Research Lab of the university's Department of Rhetoric and Writing also hosts the Blogora, a blog for "connecting rhetoric, rhetorical methods and theories, and rhetoricians with public life" by the Rhetoric Society of America.[107] The university has a yearbook. In the 1980s it annually sold 14,000 copies. In 1997 it sold 1,700, an all-time low. Kathy Lawrence, the media adviser at UT Austin, said that yearbook sales declined once the school switched from in-person registration to telephone-based registration. During in-person registrations, the university often asked students to buy student yearbooks. Lawrence said that other factors leading to a decline in yearbook

m its founding in 2004 to August, 2013.[101] The Texas Blazers is an honorary service organization with members chosen from the UT Student Body for their leadership, committed to a more "hands-on" approach to service that included high standards of academics, leadership, and spirited support of the University.
Greek life[edit]
See also: List of fraternities and sororities at University of Texas at Austin
The University of Texas at Austin is home to an active Greek community. Approximately 14 percent of undergraduate students are in fraternities or sororities.[102] With more than 65 national chapters, the university's Greek community is one of the nation's largest.[102] These chapters are under the authority of one of the school's six Greek council communities, Interfraternity Council, National Pan-Hellenic Council, Texas Asian Pan-Hellenic Council, Latino Pan-Hellenic Council, Multicultural Greek Council and University Panhellenic Council.[103] Other registered student organizations also name themselves with Greek letters and are called affiliates. They are not a part of one of the six councils but have all of the same privileges and responsibilities of any other organization.[104] According to the Office of the Dean of Students' mission statement, Greek life promotes cultural appreciation, scholarship, leadership, and service.[105] Most Greek houses are west of the Drag in the West Campus neighborhood.
Media[edit]
See also: Texas Student Media
Students express their opinions in and out of class through periodicals including Study Breaks Magazine, Longhorn Life, The Daily Texan (the most award-winning daily college newspaper in the United States),[106] and the Texas Travesty. Over the airwaves students' voices are heard through K29HW-D and KVRX.
The Computer Writing and Research Lab of the university's Department of Rhetoric and Writing also hosts the Blogora, a blog for "connecting rhetoric, rhetorical methods and theories, and rhetoricians with public life" by the Rhetoric Society of America.[107]
The university has a yearbook. In the 1980s it annually sold 14,000 copies. In 1997 it sold 1,700, an all-time low. Kathy Lawrence, the media adviser at UT Austin, said that yearbook sales declined once the school switched from in-person registration to telephone-based registration. During in-person registrations, the university often asked students to buy student yearbooks. Lawrence said that other factors leading to a decline in yearbook sales at UT Austin included increasing student numbers and declining participation in campus life. As of 2008, about 2,500 copies sell annually. To salvage the yearbook, Lawrence introduced personalized pages. When Lawrence concluded that social networking sites lead to a decline in yearbook sales, Sarah Viren of the Houston Chronicle said that Lawrence "eventually opted to hold off on the personalized pages."[108]
Traditions[edit]


The Texas longhorn is the university's mascot.
Traditions at the University of Texas are perpetuated through several school symbols and mediums. At athletic events, students frequently sing "Texas Fight", the university's fight song while displaying the Hook 'em Horns hand gesture—the gesture mimicking the horns of the school's mascot, Bevo the Texas longhorn.
Athletics[edit]

N/A N/A Residential life[edit] The campus is currently home to fourteen residence halls, the newest of which opened for residence in Spring 2007. On-campus housing can hold more than 7,100 students.[92] Jester Center is the largest residence hall with its capacity of 2,945.[93] Academic enrollment exceeds the on-campus housing capacity; as a result, most students must live in private residence halls, housing cooperatives, apartments, or with Greek o

ates) available to the University of Texas System. This figure reflects the fact that the school has the largest endowment of any public university in the nation.[citation needed]
Thirty percent of the university's endowment comes from Permanent University Fund (PUF), with nearly $15 billion in assets as of 2007.[85][86] Proceeds from lands appropriated in 1839 and 1876, as well as oil monies, comprise the majority of PUF. At one time, the PUF was the chief source of income for Texas' two university systems, The University of Texas System and the Texas A&M University System; today, however, its revenues account for less than 10 percent of the universities' annual budgets. This has challenged the universities to increase sponsored research and private donations. Privately funded endowments contribute over $2 billion to the University's total endowment value.
The university is one of only two public universities in the U.S. that have a triple-A credit rating from all three major credit rating agencies, along with the University of Virginia.[87]
Student life[edit]

Student profile[edit]
For Fall 2011, the university enrolled 38,437 undergraduate, 11,497 graduate and 1,178 law students.[88] Out-of-state and international students comprised 9.1% of the undergraduate student body and 20.1% of the total student body, with students from all 50 states and more than 120 foreign countries—most notably, the Republic of Korea, followed by the People's Republic of China, India, Mexico and Taiwan.[89] For Fall 2010, the undergraduate student body was 48.7% male and 51.3% female.[88] The three largest undergraduate majors in 2009 were Biological Sciences, Unspecified Business, and Psychology, while the three largest graduate majors were Business Administration (MBA), Electrical and Computer Engineering, and Pharmacy (PharmD).[89]
Demographics of the UT Austin student body – Fall 2011[90][91]
Undergraduate    Graduate    Texas    U.S. Census
African American    4.6%    3.0%    12.6%    12.9%
Asian American    17.9%    7.2%    4.4%    4.6%
Non-Hispanic White    50.4%    53.0%    45.3%    65.1%
Hispanic American    20.0%    10.0%    37.6%    15.8%
Native American    0.3%    0.2%    1.3%    1.0%
Foreign    4.7%    22.4%    N/A    N/A
Residential life[edit]
The campus is currently home to fourteen residence halls, the newest of which opened for residence in Spring 2007. On-campus housing can hold more than 7,100 students.[92] Jester Center is the largest residence hall with its capacity of 2,945.[93] Academic enrollment exceeds the on-campus housing capacity; as a result, most students must live in private residence halls, housing cooperatives, apartments, or with Greek organizations and other off-campus residences. The Division of Housing and Food Service, which already has the largest market share of 7,000 of the estimated 27,000 beds in the campus area, plans to expand to 9,000 beds in the near future.[94]
Student organizations[edit]
The university recognizes more than 1,000 student organizations.[95] In addition, it supports three official student governance organizations that represent student interests to faculty, administrators, and the Texas Legislature. Student Government, established in 1902, is the oldest governance organization and represents student interests in general.[96] The Senate of College Councils represents students in academic affairs and coordinates the college councils,[97] and the Graduate Student Assembly represents graduate student interests.[98] The University Unions Student Events Center serves as the hub for student activities on campus.[99] The Friar Society serves as the oldest honor society at the university.[100] The Livestrong Texas 4000 for Cancer student organization is the longest annual charity bicycle ride in the world and has raised over $4 million for cancer research fro

r the third year in a row and also number one in research expeditures). And the School of Information (iSchool) is sixth best in Library and Information Sciences.[61] Among other overall school rankings, the Cockrell School of Engineering is 11th best (sixth among publics). The McCombs School of Business is 17th best (fifth among publics). The Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs remains at No. 16, the Jackson School of Geosciences remains at No. 9 for Earth Sciences, and the School of Social Work remains at No. 7.[61] The University of Texas School of Law climbed one place in the rankings, to No. 15 in the nation (fourth among publics).[61] A 2005 Bloomberg survey ranked the school 5th among all business schools and first among public business schools for the

QS[49]    68
Times[50]    25
UT Austin is consistently ranked as one of the top public universities in the country, with highly prestigious programs in a variety of fields. Nationally, UT Austin ranked 45th amongst all universities according to U.S. News and World Report,[51] and tied for 13th place among public universities in 2011.[52] The University of Texas School of Architecture was ranked second among national undergraduate programs in 2012.[53] Additionally, the McCombs School of Business was ranked seventh among undergraduate business programs in 2013,[54] and the Cockrell School of Engineering was ranked ninth among undergraduate engineering programs in 2009.[55] Internationally, UT Austin was ranked 67th in the "World's Best Universities" ranking presented by U.S. News and World Report,[56] and 35th in the world by Shanghai Jiao Tong University,[57] based on factors such as Nobel laureate affiliation and number of highly cited researchers. In 2009, The Economist ranked the school 49th worldwide.[58] In 2013 London-basedTimes Higher Education ranked the university 25th in the world,[59] while Human Resources & Labor Review ranked the university 42nd and QS' "World University Rankings"ranked the university 68th internationally.[60]
As of 2013, U.S. News and World Report ranked the Accounting and Latin American History programs as the top in the nation. Additionally, more than 50 other science, humanities and professional programs rank in the top 25 nationally, according to U.S. News & World Report's latest edition of “Best Graduate Schools.”[61] The University of Texas College of Education and College of Pharmacy are each the fourth best in the nation in their fields (with Education ranking first among public universities for the third year in a row and also number one in research expeditures). And the School of Information (iSchool) is sixth best in Library and Information Sciences.[61] Among other overall school rankings, the Cockrell School of Engineering is 11th best (sixth among publics). The McCombs School of Business is 17th best (fifth among publics). The Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs remains at No. 16, the Jackson School of Geosciences remains at No. 9 for Earth Sciences, and the School of Social Work remains at No. 7.[61] The University of Texas School of Law climbed one place in the rankings, to No. 15 in the nation (fourth among publics).[61]
A 2005 Bloomberg survey ranked 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.[62] Similarly, a 2005 USA Today report ranked the university as "the number one source of new Fortune 1000 CEOs."[63] A "payback" analysis published by SmartMoney in 2011 comparing graduates' salaries to tuition costs concluded that the school was the second-best value of all colleges in the nation, behind only Georgia Tech.[64][65] A 2013 College Database study found that UT was 22nd in the nation in terms of increased lifetime earnings by graduates.[66]
Research[edit]



Harlan J. Smith Telescope
Except for MIT, UT attrac

905) College of Fine Arts (1938) College of Liberal Arts (1883) College of Natural Sciences (1883) College of Pharmacy Continuing Education (1909) Graduate Studies (1910

n campus. In 2010, the university opened the state-of-the-art Norman Hackerman building (on the location of the former Experimental Sciences Building) housing chemistry and biology research and teaching laboratories. In 2010, 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.[34][35] The new LEED gold-certified, 110,000-square-foot (10,000 m2) Student Activity Center (SAC) opened in January 2011, housing study rooms, lounges and food vendors. The SAC was constructed as a result of a student referendum passed in 2006 which raised student fees by $65 per semester.[36]
The university operates a public radio station, KUT, which provides local FM broadcasts as well as live streaming audio over the Internet. The university uses Capital Metro to provide bus transportation for students around the campus and throughout Austin.
Organization and administration[edit]



McCombs School of Business
Colleges and schools[edit]
The university contains eighteen colleges & schools and one academic unit, each listed with its founding date:[37]
Cockrell School of Engineering (1894)
Dell Medical School (2013)
College of Education(1905)
College of Fine Arts (1938)
College of Liberal Arts (1883)
College of Natural Sciences (1883)
College of Pharmacy
Continuing Education (1909)
Graduate Studies (1910)
Jackson School of Geosciences (2005)
LBJ School of Public Affairs (1970)
McCombs School of Business (1922)
Moody College of Communication (1965)
School of Architecture (1948)
School of Information (1948)
School of Law (1883)
School of Nursing (1976)
School of Social Work (1950)
School of Undergraduate Studies (2008)
Academics[edit]



Proctor's Mustangs (1948

iversities' fifty leagues. But Texas's secession from the Union and the American Civil War prevented further action on these plans. The university's Old Main Building in 1903 After the war, the 1862 Morrill Act facilitated the creation of what is now Texas A&M University, which was established in 1876 as the Agricultural & Mechanical College of Texas.[14] The Texas Constitution of 1876 mandated

c university in Texas can be traced to the 1827 constitution for the Mexican state of Coahuila y Tejas. Although an article promised to establish public education in the arts and sciences, no action was taken by the Mexican government. But after Texas obtained its independence from Mexico in 1836, the Congress of Texas adopted the Constitution of the Republic, which included a provision to establish public education in the republic, including two universities or colleges. On January 26, 1839, the Congress of Texas agreed to eventually set aside fifty leagues of land towards the effort; in addition, 40 acres (160,000 m2) in the new capital of Austin were reserved and designated "College Hill."[14] (The term "Forty Acres" is colloquially used to refer to the University as a whole.)
In 1845, Texas was annexed into the United States of America. The state legislature passed the Act of 1858, which set aside $100,000 in United States bonds towards construction of a university. In addition, the legislature designated land, previously reserved for the encouragement of railroad construction, toward the universities' fifty leagues. But Texas's secession from the Union and the American Civil War prevented further action on these plans.


The university's Old Main Building in 1903
After the war, the 1862 Morrill Act facilitated the creation of what is now Texas A&M University, which was established in 1876 as the Agricultural & Mechanical College of Texas.[14] The Texas Constitution of 1876 mandated that the state establish a university "at an early day," calling for the creation of a "university of the first class," styled "The University of Texas." It revoked the endowment of the railroad lands of the Act of 1858 but appropriated 1,000,000 acres (4,000 km2) in West Texas. In 1883, another two million were granted, with income from the sale of land and grazing rights going to The University of Texas and Texas A&M.[14]
In 1881, Austin was chosen as the site of the main university, and Galveston was designated the location of the medical department. On the original "College Hill," an official ceremony began construction on what is now referred to as the old Main Building in late 1882. The university opened its doors on September 15, 1883.
Expansion and growth[edit]
The old Victorian-Gothic Main Building served as the central point of the campus's 40-acre (160,000 m2) 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 over the o