What’s happening
Hartzell made the announcement in a news release Jan. 7. He will continue to serve until the end of the spring semester May 31.
“When students ask for advice, I typically respond thematically: Follow your passions, take some chances, stretch outside your comfort zone and think of how you would like to make an impact,” Hartzell said in the release. “Today, I am writing to let you know that I am following my own advice, which has led to my decision that this semester will be my last as the president of The University of Texas at Austin.”
SMU announced that Hartzell had been unanimously elected to lead the Dallas-based private university. He is expected to formally take on his position at SMU at the start of the fall semester. He will be succeeding current President Gerald R. Turner, who will step into the role of president emeritus.
Chancellor J.B. Milliken and UT board of regents Chair Kevin P. Eltife offered congratulations to Hartzell in a news release Jan. 7.
“We congratulate UT Austin President Jay Hartzell on being named the new president of Southern Methodist University,” the release states. “We wish President Hartzell our very best on his new leadership role in Dallas, and we thank him for his many contributions to UT over the past 24 years.”
Neither Hartzell nor UT System indicated who would be chosen to succeed Hartzell after the end of his term.
Digging deeper
Hartzell has served as president of UT’s flagship campus since 2020. Prior to that, he was the dean of the McCombs School of Business since 2001.
During his tenure as president, Hartzell oversaw the transition back to in-person classes following the COVID pandemic. His tenure was also marked with controversy. In April, Hartzell was scrutinized for his response to a pro-Palestinian protest on campus, during which law enforcement officers were called in to suppress a peaceful protest that led to multiple student arrests. According to the Austin American-Statesman, more than 500 faculty members signed a letter of no confidence over Hartzell’s response to the protests, in addition to his firing of 49 faculty members in compliance with anti-diversity, equity and inclusion policies mandated by Senate Bill 17.
