Buyouts offered to nearly a quarter of UT Tyler employees amid budget shortfall
By Jessica Priest, The Texas Tribune
July 2, 2026
The University of Texas at Tyler is offering buyouts to about a quarter of its employees, but officials have not publicly released details about the cost-cutting move.
The incentives are intended to keep UT Tyler “affordable and prepared for the future” while allowing the university to continue its teaching and research mission, said Beverley Golden, the university’s associate vice president for strategic communications and media relations.
Information about who is eligible, how much employees could receive or when they would leave was not immediately available to the public Thursday. Golden said the buyouts aren’t expected to affect course offerings or student services.
The Texas Tribune asked Golden for details regarding the buyouts — including how payments would be calculated, deadlines, and the number of employees who had accepted so far — and requested employee-facing materials, such as a memo, FAQ or summary of the program’s terms. She did not answer those questions.
Golden said because of the July Fourth holiday weekend, the statement was the only information available by The Tribune’s deadline.
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.
A Texas Comptroller workforce report lists UT Tyler with 2,438 employees. A quarter of that would be roughly 610 employees. Golden has not confirmed the university’s current employee count or the number of those who received offers.
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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This article first appeared on The Texas Tribune.