The mission of The University of Texas at Austin is to achieve excellence in the interrelated areas of undergraduate education, graduate education, research and public service. The university provides superior and comprehensive educational opportunities at the baccalaureate through doctoral and special professional educational levels.
The university contributes to the advancement of society through research, creative activity, scholarly inquiry and the development and dissemination of new knowledge, including the commercialization of University discoveries. The university preserves and promotes the arts, benefits the state’s economy, serves the citizens through public programs and provides other public service.
To transform lives for the benefit of society.
Learning — A caring community, all of us students, helping one another grow.
Discovery — Expanding knowledge and human understanding.
Freedom — To seek the truth and express it.
Leadership — The will to excel with integrity and the spirit that nothing is impossible.
Individual Opportunity — Many options, diverse people and ideas, one university.
Responsibility — To serve as a catalyst for positive change in Texas and beyond.
I pledge, as a member of the University of Texas community, to do my work honestly, respectfully, and through the intentional pursuit of learning and scholarship.
The University of Texas at Austin strives to create a dynamic and engaging community of teaching and learning where students feel intellectually challenged; build knowledge and skills; and develop critical thinking, creativity and intellectual curiosity. As a member of this community, it is important for all students to engage in assignments, exams and other coursework with openness, integrity and a willingness to make mistakes and learn from them.
Honesty, integrity and respect — three words that embody the Longhorn spirit and help make UT Austin one of the best universities in the world. Learn how we all can Honor the Horns.
The core values of The University of Texas at Austin are learning, discovery, freedom, leadership, individual opportunity, and responsibility. Each member of the university is expected to uphold these values through integrity, honesty, trust, fairness, and respect toward peers and community.
The UT Regents elected to adopt the core principles of the Chicago Statement on Free Speech as the UT System's formal commitment to free speech and expression.
The University of Texas at Austin refrains from issuing institutional statements related to major societal events and matters of general public interest except on rare occasions in which an event has a unique impact on members of the UT community or has a significant impact on public safety or University operations. Such events tend to occur locally, on campus or in locations with distinct relevance to the campus community and its interests. The University, as a state agency, also refrains from taking positions on matters of public policy with rare exception.
While mass distribution of official statements allows us to convey a position or information to the most constituents, these mechanisms — typically email and social media — may not be the best approach for any given situation. Also, tragedies and concerning issues occur frequently, so selecting some and not others to communicate about creates inconsistencies about what our community should expect to see in the future.
As an educational institution, we have a unique role to play sharing knowledge and expertise about public policy and issues that impact our society:
University leaders, faculty and staff can also offer support and resources to individuals and groups who feel/experience the greatest impact from specific events:
Updated Fall 2022
