UT Austin leaders outline core curriculum overhaul with goal of fall 2028 implementation

August 15, 2026

UT President Jim Davis and Board of Regents Chairman Kevin Eltife spoke with The Daily Texan shortly after a Thursday board meeting where Davis announced changes to the university core curriculum. This interview was the Texan's second exclusive with Davis, following an April conversation.

Davis said the task force that produced the report organized its work around three complementary goals: make the core easier for students to navigate, ensure a broad and deep academic foundation, and adapt offerings to contemporary needs. He gave an example of a planned AI class as a way to prepare graduates for modern workplaces.

Leaders indicated the revision will reduce the number of courses that can satisfy certain requirements. Davis noted U.S. history currently lists 27 qualifying classes, and that pool will narrow to a smaller set of required, broad survey courses while other classes become elective options for deeper study.

The president also discussed proposed additions that do not exist today on the curriculum, citing Western Civilization as an example. He described the redesigned sequence as moving from general humanities concepts, to Western traditions, and then to U.S. foundations and rights, with the goal of grounding students in civic ideas.

Officials acknowledged capacity and staffing challenges. They said some current instructors may be respecialized to teach the new core courses, but additional faculty hires will be necessary to offer smaller, in-person sections and meet student demand.

On timing, Davis called the schedule aspirational. He intends to present a more concrete plan to the Board of Regents before the end of the year and aims to fully implement the new core by fall 2028, while allowing time after that to fine-tune the rollout.

Davis said the task force led its own outreach process that included prior student government leadership, though the newly elected student leaders were not interviewed by the task force. He did not provide a tally of all consultations, and said work remains to map timelines and hiring plans.

The board meeting, the task force report and the university announcement together mark the start of a multi-year process to reshape undergraduate general education at UT Austin.