John Zerwas, Chancellor, The University of Texas System

In an interview with Invest:, John Zerwas, chancellor of The University of Texas System, discussed the system’s commitment to affordable education, workforce preparation, research, and clinical care. With 13 institutions and more than 270,000 students, the system plays a significant role in meeting the workforce needs of Texas’ growing population and economy. “We continually assess industry demand and where additional talent is needed,” Zerwas said.

Reflecting on your first year as chancellor, what has shaped your view of the UT System’s opportunities and responsibilities?

We are a system of 13 institutions, all led by capable presidents who have the unique responsibility of managing those institutions in their respective regions. I am fortunate to have people on the ground addressing the needs of their communities. We serve more than 270,000 students, employ more than 160,000 people, and have a budget of more than $36 billion, of which about two-thirds is healthcare related. We expect to realize over $38 billion in revenue this fiscal year, again with two-thirds being healthcare related. It is a major operation that is not run by any single person, and I have a competent and talented team at the system level helping us serve our institutions across the state.

From the perspective of our Board of Regents, our overarching goal is to create the best and most affordable educational experience for our students. First and foremost, our commitment is to them. We would not exist without the need for students to pursue higher education across the many disciplines we offer.

We also deliver a great deal of clinical care, and much of our $5.2 billion research portfolio is within our health-related institutions. A substantial part of the UT System is in the Houston-Galveston area, where we have three strong institutions, each with its own character, advancing research, delivering clinical care, and educating the future workforce.

How can the system translate its research strength into more companies, jobs, and practical solutions for Texans?

Translating discoveries into something useful in the market, and potentially into a successful company, has traditionally been a slow and laborious process for higher education. However, we have had a great deal of success. The number of patents and discoveries coming from UT Austin is remarkable. MD Anderson regularly makes major drug discoveries because of its exceptionally strong research portfolio.

UTMB in Galveston is nationally renowned for infectious disease and microbiology. Its national laboratory examines some of the most dangerous pathogens, helping protect us against those threats. The institution is also highly focused on innovation, better methods of healthcare delivery, and future treatments.

Another important development is the Legislature’s passage of the Dementia Prevention and Research Institute of Texas, or DPRIT. It will mirror the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas, which has been in place since 2007. DPRIT will dedicate $3 billion over 10 years to discoveries related to preventing Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias. These conditions impose an extraordinary burden on the economy and on families who become caregivers.

This effort is much needed. It examines brain health through the specific lens of Alzheimer’s and related dementias. We are getting closer to understanding how these conditions develop and what we can do to prevent and treat them. I believe we are going to crack this within the next decade.

How are Texas’ population growth and changing economy influencing the system’s long-term priorities?

Texas enjoys robust population growth. Many businesses have chosen to locate or relocate here because of the state’s business-friendly environment. About 1,000 people come to Texas every day, with a significant number moving to the Houston area. They are finding work and contributing to the economy.

Our responsibility is to provide the highest-quality, most affordable, and most accessible higher education possible through our 13 institutions. Affordability is a major focus. Half of our graduates finish without debt. Those who graduate with debt carry less than both the state and national averages. We have held the line on tuition and fees and introduced programs such as Regents’ Promise Plus Program.

Promise Plus helps qualified students from families with annual gross income of less than $100,000 cover tuition and fees.

We initially offered the program through our academic institutions, but this past year we extended it to health-related institutions. So now, for example, nursing students at places such as UTHealth Houston and UTMB can now benefit. We have clearly seen the effect on enrollment, which is record-breaking across multiple UT institutions. 

Other universities have discussed a potential enrollment cliff, driven by factors such as slower population growth or migration. Texas continues to experience steady growth from people who want to work and pursue opportunities. They see Texas as an opportunity state for employment, education, and much more.

How is the system connecting degrees and credentials with the skills Texas employers need?

We are increasingly partnering with industry so students can establish early connections with employers and understand their career potential. It is important to educate people across many disciplines, but it is also valuable to give them early insight into different industries and hands-on exposure to how those industries operate.

We continually assess industry demand and where additional talent is needed. That may include cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, medicine, or nursing. We are producing doctors as quickly as we can, and although we graduate hundreds, if not thousands, of nurses each year, demand remains difficult to meet.

We take this responsibility seriously. The Legislature expects us to use state resources to educate the future workforce, and that expectation helps shape our curricula.

How is the UT System using artificial intelligence, and how could AI transform education?

AI will have a dramatic impact on education, particularly in research. In healthcare, immediate access to information will help doctors accelerate diagnoses and treatment protocols. It will benefit patients by making healthcare more accurate, effective, and efficient. Similar potential exists across many other industry sectors.

We are already using AI within the UT System to improve our efficiency and effectiveness. Looking further ahead, the jury is still out on exactly how it will affect the delivery of higher education. We are discovering what works and what does not. Students still need to develop their own critical-thinking and interpersonal skills. AI cannot be allowed to do all of their thinking for them.

In research, however, it will accelerate solutions and discoveries, particularly in laboratories and in areas requiring exhaustive literature reviews or massive data sets. Work that might take a person or team a significant amount of time can be completed by AI in seconds.

I don’t look at it as a negative disruptor; I look at it as a positive. It will change how we do things, but I believe it will change them for the better. I do not see people being displaced; I see human performance improving. Technology made me a better anesthesiologist, just as it has made pilots better. People who responsibly and thoughtfully embrace AI are going to have a great ride. For those who do not, the ride may be rockier.

What do you want the UT System to have accomplished by the end of the decade?

Our primary mission is to educate the future workforce. As the largest and premier public university system in Texas, the state should expect us to produce students who are exceptionally well-prepared for the workforce, regardless of their career choice.

We must also remain committed to discovery and innovation. Over the next decade, I believe great things will emerge from the system in both areas. What also distinguishes us is the magnitude of our clinical care and our involvement in the investments Texas has made through initiatives such as DPRIT, CPRIT, and behavioral health. I expect significant discoveries in the treatment of dementia and many forms of cancer in the coming decade.

The future is bright for the UT System. We have an optimistic population seeking access to affordable higher education, and our Board of Regents is committed to ensuring that we provide it in every corner of Texas.