To Texas University and College Faculty: Sens. John Cornyn and Ted Cruz need to hear from you

This e-mail went out yesterday at UT. I am so glad to see the Executive Committees of the Faculty Council and the Graduate Assembly of The University of Texas at Austin issue this statement this morning. At issue is the repeal of the student loan interest deduction and other sections of the IRS tax code (Sections 117(d) and 127).


Senators John Cornyn and Ted Cruz need to hear from all of us right away. Tax reform should not get done on the backs of our already indebted graduate students.  Talk about discouraging them and rendering a serious blow to higher education at the same time.

I teach masters and doctoral-level students and they all inspire the hope for a better world. 

Graduate students, by all means make calls, as well. You and your parents have a direct interest in the outcome of this so-called tax reform legislation.

Angela Valenzuela

From: Faculty Council Executive Committee and Graduate Assembly<fc@austin.utexas.edu>
Date: Mon, Nov 27, 2017 at 10:03 AM
Subject: Statement against Tax Reform Bills being considered in U.S. House and Senate

Statement against Tax Reform Bills being considered in U.S. House and Senate

Graduate schools serve a critical role in educating current and future generations of leaders and key workers who go on to contribute significantly to the economy of the United States in the sciences, arts, and industry, among many other fields. The contributions of our graduate students to the teaching, research, and societal missions within the University, State of Texas, and beyond are of vital importance.  During their graduate careers at UT-Austin, these students serve in important roles as teachers, researchers, and administrators. In these capacities, they receive tuition waivers that make education accessible and affordable.  Without these waivers, many of them would be unable to pursue advanced degrees and learn to use their talents in the most innovate and productive ways.

The tax bills currently under consideration in the House and Senate would undermine our University ideals of unfettered access to higher education.  In particular, the repeal of Sections 117(d) and 127 of the IRS tax code and the student loan interest deduction would result in a significant increase in student loan debt and prevent many from attaining advanced education.  These rule changes would especially, and disproportionately, bar many potential students who lack personal or familial financial support from pursuing their dreams and goals, and consequently cause irreparable damage to our country’s higher education system and research and development enterprise.

After earning their advanced degrees, our graduate students become our country’s thought leaders, educators, entrepreneurs, innovators, researchers, and scholars.  We, the Executive Committees of the Faculty Council and the Graduate Assembly of The University of Texas at Austin, are committed to working with and supporting our students and advocating for their well-being and education.  As such, we strongly oppose policies that place undue financial burdens on these students, who are vital to the future success of our economy. 

Steven Hoelscher, Faculty Council Chair	Hal Alper, Graduate Assembly Chair
Simon Atkinson, Faculty Council EC	Darla Castelli, Graduate Assembly EC
Charlotte Canning, Faculty Council EC	James Cox, Graduate Assembly EC
Alan Friedman, Faculty Council EC	Karen Rascati, Graduate Assembly EC
Heather Houser, Faculty Council EC	Catherine Weaver, Graduate Assembly EC
Jody Jensen, Faculty Council EC
Jennifer Moon, Faculty Council EC