Nearly 100 employees at UT Tyler accepted buyouts expected to save the university $9.6 million in the coming fiscal year as officials aim to keep the East Texas school affordable.
Along with 99 staffers accepting the buyouts, University of Texas at Tyler officials paused salary increases amid its budget shortfall.
The Texas Tribune learned of the buyouts in July. At the time, Beverly Golden, UT Tyler's associate vice president for strategic communications and media relations, said the incentives were intended to keep the university “affordable and prepared for the future” while allowing the university to continue its teaching and research mission.
She did not release information then about the program, including its cost, the number of employees who were eligible for buyouts or its projected savings other than to say the buyouts weren't expected to affect course offerings or student services.
According to information the Tribune obtained through public information and follow-up responses from Golden on Monday:
- UT Tyler announced the buyout program in late May, sent packets to full-time, benefits eligible employees with at least five years of service on June 1 and gave them a July 16 deadline.
- Eligible employees could receive a lump-sum payment worth three to six months of base pay, depending on years of service. Participants agreed to release legal claims against UT Tyler and could not return as university employees or contractors for two years.
- UT Tyler offered buyouts to 752 employees, about 27% of its 2,811-member benefits-eligible workforce.
- Thirty faculty members and 69 staff members accepted buyouts. The university may eliminate, leave vacant or refill vacated positions based on academic and operational needs.
- The program will cost UT Tyler $3.6 million this fiscal year.
- UT Tyler planned to set aside 2.5% of its payroll for employee raises in fiscal year 2027. Officials said they would reconsider the raises after the fall semester begins.
Although UT Tyler is growing, it’s facing budget pressures similar to other Texas universities.
Enrollment reached 11,362 students in the fall, up from 10,359 the year before, according to the school’s data. But UT Tyler’s operating budget for the current fiscal year shows the East Texas university projected a $12 million shortfall, more than double the $5.2 million projected last fiscal year.
Personnel is a major part of that picture. UT Tyler officials projected those costs would rise to $135.5 million this fiscal year, up $14.3 million from the revised budget for fiscal year 2025, which ended Aug. 31.
Other Texas universities turned to buyouts this year as well.
At UT Arlington, 234 employees applied for buyouts, according to the Fort Worth Report. At the University of North Texas, 44 faculty members applied and 40 were approved, according to records obtained by The Tribune.
UT Arlington leaders cited a loss of federal grant funding and international students. UNT officials said declining international student enrollment and reduced state funding contributed to its budget shortfall.
Texas public universities have had little room to raise undergraduate tuition and fees since 2023, when state leaders froze those costs. Gov. Greg Abbott instructed public college and university presidents in May to not increase undergraduate tuition or fees for the 2026-27 school year.
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