UT Austin Update: UT Press 75th, New Cosmic AI Institute, WaterHub Project, Admissions Change, Protest Response, and Blanton Art News cover art

UT Austin Update: UT Press 75th, New Cosmic AI Institute, WaterHub Project, Admissions Change, Protest Response, and Blanton Art News

UT Austin Update: UT Press 75th, New Cosmic AI Institute, WaterHub Project, Admissions Change, Protest Response, and Blanton Art News

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 Good afternoon, Longhorns! It's Monday, September 22, 2025, and here's what's happening at the University of Texas at Austin. The University of Texas Press marked its 75th anniversary with a day-long event at the Austin Central Library on Sunday. The celebration featured discussions by authors and editors on topics ranging from Black history and football to grief psychology and music criticism. Since its founding in 1950, UT Press has published over 4,000 books, establishing itself as the largest publisher in Texas and maintaining a strong reputation in both scholarly and trade publishing. UT Austin has been selected to lead the NSF-Simons AI Institute for Cosmic Origins, a new initiative harnessing artificial intelligence to investigate some of the universe's most profound mysteries, including dark matter and the search for extraterrestrial life. Housed in the Oden Institute for Computational Engineering and Sciences, the institute aims to accelerate cosmic discovery through advanced AI research. The university is developing a 9,600-square-foot water recycling facility known as the WaterHub, set to become the largest of its kind at a U.S. university. Scheduled to be operational by fall 2027, the facility will reclaim up to 1 million gallons of wastewater per day, potentially reducing campus water usage by 40%. Located in the engineering district, the WaterHub will also serve as a hands-on research laboratory for students and faculty. Starting with the Fall 2026 admissions cycle, UT Austin will adjust its automatic admissions threshold for Texas high school students from the top 6% to the top 5% of their graduating class. This change aims to manage enrollment growth while maintaining access for high-achieving students across the state. In response to recent campus protests, UT Austin has created a new Event Readiness and Response unit within the Dean's office. This unit is dedicated to upholding free speech rights on campus and clarifying students' rights and responsibilities regarding free expression. The initiative follows spring protests that led to arrests and highlighted the need for clearer guidelines on campus demonstrations. The Blanton Museum of Art, one of the largest university art museums in the U.S., continues to be a cultural hub on campus. With a collection of over 21,000 works, including modern and contemporary art, Latin American art, and Old Master paintings, the museum offers a rich array of exhibitions and programs for the university community and the public. Currently, it's cloudy and 77 degrees in Austin. Temperatures are expected to rise throughout the day, reaching a high of 100 degrees by late afternoon. Be sure to stay hydrated and take precautions against the heat. That's all for today's update. Stay safe, stay informed, and Hook 'em Horns!
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