The Friar Society is the oldest honor society at the University of Texas at Austin.
98-490: The Friar Society was founded in 1911 by Curtice Rosser and Marion Levy. Eight members were initially selected in the charter group. Originally, four men were chosen from the junior and senior classes every year on the basis of a significant contribution to The University of Texas . Twenty-five years later, the Friars decided to start taking larger classes to accommodate the growing size of the university. Women were first admitted to
196-502: A grand jury on an aggravated assault with a deadly weapon charge but was not charged with any additional hate crime charge. A large student and faculty Pro-Palestinian protest occurred on April 24, 2024, demanding a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas War and that the university divest from companies profiting from Israel's actions. The protests occurred amidst the ongoing nationwide demonstrations on college campuses . In response,
294-601: A gross receipts tax . Article 9 provides rules for the creation of counties ( now numbering 254 ) and for determining the location of county seats. It also includes several provisions regarding the creation of county-wide hospital districts in specified counties, as well as other miscellaneous provisions regarding airports and mental health. Article 10 contains a single section declaring that railroads are considered "public highways" and railroad carriers " common carriers ". Eight other sections were repealed in 1969. Article 11 recognizes counties as legal political subunits of
392-413: A 10 PM curfew for all protests, directly contradicting prior guidelines. Initially, the university told students and faculty that arrested protestors would no longer be allowed on campus, but retracted the statement two hours later, stating that they would be allowed "academic" access, only to then announce a change to full access for university affiliates. Additionally, the university temporarily suspended
490-604: A city with a population of 5,000 or fewer has only those powers granted to it by general law; Section 5 permits a city, once its population exceeds 5,000, to adopt a charter under home rule provided the charter is not inconsistent with limits placed by the Texas Constitution or general law (the city may amend to maintain home rule status even if its population subsequently falls to 5,000 or fewer). School districts may adopt home rule regardless of size, but none have chosen to do so. Article 12 contains two sections directing
588-608: A contentious dispute erupted between Texas Governor James E. Ferguson and the University of Texas over faculty appointments. Ferguson's attempt to influence these appointments led to a retaliatory veto of the university's budget, jeopardizing its operations. Subsequently, Ferguson was impeached by the Texas House of Representatives , convicted by the Senate on charges including misapplication of public funds, and removed from office. In 1921,
686-454: A court (though the Legislature may make exceptions in the latter two cases). It also describes rules for elections. Qualified voters are, except in treason, felony and breach of peace, privileged from arrest when attending at the polls, going and returning therefrom. Article 7 establishes provisions for public schools , asylums, and universities. Section 1 states, "it shall be the duty of
784-646: A general system of education when circumstances allowed. After Texas was annexed , the Seventh Texas Legislature passed O.B. 102 on February 11, 1858, allocating $ 100,000 in United States bonds from the Compromise of 1850 for the University of Texas. The Civil War delayed fund repayment, leaving the university with only $ 16,000 by 1865. Nevertheless, the Texas Constitution of 1876 reaffirmed
882-504: A historically black college, "a place where he is loved". The University of Texas at Austin has experienced a wave of new construction recently with several significant buildings. On April 30, 2006, the school opened the Blanton Museum of Art . In August 2008, the AT&;T Executive Education and Conference Center opened, with the hotel and conference center forming part of a new gateway to
980-509: A public school price, having been ranked in virtually every list of "Public Ivies" since Richard Moll coined the term in his 1985 book Public Ivies: A Guide to America's best public undergraduate colleges and universities . The seven other "Public Ivy" universities, according to Moll, were the College of William & Mary, Miami University, the University of California , the University of Michigan ,
1078-578: A result of a student referendum passed in 2006 which raised student fees by $ 65 per semester. In 2012, the Moody Foundation awarded the College of Communication $ 50 million, the largest endowment any communication college has received, so naming it the Moody College of Communication. The university operates two public radio stations, KUT with news and information, and KUTX with music, via local FM broadcasts as well as live streaming audio over
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#17328767394741176-473: A significant number of members from one political party, in an attempt to stop legislation, have in the past left the state so as to deny a quorum). A smaller number in each chamber is empowered to adjourn from day to day and compel the attendance of absent members. As with the United States Constitution , either house may originate bills (Section 31), but bills to raise revenue must originate in
1274-503: A single section establishing the General Land Office (the office of Commissioner of the General Land Office is discussed under Article IV). Seven other sections were repealed in 1969. Article 15 describes the process of impeachment and lists grounds on which to impeach judges. The House of Representatives is granted the power of impeachment, while the Senate has power to try all impeachments. No person may be convicted save by
1372-613: A teaching fellowship in honor of the upcoming centennial celebration for The University of Texas . Friar alumni raised $ 100,000 for this purpose, and this amount was matched by the Board of Regents to create an endowment. In 2006, the Friar Society also created the Tany Norwood Award to honor one staff member or administrator a year. The University of Texas The University of Texas at Austin ( UT Austin , UT , or Texas )
1470-700: A total of 155 Olympic medals . The idea of a public university in Texas was first mentioned in the 1827 constitution of the Mexican state of Coahuila y Tejas , which promised public education in the arts and sciences under Title 6, Article 217, but no action was taken. After Texas gained independence from Mexico in 1836, the Constitution of the Republic emphasized Congress's duty, in Section 5 of its General Provisions, to establish
1568-561: A transition to online classes for the rest of the spring semester after 49 confirmed COVID-19 cases emerged from students' travels to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, during spring break. Throughout the summer, the university reported over 400 cases and its first COVID-19-related death, a custodial worker. The fall 2020 semester consisted of a majority of online courses through platforms like Zoom. On August 6, 2020, UT Austin initiated plans for free COVID-19 tests for all students. UT Austin returned to primarily in-person classes and campus activities for
1666-537: Is Section 49 ("State Debts"), which includes 30 separate sub-sections (including two sub-sections both added in 2003 and both curiously numbered as "49-n", along with two other sub-sub-sections numbered "49-d-14"). Section 49 limits the power of the Legislature to incur debt to only specific purposes as stated in the Constitution; in order to allow the Legislature to incur debt for a purpose not stated numerous amendments to this section have had to be added and voted upon by
1764-615: Is a public research university in Austin, Texas , United States. Founded in 1883, it is the flagship institution of the University of Texas System . With 52,384 students as of fall 2022, it is also the largest institution in the system. The university is a major center for academic research, with research expenditures totaling $ 1.06 billion for the 2023 fiscal year. It joined the Association of American Universities in 1929. The university houses seven museums and seventeen libraries, including
1862-679: Is listed as the third-best in the nation and The School of Information (iSchool) is sixth-best in Library and Information Sciences. Among other rankings, the School of Social Work is 7th, the Jackson School of Geosciences is 8th for Earth Sciences, the Cockrell School of Engineering is tied for 10th-best (with the undergraduate engineering program tied for 11th-best in the country), the Nursing School
1960-422: Is the Texas Constitution's bill of rights . The article originally contained 29 sections; five sections have since been added. Some of the article's provisions concern specific fundamental limitations on the power of the state. The provisions of the Texas Constitution apply only against the government of Texas. However, a number of the provisions of the U.S. Constitution are held to apply to the states as well, under
2058-521: Is the second-longest state constitution in the United States (exceeded only by the Constitution of Alabama , even with the latter being recompiled as a new document in 2022 and having obsolete, duplicative, and overtly racist provisions removed) and is also the third-most amended state constitution (only the Alabama and California constitutions have been amended more often). From 1876 to 2024 (following
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#17328767394742156-680: Is the seventh constitution in Texas history (including the Mexican constitution). The previous six were adopted in 1827 (while Texas was still part of Mexico and half of the state of Coahuila y Tejas ), 1836 (the Constitution of the Republic of Texas ), 1845 (upon admission to the United States), 1861 (at the beginning of the American Civil War ), 1866 (at the end of the American Civil War), and 1869. Texas constitutional conventions included 1861, 1866, 1868–69, and 1875. The constitution
2254-515: Is tied for 13th, the University of Texas School of Law is 15th, the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs is 7th, and the McCombs School of Business is tied for 16th-best (with the undergraduate business program tied for 5th-best in the country). The University of Texas School of Architecture was ranked second among national undergraduate programs in 2012. A 2005 Bloomberg survey ranked
2352-508: The 88th Legislature ), the Texas Legislature proposed 714 constitutional amendments. Of that total, 530 were approved by the electorate, 181 were defeated, and three never made it on the ballot. Most of the amendments are due to the document's highly restrictive nature: the constitution stipulates that the State of Texas has only those powers explicitly granted to it; there is no counterpart of
2450-536: The Due Process Clause of the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. While the bill of rights contains many similar rights as the United States Bill of Rights , it is considerably lengthier and more detailed and includes some provisions unique to Texas. Section 12 recognizes the writ of Habeas Corpus as a right and prohibits its suspension under any circumstance whatsoever. This differs slightly from
2548-495: The Freshman Research Initiative and Texas Interdisciplinary Plan. The University of Texas at Austin encourages applicants to submit SAT / ACT scores, but it is not required. However, for students applying for admission from fall 2025 onwards, submission of SAT / ACT scores is mandatory as part of their undergraduate admission application. As of 2011, the university was one of the most selective universities in
2646-592: The Lyndon B. Johnson Presidential Library and the Blanton Museum of Art , and operates various auxiliary research facilities, such as the J. J. Pickle Research Campus and the McDonald Observatory . UT Austin's athletics constitute the Texas Longhorns . The Longhorns have won four NCAA Division I National Football Championships, six NCAA Division I National Baseball Championships, thirteen NCAA Division I National Men's Swimming and Diving Championships, and
2744-494: The University of North Carolina , the University of Vermont , and the University of Virginia . The Accounting and Latin American History programs are consistently ranked top in the nation by the U.S. News & World Report college rankings, most recently in their 2023 and 2021 editions, respectively. More than 50 other science, humanities, and professional programs rank in the top 25 nationally. The College of Pharmacy
2842-447: The separation of powers of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of the state government, prohibiting each branch from encroaching on the powers of the others. Article 3 vests the legislative power of the state in the " Legislature of the State of Texas ", consisting of the state's Senate and House of Representatives . It also lists the qualifications required of senators and representatives, and regulates many details of
2940-605: The 2009–2010 academic year, the university awarded a total of 13,215 degrees: 67.7% bachelor's degrees , 22.0% master's degrees, 6.4% doctoral degrees , and 3.9% Professional degrees. In addition, the university has nine honors programs , eight of which span a variety of academic fields: Liberal Arts Honors, the Business Honors Program, the Turing Scholars Program in Computer Science, Engineering Honors,
3038-420: The 2020–2021 academic year, 79 freshman students were National Merit Scholars . The University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin) was ranked 32nd among all universities in the U.S. and 9th among public universities according to U.S. News & World Report ' s 2024 rankings. Internationally, UT Austin was tied for 56th in the 2024 "Best Global Universities" ranking by U.S. News & World Report , 45th in
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3136-559: The 423.5 acres (171.4 ha) for the Main Campus in central Austin and the J. J. Pickle Research Campus in north Austin and the other properties throughout Texas. The main campus has 150 buildings totaling over 18,000,000 square feet (1,700,000 m ). One of the university's most visible features is the Beaux-Arts Main Building , including a 307-foot (94 m) tower designed by Paul Philippe Cret . Completed in 1937,
3234-905: The Dean's Scholars Program in Natural Sciences, the Health Science Scholars Program in Natural Sciences, the Polymathic Scholars Program in Natural Sciences, and the Undergraduate Nursing Honors Program in School of Nursing. The ninth is the Plan II Honors Program, a rigorous interdisciplinary program that is a major in and of itself. Many Plan II students pursue a second major, often participating in another department's honors program in addition to Plan II. The university also offers programs such as
3332-418: The Friar Society on March 25, 1973. In April 2011, the Friar Society celebrated the 100 year anniversary of its founding. The Friar Centennial Teaching Fellowship is an annual award given to a UT professor who has demonstrated excellence at the undergraduate teaching level. With a prize of $ 25,000, the award is the largest monetary award annually given to a UT professor. In 1982, the Friars decided to create
3430-529: The House of Representatives (Section 33). Section 39 allows a bill to take effect immediately upon the Governor's signature if the bill passes both chambers by a two-thirds vote, unless otherwise specified in the bill. If the bill does not pass by this majority it takes effect on the first day of the next fiscal year (in Texas, the fiscal year runs from September 1 until August 31). The largest Section within this article
3528-599: The Internet. The university uses CapMetro to provide bus transportation for students around the campus on the UT Shuttle system and throughout Austin, and UT students, faculty, and staff with an active UT ID card are able to ride public transportation without paying a fare. The university contains eighteen colleges and schools and one academic unit, each listed with its founding date: The University of Texas at Austin offers more than 100 undergraduate and 170 graduate degrees. In
3626-692: The Legislature by votes of the yeas and nays. Finally, the Secretary of State (who has the constitutional duty of keeping the Seal of the State) is appointed by the Governor, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. All commissions are signed by the Governor, being affixed with the State Seal and attested to by the Secretary of State. Under Section 16 of this article, the Lieutenant Governor automatically assumes
3724-511: The Legislature of the State to establish and make suitable provision for the support and maintenance of an efficient system of public free schools". This issue has surfaced repeatedly in lawsuits involving the State's funding of education and the various restrictions it has placed on local school districts. This Article also discusses the creation and maintenance of the Permanent University Fund (Sections 11, 11a, and 11b) and mandates
3822-487: The Legislature to enact general laws for the creation of private corporations and prohibiting the creation of private corporations by special law. Four other sections were repealed in 1969, and a fifth section in 1993. Article 13 established provisions for Spanish and Mexican land titles from the Mexican War Era to please the Mexican government. This article was repealed in its entirety in 1969. Article 14 contains
3920-479: The Main Building is in the middle of campus. The tower usually appears illuminated in white light in the evening but is lit burnt orange for various special occasions, including athletic victories and academic accomplishments; conversely, it is darkened for solemn occasions. At the top of the tower is a carillon of 56 bells, the largest in Texas. Songs are played on weekdays by student carillonneurs, in addition to
4018-481: The Office of Technology Commercialization, a technology transfer center which serves as the bridge between laboratory research and commercial development. In 2009, the university created nine new start-up companies to commercialize technology developed at the university and has created 46 start-ups in the past seven years. License agreements generated $ 10.9 million in revenue for the university in 2009. In January 2020,
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4116-570: The SAT and ACT standardized exams were "a proven differentiator that is in each student's and the University's best interest." On April 2, 2024, the University of Texas at Austin announced additional adjustments in compliance with Senate Bill 17, particularly in response to a letter from March 26, 2024 from Texas State Senator Brandon Creighton , which led to the layoff of approximately 60 individuals, most of whom formerly worked in DEI-related programs, and
4214-437: The Senate has been delivered. Article 16 contains miscellaneous provisions, including limits on interest rates, civil penalties for murder, and the punishment for bribery. Section 14 All civil officers shall reside within the State; and all district or county officers within their districts or counties, and shall keep their offices at such places as may be required by law; and failure to comply with this condition shall vacate
4312-471: The State for at least five years preceding his election. The Governor is prohibited from holding any other office, whether civil, military or corporate, during his tenure in office, nor may he practice (or receive compensation for) any profession. The Governor is the "Chief Executive Officer of the State" and the "Commander in Chief of the military forces of the State, except when they are called in actual service of
4410-444: The State, grants certain powers to cities and counties, empowers the legislature to form school and other special districts. Texas operates under Dustin's Rule : counties and non-school special districts are not granted home rule privileges, while cities and school districts have those privileges only in the limited instances specified below. Sections 4 and 5 discuss the operation of cities based on population. Section 4 states that
4508-481: The U.S. Constitution, which allows its suspension "in Cases of Rebellion or Invasion the public security shall require it". Section 21 prohibits corruption of blood and forfeiture of estates (including in cases of suicide), extending beyond the federal limitation ( Article III , Section 3) which applies only in cases of Treason and even permits forfeiture during the life of the attained (but not after). Section 34 guarantees
4606-465: The United States". He is vested with power to call forth the Militia, convene the Legislature for special session in extraordinary occasions, to execute the laws of the State, and to fill up vacancies not otherwise provided for by law, if consented to by two-thirds of the Senate. The Governor has a qualified negative on all bills passed by the Legislature, which may be overridden by two-thirds of both Houses of
4704-701: The United States, and Latin America. The Perry–Castañeda Library , which houses the central University Libraries operations and the Perry–Castañeda Library Map Collection , is at the heart of campus. The Benson Latin American Collection holds the largest collection of Latin American materials among US university libraries, and maintains substantial digital collections. The University of Texas at Austin has an extensive tunnel system that links
4802-414: The University of Texas Austin's Texas Innovation Center was established to provide support for startups. Texas Constitution of 1876 The Constitution of the State of Texas is the document that establishes the structure and function of the government of the U.S. state of Texas and enumerates the basic rights of the citizens of Texas. The current document was adopted on February 15, 1876, and
4900-619: The University of Texas was inducted into the Association of American Universities . During World War II , the University of Texas was one of 131 colleges and universities nationally that took part in the V-12 Navy College Training Program which offered students a path to a Navy commission. Additionally, to facilitate the wartime effort, academic calendars were compressed, allowing for accelerated graduation. After Brown v. Board of Education in 1954, Houston, Texas, area teen Marion Ford had been accepted to become one of
4998-405: The buildings on campus. Constructed c. 1928 under the supervision of UT engineering professor Carl J. Eckhardt Jr., then head of the physical plant, the tunnels have grown along with the campus. They measure approximately six miles in length. The tunnel system is used for communications and utility service. It is closed to the public and guarded by silent alarms . Since the late 1940s,
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#17328767394745096-454: The closure on April 2, 2024, leading the charter school to be moved to the College of Education . On February 4, 2024, a Palestinian-American student at a pro-Palestinian protest at the campus was stabbed, receiving non-life-threatening injuries. The attacker used a racial slur against the protestors and the attack was investigated as a hate crime. A month later the attacker was indicted by
5194-429: The confirmed arrest of 57 protesters, including a photojournalist for Fox 7 Austin, with several more detained. Charges were then dismissed against 46 protesters the next day, leading to their subsequent release, with the charges against the remaining 11 protesters dropped on April 26, 2024. This decision received sharp backlash, including from general faculty, staff, students, several Democratic legislators for
5292-459: The consent of two-thirds of the Senators present, who have taken an oath or affirmation to impartially try the impeached. Judgement in impeachment cases does not extend beyond removal from office and disqualification from public office. The convicted remains subject to trial, indictment and punishment according to law. All officers while subject to impeachment charges are suspended until the verdict by
5390-588: The eastern side of the main campus, the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum is one of 13 presidential libraries administered by the National Archives and Records Administration . A statue of Martin Luther King Jr. was unveiled on campus in 1999 and subsequently vandalized. By 2004, John Butler, a professor at the McCombs School of Business suggested moving it to Morehouse College ,
5488-498: The elimination of the newly-renamed Division of Campus and Community Engagement. Students, faculty, staff, and outside critics denounced the university's over-compliance with the anti-DEI law, since the university had already been compliant since January 1, 2024. At a UT Austin Faculty Council meeting on April 15, 2024, in response to mounting criticism, President Jay Hartzell stated the additional changes were made in response to
5586-419: The establishment of "a University of the first class" (Section 10) to be called The University of Texas , as well as "an Agricultural, and Mechanical department" (Section 13, today's Texas A&M University , which opened seven years prior); it also establishes Prairie View A&M University in Section 14. The University of Texas was originally created in the Constitution of 1858, and Texas A&M University
5684-493: The exception of the Secretary of State the above officials are directly elected in what is known as a "plural executive" system. (Although the Texas Agriculture Commissioner is also directly elected, that is the result of Legislative action, not a Constitutional requirement.) The qualifications of the Governor of Texas is that he is at least thirty years of age, a citizen of the United States, and had resided in
5782-492: The fall 2021 semester, implementing safety protocols like testing requirements and vaccination incentives to ensure a safe return amid the ongoing pandemic. In 2024, after four years of test-optional admissions for undergraduate applications due to the COVID-19 pandemic, standardized testing scores were once again made a mandatory part of admissions, beginning with applications for the fall 2025 semester. Jay Hartzell commented that
5880-407: The federal necessary and proper clause . As with many state constitutions, it explicitly provides for the separation of powers and incorporates its bill of rights directly into the text of the constitution (as Article I). The bill of rights is considerably lengthier and more detailed than the federal Bill of Rights , and includes some provisions not included in the federal Constitution. Article 1
5978-605: The first Black attendees. In an interview with a reporter he announced his desire to try-out for the football team. The Ford Crisis would begin and all Black admissions at the time were rescinded until policy could be drawn up. In the fall of 1956, the first Black students entered the university's undergraduate class. Black students were permitted to live in campus dorms, but were barred from campus cafeterias. The University of Texas integrated its facilities and desegregated its dormitories in 1965. UT, which had had an open admissions policy, adopted standardized testing for admissions in
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#17328767394746076-486: The legislative process. The article contains many substantive limitations on the power of the legislature and a large number of exceptions to those limitations. Two-thirds (2/3) of the elected members in either chamber constitutes a quorum to do business therein (Section 10), contrary to the provision for the United States Congress requiring only a majority (this larger requirement has resulted in occasions where
6174-629: The legislature appropriated $ 1.35 million for the purchase of land next to the main campus. However, expansion was hampered by the restriction against using state revenues to fund construction of university buildings as set forth in Article 7, Section 14 of the Constitution. With the completion of Santa Rita No. 1 well and the discovery of oil on university-owned lands in 1923, the university added significantly to its Permanent University Fund. The additional income from Permanent University Fund investments allowed for bond issues in 1931 and 1947, which allowed
6272-645: The legislature to address funding for the university along with the Agricultural and Mechanical College (now known as Texas A&M University ). With sufficient funds to finance construction on both campuses, on April 8, 1931, the Forty Second Legislature passed H.B. 368. which dedicated the Agricultural and Mechanical College a 1/3 interest in the Available University Fund, the annual income from Permanent University Fund investments. In 1929,
6370-735: The mandate to establish "The University of Texas" by popular vote. On March 30, 1881, the Texas legislature organized the structure of the university and called for a popular vote to determine its location. Austin was chosen as the site with 30,913 votes, while Galveston was designated for the medical department. On November 17, 1882, the cornerstone of the Old Main building was laid at the original "College Hill" location, and University President Ashbel Smith expressed optimism about Texas's untapped resources. The University of Texas officially opened its doors on September 15, 1883. The old Main Building of
6468-454: The mid-1950s, at least in part as a conscious strategy to minimize the number of Black undergraduates, given that they were no longer able to simply bar their entry after the Brown decision Following growth in enrollment after World War II, the university unveiled an ambitious master plan in 1960 designed for "10 years of growth" that was intended to "boost the University of Texas into the ranks of
6566-423: The middle 50% ranged from 26 to 31. In terms of class rank, 74.4% of enrolled freshmen were in the top 10% of their high school classes and 91.7% ranked in the top quarter. For fall 2019, 53,525 undergraduate students applied, 17,029 undergraduate students were admitted, and 8,170 undergraduate students enrolled in the university full or part time, making the acceptance rate 31.8% and enrollment rate 48% overall. In
6664-454: The nation, behind only Georgia Tech . A 2013 College Database study found that UT Austin was 22nd in the nation in terms of increased lifetime earnings by graduates. UT Austin is classified among "R1: Doctoral Universities – Very high research activity." For the 2014–2015 cycle, the university was awarded over $ 580 million in sponsored projects, and has earned more than 300 patents since 2003. The University of Texas at Austin houses
6762-410: The observation deck in the tower of the Main Building. Armed with multiple firearms, he killed 14 people on campus, 11 from the observation deck and below the clocks on the tower, and three more in the tower, as well as wounding two others inside the observation deck. The massacre ended when Whitman was shot and killed by police after they breached the tower. After the Whitman event, the observation deck
6860-405: The other -- now repealed -- dealt with funding for the later-cancelled Superconducting Supercollider Project) created the state's " Rainy Day Fund " (technically called the "Economic Stabilization Fund"). Article 4 describes the powers and duties of the Governor , Lieutenant Governor , Secretary of State , Comptroller , Commissioner of the General Land Office , and Attorney General . With
6958-497: The people. In addition, Section 49a requires the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts to certify the amount of available cash on hand and anticipated revenues for the next biennium; no appropriation may exceed this amount (except in cases of emergency, and then only with a four-fifths vote of both chambers), and the Comptroller is required to reject and return to the Legislature any appropriation in violation of this requirement. Section 49-g (one of two such sections numbered as such,
7056-623: The power of Governor if and when the Governor travels outside of the state, or is subject to impeachment by the Texas House of Representatives. Article 5 describes the composition, powers, and jurisdiction of the state's Supreme Court, Court of Criminal Appeals, and District, County, and Commissioners Courts, as well as the Justice of the Peace Courts. Article 6 denies voting rights to minors, felons, and people who are deemed mentally incompetent by
7154-713: The public and private level, and while never invalidated by Texas legislature or overruled by the US Supreme Court, it has been argued that it makes a religious test , by requiring officeholders to "acknowledge the existence of a Supreme Being" and therefore would be subject to removal if it were brought to the US Supreme Court, as what happened with the case Silverman v. Campbell in South Carolina . Section 11 guarantees that every person detained prior to trial are bailable by sufficient sureties, save for Capital offenses, subject to specific exceptions. Article 2 provides for
7252-483: The region, and First Amendment advocacy groups, including an official statement from the UT Faculty Council Executive Committee denouncing it, in part due to the extreme, chaotic, and violent police response that ensued and alleged violations of First Amendment rights. The university additionally set new rules for protests on campus, such as banning masks and face coverings and instituting
7350-501: The region. Relative to other universities in the state of Texas, UT Austin was second to Rice University in selectivity according to a Business Journal study weighing acceptance rates and the mid-range of the SAT and ACT. The University of Texas at Austin was ranked as the 18th most selective in the South. As a state public university, UT Austin was subject to Texas House Bill 588 , which guaranteed Texas high school seniors graduating in
7448-561: The right to hunt, fish and harvest wildlife, subject to wildlife conservation laws. However, the section explicitly states that it does not affect "any provision of law relating to trespass, property rights or eminent domain". Section 32, added in 2005, denies state recognition of same-sex marriage , a practice which was invalidated by the US Supreme Court ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges . Section 4 gives freedom from religious tests at
7546-426: The school 5th among all business schools and first among public business schools for the largest number of alumni who are S&P 500 CEOs. Similarly, a 2005 USA Today report ranked the university as "the number one source of new Fortune 1000 CEOs". A "payback" analysis published by SmartMoney in 2011 comparing graduates' salaries to tuition costs concluded the school was the second-best value of all colleges in
7644-550: The school has claimed more titles in men's and women's sports than any other member in the Big 12 . As of 2020, 13 Nobel Prize winners, 25 Pulitzer Prize winners, three Turing Award winners, two Fields Medal recipients, two Wolf Prize winners, and three Abel Prize winners have been affiliated with the school as alumni, faculty members, or researchers. The university has also been affiliated with three Primetime Emmy Award winners, and as of 2021, its students and alumni have earned
7742-450: The sixth floor, before killing himself. No one else was injured, except for one sprained ankle suffered by a female student fleeing the scene. In early 2020, following a major outbreak of the new coronavirus , the university restricted travel to Wuhan province in China, aligning with the U.S. Department of State's recommendation. By March 17, 2020, then-UT President Gregory L. Fenves announced
7840-492: The southeast, in hopes of using the land to relocate the university's intramural fields, baseball field, tennis courts, and parking lots. On March 6, 1967, the Sixtieth Texas Legislature changed the university's official name from "The University of Texas" to "The University of Texas at Austin" to reflect the growth of the University of Texas System . On August 1, 1966, Texas student Charles Whitman barricaded
7938-805: The student organization that organized the protests, the Palestine Solidarity Committee. Travis County Attorney Delia Garza stated that the way that the university handled the protests put a strain on the local criminal justice system, specifically reprimanding the sending of protestors to jail for low-level charges. A report later released by the UT Austin Committee of Counsel on Academic Freedom and Responsibility (CCAFR) on July 17, 2024 found that UT Austin administrators violated its own institutional rules in clear disregard of freedom of speech and expression protections. The university's property totals 1,438.5 acres (582.1 ha), comprising
8036-475: The subject of numerous school district financing lawsuits claiming that other Legislative restrictions on local property taxes have created a de facto statewide property tax; the Texas Supreme Court has at times ruled that the restrictions did in fact do so (and thus were unconstitutional) and at other times ruled that they did not. Texas has never had a personal income tax . In 2019, the constitution
8134-489: The threats from the Republican -led State Legislature and the University of Texas System Board of Regents, and to restore "confidence" in the university, reacting to changing tides in public opinion towards higher education amongst Republicans. The university's Division of Campus and Community Engagement operated the University of Texas-University Charter School , a charter school system with 23 campuses across Texas, until
8232-410: The top 10% of their class admission to any public Texas university. A new state law granting UT Austin (but no other state university) a partial exemption from the top 10% rule, Senate Bill 175, was passed by the 81st Legislature in 2009. It modified this admissions policy by limiting automatically admitted freshmen to 75% of the entering in-state freshman class, starting in 2011. The university will admit
8330-517: The top one percent, the top two percent and so forth until the cap is reached; the university currently admits the top 6 percent. Furthermore, students admitted under Texas House Bill 588 are not guaranteed their choice of college or major, but rather only guaranteed admission to the university as a whole. Many colleges, such as the Cockrell School of Engineering, have secondary requirements that must be met for admission. For others who go through
8428-577: The top state universities in the nation." In 1965, the Texas Legislature granted the university Board of Regents to use eminent domain to purchase additional properties surrounding the original 40 acres (160,000 m ). The university began buying parcels of land to the north, south, and east of the existing campus, particularly in the Blackland neighborhood to the east and the Brackenridge tract to
8526-582: The traditional application process, selectivity is deemed "more selective" according to the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and by U.S. News & World Report . For fall 2017, 51,033 applied and 18,620 were accepted (36.5%), and of those accepted, 45.2% enrolled. Among freshman students who enrolled in fall 2017, SAT scores for the middle 50% ranged from 570 to 690 for critical reading and 600–710 for math. ACT composite scores for
8624-465: The university broke ground on the $ 120 million Bill & Melinda Gates Computer Science Complex and Dell Computer Science Hall and the $ 51 million Belo Center for New Media, both of which are now complete. The new LEED gold-certified, 110,000-square-foot (10,000 m ) Student Activity Center (SAC) opened in January 2011, housing study rooms, lounges and food vendors. The SAC was constructed as
8722-489: The university has generated its own electricity. Today its natural gas cogeneration plant has a capacity of 123 MW. The university also operates a TRIGA nuclear reactor at the J. J. Pickle Research Campus . The university continues to expand its facilities on campus. In 2010, the university opened the state-of-the-art Norman Hackerman building (on the site of the former Experimental Sciences Building) housing chemistry and biology research and teaching laboratories. In 2010,
8820-419: The university was built in a Victorian - Gothic style and served as the central point of the campus's 40-acre (16 ha) site, and was used for nearly all purposes. But by the 1930s, discussions arose about the need for new library space, and the Main Building was razed in 1934, despite the objections of many students and faculty. The modern-day tower and Main Building were constructed in its place. In 1916,
8918-534: The university's Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center include one of only 21 remaining complete copies of the Gutenberg Bible and the first permanent photograph, View from the Window at Le Gras , taken by Nicéphore Niépce . The newest museum, the 155,000-square-foot (14,400 m ) Blanton Museum of Art , is the largest university art museum in the United States and hosts approximately 17,000 works from Europe,
9016-585: The university, under the explicit direction of President Hartzell, requested the assistance of the Austin Police Department (APD) and the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) , in coordination with Texas Governor Greg Abbott , in an attempt to quell said protests and an "occupation" of the university, in contrast to free speech on campus laws praised by Abbott and the university in prior years. The deployment of multiple police units led to
9114-508: The university. Also in 2008, Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium was expanded to a seating capacity of 100,119, making it the largest stadium (by capacity) in the state of Texas at the time. On Tuesday, September 28, 2010, a shooting occurred at the Perry–Castañeda Library (PCL) where student Colton Tooley, armed with an AK-47, fired shots on his walk from Guadalupe Street to the library's front entrance. The student ascended to
9212-410: The usual pealing of Westminster Quarters every quarter-hour between 6 a.m. and 9 p.m. In 1998, after the installation of security and safety measures, the observation deck reopened to the public indefinitely for weekend tours. The university's seven museums and seventeen libraries hold over nine million volumes, making it the seventh-largest academic library in the country. The holdings of
9310-509: The world by Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU) in 2024, 52nd worldwide by Times Higher Education World University Rankings (2024), and 66th globally by QS World University Rankings (2024). UT Austin was also ranked 35th in the world by the Center for World University Rankings (CWUR) in 2024. The University of Texas at Austin is considered to be a " Public Ivy "—a public university that provides an Ivy League collegiate experience at
9408-403: Was amended to ban any future income tax, which has the effect of requiring a 2/3 majority of the legislature to vote to repeal the ban. Previously, the requirement to pass any future income tax was passage by a statewide referendum , which requires a simple majority vote of the legislature to add the question to a referendum. In May 2006 the Legislature replaced the existing franchise tax with
9506-528: Was closed until 1968 and then closed again in 1975 following a series of suicide jumps during the 1970s. In 1999, after installation of security fencing and other safety precautions, the tower observation deck reopened to the public. There is a turtle pond park near the tower dedicated to those affected by the tragedy. The first presidential library on a university campus was dedicated on May 22, 1971, with former President Johnson , Lady Bird Johnson and then-President Richard Nixon in attendance. Constructed on
9604-453: Was created from the Morrill Act. In 1915 and 1919, Constitutional Amendments were proposed to separate the two university systems, although both failed. Article 8 places various restrictions on the ability of the Legislature and local governments to impose taxes. Most of these restrictions concern local property taxes . Section 1-e prohibits statewide property taxes. This Section has been
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