Academic Excellence
This summer, we begin recruiting students to the LBJ School’s first undergraduate degree, a Bachelor of Public Affairs.
Through this new academic offering, we’ll start training the next wave of policy leaders earlier than ever.
We have been building new classrooms and hiring new staff and faculty in preparation for admitting our first class of undergraduates.
This new degree program will bring many benefits to the LBJ School, including:
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Enabling us to hire seven faculty members in new policy areas
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Offer almost two dozen new financial packages for teaching assistantships for our graduate students
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Strengthen the Washington DC campus by expanding student utilization and associated revenues
Once it is fully ramped up, this new degree will lead to a doubling of the size of the LBJ student body.
This fall, the LBJ School will welcome an outstanding incoming class.
Demand continued to remain strong for our academic offerings. The LBJ School also remains accessible and welcoming to all students: Approximately 30 percent of the fall incoming class are from historically underrepresented groups, and 8 percent are active-duty military and veterans.
We’re proud to close a strong recruitment season amid some outside concerns following the passage of a state law that prohibits DEI officers at The University of Texas. The LBJ School remains deeply committed to a meritocratic system that ensures access for students from a variety of backgrounds. The incoming class holds several policy points of view and have different paths to the LBJ School, but they all share a desire to change the world and the belief they can. They have come to us for the know-how.
Thank you to LBJ Advisory Council members Masharika Madison and Tom Meredith for gifts that enable the LBJ School to expand its marketing and recruitment efforts to those prospective students who would not otherwise know about the LBJ School.
We’re thrilled to welcome a class of nearly 150 incoming Master’s and PhD students this fall.
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Democracy in Focus
The Patman Center is boosting civic and political engagement at The University of Texas at Austin.
We are at a critical moment in our democracy. That’s why Ambassador Carrin Patman and Jim Derrick’s generous $10 million investment in the new Patman Center for Civic and Political Engagement couldn’t be more timely or important.
We hired an executive director, faculty of practice, and an administrator. This team created new classes, fellowships, experiential learning opportunities and a robust speaker series.
In fact, since January, The Patman Center has hosted 30 events designed to build civic leadership. These events offered skills development and access to policymakers, from learning how to give testimony and build coalitions to up-close interviews with elected officials from national, state and local government.
We're committed to strengthening our democracy by cultivating skilled leaders who exemplify an ethos of civility, service and bipartisanship.
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Strengthening our Alumni Bonds
We celebrated the academic achievements of our 53rd graduating class on May 11.
They are now a part of our network of more than 4800 loyal LBJ alumni around the world. Graduation marked the culmination of rigorous study for 167 students, who have earned the following degrees: a PhD in Public Policy, an Executive Master of Public Leadership, a Master of Public Affairs and a Master in Global Policy Studies.
Ways for Alumni to Engage
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Plan a Class Reunion! We’re committed to staffing reunion planning efforts and financially supporting reunion activities. Email lbjalum@austin.utexas.edu to get started planning yours today!
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Alumni can reserve access to day-use offices at our LBJ Washington Center in D.C. Contact Robin Boone at rboone@austin.utexas.edu to reserve space today!
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In order to connect with students, make sure your LinkedIn profile is updated and your education section connects to the LBJ School page.
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Sign-up to become a mentor! Keep an eye on your email this Fall for mentorship opportunities.
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Hire an LBJ student for an internship or job.
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Join the LBJ School Alumni Board as a board member or committee member. Email lbjalum@austin.utexas.edu for more information.
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Share Your Professional Expertise! The LBJ School's Office of Career Management has created a robust calendar of fall and spring events, including alumni resume reviews, mock interviews, alumni panels, career and internship fairs, webinars, Fall Open House, Admitted Students Weekend and more. If you are interested in volunteering for a professional development event, please contact lbjcareers@austin.utexas.edu.
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Make a gift! Go to https://give.utexas.edu and search for your area of passion at the LBJ School.