College of Texas at Austin President Jay Hartzell introduced Tuesday he has accepted a proposal to guide Southern Methodist College, a non-public college in Dallas. His final day at UT might be Might 31, in accordance with the College of Texas System.
“I’m very grateful to Chairman Kevin Eltife and the UT System Board of Regents for the unimaginable alternative they offered me to serve UT Austin on this position,” Hartzell wrote in an electronic mail saying his resignation to the UT group.
Eltife and UT System Chancellor J.B. Milliken congratulated Hartzell on the brand new position.
“We’ve got labored intently with UT Austin throughout Jay Hartzell’s 5 years as president, and we’ll proceed to take action within the months forward to make sure a clean transition,” they stated in a press release.
Hartzell has served because the president of UT Austin since 2020, when the UT System’s Board of Regents voted unanimously to call him to the job. He changed Greg Fenves, who served as president for 5 years earlier than leaving for Emory College in Atlanta.
The SMU Board of Trustees voted unanimously to supply Hartzell the place following a nationwide search. Chair David B. Miller praised Hartzell as a revered chief in increased schooling.
“His management at UT Austin and dedication to advancing packages throughout various disciplines, together with humanities, social sciences, arts, schooling, enterprise, regulation, pupil life, and intercollegiate athletics, make him a superb selection as SMU’s eleventh president,” Miller stated in a press release. “He additionally understands the very important position Texas and its universities play within the nation’s vibrant economic system.”
In his electronic mail, Hartzell stated by accepting the job he was following the recommendation he offers college students: “Observe your passions, take some possibilities, stretch exterior your consolation zone, and consider the way you wish to make an influence.”
Hartzell famous that underneath his management UT Austin achieved new highs in the case of functions, enrollment and commencement charges. Simply final yr, he introduced UT Austin would tighten necessities for automated admission for Texas highschool college students in response to the rising variety of candidates. The variety of functions for freshman admission for the autumn 2025 time period elevated by greater than 24% over the earlier yr.
Throughout Hartzell’s tenure, UT Austin additionally launched new educational packages, extra assets for pupil housing, started the renovation of the Tower and joined the Southeastern Convention.
His time as president was additionally marked by challenges and controversy as he led the college by way of a state-mandated ban on variety, fairness and inclusion packages in addition to pro-Palestinian protests final spring.
UT Austin laid off dozens of workers who used to work on DEI packages after Senate Invoice 17 took impact final January. Some college students and college raised issues the flagship establishment was going past the scope of SB 17 and eliminating places of work and packages that didn’t violate the regulation. Republican lawmakers indicated throughout a listening to in November that they plan to increase DEI restrictions at public faculties and universities through the legislative session that begins subsequent week.
Hartzell acquired each reward and criticism for his response to pro-Palestinian protests on campus final yr, which resulted in additional than 130 arrests. His determination to name in state police was hailed by Republican leaders, however blasted by some school and college students.
Hartzell, who beforehand served as dean of the McCombs Faculty of Enterprise, stated he’s grateful for his practically three a long time at UT Austin.
“I might be eternally grateful for my 29 years at UT as a pupil, school member, and administrator,” he stated. “My spouse, Kara, and I’ll all the time be Longhorns — as alumni, mother and father, passionate supporters, and followers — even after we are not on the college or employees.”
Hartzell introduced the choice to depart UT Austin a day after the college promoted Rachel Davis Mersey to govt vp and provost. She has held the important thing place on an interim foundation since Aug. 27.
