The Blubber

Elon Musk is planning to start a university in Austin, Texas, per Bloomberg.

The charitable organization, named The Foundation, is set to utilize a $100 million donation from Musk to establish and launch a primary and secondary school in Austin, with a specific emphasis on science, technology, engineering, and math education. The filing indicates that, once fully operational, the school will transition towards establishing a university. To achieve this goal, the school plans to pursue accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, marking a crucial initial step in the school's development.

As per details outlined in the Bloomberg-published filing, the prospective university aims to deliver education through both in-person instruction and distance education technologies. It anticipates an initial enrollment of 50 students, with plans to expand over time. The school intends to finance its operations through a combination of donations and tuition fees. However, the filing also outlines provisions for financial aid to students unable to afford tuition or fees. The organization is currently in the process of recruiting an executive director, teachers, and administrators.

Musk's initiative to establish a new university in Austin coincides with the upcoming opening of another private school in the city, scheduled for fall 2024. The University of Austin, founded two years ago by a group critical of higher education practices, seeks to provide an environment for open discourse and free expression of ideas. Pano Kanelos, President of the University of Austin, expressed a desire for the institution to champion free speech and open inquiry amid what he perceives as a time of societal fragmentation.

As of now, Musk's proposed university does not have an official name, and The Foundation has not provided immediate comments in response to requests for clarification.