frequently
asked questions

UATX is a university committed to the fearless pursuit of truth.

In a word: truth. In a few more words: the fearless pursuit of truth. But perhaps you'd like a slightly longer answer: UATX is committed to freedom of inquiry as the precondition for the pursuit of truth. Others have abandoned this core mission of the university. The pursuit of truth is the very foundation of our university and the reason we believe the most curious, innovative scholars and students are joining us.

Yes. Our campus is located at 522 Congress Ave, STE 300, Austin, TX 78701. We are planning to develop a residential campus in the greater Austin area and have begun the master-planning process.

We are old school. We believe human beings think and learn better when they gather in person, in dedicated locations—where they are, to some extent, insulated from the quotidian struggle to make ends meet, and where there is no fundamental distinction between those who teach and those who learn, beyond the extent of their knowledge and wisdom.

No. UATX will remain independent of any political, religious, or other external interest groups.

UATX is a private, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

Texas is experiencing a historic boom in talent and capital. Austin, in particular, is a hub for builders, innovators, and real-world change-makers—the kind of people we aim to attract and from whom we want to receive guidance.

UATX is fortunate to have a diverse board of advisors, who offer advice and expertise across many areas. They are united in their commitment to academic freedom, their belief in the need for reform in higher education, and their aim toward restoring open inquiry and civil discourse. Our advisors are not always in full agreement with each other or all of the choices we make as an institution. This is exactly what we hope for given our commitment to rigorous thinking and spirited debate.

We mean it. We are alarmed by the rising tide of illiberalism and censoriousness prevalent in America’s universities. We are motivated to reverse this trend, for the good of society. We know there are students, teachers, and citizens who still believe in the core purpose of higher education: the pursuit of truth. That’s why we are building UATX. At each stage of the launch of our university—from hiring staff to building the curriculum to admitting students and hiring faculty—we ask ourselves, “Are we serving the pursuit of truth?”

We will offer a B.A. in Liberal Studies degree starting in the fall of 2024. Students will be able to choose from four concentrations in our three Centers of Academic Inquiry: Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM); Politics, Economics, and History; or Arts and Letters.

Accreditation is a five to seven-year process universities must continually undergo. The graduation of a first class of undergraduates is normally a prerequisite for accreditation. The University of Austin has received authority from the state of Texas to grant degrees and is seeking accreditation from an agency duly recognized by the US Department of Education.

We expect the first accreditation cycle to have been completed between 2028 and 2031. After that, UATX, like every other American university, will undergo a new cycle of accreditation every 5, 7, or 10 years, depending upon the accreditation body’s rules.

We are working with the accreditors to maximize the chances that our students will graduate with a degree from an accredited institution. If our official accreditation happens shortly after graduation, there are paths possible wherein it would apply retroactively to include the graduation date of the first class. The degrees that our students will earn will meet the high standards demanded by accreditors. In addition, we are also working on articulation agreements with other universities, so that our graduates are recognized as having met high academic standards upon matriculation and would be eligible to apply to graduate school at these universities.

As we prepare to launch our undergraduate degree program, UATX currently offers a suite of non-degree programs designed to introduce students to our principles, our culture, and our academic staff. Through these programs, UATX has already educated hundreds of students from all over the world with ages ranging from 15 to 40.

We will offer a B.A. in Liberal Studies degree starting in the fall of 2024. Students will be able to choose from concentrations in our Centers of Academic Inquiry: (i) STEM; (ii) Economics, Politics, and History; and (iii) Arts and Letters.

Yes! In addition to our undergraduate applications for the fall of 2024, we frequently accept applications for our non-credit student programs (see above).

We believe that real education is most effectively achieved in face-to-face human communities. Our classes will be almost exclusively in person. We may use some versions of online instruction to supplement our coursework. That said, we have already begun releasing select content to social media from our programs, and we will continue to do so.

UATX’s undergraduate program will immerse students in a vibrant community that emphasizes academic rigor, civil discourse, and intellectual risk-taking. Intellectual Foundations (Years 1-2): Our Intellectual Foundations program will challenge freshmen and sophomores to confront timeless questions from antiquity to the present. Through close reading and analysis of foundational/canonical texts, UATX’s freshmen and sophomores will learn to challenge their beliefs, advance ideas, and solve complex problems. Small, discussion-based seminars will cultivate a shared intellectual culture, while weekly lectures will encourage students to synthesize ideas across epochs and disciplines. Junior Fellowship (Years 3-4): During their junior and senior years, UATX undergraduates will serve as Junior Fellows, developing specialized knowledge in one or more of our Academic Centers. As the intellectual hubs of UATX, Academic Centers differ from traditional academic departments in being a combination of interdisciplinary research institutes, think tanks, and startup incubators. Students will collaborate with accomplished scholars and researchers in the Center for Science, Technology, Engineering, & Mathematics (CSTEM), the Center for Economics, Politics, & History (CEPH), and/or the Center for Arts & Letters (CAL). During this time, students will choose to specialize in one or more areas of study. Polaris Project (Years 1-4): In partnership with scholars and industry leaders, every UATX student will spend four years creating and pursuing with purpose a project of significant import for the common good. In so doing, students will cultivate skills, discipline, and prudence by overcoming real-world challenges.

Yes, we are currently accepting faculty applications. If you are a professor in the job market, we are eager to hear from you. See our Careers page for a list of current openings, and sign up for our email list and select “faculty opportunities” to be alerted when more positions become available.

UATX is building a financial model that does not rely on public funding. As a new institution, UATX is not immediately eligible for public funding but it does plan to establish eligibility for such funding at the appropriate time.

Launching a new university in today’s highly regulated environment is an expensive undertaking. UATX’s supporters and friends have and continue to make the creation of its vision possible with their generous support. UATX has set an initial fundraising goal of $250 million by the fall of 2024 and is well on its way to achieving it.

If we were mimicking the traditional model of higher ed, then yes, starting a new university would cost billions. But we’re not doing that. It is true that a good education doesn’t come cheap, but we know that we can do better than the status quo. At UATX, we want to make sure every dollar spent advances the education of our students. Building a university from the ground up affords us the opportunity to reexamine the legacy practices of universities and dramatically slash the cost of university administration, ensuring funds are directed as much as possible to academics. UATX is developing a new financial model that reverses higher ed’s bureaucratic bloat, improves student experience, and keeps fees to a minimum.

You can support us financially by going to our Support Us page. You can also email us at donate@uaustin.org to connect with our advancement team and find out about becoming a UATX Founder (visit our campaign page to learn more). Or you can send a check to: University of Austin, 522 Congress Ave, STE 300, Austin, TX 78701. Make checks payable to “UATX.” UATX is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. Contributions to UATX may be tax-deductible for income, gift, and estate tax purposes. Consult with your advisor on specific tax deductibility. UATX’s federal tax identification number is 87-1925354.

We’re grateful for gifts of any size, but there is plenty you can still do if you have no funds to spare. UATX is at its core a community project. You can engage with our growing library of online content. Watch our videos. Share them. Post about us on social media and forward our emails. Tell your friends and family about us. And if you know any smart, fearless scholars or students, send them our way.