The University of Texas at Austin announced the biggest philanthropic campaign ever undertaken by a Texas university Friday, pledging to raise $6 billion, with one-sixth of that sum to pay for student scholarships and support.
The $1 billion for students is believed to be the largest fund-raising goal for such purposes in the history of public higher education and is part of the institution鈥檚 aim to become the 鈥渋n the world,鈥� administration officials said.
鈥淲e face incredible opportunities as we pursue our goal of becoming the world鈥檚 most impactful public research university,鈥� President Jay Hartzell said in a . 鈥淲e will accomplish this by continuing to attract highly talented people, by taking advantage of our unique place in Austin and Texas, and by focusing on transformative pursuits.鈥�
The campaign, called , aims to attract and retain top talent and elevate the university鈥檚 research. It will also focus on recruiting students and helping with financial aid.
UT Austin already offers a degree of income-based tuition assistance: The UT System Board of Regents in 2019 to cover tuition and fees for students whose families earn less than $65,000 a year.
Austin鈥檚 cost of living has skyrocketed in recent years.
The university relies on a mix of state government, tuition and donations but the portion of its revenue coming from the state two decades ago to in 2020-21.
As part of the campaign鈥檚 goal, the university hopes to strengthen its Dell Medical School, which opened in 2016, as a clinical and research center and a 鈥渉ub for destination care, much like Houston, Dallas and other major health care centers,鈥� the university said in a press release. It will also focus on helping Austin become a 鈥渉ub of innovation and entrepreneurship.鈥�
The campaign will seek to recruit talented faculty as that has become increasingly competitive across the country.
Last month, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick for new hires at the state鈥檚 public universities in an effort to combat professors who 鈥渋ndoctrinate鈥� students with teachings about critical race theory. Conservatives over the past year have used the term as a broad label to attack progressive teachings about race and gender.
Patrick, whose position overseeing the Senate allows him to drive the state鈥檚 legislative agenda, also proposed a change to state law that could make teaching critical race theory grounds for revoking tenure for professors who already have it. He suggested reviewing tenure review annually instead of every six years.
Academics said weakening tenure would damage the state鈥檚 universities and drive students and faculty elsewhere. They said tenure is intended to protect professors from politics and safeguard academic freedom.
In a statement, Kevin Eltife, a former Republican state senator and chair of the University of Texas System Board of Regents, said the university鈥檚 new fundraising campaign builds on its support from Texas lawmakers.
鈥淲e are grateful for all the philanthropic support already provided and are confident that this fundraising effort will ensure a future where The University of Texas continues to produce Longhorns who change the world,鈥� Eltife said.
The 鈥渜uiet phase鈥� of the latest UT campaign began in September 2016. Since then, more than 240,000 donors have contributed at least $3.3 billion, more than contributed to the university鈥檚 previous fundraising campaign between 2006 and 2014.
鈥淭he What Starts Here campaign has gotten off to an incredible start because of the volunteer leaders and individual donors who are passionate about the impact The University of Texas at Austin has on changing the world,鈥� Scott Rabenold, vice president of development, said in a statement.
