Chancellor's statement on Day of Mourning for President George H. W. Bush

The University of Texas System and its 14 institutions honor the memory and distinguished public service of George Herbert Walker Bush, our nation’s 41st President.  President Bush was an exemplary public citizen, serving Texas and our country for many years.  His example of leading with purpose, grace and dignity is one we cherish.  

Governor Abbott has declared that Wednesday, December 5, 2018, shall be an official Day of Mourning in Texas.  The Governor has encouraged Texans to “gather, assemble, and pay their respects to the memory of George Herbert Walker Bush through ceremonies in homes, businesses, public buildings, schools, places of worship, or other appropriate places for public expression of grief and remembrance.”   

The academic and health institutions of the UT System have diverse missions and daily obligations, including the education of our students and the care of our patients.  Each president should determine the best way for his or her institution to remember and honor the memory of President Bush.  Presidents are encouraged to allow students, faculty and staff who wish to attend local events honoring President Bush to take time off during the day, to the extent it does not interfere with the essential operations of each institution, and to conduct appropriate events on the campus during the day to honor him.

All of us embrace the Governor’s message, and I call for all members of the UT System community to observe the Day of Mourning tomorrow.  At System Administration, we will observe a moment of silence in honor of President Bush at 10:00 a.m., as well as provide a place for employees to gather together to watch the funeral service and allow employees time off to attend local events.

James B. Milliken
Chancellor

About The University of Texas System
For more than 130 years, The University of Texas System has been committed to improving the lives of Texans and people all over the world through education, research and health care. With 14 institutions, an enrollment of more than 235,000 students and an operating budget of $19.5 billion (FY 2019), the UT System is one of the largest public university systems in the United States. UT institutions produce nearly 59,000 graduates annually and award more than one-third of the state’s undergraduate degrees and almost two-thirds of its health professional degrees. Collectively, UT-owned and affiliated hospitals and clinics accounted for more than 7.8 million outpatient visits and 1.6 million hospital days last year. Across UT institutions, research and development expenditures total $2.7 billion – the second highest among U.S. public higher education systems – and the UT System is regularly ranked among the top 10 most innovative universities in the world. The UT System also is one of the largest employers in Texas, with more than 21,000 faculty – including Nobel laureates and members of the National Academies – and nearly 85,000 health care professionals, researchers, student advisors and support staff.