Annual Giving Newsletter | Spring 2010

Texas Fight!New Meaning for an Old Battle Cry

You’ve heard me say I want The University of Texas at Austin

to be the best public university in America. It’s more than

an aspiration or a slogan — it’s what we strive for every day.

Not for the sake of being No. 1 in someone’s rankings but to

do the best job serving society by educating young people

and expanding knowledge. The stories we tell in this report

make it clear: What Starts Here Changes the World.

In order to be the best we must attract the best students and

faculty and have the best facilities. But today’s economy is

challenging all of us. At UT, we continue to develop ways to

do more with less.

There’s never been a more important time to strengthen or renew

your relationship with UT. We want you to become more

involved in the University you love. We want to strengthen our

connection with you and provide alumni more value — personally

and professionally. And we have some new tools to bring us

closer together:

• Our new UT iPhone app, which more than 80,000 of you

have already downloaded.

• The Ideas of Texas, an interactive Web site that lets you

contribute your ideas to shape the future of UT.

• Tower Talk, my blog on the life of the University.

• KNOW, a more effective way to navigate UT

Web pages.

But we also need your help.

I invite you to give to the

Campaign for Texas.

Right now, only 15.5 percent

of alumni contribute each

year. We all recognize

the refrain of “Texas Fight!” To me, it’s a reminder of the

extraordinary commitment that our alumni demonstrate in

countless ways. Let’s make our rate of alumni giving another

example of Texas pride. We can do better, and with your help

we will.

Read on about how UT is changing the world. Better yet,

come home to the Forty Acres and see for yourself.

At the end of this campaign I want us all to feel that this was

a team effort. I want us all to feel we achieved a goal worth

fighting for.

Bill Powers

Health and Wellness

Science and TechnologyDuring his announcement of an initiative to expand education in the fields of

science, technology, engineering, and math, President Obama cited the National

Math and Science Initiative, a nonprofit that is helping to replicate the teacher

preparation program UTeach on college campuses around the country. UTeach,

a collaboration between the Austin Independent School District and the Colleges of Natural Sciences, Education, and Liberal Arts, is currently employed at 14

universities besides UT.

The Marine Science Institute, located

on the Texas coast in Port Aransas, is

home to innovative research, education,

and outreach programs that educate

a global population dependent on the

ocean ecosystem. The Visitors Center

and Wetlands Education Center feature

educational displays, aquaria filled

with local plants and animals, and 3.5

acres of marshland.

Researchers at the Texas Advanced Computing Center used its high-powered supercomputer, Ranger, to help

design drugs to fight the H1N1 virus. Researchers also used the Lonestar super-

computer to study how the virus might spread throughout North America.

The McDonald Observatory is home to the Hobby-Eberly Telescope — one of

the world’s largest optical telescopes. The HET is being used to create the first

map of the universe, which will provide a better understanding of dark energy. In

addition to conducting groundbreaking research, the observatory makes astronomy

accessible to the public through its extensive education and outreach programs.

The Texas Natural Science Center spans the disciplines of biology, geology, and

paleontology, and its research has produced collections of more than 6 million

natural specimens providing a detailed picture of Texas biodiversity. The center is

also home to the Texas Memorial Museum, where visitors can view dinosaurs

and fossils, including the Texas Pterosaur, the largest flying creature ever found.

The Center for Molecular and Cellular Toxicology at the College of Pharmacy

received a grant to study environmental toxins and disease. This grant supports

research to help identify safe levels of exposure to man-made and environmental

pollutants to prevent the development of disease. The grant also prepares students

for careers in the toxicology field.

Focusing on children in rural communities and minority populations, the School of Nursing is expanding asthma-management education programs. Children

participating in these programs were 50 percent less likely to need hospitalization

and could properly self-manage their asthma attacks with the aid of an inhaler.

The College of Communication’s Speech and Hearing Center supports

groundbreaking research in the communication sciences and serves as a training

site for students. Each semester hundreds of clients are seen for speech/lan-

guage/hearing evaluations, and many receive therapy for speech and hearing

disorders related to aging, autism, stuttering, and brain injury.

A partnership between the Texas Center for Disability Studies in the College of Education and the Exceptional Family Member Program in Fort Hood has

created the Fort Hood Family Support 360 Project. The project teaches

military families how to navigate military and civilian public support systems to

get assistance and services for their children with disabilities.

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Arts and HumanitiesThe Casa Herrera is a new facility located

in Antigua, Guatemala, operated by the

Department of Art and Art History in

the College of Fine Arts. The Casa Her-

rera offers scholars from around the world

a place to connect on issues pertaining to

Central American diversity and is the new

home for the Maya Meetings, where

international scholars gather to discuss

Maya research, art, archaeology, history,

and culture.

A painting of the head of St. Michael from the Blanton Museum of Art’s

permanent collection was recently identified as the missing central fragment of

the “Petrobelli Altarpiece,” a Renaissance masterwork by Paolo Veronese. The

Blanton was the only U.S. venue to host the exhibition that reunited the fragments

for the first time since the 18th century.

The University of Texas Press was one of the most well-represented presses

at the 2009 Texas Book Festival. The festival poster was selected from “Fireflies,”

Keith Carter’s photography collection published by UT Press. In addition, many

UT Press books on Texas barbecue, music, art, and culture were featured at

the festival.

The ISESE Gallery, located within the Warfield Center for African and African American Studies, promotes the work of Austin-based black artists. In addition

to preserving local black artistic expression, the gallery also offers classes,

lectures, and exhibitions and strives to build community through shared public art.

The Harry Ransom Center, an internationally renowned humanities research

library and museum, advances the study of the arts and humanities and enriches

the intellectual life of the University. Using its collections of the works of writers

and artists, the center presents exhibitions where visitors can deepen their

understanding of literature, photography, film, art, and the performing arts.

Texas Performing Arts works closely with Del Valle ISD through the Performing Arts and Academic Collaborative (PAAC). PAAC is an interdisciplinary program

that integrates artistic performances with middle and high school English curricula.

Through this collaboration, Del Valle students experience the fine and performing

arts in their schools and on the UT campus.

Alumni InvolvementYou have the opportunity to inspire today’s students and remain a part of

UT’s time-honored tradition of Texas pride. Now is the time to get more

involved with UT — or to strengthen your lifelong relationship with your

alma mater.

It is now easier than ever to get connected and stay informed. The UT iPhone app; our interactive Web site, The Ideas of Texas; and the president’s

blog, Tower Talk, are just a few of the resources for our alumni. The

KNOW Web site is your guide to reconnect and includes a directory of

the many social networking sites available.

Additionally, Texas Exes members can make a difference in the lives of

today’s students through its many volunteer and mentoring opportunities.

Members can also stay connected to each other

through the Texas Exes Alumni Directory and take

advantage of the Texas ConnEXions Career Network.

We want you to get involved, stay involved, and show

your UT pride for years to come.

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Policy and LawThe School of Law has long been a leader in the field of oil and gas law, and

it is now a leader in energy law as well. In fall 2009 the school launched the

Center for Global Energy, International Arbitration, and Environmental Law to give students the opportunity to focus on these three vital and evolving

areas of international law.

The Center for Politics and Governance (CPG) at the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs has partnered with The Texas Tribune, a new nonprofit

nonpartisan public media organization headquartered in Austin. CPG and the

Tribune will collaborate on a number of projects, including a lecture series, events,

student internships, and preparing future leaders during one of the most transfor-

mative eras in public communication.

The School of Social Work promotes the study of policy regarding youth legal

rights, violence, safety, and delinquency through the Inter-American Institute for Youth Justice (Justice4Youth). The purpose of the institute is to assist

local and national groups to respond proactively and responsibly to critical

youth-justice issues.

A researcher in the School of Information has collaborated on the development

of a diabetes model and simulator aimed at informing health policymakers about

the possible effects of alternative policies. This collaboration also studies how

to use these technologies as an intervention mechanism for helping high-risk

populations prevent diabetes.

World and CultureWith a grant from the Bridgeway Foundation, the University of Texas Libraries

established the Human Rights Documentation Initiative (HRDI). The HRDI

aims to preserve the most fragile records of human rights struggles worldwide,

promote the security and use of human rights archival materials, and further

human rights research and advocacy around the world.

The Dallas Urban Laboratory is a research initiative of the School of Archi-tecture devoted to exploring development opportunities for the city of Dallas.

Dallas is one of the fastest-growing metropolises in North America, and the

Dallas Urban Lab focuses on the increased

demands upon the city’s resources and its urban

and environmental infrastructure.

The Dolph Briscoe Center for American History

is home to one of the most comprehensive col-

lections of archival materials related to the history

of the news media. Recent acquisitions include

the papers of acclaimed broadcast journalist

Morley Safer and the photographic archive of

photojournalist Eddie Adams.

Working with community leaders, students from

the Cockrell School of Engineering will develop

water systems for two schools in villages in Ghana

and Peru. The projects are evolving from the

students’ participation in a new course, Projects for Underserved Communities.

The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center is a

participant in the Millennium Seed Bank Project, a global plant conservation effort.

With a seed bank, plants that become extinct in the wild are not lost forever. The

center is charged with Texas seed conservation, with a goal to collect 10,000 to

20,000 seeds of each targeted species.

The UT High School — a program in the Division of Continuing and Innovative Education — offers the rigor of a Texas high school curriculum in an online

format. The school helps students from around the world earn their diplomas

and prepares them for college and the future. UT High School serves students

across North America and internationally with students in Morocco, Vietnam,

and other countries.

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Campus and CommunityThe UT Center for Students in Recovery provides support for students who

are involved in recovery from addiction and for those whose parents are alcoholics

or addicts. Operating under the auspices of University Health Services in the

Division of Student Affairs, the center offers recovering students the oppor-

tunity to complete their education in an environment that values and supports

recovery from addiction.

Preliminary designs are under way for a new College of Liberal Arts building.

The building will give liberal arts students a space on campus to congregate and

study and will also allow many departments to move out of offices and labs that

have become overcrowded or obsolete.

The Graduate School, which is responsible for ensuring the overall quality of

the more than 100 graduate programs at UT, celebrates its 100th anniversary

this year. To celebrate, the Graduate School invites all graduate alumni to visit

www.utexas.edu/ogs/share to submit an entry in the “Share your Story” campaign.

Students Hooked on Texas is an initiative to educate students about the impor-

tance of philanthropy before they leave UT. Whether it’s through participating in a

student giving campaign or writing thank-you letters to donors, Students Hooked

on Texas believes that nurturing a student culture of philanthropy is key to

maintaining UT’s time-honored tradition of Longhorn pride.

Texas Parents — The Parents’ Association of UT Austin — keeps parents informed

and creates positive ways for them to be involved with UT. The organization

sponsors family weekend and family orientation, provides student scholarships,

and gives awards for outstanding teaching and research at the University.

UT Elementary School earned its second “Exemplary” rating from the Texas

Education Agency this year after only four years of testing. The model public

charter school not only provides an educational alternative for East Austin families

but also takes the research produced across campus and applies it in the classroom.

The school focuses on sharing best practices in elementary education through its

campus and community partnerships.

The Community Engagement Incubator, part of the Division of Diversity and Community Engagement, works to promote and sustain community

engagement across campus. Through a host of different activities, the incubator

connects faculty, staff, and students with partners off campus to create projects

and programs that address urgent social issues for the entire community.

Business and EconomyAs part of their accounting coursework, more than 250 students from the McCombs School of Business volunteered to help low-income residents understand tax

code and file their tax returns in 2009. These students applied their class work

in a real-world setting and learned valuable lessons about educating community

members on financial issues.

The Bridging Disciplines Programs (BDP)

in the School of Undergraduate Studies

offer a new interdisciplinary certificate starting

in the fall 2010 semester. The Innovation, Creativity, and Entrepreneurship BDP

combines courses from various colleges and

schools on campus to teach students about

innovation and commercial ventures.

Focused on energy sustainability, the Jackson School of Geosciences’ Center for Energy Economics has begun assessing Ghana’s

oil and gas sector at the request of the U.S.

Agency for International Development. The

goal is to strengthen the management of

Ghana’s emerging oil and gas industry and

boost economic development.

5

6

Athletics

Texas Exes

On a campus where integrity and excellence are the standards, intercollegiate

athletics stand out among the best programs in the country. As a self-supported

auxiliary, UT Athletics receives no state funds and operates independent of UT’s

overall academic budget.

In 2008-09 the Longhorns ranked sixth nationally in the Learfield Sports Directors’

Cup Division I standings, according to the National Association of Collegiate

Directors of Athletics. It marks the eighth consecutive year UT placed among

the Top 10 in the all-sports standings. Additionally, the Longhorns recorded

top-five NCAA performances in baseball, football, men’s swimming and diving,

men’s tennis, women’s swimming and diving, women’s indoor and outdoor

track and field, and volleyball. The Horns added top-10 finishes in men’s indoor

track and field. In addition to its success on the national level, UT claimed six

Big 12 conference championships.

During the fall 2008 semester 246 UT student-athletes earned at least a 3.0 grade

point average, and 109 student-athletes achieved at least a 3.5 GPA. Twenty-eight

student-athletes earned a perfect 4.0 GPA. In spring 2009, 273 UT student-athletes

(60 percent of all those at UT) recorded at least a 3.0 GPA, and 131 earned at least a

3.5 GPA, including 36 who posted a perfect 4.0 GPA. Sixteen of UT’s 20 intercolle-

giate athletics teams recorded at least a 3.0 team GPA in the spring 2009 semester.

The Longhorns produced 114 student-athletes who earned Academic All-Big 12

team honors during the 2008-09 season.

Student-athletes who have completed their sports eligibility have graduated at a

nearly 90 percent rate since 1988.

On June 17, 1885, 34 new graduates of the 2-year-old

University of Texas organized the UT Alumni Association,

later renamed The Ex-Students’ Association and today

known as the Texas Exes. 2010 marks the 125th anniver-

sary of the Texas Exes, which now has more than 90,000

members and connects nearly 400,000 UT alumni.

The association has made a lasting impact on the University and the student

body through what continues to be a robust scholarship program. In 1899 the

association awarded its first scholarship and now gives out nearly $2 million in

scholarships each year. In 2009 the association launched a fundraising campaign

for the 40 Acres Scholars Program, which will be one of the largest merit-based

scholarship programs in the country and the first program of its kind on the UT

Austin campus.

Texas Exes remains committed to providing

meaningful student experiences, and throughout

the summer the association welcomed more than

6,000 students and parents at orientation barbecues.

Camp Texas celebrated its 17th anniversary

in August, connecting 450 incoming freshmen

to UT’s top faculty, staff, and student leaders

at Camp Balcones Springs. The Texas Exes Student Chapter connects more than 2,000

members with alumni networking opportunities

and meaningful campus involvement through

events steeped in campus traditions.

To commemorate their 125th anniversary, the

Texas Exes are creating a $1.25 million endowment

to enhance the student experience. Members are asked to give a $125 one-time

contribution to the Student Opportunity Endowment, which will affect

University students for generations to come.

All of this is made possible through the support of more than 90,000 dues-paying

members. Membership in the Texas Exes is a charitable contribution that protects

the value of your diploma, shows your pride in the University, and keeps alumni

connected to campus news and fellow alumni through social events and busi-

ness networking. For more information, visit www.TexasExes.org.

tear along perforated edge

YES! I want to support the Annual Giving Programs at The University of Texas at Austin with a gift of:F $1,500 F $1,000 F $500 F $250 F $100 F $20/month (‘til Gabriel blows his horn!) F Other $___________

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Please designate my gift to (check all that apply):

Annual Giving Programs Gift PlanningBeing a student caller for the Annual Giving Programs

has been far beyond a part-time job for me. I have

learned so much about UT and have enjoyed connecting

with alumni from across the

country. I have also learned

how crucial private funding is to

support the incredible academic

programs, extracurricular activi-

ties, and scholarships that enrich

our college experience. I am

proud to help raise money for

these opportunities to ensure

that UT remains at the top. Every

person I speak with on the

phone has a unique connection to UT and a unique reason

to give back to their college or school. After I graduate, I

know I will give back because being a Longhorn has

changed my life. On behalf of the student callers, I want

to thank you all for sharing your stories and giving your

support to the Annual Giving Programs.

— Kate Gordon, ‘12

Gift Planning helps alumni and friends plan for their

family’s future while retaining the resources to support

their charitable giving. Gift Planning assists donors

interested in including UT in their will, making a gift from

their retirement plan, or receiving tax savings from their

charitable giving.

Visit giving.utexas.edu/giftplanning, e-mail

giving@www.utexas.edu, or call 866-488-3927

for answers to your gift planning questions.

We hope this newsletter stirs you to reconnect with UT or

furthers your already strong ties to the University. If you

haven’t done so, don’t forget to download your Longhorn iPhone app today and visit our KNOW Web site at

www.utexas.edu/know for other ways to stay engaged.

Another way to show your commitment is to make a

gift to the Campaign for Texas. Generous support

from alumni and friends will ensure that UT continues

to change the world. Simply fill out the reply card below

and return it with your gift today.

Make a Difference Today

Colleges and Schools

School of Architecture (512) 471-1922www.soa.utexas.edu

McCombs School of Business (512) 471-5921www.mccombs.utexas.edu

College of Communication (512) 471-5775www.communication.utexas.edu

College of Education (512) 471-7255www.utexas.edu/education

Cockrell School of Engineering (512) 471-1166www.engr.utexas.edu

College of Fine Arts (512) 471-1655www.finearts.utexas.edu

Jackson School of Geosciences (512) 471-6048www.jsg.utexas.edu

Graduate School (512) 232-3601www.utexas.edu/ogs

School of Information (512) 471-3821www.ischool.utexas.edu

School of Law (512) 471-5151www.utexas.edu/law

College of Liberal Arts (512) 232-6298www.utexas.edu/cola

College of Natural Sciences (512) 471-3285www.cns.utexas.edu

School of Nursing (512) 471-7311www.utexas.edu/nursing

College of Pharmacy (512) 471-1737www.utexas.edu/pharmacy

LBJ School of Public Affairs (512) 471-3200www.utexas.edu/lbj

School of Social Work (512) 471-5457www.utexas.edu/ssw

School of Undergraduate Studies (512) 475-7000www.utexas.edu/ugs

Academic Units and Offices

Dolph Briscoe Center for American History (512) 495-4515www.cah.utexas.edu

Athletics (512) 471-4439www.texassports.com

Blanton Museum of Art (512) 471-7324www.blantonmuseum.org

Division of Continuing and (512) 471-4652Innovative Educationwww.utexas.edu/cie

Division of Diversity and (512) 471-3212Community Engagementwww.utexas.edu/diversity

Harry Ransom Center (512) 471-8944www.hrc.utexas.edu

Office of the President (512) 471-2304www.utexas.edu/president

Division of Student Affairs (512) 471-1133www.utexas.edu/student/vpsa

Texas Advanced Computing Center (512) 475-9411www.tacc.utexas.edu

Texas Exes (512) 471-8839www.texasexes.org

Texas Parents (512) 471-2353www.texasparents.org

Texas Performing Arts (512) 471-2787www.texasperformingarts.org

University of Texas Elementary School (512) 495-9705www.utelementary.org

University of Texas Libraries (512) 495-4350www.lib.utexas.edu

University of Texas Press (512) 471-7233www.utexas.edu/utpress

Annual Giving Programs (512) 475-9614 giving.utexas.edu/hookedontexas

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PERMIT 250

The University of Texas at Austin

Annual Giving Programs

PO Box 7458

Austin, Texas 78713-7458Address Service Requested