UT Austin Lowers Auto-Admission to Top 5%, Expands Free Tuition, Unveils WaterHub & Welcomes New President in Major 2025 Updates
MP3•Episode home
Manage episode 506745441 series 3678406
Content provided by university-of-texas-at-austin. All podcast content including episodes, graphics, and podcast descriptions are uploaded and provided directly by university-of-texas-at-austin or their podcast platform partner. If you believe someone is using your copyrighted work without your permission, you can follow the process outlined here https://podcastplayer.com/legal.
Good morning, Longhorns! It's Monday, September 15, 2025, and here's your latest campus news. Starting with the Fall 2026 admissions cycle, the University of Texas at Austin will adjust its automatic admission policy. Currently, Texas high school students in the top 6% of their class receive automatic admission. This threshold will be lowered to the top 5% to better manage enrollment and maintain academic excellence. In February 2025, James E. Davis was appointed as the 31st president of UT Austin. Davis, who previously served as the university's senior vice president and chief operating officer, brings a wealth of experience to his new role. The university is developing a 9,600-square-foot water recycling facility, known as the WaterHub, set to be operational by fall 2027. This facility aims to reclaim up to 1 million gallons of wastewater daily, reducing campus reliance on Austin's water supply and serving as a research hub for water treatment technologies. The UT System has expanded its free tuition program to cover students from families earning $100,000 or less, starting next fall. This initiative includes a $35 million investment across its nine campuses, aiming to reduce student debt and increase accessibility to higher education. The UT System Board of Regents has approved a six-year, $32 million contract for new Longhorns basketball coach Sean Miller. Miller, with a strong coaching record, is set to revitalize the program as it navigates the Southeastern Conference. In response to recent campus protests, UT Austin has established the Event Readiness and Response unit within the Dean's office. This unit is dedicated to upholding free speech rights while ensuring campus safety during events and demonstrations. A federal judge dismissed a lawsuit challenging UT Austin's new admissions policies, affirming that the university no longer considers race in its admissions process, in compliance with the Supreme Court's 2023 decision ending affirmative action. That's all for today's update. Stay informed and Hook 'em Horns!
…
continue reading
11 episodes