UT Austin Invests $100M in Civic Leadership School

The University of Texas at Austin is investing $100 million from the Permanent University Fund to renovate the historic Biological Laboratories building, establishing a permanent home for its School of Civic Leadership, with completion expected by 2028. The school, founded in 2023, has already begun classes and will welcome its first 100 civics honors freshmen this fall. The initiative aims to prepare future leaders in constitutional democracy, capitalism, and civic responsibility, addressing concerns about a shift from these principles in recent decades. The announcement was attended by Texas Governor Greg Abbott, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, and conservative donor Harlan Crow, who praised the effort as a major step for civic education reform. Degree tracks are designed to lead to careers in politics, law, journalism, and related fields. While supporters view the investment as transformative, some faculty and critics argue it is politically motivated and seeks to counter perceived liberal bias in higher education.