Meaning

What makes us unique:

Changing the world on a large scale
The University of Texas at Austin is one of the largest public institutions in the nation, with almost 50,000 graduate and undergraduate students, and about 20,000 faculty and staff. With more than 90 research units and annual research funding of more than $400 million, the university is one of the leading public research institutions in the nation. Our campus houses 17 libraries and museums and some of the world’s most diverse collections of artifacts, art, manuscripts, photographs, musical recordings and historical documents. Our size is an indication of diversity, not just in the cultural makeup of the campus, but also in the depth and range of the university’s offerings.

A Creative Center
What starts in Austin, changes the world. Austin is regarded as an open-minded, friendly and innovative city. The city has been consistently rated a national creative center drawing talented people from across the world to areas where the quality of life is high, where there are resources, entertainment and activity. Austin’s combination of talent, tolerance and technology makes the city a nationally rated creative center. It hosts nationally known festivals such as the Austin City Limits Festival and South by Southwest. The fact that many graduates stay in Austin is a testament to the quality of life in the area.

Transformation
Changing the world begins with you. What starts here changes the world suggests we are accountable to make the world a better place. When we discussed the value of the university, the idea of transformation came up again and again. The university was seen as a place where young people prepare themselves, intellectually and socially to enter the world. This was probably best expressed in a line that was used in the recently concluded capital campaign: “We don’t change the world, we change people who change the world.” The university sees itself as an engine for good and a repository of hope.