THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2026
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| Building Spring Momentum: Dates, Opportunities & Updates
Please share the following information with your colleagues and those you mentor.
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Explore new grants, nomination opportunities and upcoming writing and research programs to support your academic work.
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Monday, Mar. 16 – Friday, Mar. 21
Monday, Apr. 3 – Friday, Apr. 17
- Summer 2026 and Fall 2026 registration for continuing and readmitted students
Monday, Apr. 27
Tuesday, Apr. 28 – Wednesday, Apr. 29
Thursday, Apr. 30 – Monday, May 1, 2 & 4
Monday, May 4 – Thursday, May 7
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UT Austin Sidney E. Mezes Award
Each year, the Sidney E. Mezes Faculty Donation Committee recommends monetary awards to provide financial support for faculty members who may need assistance due to unexpected circumstances, such as an illness, accident or other calamity. To find out more about the award, apply for yourself or nominate a colleague experiencing hardship, please visit the the faculty awards webpage or email facultyaffairs@utexas.edu. Nominations are due by Friday, Mar. 13, 2026.
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Civitatis Award
The Office of the President is soliciting nominations for the 2026 Civitatis Award. The award is conferred upon one or two members of the faculty each year in recognition of dedicated and meritorious service to the University above and beyond the regular expectations of teaching, research and service.
Eligibility and criteria for selection and the nomination and application processes are detailed on the Civitatis Award webpage. The President makes the final choice of the awardee(s) based on the recommendations of the Civitatis selection committee.
Please submit letters of nomination no later than Monday, Feb. 16, 2026, 12 p.m. CST. Self- and other-nominations are allowed.
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Graduate School’s 2026 Awards for Excellence
The Graduate School’s 2026 Awards for Excellence in Graduate Education recognizes professional and graduate student achievement. The deadline for nominations has been extended to Friday, Feb. 13, 2026. Submit your nomination today and recognize a graduate student or colleague.
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FACULTY RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES
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FERPA Faculty Training Requirement Launching this Month
Scheduled to begin this month, any individual with a current faculty affiliation, an instructor of record designation or teaching assistant assignment must complete required FERPA training at least every two years. Emeritus faculty without a teaching assignment are exempted from this requirement. This new requirement is published in the Handbook of Operating Procedures (HOP) as of April 30, 2025. View HOP 2-9970 here. Eligible instructors and TAs will receive an email next week with instructions for accessing the training when it has been assigned.
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Humanities Institute Funding Opportunities: Faculty Research Fellows Application Open
The HI Faculty Research Fellows (FRF) Program creates an environment where scholars can thrive by providing faculty members with research community, support and accountability. Participants benefit from one-on-one meetings to explore external funding opportunities in the fall semester and participate in in-person accountability groups and workshops during the spring semester. Additionally, fellows will participate in one wider UT audience talk, seminar or workshop for early-career faculty and students. Fellows receive a course release. The FRF program is one academic year. Apply by Sunday, Feb. 15, 2026.
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Extended Education Ventures Innovation Fund: Course Development Seed Grants
The Innovation Fund is a newly established seed grant supporting UT Austin faculty interested in developing courses for continuing and professional education. Our workforce is facing critical challenges and is eager to skill up. Use your expertise to design online courses that deepen the knowledge of working professionals, help them learn new skills and take their careers to the next level. Faculty will receive a stipend between $2,500–7,500 and support from EEV to develop and launch each course. All tenured, tenure-track and professional track faculty are invited to apply. Intent forms are due Monday, Mar. 23, 2026.
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Faculty Travel Grants
2025–26 Policy and Application
Eligible faculty may receive up to $1,400 per academic year for travel expenses to support their presenting original papers at scholarly and professional meetings.
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UT Compliance: Digital Accessibility Policy Update Effective March 1
The University of Texas is committed to everyone who engages with UT Austin — students, faculty, staff, alumni, and visitors. To support this commitment and align with new Title II ADA regulations, we have implemented a new Digital Accessibility policy (HOP 3-3014). The policy will ensure a seamless digital experience for everyone to meaningfully participate in our programs, services, teaching, research and communications. All University digital content and technologies used for University business must meet the policy's accessibility standards by Sunday, Mar. 1, 2026. This effort reaffirms the University's commitment to accessibility, aligns with new federal regulations and will improve the usability of our digital environment.
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Professional-Track Faculty Conference Attendance Program (PCAP) PCAP provides funding to support professional-track faculty attending academic and professional workshops or conferences. Eligible faculty may apply for up to $1,400 to support attending a conference or workshop. The travel period for eligible trips is between Monday, March 9 – Saturday, Aug. 15. Applications are due by Monday, Feb. 9 at 5 p.m. CST.
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Texas Science Festival
Wednesday, Feb. 18 – Thursday, Mar. 5
Enjoy the largest science and STEM outreach events across the UT Austin campus and Austin community. The Texas Science Festival, organized by the College of Natural Sciences, features science-themed films, talks, tours, demos and more.
Highlights include the 25th annual STEM Girl Day on Saturday, Feb. 28, with more than 150 hands-on activities for youth.
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UT Pathways: A Professional-Track Faculty Conference
Save the Date: Tuesday, Apr. 28 | 8 a.m.–1 p.m.
Join professional‑track faculty from across campus for UT Pathways, an in‑person conference designed to spark collaboration, share experiences, and elevate the impact of professional‑track roles at UT. This year’s breakout sessions explore interdisciplinary health practice communities, the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, and the expanding contributions of professional‑track faculty in research and leadership. Formal invitations and RSVP information will be distributed in early March.
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ACADEMICS
UT Launches Ackerman Program on Jewish and Western Civilization, Rosenthal-Levy Scholars
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STUDENT EXPERIENCE
Marching Forward: How UT is Shaping the Future of Robotics
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ACADEMICS
UT Named Fulbright Top-Producing Institution for 16th Year
Read More »
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Share your feedback
The Faculty Update is a bi-weekly newsletter. Please contact provost.office@utexas.edu for more information.
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