A Call for Principled Leadership: Our Vision for UT Austin’s Future

The University of Texas at Austin has long prided itself on its motto: “What starts here changes the world.” However, recent actions by the university’s leadership have raised serious questions about the direction of this change. Take Back UT Austin, a grassroots organization of concerned staff, students, and faculty, has been calling attention to a series of decisions that threaten to undermine the very foundations of this prestigious institution.

Photo Credit: NBC News

The Crisis at Hand

Over the past year, UT Austin’s leadership has made several controversial decisions that have profoundly impacted the university community:

1. A rigid return-to-office (RTO) mandate for staff, implemented without clear data or justification, eliminating the flexible work arrangements that had proven highly successful during the pandemic
2. The closure of diversity offices and firing of staff dedicated to campus inclusion (above and beyond the requirements of the legislature’s SB17 law)
3. Armed crackdowns on peaceful student, staff, and faculty protests (the violence arrived when the troops were sent in)
4. Stagnant wages for staff despite Austin’s skyrocketing cost of living (this is only worsened by the RTO mandate, which adds costs and stress to already underpaid and overworked staff)

These actions reflect a disturbing pattern: decisions made without transparency, driven by political pressures rather than evidence, and showing a disregard for the well-being of the university’s most valuable asset — its people.

A Period of Unprecedented Success

Ironically, these regressive policies come on the heels of a period of remarkable achievement for UT Austin — achievements made possible by the dedication and adaptability of its staff during the era of hybrid and remote work. From 2020 through mid-2024, the university saw:

• A rise in national rankings, climbing to #32 overall and #9 among public universities in the U.S. News & World Report rankings
• Record-breaking student success, with four-year graduation rates reaching an all-time high of 74.5% in 2023
• Research excellence, with UT Austin ranking #6 among U.S. universities for research financed by the National Science Foundation
• Increased diversity and demand, with Hispanic undergraduate enrollment rising to 28.2% and a record 66,109 student applications for fall 2023

These accomplishments were not achieved despite flexible work arrangements but because of them. Staff members, working remotely or in hybrid settings, demonstrated their ability to drive unprecedented success, supporting students and faculty in innovative ways.

The Cost of Short-Sighted Leadership

The recent decisions by UT Austin’s leadership threaten to undermine these hard-won gains. The consequences extend far beyond immediate discomfort or inconvenience, potentially eroding the very qualities that make UT Austin a world-class institution:

• Talent Retention: With uncompetitive pay and inflexible work policies, UT Austin risks losing its best and brightest to more accommodating employers.
• Academic Freedom: The suppression of free speech and diversity initiatives chills the open exchange of ideas crucial to academic excellence.
• Student Success: As staff morale plummets and support services are cut, the quality of student experience inevitably suffers.
• Research Output: Overburdened and undervalued staff are less able to support the groundbreaking research that puts UT Austin on the map.
• Institutional Reputation: As news of these decisions spreads, UT Austin risks damaging its hard-earned reputation as a forward-thinking, world-class institution. This could potentially impact future student enrollment, faculty recruitment, and donor support, undermining decades of work building UT’s prestige.

A Vision for Principled Leadership

Take Back UT Austin calls on the university’s leadership to embrace a new approach, one that aligns with the institution’s stated values and sets an example for higher education nationwide. We envision leadership that is:

1. Transparent

• Provide clear, data-driven justifications for major policy decisions
• Engage in open dialogue with all stakeholders before implementing significant changes, not just a handful of political insiders
• Regularly share metrics on university performance, including staff satisfaction and retention, and efforts to boost these metrics
• Open disclosure and discussion of budget allocations, especially regarding staff salaries and benefits, from the newest hire all the way to the university president

2. Respectful

• Acknowledge the vital role of staff in achieving the university’s mission
• Implement fair compensation policies that reflect the true cost of living in Austin
• Foster a culture of inclusion that values different backgrounds and perspectives

3. Evidence-Based

• Conduct thorough, comprehensive studies on the impacts of policy changes before implementation
• Learn from the successes of the hybrid/remote work period (2020–2024), during which UT Austin saw remarkable achievements
• Utilize the expertise of UT Austin’s own researchers in fields like organizational psychology and public policy

4. Intelligent and Forward-Thinking

• Embrace flexible work arrangements that have been proven to boost productivity and job satisfaction
• Invest in staff development and career progression to build a stronger, more dedicated workforce
• Cultivate a culture of innovation that empowers staff to contribute ideas and solutions, recognizing that those on the front lines often have the most insightful perspectives on improving university operations and student experiences

The Path Forward

The challenges facing UT Austin are not insurmountable. In fact, they present an opportunity for the university to reaffirm its commitment to excellence and innovation. By adopting principled leadership practices, UT Austin can:

• Boost staff morale and productivity
• Enhance its ability to attract and retain top talent
• Improve student outcomes and satisfaction
• Strengthen its position as a leader in higher education
• Truly embody its motto of changing the world for the better

A Call to Action

We call on President Hartzell and the entire UT Austin leadership team to:

1. Pause the implementation of the RTO mandate and conduct a thorough, transparent review of its potential impacts
2. Establish a task force comprising staff, faculty, and students to develop recommendations for fair and effective workplace policies
3. Commit to regular, open, non-scripted forums where leadership can hear directly from the university community
4. Develop a comprehensive plan to address wage disparities and the rising cost of living for staff
5. Reinstate and strengthen programs supporting students, staff, and faculty of all backgrounds and perspectives
6. Implement a new decision-making framework that prioritizes data, stakeholder input, and long-term institutional success over short-term political considerations.

The future of UT Austin hangs in the balance. Will it continue down a path of opaque, politically driven decision-making? Or will it embrace transparent, respectful, evidence-based leadership that truly values its entire community?

The world is watching. It’s time for UT Austin to lead by example and show what real change looks like in higher education.

What starts here can indeed change the world. Let’s ensure that change is for the better.

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