirus patients.
UT-Austin says it will only require student ticket holders to test negative for COVID-19 before Saturdays football game
A University of Texas football game at Darrell K. Royal Memorial Stadium in Austin on Sept. 7, 2019. Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Daily TexanNeed to stay updated on coronavirus news in Texas? There is no testing requirement for fans who aren't UT-Austin students, nor is there a requirement for visitors from El Paso. Students, however, were not required to test negative before returning to campus or attending in-person classes. Greg Abbott, however, allowed Texas sports to resume with limited fans in the stands. Disclosure: Baylor University, Southern Methodist University, Texas Christian University, University of Texas at Austin and University of Texas at El Paso have been financial supporters of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors.
Texas universities blame off-campus parties for rising COVID-19 cases, but few are disciplining students
Students sit outside the Peter T. Flawn Academic Center at the University of Texas at Austin. As Texas college towns see rising COVID-19 cases with the return of hundreds of thousands of students to campus, a small but increasing number of universities are disciplining students who attend or host house parties or Greek rush events. But while reports of those crackdowns are beginning to increase, most Texas universities arent penalizing individual students for partying that takes place off-site. Many of the Greek events have since been halted, he said, but the off-campus parties continue. Penalize organizations, not peoplePerhaps the most power that Texas universities can wield over off-campus student behavior comes through its recognized organizations, from sororities to student government and beyond.
Student athletes get COVID-19 tests three times a week, while experts say testing for other university students is lagging
Public health experts say Texas universities should increase testing of all students to prevent community spread of the coronavirus as classes resume. Texas A&M University reported 327 new positive tests the week ending Aug. 29, down slightly from the 371 it reported a week prior. UT-Austin, Texas A&M University and Texas Tech University encourage participation in asymptomatic testing but stop short of requiring it. Texas Christian University does not offer routine testing for students without symptoms, according to The Dallas Morning News. Disclosure: Baylor University, Texas A&M University, Texas Christian University, Texas Tech University, University of Texas at Austin and University of North Texas have been financial supporters of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors.
Listen: From civil rights to Black Lives Matter, opinions vary on importance of voting among Texans across generations
Many of these protestors have united around the rallying cry of defund the police; still, others have embraced the cause of the Black Lives Matter movement. With the 2020 election fast approaching, The Texas Tribune invited Texans of the civil rights and the Black Lives Matter eras to share their perspectives on voting. After wanting to see a change in their affluent, mainly white neighborhoods, they began organizing protests and rallies to bring the issues of Black Lives Matter to their neighbors front steps. Currently, Woods is a leader of Black Lives Matter Houston and has been a part of that organization since 2013. He currently works with Black Lives Matter Houston and has been organizing with the group for years.
Jay Hartzell named sole finalist for UT-Austin president
University of Texas at Austin Interim President Jay Hartzell has been named sole finalist for president. The University of Texas System's Board of Regents unanimously named Jay Hartzell the sole finalist for president of its flagship university on Tuesday. Hartzell, former dean of the University of Texas at Austins business school, was named interim president in April after former president Greg Fenves stepped down. Eltife will appoint a committee to offer advice and evaluation on the sole finalist. The Board of Regents approved an annual salary of $795,000 in June for Hartzell as interim president.
UT-Austin will test 5,000 people a week for coronavirus and cover out-of-pocket costs for students
An aerial view of the main tower at the University of Texas at Austin during the coronavirus outbreak on March 23, 2020. The University of Texas reported a total of 472 COVID-19 cases among students, faculty and staff as of Thursday. The university plans to test all of its campus residence hall students by the beginning of September. The university can test hundreds of symptomatic students using in-house labs and has three rapid testing machines that can provide results in 15 minutes. The University of Texas at Arlington and the University of Texas at El Paso will also provide free on-campus testing.
Texas college football is limiting stadium capacity, mandating masks and testing athletes. Heres what you need to know.
Many athletics officials seized on that number, including UT-Austin Athletics Director Chris Del Conte as recently as last week. At Texas Tech University, officials are also looking at capping stadium capacity at 25%. The Texas Tech athletics department is projecting a loss of $14.1 million from interrupted ticket sales and other pandemic-related expenses, athletics director Kirby Horcutt has said. The Big 12 Conference which includes Baylor University, Texas Christian University, Texas Tech and the No. Disclosure: Texas A&M, Baylor University, Texas Christian University, Texas Tech University and University of Texas at Austin have been financial supporters of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors.
After voluntarily publishing its data, UT-Austin now has the unwelcome distinction of leading U.S. colleges in COVID-19 cases
While some universities nationwide and in Texas are still refusing to disclose cases, UT-Austin set up a digital dashboard allowing community members to see updated student, faculty and staff cases. Regardless of how other universities choose to approach these numbers, UT-Austin will do what's best for public health and the health of its community, he said. One of the largest outbreaks came from a spring break trip to Mexico in March, which resulted in dozens of UT students testing positive for COVID-19. On Wednesday, interim President Jay Hartzell announced that students returning to Austin will need to self-isolate for 14 days after coming to campus. Its health service site lists a COVID-19 nasal swab test at $88 and a blood test for COVID-19 antibodies at $53.
UT Austin, Texas State University ask students to self-quarantine for 14 days before coming to campus
As COVID-19 cases continue to surge all across Texas, some universities are urging students to self-quarantine for 14 days prior to returning to campus for the fall semester. The University of Texas at Austin and Texas State University are doing just that as a way to help contain the spread of the coronavirus. During the 14-day self-quarantine, students should limit interactions with others and stay in their homes as much as possible while monitoring for COVID-19 symptoms, school officials said. University of Texas at Austin students will also be required to wear face masks, in addition to the 14-day quarantine. As we plan and prepare for the fall, the university is continuing to closely monitor the spread of COVID-19 in Austin,... Posted by The University of Texas at Austin on Wednesday, July 29, 2020Read also:
Gov. Greg Abbott and Elon Musk pose with uniquely Texas hand gesture
TRAVIS COUNTY, Texas Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and Tesla CEO Elon Musk were smiling big this week and for good reason. Abbott posted a photo on Wednesday of the pair posing with the hook em horns hand gesture and thanked Musk for embracing our great state. For anyone that doesnt know - hook em horns is the hand signal for the University of Texas at Austin, which Abbott previously attended. Welcome to Texas, Abbott seemingly said to Musk in a Facebook post.
UT-Austin faces a third lawsuit claiming that white students were unfairly denied admission under affirmative action
The statue of George Washington outside the University of Texas at Austin Main Building on July 16, 2020. The group, Students for Fair Admissions, is a nonprofit of "more than 20,000 students, parents and others" who believe that racial classifications and preferences in college admissions are "unfair, unnecessary, and unconstitutional," according to the group's website. In 2018, about 75 percent of UT-Austin students received automatic admission to the school through the Top 10 Percent Rule, a state law that offers admission to Texas students near the top of their high school class. The university has factored race and ethnicity into its admissions decisions for the remaining applicants since 2003, when a different U.S. Supreme Court ruling declared race-based affirmative action constitutional. "The university is reviewing the new lawsuit from (Students for Fair Admissions)," said J.B. Bird, a UT-Austin spokesperson, in a statement.
UT-Austin preparing to allow 50% occupancy in the stands when football season starts Sept. 5
A University of Texas football game at Darrell K. Royal Memorial Stadium in Austin on Sept. 7, 2019. Eddie Gaspar/The Daily TexanThe University of Texas at Austin will kick off the football season Sept. 5, albeit with a stadium open at half its capacity, athletics officials told ticket holders Monday. I want you to know that as we are working toward hosting football games this season, our number one priority remains the health and safety of our student-athletes, staff and fans," Del Conte wrote. But officials have pushed forward with kicking off the football season as planned. Earlier this month, Del Conte said the annual game between the Longhorns and Oklahoma Sooners would continue, even as organizers canceled the State Fair of Texas, held on the same weekend and in close proximity.
UT-Austin prepared a list of scenarios that would lead to a shutdown this fall. One trigger: a student dying of COVID-19.
Earlier this month, the University of Texas at Austin laid out a list of scenarios that could trigger a midsemester closure. Moving to Level 4 would see further restrictions, with only skill classes allowed to be taught in-person, while the last level would transfer all classes online in a repeat of the spring. Statistically, college students are less likely than other people to die from COVID-19. UT-Austin is something of an outlier nationally for so clearly identifying benchmarks that would trigger another shutdown. The school ultimately moved all classes online and slashed tuition by $2,000 for every student while promising Wi-Fi and laptops to those who need them.
In reversal, federal government will allow international students to stay in the U.S. while taking only online classes
University of Texas at Austin students pass by the main building on their way to and from classes on Oct. 03, 2012. Tamir Kalifa for The Texas TribuneOn Tuesday, the Trump administration walked back recent guidance that would have deported international college and university students if they were enrolled exclusively in online classes this fall. Schools offering hybrid instruction, like most Texas universities, would have had to certify to ICE that students were not taking an entirely online course load in the fall. While Rice University was the only college in Texas to join Harvard's lawsuit, other universities released statements of support for international students and pledged to working around federal guidance. There are more than 60,000 international students in Texas.
UT-Austin says it will keep "Eyes of Texas" as school song, but will rename buildings as Black students call for change
A Confederate statue on the University of Texas at Austin was removed shortly after midnight on Aug. 21, 2017. Black students comprise about 5.1% of UT-Austin's student body. "The Eyes of Texas should not only unite us, but hold all of us accountable to our institutions core values. The Robert L. Moore Building, named for a former math professor who was a segregationist and refused to teach Black students, was renamed as the Physics, Math and Astronomy Building. The university also pledged to refocus its diversity and inclusion plan, recruit diverse faculty members, launch programming to enhance or support its Black students and expand its police oversight committee.
University of Texas to pay interim President Jay Hartzell $795,000
Interim President of the University of Texas at Austin Jay Hartzell. Eddie Gaspar/The Daily TexanThe University of Texas System Board of Regents on Monday approved an annual salary of $795,000 for the flagship's interim President Jay Hartzell. Hartzell, dean of UT-Austins business school, was named interim president in April after former President Greg Fenves announced his departure. In 2018, Fenves earned $762,220 as UT-Austin's president. "I'm very proud of President Hartzell at UT-Austin and all of our presidents for listening closely to their students, alumni, staff, and supporters," Chariman Kevin Eltife said.
Texas biggest public universities will require masks this fall. Enforcement will be a challenge.
Eddie Gaspar/The Texas TribuneDetermined to see students return to college in the fall, some of Texas' biggest universities are requiring face masks as a safeguard against the coronavirus. Texas A&M University, the University of Texas at Austin and Texas State University officials have all announced that masks will be non-negotiable next semester. But along with anti-mask sentiment, state officials are worried that young Texans are accelerating the spread of COVID-19. In Hays County, home of Texas State, people in their 20s accounted for 50.7% of all the cases last week. Disclosure: Texas State University, the University of Texas at Austin and Texas A&M University have been financial supporters of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors.
13 University of Texas football players test positive for coronavirus
Four days after University of Texas at Austin football players began voluntary summer workouts, school officials confirmed that 13 athletes have tested positive for the new coronavirus. All 13 players are now self-isolating, while 10 other student athletes are in self-quarantine and are asymptomatic, according to a Thursday press release. Last week, UT reported two players were self-isolating after testing positive. The university also said four players have tested positive for antibodies. We will continue to report the number of cases as we receive confirmation and clearance to do so.
U.S. Sen. John Cornyn will file bill to make Juneteenth a federal holiday
Senator John Cornyn speaks to the press at the University of Texas at Austin tower in Austin on June 14, 2019. Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas TribuneU.S. Sen. John Cornyn on Thursday afternoon announced that he will introduce bipartisan legislation to make Juneteenth a federal holiday. Cornyn is not the first Texas lawmaker to take similar steps toward celebrating Juneteenth a day commemorating the emancipation of slaves in Texas on June 19, 1865. On Monday, U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Houston, introduced a resolution aiming to recognize the historical significance of the holiday. Earlier this week, a resolution from Cornyn honoring Juneteenth this year passed the U.S. Senate.
Texas A&M announces more online offerings, classroom capacity caps and daily cleaning schedules for fall return
Texas A&M University announced on Tuesday its plans to navigate school instruction for the fall semester. Allie Goulding/The Texas TribuneWith universities and colleges continuing to navigate teaching in a pandemic, Texas A&M University announced on Tuesday that half of its classes will be taught exclusively online. But safely hosting students for the fall semester will lead to a series of adjustments. This comes after Texas A&M officials floated the possibility of holding Saturday classes to spread students out. The university previously announced that classes would begin three days earlier and that final exams would be moved online after the Thanksgiving break.
University of Texas defensive back Anthony Cook announces hes leaving Longhorns
AUSTIN, Texas The Texas Longhorns secondary may look a little different next season after Anthony Cook tweeted, then deleted, his intention to leave the program at the University of Texas. Cook, a defensive back, made the announcement via Twitter. In a since-deleted tweet, Cook wrote: Due to unfortunate situations I will not be playing another snap for the University of Texas. Sports Illustrated found two tweets from Cooks teammates that suggest he might not really be leaving the program. Josh Thompson (@given__talent) June 12, 2020Nahhh fr chillax yall ..... (@D_JAMISON5) June 12, 2020This story is ongoing.
UT-Austin football players demand school change buildings named after racist figures, donate to Black Lives Matter
The University of Texas Longhorns at Darrell K Royal Memorial Stadium in Austin. Brennan Eagles, a sophomore wide receiver for UT-Austin, posted the statement to his Twitter account, detailing a list of actions Longhorn athletes want the university's athletics department to take. These include donating 0.5% of the department's annual earnings to the Black Lives Matter movement and black organizations, establishing a permanent black athletic history exhibit in the Athletics Hall of Fame and renaming parts of the football stadium after Julius Whittier, the first black football player at UT-Austin. Other calls to action include requiring a module on the history of racism at UT and increasing outreach efforts to inner-city schools in Austin, Dallas and Houston. UT Athletics officials could not be reached immediately for comment.
University of Texas at Austin will require all students, faculty and staff to wear masks inside campus buildings
The Texas flag flies on the south lawn of The Univerisity of Texas at Austin campus on Dec. 3, 2019. Eddie Gaspar/The Texas TribuneThe University of Texas at Austin will require all students, faculty and staff to wear face masks on campus next fall to prevent the spread of COVID-19, Interim Dean Jay Hartzell announced Monday. In an email to the UT community, Hartzell said masks would be encouraged in outdoor areas of campus. The university is also planning to test asymptomatic individuals and routinely screen people for symptoms as they enter buildings on campus. The university had previously announced that furloughs were imminent as the state works to tamp down costs.
Great Graduates 2020: Valeria Valle
SAN ANTONIO Valeria Valle is the valedictorian at Jefferson High School and she is very excited about going to the University of Texas at Austin in the fall, where she plans to study biochemistry. Valle is also excited about getting into medical school in the future so, she can become a dermatologist. It was just a career where I think I would be able to excel because it's something I enjoy doing, said Valle. Aside from her community, Valle says she wants to take care of her family, especially her three younger sisters, especially now, after her father passed away. He recently passed away in early March, which was really hard, said Valle.
Texas colleges expect larger online summer classes as students lose jobs, internships
College students suddenly finding more time on their hands with canceled jobs, internships and trips abroad are flocking to online summer classes at Texas institutions en masse. Summer enrollment on the riseThe University of Texas at Austin, which starts summer school Thursday, slashed the costs of summer classes, and students and parents have responded. The summer classes are usually offered at 85% of the regular cost of fall and spring semester classes. In the past, most institutions have offered both in-person and online summer classes. And while universities are seeing an increase in summer enrollment, some Texas community colleges are reporting drops in summer enrollment that paint an uncertain picture for fall.
University of Texas at Austin to offer 2,100 classes online, limit class size to 40% capacity
As many as 2,100 fall classes at the University of Texas at Austin will be taught exclusively online next semester, amounting to about 20% of all fall courses offered. UT previously announced it would move 400 of its largest classes online. Any on-campus classes will run from August to Thanksgiving and then continue remotely in an effort to limit student travel. Students who do not return to campus this fall can choose to take all their classes online. And UT is still developing its face-covering policy for students, Hartzell said.
Great Graduates 2020: Natalie Castillo
SAN ANTONIO Natalie Castillo is the valedictorian of her class at Brackenridge High School, but she is looking forward to attending the University of Texas at Austin in the fall to pursue a degree in management information systems. I say the three top people I look up to would be Bill Gates, Elon Musk and Sergey Brin. Hes the co-founder of Google, said Castillo. I think its pretty known that women havent been represented in these fields, in like high positions, in high amount of influence like these individuals have, said Castillo. And, I think that separates her from her peers.Great Graduates 2020: Nicolas Rios