UT set to launch think tank for ‘liberty’
Lack of transparency surrounds project led by university’s conservative donors, Patrick
AUSTIN — University of Texas at Austin leaders have been working with private donors and Republican Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick over the last eight months to launch a think tank on campus “dedicated to the study and teaching of individual liberty, limited government, private enterprise and free markets.”
Legislators already approved initial funding for the Liberty Institute, slipping $6 million into the 2022-23 state budget without giving details of the project’s aim. University officials also have committed $6 million. All involved have been vague or silent about their plans so far when asked by faculty and student groups. And they have repeatedly denied interview requests from the Texas Tribune about the project’s intent, its budget and who is involved.
But UT-Austin President Jay Hartzell and others at the university have been working in earnest with Patrick, UT-Austin donors and UT System Board Chair Kevin Eltife, a former Republican state senator, to launch the Liberty Institute as a way to bring “intellectual diversity” to campus, according to emails and documents obtained by the Tribune via open records requests. At least two well-known UT-Austin alumni and conservative donors, oil tycoon Bud Brigham and billionaire businessman Bob Rowling, also have been involved in the project.
While these records do not reflect the full breadth of discussion about the project, and officials say many decisions have yet to be made, the documents provide the most insight so far into the vision of some of the people pushing for the new institute, as well as its intent.
The Tribune obtained two proposals from various stages of the
“(A) growing proportion of our population lacks a basic understanding of the role liberty and private enterprise play in their well-being.”
From the proposal touting the Liberty Center
planning process from Patrick’s office.
One proposal describes the institute as one that will “educate thousands of students … on the moral, ethical, philosophical and historical foundations of a free society” and asks the state to dedicate money to the project. It also includes a plan to create a civics course within UT-Austin’s OnRamps program, which works with more than 20,000 Texas high schoolers to expose them to college courses.
A second document explains why the Liberty Center is necessary at UT-Austin.
“(A) growing proportion of our population lacks a basic understanding of the role liberty and private enterprise play in their well-being,” that proposal reads. “Too many Americans, particularly younger students, maintain misconceptions about our political system and lack an even basic understanding of the moral, ethical, philosophical and historical foundations underpinning a free society.”
In that proposal, the center would be run by a board of overseers made up of “alumni and friends … committed to the mission.” They would report to UT-Austin’s president and the Board of Regents — rather than UTAustin’s deans and academic colleges — and would manage donor funds and help hire the faculty. That model would be similar to Stanford University’s conservative think tank, the Hoover Institution. But questions remain as to whether that or other suggestions made in the brainstorming process would be adopted or even allowed under UT-Austin’s current policies.
Both proposals also describe how the group hopes to influence Texas education beyond UT-Austin’s 40 acres, with possible plans to help other universities open similar centers and create programming for Texas high schoolers.
It’s unclear when the proposals were written, who authored them or how many of the ideas will be included in the center when it’s ultimately launched.
Patrick’s office did not respond to requests for more information.
UT-Austin redacted the names of individuals involved who are not employed by the university and redacted nearly all planning documents. Still, the documents provide the most details so far about the thinking of some of those working on making the center a reality.
When asked about the project, Eltife said in a statement that the board is “extremely enthusiastic to be part of the creation of the Liberty Institute.” He said the system and UT-Austin are in the early stages of developing the concept and hope to launch the institute by next spring.
At a Board of Regents meeting last week, the regents unanimously authorized funding from UT-Austin’s budget to match state funding. Eltife said the board hopes to expand the center to other UT System institutions over time.
Rowling confirmed to the Tribune through his assistant that he is involved with the project and said that Brigham, an oil company executive and fervent promoter of the writer Ayn Rand, was the “real leader on this.” Brigham did not respond to a request for comment.
The proposal that requests state appropriations and obtained by the Tribune includes draft language for the state budget item, which says the money would be used to “dramatically increase the number of students who are able to explore and learn about the value of free markets, limited government, personal enterprise and individual freedom.” However, those details were not included when it was ultimately added to page 304 of the massive budget document.
The proposals obtained from Patrick’s office envision the Liberty Institute would create new degree programs and courses taught by around 10 faculty members recruited to work at UT-Austin. The faculty would teach classes in areas like philosophy, politics and economics.
One proposal set a goal to be fully operational by fall 2026, serving 2,500 students. It envisioned an initial budget at $100 million with $25 million coming from private donors and around $75 million from the UT System Board of Regents and the state.
Many unanswered questions remain about the project, such as where the institute will be housed in the university, its final budget and the full list of people involved in its genesis. UT-Austin did not respond to multiple requests for comment or answer written questions for this story. Patrick’s office did not respond to requests for an interview.
Leaders of UT-Austin’s Faculty Council, which represents faculty across the university, said they have not received details about the plan.
Steven Ding, president of the student-led UT Senate of College Councils, said when he and other student government leaders asked Hartzell about the institute, Hartzell told them, “It’s not what you think it is,” and compared it to other public policy think tanks, but did not provide more details. Ding said he’s frustrated by the lack of transparency and involvement from the university community.
The development of the institute comes at a moment when conservative leaders across the country have criticized higher education as a bastion of left-leaning indoctrination.
Experts who study the intersection of politics and higher education say universities have become the battleground for the country’s culture wars, and it’s not surprising that donors with strong political leanings would get involved in university initiatives regardless of their ideology.