THURSDAY, AUGUST 20, 2026
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| A New Semester of Impact Begins
Please share the following information with your colleagues and those you mentor.
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The countdown is on. With just four days until the start of classes, the Forty Acres is preparing to welcome a new semester of learning, research and discovery. Whether you're new to UT or returning for another year, this edition highlights the resources, updates and opportunities you need to be ready for the Fall 2026 term.
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- Monday, Aug. 24
First day of classes - Thursday, Aug. 27
4th class day - Monday, Aug. 31
6th class day - Monday, Sept. 7
Labor Day holiday; no classes held - Wednesday, Sept. 9
12th class day
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Public Access to Course Information (HB2504)
The following guidelines must be observed by instructional faculty each term as required by the General Information Catalog and the Texas Administrative Code:
- Requirement — Provide Syllabus to Students by First Meeting Day
Please note that course syllabi and instructor-of-record CVs are due in departmental or dean’s office no later than Monday, Aug. 24, 2026.
- Public Access to Course Information
Documents should be uploaded to Access Syllabi and CVs system by departmental or dean’s office by: Monday, Aug. 31, 2026.
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Preparing for AI in the Classroom
As AI continues to shape teaching and learning, UT faculty are leading the way in developing responsible, discipline-specific approaches to AI pedagogy. Explore key resources for updating your syllabus, aligning AI use with learning outcomes and leveraging tools like UT Sage to support student learning this fall.
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Additional resources, including opportunities to share examples of effective implementation or intervention, can be found on the AI Pedagogy Semester Start Guide.
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Resources to Help Navigate Your First Weeks of Teaching
The new Office of Faculty Instructional Support and Development’s website is now live! We are still in the process of collecting, editing and curating webpages and other materials from legacy sources. Please reach out if you have changes and additions you would like to see on the site. We welcome your feedback.
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Faculty Development Award for Professional-Track FacultyThe Faculty Development Award Program (FDA) is for professional-track faculty members and provides up to $10,000 to support the recipient’s professional development opportunities and activities. The FDA application system opens on Tuesday, Sept. 1 and closes on Thursday, Oct. 1 at 5 p.m.
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Faculty Development Leave ProgramThe Faculty Development Leave Program (FDL) provides tenured faculty members with paid leave from teaching and service responsibilities and allows them to focus on developing their research, scholarship and creative endeavors. (At other universities, this type of leave is commonly called a sabbatical.) The FDL application system opens on Tuesday, Sept. 1 and closes on Thursday, Oct. 1 at 5 p.m.
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FACULTY RESEARCH & GRANT OPPORTUNITIES
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The 2026-2027 OVPR Research and Creative Grants are Open
The OVPR Research and Creative Grants (RCG) program provides support of up to $10,000 for specific projects of individual tenured and tenure-track faculty members. The program promotes research, outreach and creative activities in all disciplines that result in publications, patents, recognition, awards or exhibitions/performances appropriate to the PI’s discipline, and/or will improve competitiveness for external funding. Research support for institutes, centers, and organized research units is not available through this program. Submit for the 2026-2027 cycle by 5 p.m., Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2026.
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Fulbright U.S. Scholar Award
The Fulbright U.S. Scholar Award Competition is now open, offering more than 380 opportunities for U.S. citizens to go abroad between Fall 2027 – Spring 2028. The competition closes on Tuesday, Sept. 15. Interested faculty may contact txglobal-grants@austin.utexas.edu for guidance.
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Harrington Faculty Fellows - National Security
Pioneering early- or mid-career scholars in the area of national security are invited to apply for the Harrington Faculty Fellows Program for the 2027-28 academic year. This highly selective program provides a full year of salary support to enable ambitious scholars to focus entirely on the advancement of their research and scholarship. Bolstered by unmatched resources and financial support, Harrington Fellows are provided the freedom to solve significant problems, the privilege of renowned mentorship and scholarly collaboration, and the opportunity to push their work forward for the benefit of all society.
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AI Tools and Services
UT is expanding AI options for students, faculty and staff through new enterprise partnerships and free access to leading AI platforms, giving users the flexibility to choose solutions to support teaching, learning, research and operations.
AI Studio continues to support responsible AI adoption through training, guidance, and resources focused on privacy, security, accessibility and appropriate use. Learn more on Enterprise Technology’s AI page.
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Updated Requirements for International Nonemployee Research Affiliates
OVPR’s Office of Research Support and Compliance has updated its requirements for sponsoring International Nonemployee Research Affiliates (NERAs), also known as Visiting Scholars, to comply with state and federal laws. Effective Aug. 3, 2026, sponsors of international NERAs must submit a review request to the Research Security Office. This applies only to new NERA requests for job codes A010 (Postdoctoral), A011 (Research Affiliate/Research Fellow), A012 (Senior Research Fellow) and A006 (Visiting Researcher/Scholar). Please reach out to your CSU contact to begin the process of sponsoring an international NERA. If you have any questions, please email sas@austin.utexas.edu.
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The International Symposium on Journalism (ISOJ) 2026
Thursday, Sept. 17 – 18 | Texas Union | Register
This academic and professional conference focuses on journalism, media innovation, technology, artificial intelligence, democracy and digital communication. Faculty, staff and students will have the opportunity to learn from leading voices in journalism and technology, explore the latest trends transforming newsrooms and connect with journalists, editors, and media leaders from around the world.
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UT REAL Health AI Symposium
Wednesday, Oct. 7 – Thursday, Oct. 8 | AT&T Hotel and Conference Center | Register
AI experts and leaders from the University of Texas System, academia, industry, health care and government will come together for two days in Austin. Hosted by UT Austin and Dell Medical School, the two-day symposium will explore how responsible AI is transforming health care, biomedical research, education and clinical operations — while creating opportunities for collaboration across disciplines. Registration is open, and abstracts for talks and poster presentations are being accepted through Thursday, Sept. 10.
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ACADEMICS
New Core Curriculum Refocuses Undergraduate Education at UT Austin
Read More »
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CAMPUS
Landmarks Announces New Installation To Serve as a Student Gathering Space
Read More »
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