History

The idea for a Dean of Undergraduate Studies emerged early in the discussions of the Task Force on Curricular Reform at the University of Texas in 2004-05, under the leadership of William Powers, then Dean of the Law School. Most members of the Task Force felt that curriculum reform in core areas must be an ongoing, dynamic process, responsive to the rapidly changing needs of students, as well as to changes in departmental requirements. They also recognized that changes of the scope they envisioned might require years to implement.

Accordingly, a subcommittee of the Task Force recommended the foundation of a new unit, led by a dean who would have the care and maintenance of the core curriculum as his or her main mission.

At the same time, the Task Force recognized the need for central leadership over a number of existing undergraduate programs and a home for undeclared students. The Task Force recommended that the new unit be set up with faculty oversight and that it be closely coordinated with existing colleges and schools.

A committee of deans, under the leadership of then Dean Steven Leslie of Pharmacy (now Executive Vice President and Provost), met during the spring and summer of 2006 and concluded that such a unit was indeed needed and recommended that it be guided by a committee composed equally of senior faculty and associate deans. Concurrently, the Faculty Council Educational Policy Committee met to consider the curricular proposals of the Task Force, recommending Faculty Council approval in the fall of 2006. The motion of the Educational Policy Committee was circulated to the entire faculty and finally passed on December 8, 2006.

President Powers appointed Paul Woodruff as the inaugural dean effective September 1, 2006. The Executive Committee of the Faculty Council seconded the Leslie Committee’s plan for the unit’s governance, and the Undergraduate Studies Advisory Committee was convened in November, 2006.

The School of Undergraduate Studies became an official college-level unit reporting directly to the Executive Vice President & Provost when the necessary approvals were received from the University of Texas System and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board in May 2008.

The 2008-2010 Undergraduate Catalog, published in August 2008, includes a revised core curriculum and reformed degree programs in the School of Architecture, Red McCombs School of Business, College of Communication, College of Education, Jackson School of Geosciences, College of Liberal Arts, College of Natural Sciences, and School of Nursing. The 2010-2012 Undergraduate Catalog will include further reforms to degree programs in those colleges and schools, as well as changes to degree programs in the Cockrell School of Engineering, College of Fine Arts, College of Pharmacy, and School of Social Work.

The School of Undergraduate Studies admitted its first cohort of undeclared students in the fall of 2009.