Texas Institute of Technology and Science

The Texas Institute of Technology and Science (TITS) is a proposal by Elon Musk to open a university in Austin, Texas.^[1][2]

Texas Institute of
Technology and Science

Type	Proposal
Established	December 13, 2023
Founder	Elon Musk
Location	Austin, Texas , United States

Background

Musk's personal views include frequent criticism of the American education system.^[3][4] In 2014, he founded Astra Nova School (then Ad Astra School) after pulling his five children out of school because he disapproved of the curriculum, and how it was presented.^[4]

Avatar of Elon Musk

Elon Musk @elonmusk

Am thinking of starting new university: Texas Institute of Technology & Science

Oct 29, 2021^[5]

In October 2021, Musk tweeted that he would start a new university named Texas Institute of Technology and Science, which corresponds to the acronym TITS.^[6][7][8] Musk added, "it will have epic merch, universally admired".^[6] The name, specifically the acronym, was criticized as sexist.^[6] Afterwards, Cher Scarlett, a software engineer and one of the leaders of the #AppleToo anti-harassment group at Apple, described Musk of contributing to a systemic problem in which women in technology companies are being sexualized by male colleagues, originating from executives at the top influencing the company culture downwards.^[9]

Initial funding

In December 2023, tax records revealed that Musk had donated $100 million to a new foundation, "The Foundation", set up to create a primary and secondary school focused on teaching science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) subjects.^[10][11] The foundation included plans to expand the project to the university level accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.^[10] In 2022, Musk allocated Tesla, Inc. stock valued at $2.2 billion to The Foundation, as reported by Bloomberg.^[2]

According to the report, the university intends to be tuition-free but may consider offering need-based scholarships in the future.^[12] The university is expected to receive funding primarily through donations.^[13]