Elon Musk is planning a new university in Austin, will also start a STEM-focussed primary school

Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk is reportedly planning to establish a university in Austin, Texas, as revealed in tax filings for one of his charities, reported by Bloomberg News and The Texas Tribune.

Musk, in recent years, moved from California to Austin, Texas, blaming California’s ultra left political leanings and policies.

The charity in question, named The Foundation, will also use a $100 million donation from Musk to the charity, and establish a primary and secondary school in Austin, with a focus on science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education.

According to the tax filing, once the school becomes fully operational, it will shift its focus towards developing a university. The institution aims to seek accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, marking a crucial step in its establishment.

The university, as outlined in the filing, plans to employ both in-person teaching and distance education technologies. Initial enrollment is expected to include 50 students, with plans to scale up over time.

The school intends to finance its operations through a combination of donations and tuition fees. Additionally, the filing specifies that the institution may offer financial aid to students unable to afford tuition or fees. The university is currently in the process of hiring an executive director, teachers, and administrators.

Elon Musk’s proposal for a new university in Austin, where the University of Texas at Austin and other private universities already exist, coincides with the impending opening of another private school in the city, the University of Austin.

Launched two years ago, the University of Austin aims to be a proponent of free speech and open inquiry on college campuses, according to its president, Pano Kanelos.

It’s worth noting that Elon Musk’s university project does not yet have an official name. The Foundation’s trustees, according to Bloomberg, include Jared Birchall (head of Musk’s family office), Steven Chidester (a tax attorney at Withersworldwide), and Ronald Gong and Teresa Holland (associated with Catalyst Family Office in California).

(With inputs from agencies)