The University of Texas System has served as a pillar of the state of Texas for more than 140 years, driving growth and opportunity across our state. Today, the fourteen institutions of the UT System form one of the largest and most respected systems of public higher education in the world. With a focus on exceptional education, research innovation and the delivery of outstanding clinical health care, UT System institutions serve as powerful network for advancing social mobility, economic success and quality of life for all Texans and for people around the world.
Over the course of my career, I’ve been blessed to serve the people of Texas as a physician, legislator, and academic and health care administrator. Stepping into the role of Chancellor, I am committed to promoting and expanding our service in thoughtful and effective ways that reflect the rich heritage and bright future of this great state.
Serving Texas starts with supporting our students, who number more than 256,000. Providing everyone willing to work hard with an opportunity for college success means focusing on excellence at scale, ensuring that students attain a timely, relevant and expansive education that is both accessible and affordable. UT institutions are recognized nationally and globally for student affordability and success initiatives, exemplified by projects like the Texas Credentials for the Future initiative – the largest of its kind in the country to prepare graduates with workforce ready skills – and the transformative Promise Plus tuition program, opening doors to students whose income levels previously precluded them from considering college. In a rapidly changing world, we must also be nimble and flexible in our approach, and that means continuing to seek out innovative ways to deliver on our mission.
...we will continue to drive innovation, build resilient communities and create a stronger, healthier, more educated Texas for all.
That is the purpose of the UT System.
Research is the foundation for the competitiveness, prosperity, and health of our state. Across both academic and health institutions, UT researchers pursue life-changing and life-saving research discoveries in every field of scholarly endeavor. The UT System is regularly ranked among the top 10 most innovative universities in the world and is among the top three nationally in utility patents and ranks second in the U.S. for federal research spending.
That innovation fuels our ability to provide high quality health care across Texas. As a foundational part of the state’s health care infrastructure, the UT System is the nation’s eighth-largest health system by number of physicians, with more than 11,000 UT physicians and thousands more health care professionals serving millions of patients annually. Our institutions train the caregivers of tomorrow, with UT institutions awarding more than 60% of the state’s medical degrees.
Public trust and support are central to all that we are able to accomplish. For almost a century-and-a-half, business and civic leaders, philanthropists, elected officials and people everywhere have voiced their support for our mission. Together, we have achieved great things. As we look ahead, I am confident that, with your support, we will continue to drive innovation, build resilient communities and create a stronger, healthier, more educated Texas for all. That is the purpose of the UT System.
John M. Zerwas, MD, FASA
Chancellor ad interim
