The University, General Information 1996 - 1997

Contents of This Chapter

Use the following links to go to any part of "The University."

Statement on Equal Educational Opportunity
Accreditation
Organization of the University of Texas at Austin
Historical Sketch
Government
Support
Buildings and Grounds

Statement on Equal Educational Opportunity

To the extent provided by applicable law, no person shall be excluded from participation in, denied the benefits of, or be subject to discrimination under, any program or activity sponsored or conducted by The University of Texas System or any of its component institutions on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, veteran status, or disability.

Accreditation

The University of Texas at Austin is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

Organization of the University of Texas at Austin

More than 100 undergraduate degree programs and 170 graduate degree programs are offered by the University's colleges and schools.

School of Architecture

College of Business Administration,
with five departments

Accounting
Finance
Management Science and Information Systems
Management
Marketing Administration

College of Communication,
with five departments and one center

Advertising
Communication Sciences and Disorders[1]
Journalism
Radio-Television-Film
Speech Communication
Speech and Hearing Center

College of Education, with five
departments, three centers,
and one office

Curriculum and Instruction
Educational Administration
Educational Psychology
Kinesiology and Health Education
Special Education
Learning Abilities Center
Learning Resources Center
Science Education Center
Office of Bilingual Education

College of Engineering, with
six departments and one
interdisciplinary program

Aerospace Engineering and Engineering Mechanics
Chemical Engineering
Civil Engineering
Electrical and Computer Engineering
Mechanical Engineering
Petroleum and Geosystems Engineering
Biomedical Engineering Program

College of Fine Arts, with two
departments, one school, one
center, and a gallery

Art and Art History
Theatre and Dance
School of Music
Performing Arts Center
Archer M. Huntington Art Gallery

Graduate School

School of Law

College of Liberal Arts, with
twenty-one departments, one
division, two inter-disciplinary
programs, and five centers

American Studies[1]
Anthropology
Asian Studies
Classics
Economics
English
French and Italian
Geography
Germanic Studies[1]
Government
History
Linguistics
Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures
Philosophy
Psychology
ROTC
Air Force Science
Military Science
Naval Science
Slavic Languages
Sociology
Spanish and Portuguese
Division of Rhetoric and Composition
Ethnic Studies
African and African American Studies
Mexican American Studies
Plan II Honors Program
Center for Asian Studies
Center for Intercultural Studies in Folklore and Ethnomusicology
Center for Middle Eastern Studies
Center for Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies[1]
Language and Area Center for Latin American Studies

Graduate School of Library
and Information Science

College of Natural Sciences,
with eleven departments,
one division, and one office

Astronomy
Botany
Chemistry and Biochemistry
Computer Sciences
Geological Sciences
Human Ecology
Marine Science
Mathematics
Microbiology
Physics
Zoology
Division of Biological Sciences
Health Professions Office

School of Nursing

College of Pharmacy

Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs

School of Social Work

Historical Sketch

The idea of a university for Texas is as old as the state itself. The Declaration of Texas Independence includes in its indictment of the government of Mexico the charge that it "has failed to establish any public system of education, although possessed of almost boundless resources (the public domain), and although it is an axiom in political science that, unless a people are educated and enlightened, it is idle to expect the continuance of civil liberty or the capacity of self-government." In accordance with the doctrine thus proclaimed, the first Constitution of the Republic declares it to be the duty of Congress "to provide, as soon as circumstances will permit . . . a general system of education."

Attempts to establish a University of Texas were made by the Congress of the Republic and then by the state legislature in 1837, 1839, 1858, and 1866, but the times were unpropitious and the idea failed to become a reality. The Constitution of 1876 again called for the organization and maintenance of "a university of the first class to be located by a vote of the people of this state, and styled 'The University of Texas,' for the promotion of literature, and the arts and sciences, including an agricultural and mechanical department." This constitution also established an endowment of one million acres of land in west Texas, which was increased in 1883 to two million acres. In 1881, the legislature again called for the organization and location of the University and for the appointment of a Board of Regents to be entrusted with its establishment and government. Among the provisions of the act were the limitation of the matriculation fee to $30, the admission of men and women on equal terms without charge for tuition, and the injunction that no religious qualifications should be required for admission to any office or privilege connected with the University and that no sectarian instruction should be given therein.

By popular election in September, 1881, the Main University was located at Austin and the Medical Branch, at Galveston. The academic and law departments were organized, and on September 15, 1883, the University was formally opened in the incomplete west wing of the old Main Building.

Over the next century, work in other fields was added to that offered by the academic and law departments. The College of Engineering was added in 1894; in 1906, the School of Education; in 1909, the Division of Extension; in 1910, the Graduate School; in 1922, the School of Business Administration; in 1924, the College of Physical Activities; in 1938, the College of Fine Arts; in 1948, the Graduate School of Library Science; in 1950, the Graduate School of Social Work; in 1951, the School of Architecture; in 1965, the School of Communication; in 1970, the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs; and in 1976, the School of Nursing. The current organization of the University is described in the previous section.

Until 1895, the University was without a president, the chairman of the faculty being the chief executive officer. Professor J.W. Mallet was chairman for the opening year, 1883 - 1884; then Professor Leslie Waggener until the summer of 1894; then Professor Thomas S. Miller for 1894 - 1895. In 1895, the office of president was created, and has been filled as follows:

Leslie Waggener, MA, LLD, ad interim 1895 - 1896
George Tayloe Winston, MA, LLD 1896 - 1899
William Lambdin Prather, BL, LLD 1899 - 1905
David Franklin Houston, MA, LLD 1905 - 1908
Sidney Edward Mezes, PhD, LLD 1908 - 1914
William James Battle, PhD, DCL, LLD, ad interim 1914 - 1916
Robert Ernest Vinson, DD, LLD 1916 - 1923
William Seneca Sutton, MA, LLD, ad interim 1923 - 1924
Walter Marshall William Splawn, PhD, LLD 1924 - 1927
Harry Yandell Benedict, PhD, LLD 1927 - 1937
John William Calhoun, MA, LLD, ad interim 1937 - 1939
Homer Price Rainey, PhD, LLD 1939 - 1944
Theophilus Shickel Painter, PhD, DSc, LLD, MNAS, Acting President 1944 - 1946
Theophilus Shickel Painter, PhD, DSc, LLD, MNAS 1946 - 1952
James Clay Dolley, PhD, Acting President 1952
Logan Wilson, PhD, LLD 1953 - 1960
Harry Huntt Ransom, PhD, LittD, LLD, LHD 1960 - 1961
Harry Huntt Ransom, PhD, LittD, LLD, LHD, Acting President 1961
Joseph Royall Smiley, PhD 1961 - 1963[2]
Norman Hackerman, PhD 1967 - 1970
Bryce Jordan, PhD, ad interim 1970 - 1971
Stephen H. Spurr, MF, PhD, DSc 1971 - 1974
Lorene Lane Rogers, PhD, DSc, FAIC, ad interim 1974 - 1975
Lorene Lane Rogers, PhD, DSc, FAIC 1975 - 1979
Peter Tyrrell Flawn, PhD 1979 - 1985
William H. Cunningham, PhD 1985 - 1992
William S. Livingston, PhD, Acting President 1992 - 1993
Robert M. Berdahl, PhD 1993 -

Government

The University of Texas System is governed by a board of nine regents, selected from different areas of the state, nominated by the governor, and appointed with the advice and consent of the senate. Subject to supervision of the Board of Regents and the authority it has vested in administrative officers, the governance of the University of Texas at Austin is the responsibility of the General Faculty. A complete statement of the duties of the officers and a description of the organization and authority of the General Faculty, the faculties of the colleges and schools, divisions, and departments, are published in the Rules and Regulations of the Board of Regents for the Government of the University of Texas System.

Support

As a public institution, the University of Texas at Austin receives part of its income directly from the state. The constitution prohibits any appropriation from the general revenue for the construction of buildings, but appropriations for equipment and operating expenses have been made by each legislature since 1889. An additional source of income is the Permanent University Fund, which consists of revenue from the two million acres of land in west Texas granted to the University and its branches in 1876 and 1883. The land has been leased since 1884 for grazing and other purposes; since oil production began there in 1923, income from mineral leases and royalties has also been added to the fund. Income earned by the Permanent University Fund is called the Available University Fund. One-third of the Available Fund is dedicated to the support of the Texas A&M University System, and two-thirds to The University of Texas System for operating expenses and permanent improvements.

Fees paid by students are a third source of income, and the proceeds of endowment funds donated by individuals and organizations provide important additional support to research and teaching at the University.

Buildings and Grounds

The grounds of the University of Texas at Austin consist of the original forty-acre campus just north of the state capitol and additional land acquired by gift and purchase. The main campus now covers more than 350 acres. Also part of the University are the J.J. Pickle Research Campus, a 476-acre tract eight miles north of the main campus that houses research organizations in engineering, science, and the social sciences; the Brackenridge tract, 445 acres bordering Town Lake where research is conducted in the life sciences; and the Montopolis Research Center, 94 acres located in southeast Austin. In addition, the University owns the Marine Science Institute at Port Aransas, the McDonald Observatory near Fort Davis, the Winedale Historical Center near Round Top, the Bee Cave Research Center west of Austin, and J. Frank Dobie's ranch, Paisano.

Major buildings and other facilities are listed below.

For teaching, research, and administration
Animal Resources Center
Applied Research Laboratories Located at Pickle Research Campus
Art Building and Museum
Battle Hall Formerly the Old Library Building; renamed for William James Battle, former professor of classical languages and president ad interim of the University
Batts Hall Named for Judge R. L. Batts, former chairman of the Board of Regents; houses the Department of Spanish and Portuguese and the Liberal Arts Media Center
Bellmont Hall Named for L. Theo Bellmont, former professor and director, Physical Training for Men; houses Intercollegiate Athletics for Men, Intercollegiate Athletics for Women, and the Department of Kinesiology and Health Education
Benedict Hall Named for former University president H. Y. Benedict; houses research and study laboratories for the Department of Psychology
Biological Laboratories Houses the Department of Botany and the Cell Research Institute
Burdine Hall Named for John Alton Burdine, former dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and first vice president of the University; houses the Departments of Government and Sociology
College of Business Administration Building Formerly the Business Administration­Economics Building; renamed in 1984
Graduate School of Business Building
Calhoun Hall Named for former University president John William Calhoun; houses the Departments of Linguistics and Slavic Languages
Chemical and Petroleum Engineering Building
Ernest Cockrell Jr. Hall Named for an alumnus and benefactor of the College of Engineering; houses the Department of Civil Engineering and the Office of the Dean of the College of Engineering
Collections Deposit Library
Computation Center
Economics Building Formerly the Petroleum Engineering Building; renamed in 1986
Engineering-Science Building Houses the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Engineering Teaching Center II Houses the Department of Mechanical Engineering
Experimental Science Building Houses the Department of Microbiology and the Biochemical Institute
Fine Arts Library and Administration Building
Peter T. Flawn Academic Center Formerly the Undergraduate Library and Academic Center; renamed in 1985 for University president emeritus; houses the Undergraduate Library
Garrison Hall Named for George P. Garrison, former professor of history; houses the Department of History
Mary E. Gearing Hall Formerly the Home Economics Building; renamed in 1976 for the first chairman of the Department of Home Economics; houses part of the Department of Human Ecology
Geography Building Formerly the Journalism Building; renamed in 1974
Geology Building
Goldsmith Hall Formerly the Architecture Building; renamed in 1978 for former professor of architecture Goldwin Goldsmith; houses part of the School of Architecture
Graduate and International Admissions Center
John W. Hargis Hall Formerly Building H of the Little Campus property (now the Heman Sweatt Campus); renamed in 1983 for former special assistant to the president of the University; houses the Freshman Admissions Center and the Employment Center
Will C. Hogg Building Formerly the Geology Building; renamed for distinguished alumnus and benefactor; houses the Plan II Honors Program and the Office of the Dean of the College of Natural Sciences
Hogg Memorial Auditorium Named for former governor James S. Hogg and his son Will C. Hogg; houses facilities for the Performing Arts Center and KVR9, student television
Beauford H. Jester Center Named for former governor of Texas and former member of the Board of Regents; houses the Career Center, the Jester Center Store, the Learning Skills Center, and classrooms
Jesse H. Jones Communication Center Formerly the Communication Building; renamed in 1981 for Houston philanthropist; houses the College of Communication, KUT Radio, and Texas Student Publications
Jesse H. Jones Hall Named for Houston philanthropist; houses part of the School of Law
Laboratory Theatre Building
Lake Austin Centre Located three miles west of the University; houses the Children's Research Laboratory; the Extension Instruction and Materials Center, part of the the Division of Continuing Education; the Hogg Foundation for Mental Health; and the University Interscholastic League
Littlefield Home and Carriage House Houses the University Development Office
Main Building (Tower) Located on the site of Old Main; houses University administrative offices
Mezes Hall Named for former University president Sidney E. Mezes; houses the Department of Psychology
Robert Lee Moore Hall Formerly the Physics-Mathematics-Astronomy Building; renamed in 1974 for professor of mathematics; houses the Departments of Astronomy, Mathematics, and Physics
Music Building East and Music Building Recital Hall Houses the Kate Broocks Bates Recital Hall
Arno Nowotny Building Formerly Building C of the Little Campus property (now the Heman Sweatt Campus); renamed in 1983 for former dean of student life; houses the Center for Urban Development
Nursing School
T. S. Painter Hall Formerly the Physics Building; renamed in 1974 for former University president Theophilus Shickel Painter; houses the Division of Biological Sciences and part of the Department of Human Ecology
Parlin Hall Formerly the English Building; renamed for Hanson Tufts Parlin, former professor of English and dean of the College of Arts and Sciences; houses the Department of English
J. T. Patterson Laboratories Building Named for former professor of zoology; houses the Department of Zoology
College of Fine Arts Performing Arts Center Houses the Nancy Lee and Perry R. Bass Concert Hall and the Ralph H. and Ruth J. McCullough Theatre
Perry-Castaneda Library Named for Ervin S. Perry, former associate professor of civil engineering, and Carlos E. Castaneda, former professor of Latin American history
Pharmacy Building
Homer Rainey Hall Formerly the Music Building; renamed in 1995 for former University president; houses the Department of French and Italian
Harry Ransom Center Formerly the Humanities Research Center; renamed in 1974 for University chancellor emeritus
Sid Richardson Hall Named for Texas philanthropist; houses the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs, the Center for American History, and the Institute of Latin American Studies
George I. Sanchez Building Formerly the College of Education Building; renamed in 1994 for former professor of education; houses part of the College of Education and the Graduate School of Library and Information Science
E. P. Schoch Building Formerly the Chemical Engineering Building; renamed for former professor of chemical engineering; houses the Departments of Anthropology and Germanic Studies
School of Social Work Building Formerly University Junior High School
Russell A. Steindam Hall Formerly the ROTC Building; renamed for ROTC graduate posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor in 1971; houses the Departments of Air Force Science, Military Science, and Naval Science
Student Health Center
Sutton Hall Named for William S. Sutton, former dean and professor of education; houses part of the School of Architecture
T. U. Taylor Hall Formerly the Engineering Building; renamed in 1958 for former dean of the College of Engineering; houses the Department of Computer Sciences
Texas Memorial Museum
Joe C. Thompson Conference Center Named for former member of the Board of Regents
Townes HallNamed for Judge John Charles Townes; houses part of the School of Law
University Teaching Center
Waggener HallNamed for the University's first president, Leslie Waggener; houses the Departments of Classics and Philosophy
Walter Webb HallNamed in 1975 for former professor of history; houses the Faculty Center, the Office of Public Affairs, and the University Publications office
Robert A. Welch HallFormerly the Chemistry Building; renamed in 1974 for Houston philanthropist; houses the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
West Mall Office BuildingHouses the Office of the Dean of the College of Liberal Arts; part of Counseling, Learning, and Career Services; University Supply; and the University branch of the US Post Office
F. Loren Winship Drama BuildingFormerly the Drama Building; renamed in 1979 for former chairman of the Department of Drama
Wooldridge HallHouses the Office of Student Financial Services and the University Child and Family Laboratory
W. R. Woolrich LaboratoriesFormerly the Engineering Laboratories Building; renamed in 1977 for former dean of the College of Engineering; houses the Department of Aerospace Engineering and Engineering Mechanics
For student activities
Clark FieldNamed for Judge James Benjamin Clark, first proctor of the University; located at 21st and San Jacinto streets
Disch-Falk FieldNamed for former baseball coaches Billy Disch and Bibb Falk
Frank C. Erwin Jr. Special
Events CenterFormerly the Special Events Center; renamed in 1981 for former chairman of the Board of Regents
Gregory GymnasiumNamed for former United States attorney general Thomas Watt Gregory; houses part of the Division of Recreational Sports
Anna Hiss GymnasiumFormerly Women's Gymnasium; renamed in 1974 for former director of Physical Training for Women
Neuhaus-Royal Athletic CenterNamed for V. F. Neuhaus, former member of the Intercollegiate Athletics Council for Men, and Darrell K Royal, former head football coach and athletics director
Penick-Allison Tennis CenterNamed for Daniel Allen Penick, former professor of classics and tennis coach, and Wilmer Allison, alumnus and former tennis coach
Recreational Sports Center
Texas Memorial Stadium
Lee and Joe Jamail
Texas Swimming CenterNamed for alumni benefactors
Texas Union BuildingHouses dining areas, entertainment venues, meeting rooms for student organizations, reading rooms, banquet rooms, a recreation center, and offices for Student Government and Campus and Community Involvement
Varsity CenterFormerly the Varsity Cafeteria; houses the Texas Union Micro Center and student radio station KVRX
Whitaker FieldNamed for Berry M. Whitaker, former director of intramurals; located at 51st and Guadalupe streets

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28 August 1996. Registrar's Web Team
Comments to rgcat@utxdp.dp.utexas.edu