Stephen F. Austin State University Poised to Join the University of Texas System

The public teaching and research university in Nacogdoches, Texas, would bring nearly 12,000 students into the 13-institution, 243,000-student UT System.

Published on December 7, 2022

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Edited by

Published on December 7, 2022

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Stephen F. Austin State University is an independent public teaching and research university in Nacogdoches, Texas, with nearly 12,000 students.
A subcommittee of the university's board of regents met with four Texas higher education systems over the past few months to discuss affiliation.
The university will retain its name, brand, and culture as part of the merger.

The Stephen F. Austin State University (SFA) in Texas may soon be part of the University of Texas (UT) System.

The SFA board of regents on Nov. 29 voted to accept an invitation to become a member of the UT System.

The vote went through after a board subcommittee spent more than three months examining the governance, financial, and other matters regarding potential affiliation with the university systems in the state: the Texas A&M University System, the Texas State University System, the Texas Tech University System, and the UT System.

"We are excited about the enormous opportunities this affiliation will provide for our students, faculty and staff," Karen Gantt, SFA board of regents chair, said in a statement. "We know that the future of SFA will be enhanced by becoming a member of the leading university system in the country."

The UT System comprises 13 academic and health institutions across the state that enroll almost 243,000 students. Stephen F. Austin State University is an independent public teaching and research university in Nacogdoches with nearly 12,000 students and more than 120 majors and areas of study.

SFA will retain its name, brand, and culture, according to the announcement. However, as part of the move, the board also approved a waiver of its rules for the selection of the next SFA president so the search can begin under the presidential selection rules of the UT System's board of regents.

The next step is for SFA and UT System officials to work with legislative leaders on the legislation that will enable the governance change, SFA's interim President Dr. Steve Westbrook said.