Texas Flagship’s Leader Emphasizes Teaching and Research in Vision for University’s Future

In a speech on Monday laying out “a vision for the public research university of the future,” William Powers Jr., president of the University of Texas at Austin,
emphasized the importance of both teaching and research as the university “reinvents” itself in an era of declining resources and increasing demand. Without referring directly to ideas raised in the state’s public debate over higher-education reform, he countered criticism that the university is resistant to change, but called for a careful and collaborative approach to change. “It’s virtually impossible to innovate from the top down,” he said, pledging not to “dictate from the Tower so much as work in close partnership with our faculty and our students to build a national model for the 21st century public research university.” After the speech, the university’s Faculty Council unanimously voted its “complete confidence” in Mr. Powers and his leadership team, The Austin American-Statesman reported.