AUSTIN—Regents of the University of Texas System formally approved Jim Davis as the permanent president of the flagship campus in Austin.
Davis has served as interim UT-Austin president since February. He previously held a variety of on-campus positions and also worked in the office of Attorney General Ken Paxton.
Since becoming president, Davis has overseen an unprecedented commitment to UT-Austin’s School for Civic Leadership and its classical education program. Davis also oversaw the hiring of William Inboden, a scholar known for his work on Ronald Reagan, to the open provost position.
Davis will be tasked with implementing the recently passed state overhaul of university governance—Senate Bill 37. The measure, which will shortly abolish the UT-Austin faculty council in its current form, will significantly increase the authority of Davis’ office.
Regents are expected to announce a new policy for faculty advisory bodies on Thursday. They have the option to reconstitute faculty councils as strictly advisory.
Regents also gave formal approval to John Zerwas, a former Republican state representative, as Chancellor of the UT System. Zerwas stated that he “couldn’t be happier to be part of this organization.”
The University of Texas System oversees nine academic institutions and five health care institutions. It is overseen by a Board of Regents appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Texas Senate.
