The University of Texas System

The University of Texas System
Name	The University of Texas System
Location	Austin, Texas
Campuses	13
Students	243,000

The University of Texas System is a state university system in Texas, comprising eight academic universities and six health institutions, with a total enrollment of over 243,000 students, including those at The University of Texas at Austin, Texas A&M University's rival and one of the largest universities in the United States. The system is headquartered in Austin, Texas, and its institutions are spread across the state, including Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, and El Paso. The system is governed by the University of Texas System Board of Regents, which is composed of nine members appointed by the Governor of Texas, including Rick Perry and Greg Abbott. The system's flagship institution, The University of Texas at Austin, is a member of the Association of American Universities and is classified as a Carnegie Foundation Highest Research Activity institution, along with other system institutions, such as The University of Texas at Dallas and The University of Texas at San Antonio.

History

The University of Texas System was established in 1883, when the Texas Legislature authorized the creation of the system, with the goal of providing higher education to the citizens of Texas. The system's first institution, The University of Texas at Austin, was established in 1883, and was followed by the establishment of other institutions, including The University of Texas at El Paso in 1914, The University of Texas at Dallas in 1961, and The University of Texas at San Antonio in 1969. The system has undergone significant changes over the years, including the addition of new institutions, such as The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley in 2015, and the merger of existing institutions, such as the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston and the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. The system has also been shaped by the leadership of notable individuals, including Frank Calhoun, Logan Wilson, and Mark Yudof, who have served as Chancellor of the University of Texas System.

Institutions

The University of Texas System comprises eight academic universities and six health institutions, including The University of Texas at Austin, The University of Texas at Dallas, The University of Texas at El Paso, The University of Texas at San Antonio, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, The University of Texas of the Permian Basin, and The University of Texas at Tyler. The system's health institutions include the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, the University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler, and the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. The system's institutions are accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and offer a wide range of academic programs, including those in engineering, business, law, and medicine, at institutions such as the Cockrell School of Engineering, the McCombs School of Business, the University of Texas School of Law, and the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston College of Medicine.

Administration

The University of Texas System is governed by the University of Texas System Board of Regents, which is composed of nine members appointed by the Governor of Texas. The system is led by the Chancellor of the University of Texas System, who is responsible for overseeing the system's operations and implementing its strategic plan, in collaboration with other system leaders, such as the President of The University of Texas at Austin and the President of The University of Texas at Dallas. The system's administration is headquartered in Austin, Texas, and includes a number of offices and departments, such as the Office of the Chancellor, the Office of Academic Affairs, and the Office of Business Affairs, which work closely with other institutions, such as the Texas A&M University System and the Texas State University System.

Academics

The University of Texas System offers a wide range of academic programs, including undergraduate and graduate degree programs, as well as certificate and continuing education programs, at institutions such as The University of Texas at Austin, The University of Texas at Dallas, and The University of Texas at San Antonio. The system's institutions are accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and offer programs in a variety of fields, including engineering, business, law, and medicine, through schools such as the Cockrell School of Engineering, the McCombs School of Business, the University of Texas School of Law, and the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston College of Medicine. The system's institutions are also recognized for their research programs, including those in biotechnology, nanotechnology, and sustainable energy, at research centers such as the University of Texas at Austin's Institute for Cellular and Molecular Biology and the University of Texas at Dallas's Center for Advanced Scientific Computing and Modeling.

Research

The University of Texas System is a major research institution, with a total research expenditure of over $3 billion, and is classified as a Highest Research Activity institution by the Carnegie Foundation, along with other system institutions, such as The University of Texas at Dallas and The University of Texas at San Antonio. The system's institutions are recognized for their research programs in a variety of fields, including biotechnology, nanotechnology, and sustainable energy, at research centers such as the University of Texas at Austin's Institute for Cellular and Molecular Biology and the University of Texas at Dallas's Center for Advanced Scientific Computing and Modeling. The system's researchers have made significant contributions to their fields, including the development of new cancer treatments and the discovery of new oil and gas reserves, in collaboration with other institutions, such as the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation.

Finances

The University of Texas System has a total annual budget of over $20 billion, with a significant portion of its funding coming from tuition and fees, as well as from state appropriations and private donations, from sources such as the University of Texas System Foundation and the UT Austin Development Board. The system's institutions are also recognized for their endowments, which total over $30 billion, and are among the largest in the United States, including the University of Texas at Austin's endowment and the University of Texas at Dallas's endowment. The system's finances are managed by the Office of Business Affairs, which is responsible for overseeing the system's budget and financial operations, in collaboration with other system offices, such as the Office of the Chancellor and the Office of Academic Affairs. The system's financial management has been recognized for its excellence, including its receipt of the Government Finance Officers Association's Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting, along with other institutions, such as the Texas A&M University System and the Texas State University System.

Category:University systems in the United States