Background

Much has happened since January when the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a Health Alert Network advisory regarding an outbreak of disease in China.  Two weeks later the first COVID-19 notice was issued from the UT System Office of Risk Management to risk and safety officers at the 14 UT institutions.   On March 2, the UT System issued system-wide guidance on international travel, spring break and personal travel and travelers returning to campus.   Three days later we issued guidelines elevating approvals for out of state travel, a required review of infection control, and post-travel return to work protocols.   At the same time Executive Vice Chancellor John Zerwas and I began twice weekly conference calls with health presidents, and Executive Vice Chancellor St

Introduction

Thank you, Chairman Eltife. 

First, I want to say thank you to the members of this Board for your thoughtful leadership at this time, and the guidance and support you have given me and the presidents of our 14 institutions.   I’ve been in regular communication with Chairman Eltife and have appreciated the opportunity to keep all Board members updated on a regular basis. 

Introduction

The first known cases of what’s now called COVID-19 began in December 2019.  We initiated meetings to prepare for its impact on the UT System in January.

Like everyone else, we have embraced the strategies to slow transmission of the virus to help enable the health care system to cope.  This began with social distancing and has now extended to very limited physical presence at our academic institutions and the UT System building.   

Good morning.  I join President Woodley in welcoming you today, and I want to congratulate her, Dean Nnanna and everyone at UT Permian Basin on this important day. Special thanks, of course, to our effective and committed leaders in the Texas Legislature – including Representative Craddick, Senator Seliger, and Representative Landgraf – who approved the Tuition Revenue Bonds that provided most of the financing for this great new facility. And, to all the donors, supporters of UTPB, who helped make today possible.  We can’t thank you enough.

Thank you, Dr. Raimer, for the outstanding job you are doing as President ad interim. Your devotion to this historic and critically important institution is clear.  I congratulate you, and your entire team, on this exciting and important day. I’ll add my welcome and deepest appreciation to David Callender, UTMB’s recent, visionary president.  And thanks, especially, to all of the donors and supporters here with us today, who helped make this magnificent new facility possible. 

It’s an honor to be in the presence of some exceptional leaders, who’ve been champions of higher education in Texas for many years.  I applaud all of you for being here, and for recognizing that in the years and decades to come, Texas is going to go exactly as far as our people can take us. We have the second largest, and third youngest population in the country – and it’s growing fast.   About 1000 people each day, half births outnumbering deaths, and half people moving here. According to the state demographer, Lloyd Potter, a faculty member at UTSA, we may even double in the next thirty years.