UT Austin President Jay Hartzell announced Tuesday he has accepted an offer to lead , a private university in Dallas. His last day at UT will be May 31, according to the University of Texas System.
鈥淚 am very grateful to Chairman Kevin Eltife and the UT System Board of Regents for the incredible opportunity they provided me to serve UT Austin in this role,鈥� he wrote in announcing his resignation to the UT community.
Hartzell has served as the president of UT Austin since 2020 when the University of Texas System鈥檚 Board of Regents voted unanimously to name him to the job. He replaced Greg Fenves, who served as president for five years before leaving for Emory University in Atlanta.
The SMU Board of Trustees voted unanimously to offer Hartzell the position following a national search. Chair David B. Miller praised Hartzell as a respected leader in higher education.
鈥淗is leadership at UT Austin and commitment to advancing programs across diverse disciplines, including humanities, social sciences, arts, education, business, law, student life, and intercollegiate athletics, make him an excellent choice as SMU鈥檚 eleventh president,鈥� Miller said in a statement. 鈥淗e also understands the vital role Texas and its universities play in the nation鈥檚 vibrant economy.鈥�
Hartzell will succeed R. Gerald Turner, who announced in August he is stepping down after 30 years in the role, making him SMU's longest-serving president.
In his email, Hartzell said by accepting the job he was following the advice he gives students: 鈥淔ollow your passions, take some chances, stretch outside your comfort zone, and think of how you would like to make an impact.鈥�
Hartzell noted that under his leadership UT Austin achieved new highs when it comes to applications, enrollment and graduation rates. Just last year, he announced UT Austin would for Texas high school students in response to the growing number of applicants. The number of applications for freshman admission for the fall 2025 term increased by more than 24% over the previous year.
During Hartzell鈥檚 tenure, UT Austin also launched new academic programs, more resources for student housing, began the renovation of the Tower and .
His time as president was also marked by challenges and controversy as he led the university through a state-mandated ban on diversity, equity and inclusion programs, as well as pro-Palestinian protests last spring.
UT Austin who used to work on DEI programs after Senate Bill 17 took effect last January. Some students and faculty the flagship institution was going beyond the scope of SB 17 and eliminating offices and programs that didn't violate the law. Republican lawmakers indicated during a hearing in November that they at public colleges and universities during the legislative session that begins next week.
Hartzell received both praise and criticism for his response to pro-Palestinian protests on campus last year, which . His decision to call in state police was , but .
Hartzell said he is grateful for his nearly three decades at UT Austin.
鈥淚 will be eternally grateful for my 29 years at UT as a student, faculty member, and administrator. My wife, Kara, and I will always be Longhorns 鈥� as alumni, parents, passionate supporters, and fans 鈥� even when we are no longer on the faculty or staff,鈥� he said.
The UT Austin Chapter of the American Association of University Professors, which has in the past, wished him well in the new role. The group also said in a statement that it hopes faculty, staff and students get to play a "meaningful" role in the search for a new president.
"This is essential in order to build consensus around a new President and to establish a new vision for the University as we move forward," UT Austin AAUP wrote.
Hartzell announced the decision to leave UT Austin a day after the university promoted Rachel Davis Mersey to executive vice president and provost. She has held the key position on an interim basis since Aug. 27.
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