UTNIF

How do I register my child for the UTNIF?

UTNIF registration is available via the UT Ideal Logic portal. Ideal Logic is available using the registration links on the UTNIF home page.

Please note that you must begin with a parent profile and add the student to your account. If you begin with a student profile it will undermine your ability to complete required liability paperwork.

Once you have created a profile and added the student attending, under Catalog, select Programs and then Moody College of Communication, then Register Now for the program in which you wish to enroll.

Note that the UTNIF is designed for students entering and participating in high school level speech and debate programs. The minimum age of attendees is 12 years of age on arrival.

When is the last day to register?

Students are encouraged to register by May 27th. We may be able to consider late registrations but housing is not guaranteed.

What is the cancellation policy?

The $250 deposit is non-refundable. The rest of tuition is refundable until May 27th. After May 27th, no refunds will be provided.

What is the commuter discount?

The commuter discount for 2026 is $288 for 1-week programs and $624 for 2-week programs. The commuter discount is based on the daily cost of overnight stay ($38) and breakfast in the dining hall ($10). The commuter discount is applied manually - please email Brendon Bankey at brendon.bankey@austin.utexas.edu after you pay the deposit to get the discount applied.

• Large, durable, water bottle
• Cell phone (students will receive notices through Remind app, laundry services in Jester use a pre-paid app)
• School dress code appropriate summer clothing (T-shirts, shorts, etc.). IE/Speech students should bring performance attire for the final showcase. Debaters do not require formal wear. It will be HOT! So bring appropriate clothing.  Students enrolled in Individual Events should plan to bring one set of tournament style attire for the final showcase of events. On site laundry facilities are available in the dormitory at reasonable cost.
• Bedding - sheets (extra long twin), blankets, pillows, pillow cases, towels, cell phones, alarm clock, etc 
• Umbrella
• Laptop/tablet - Microsoft Word is preferred to Google Docs. Wi-Fi connections are available in dorm rooms and dormitory common areas. Students will also be given Wi-Fi connectivity on the UT campus. 
• Students will be responsible for their own copying of articles and books necessary to complete their assignments (approx. $50 to $75 per student, depending on how diligent they are in their work habits) and any and all library fines incurred if applicable. 
• Hydrating beverages (energy drinks are discouraged because they contribute to dehydration)
• Favorite food/snacks (there is a mini-refrigerator, freezer, and microwave in every room)
• Pocket money (Students will want to have money for bottled water, sodas, pizza,  UT apparel, institute T-shirts, and supplies)

Students can order food at night after night workshop through local restaurants with delivery service, Uber Eats/DoorDash/PostMates. 

Students flying to the workshop can use InstaCart to procure groceries. There is also a Target in walking distance. Dorm staff will organize trips to Target for students who wish to buy bedding/supplies upon arrival. 

Also, commuting students will need to bring money for meals or a sack lunch, as they are not included in the commuter price. Students staying in the dormitories will receive 3 meals a day on weekdays and at least two meals a day on weekends. 

For information on UTNIF Programs: contact Dr. Brendon Bankey at brendon.bankey@austin.utexas.edu, or for quicker response call 512-387-4288

Where will students stay/dine during the institute?

Students will stay overnight and eat meals in the Jester dormitory in the heart of campus. Jester rooms are fully furnished and include a microwave and refrigerator. There are common areas for entertainment and several gender-specific bathrooms on each floor. Students will stay on separate floors according to their government-recognized gender.

Click here for more information on housing in Jester.

Click here for more information on Jester's dining facilities, including a daily menu. Tuition includes three-meals a day at Jester's dining hall. Campus facilities are prepared to meet most basic dietary needs (e.g., vegetarian, vegan, gluten free, etc.). Please contact the Camp Director for specific allergy/dietary concerns.

I noticed the price increased from last year, care to explain?

Our tuition increased to cover expenses related to moving on campus to the Jester Dormitory. In 2025 we planned to use an off-campus dorm and had to make an unexpected shift on campus, absorbing a 25% price difference. We believe that the student experience is dramatically improved in Jester. We found last summer that students greatly appreciated the additional (nutritious) dining options, the shorter walks to classroom buildings on campus, and the ability to stay dry inside the larger Jester complex during sustained summer storms. Jester is the most likely destination for a first-year Longhorn, so the decision to move on campus also lets our students better approximate the first-year college experience.

When do students move in/move out of the workshop?

Student check in and move in occurs on the first day of the program from 12:30-2:30PM. Move out is on the last day of the program from 8AM-Noon CST. 

Example:

Program               Check In                                            Check Out

CX 1 Week        6/28 - 10:00AM-2:00PM CST            7/4 - 8AM-Noon CST

IE                        6/28 - 10:00AM-2:00PM CST           7/11 - 8AM-Noon CST

What is the daily schedule?

Our in-person learning schedule breaks each day into three general time blocks, with some variation and staggered times depending on the division: 

• 8:00AM-9:00AM - Breakfast in Jester

• 9:00AM-11:45AM - Morning Session - Program-wide lectures and/or meetings with assigned labs on campus. 

• 12:00AM-1:00PM - Lunch in Jester

• 1:00PM-5:00PM - Afternoon Sessions - Meetings with assigned labs on campus and/or research in the Perry-Castañeda Library

• 5:00PM-6:30PM Dinner in Jester

• 6:30PM-9:00PM Evening Session - Practice debates in Jester and/or meetings with assigned labs on campus. Speech students in the minor program continue on.

What should my student bring?

• Large, durable, water bottle
• Cell phone (students will receive notices through Remind app, laundry services in Jester use a pre-paid app)
• School dress code appropriate summer clothing (T-shirts, shorts, etc.). IE/Speech students should bring performance attire for the final showcase. Debaters do not require formal wear.
• Bedding - blanket, pillow, pillow cases
• Umbrella
• Laptop/tablet - Microsoft Word is preferred to Google Docs
• Hydrating beverages (energy drinks are discouraged because they contribute to dehydration)
• Favorite food/snacks (there is a mini-refrigerator, freezer, and microwave in every room)
• Pocket money (there are opportunities to order food to dorms, buy apparel in book store, etc.)

Students can order food at night after night workshop through local restaurants with delivery service, Uber Eats/DoorDash/PostMates. 

Students flying to the workshop can use InstaCart to procure groceries. There is also a Target in walking distance. Dorm staff will organize trips to Target for students who wish to buy bedding/supplies upon arrival. 

Can the UTNIF transport students from the airport?

Unfortunately, we can not. We will have UTNIF personnel at the airport to assist minors find their shuttle/ride share. We recommend that students arriving via air travel use Super Shuttle, which is available in the baggage area of the airport, for transportation to the dormitory. The street address is 201 E 21st St, Austin, TX 78705. At the end of the camp, our dorm staff will coordinate with small groups of students to help reserve returns to the airport where needed. Many students who travel extensively also arrange for transport via Uber or Lyft.

Will my child be able to independently walk around campus/explore Austin?

No. The Youth Protection Program requires that minors be supervised at all times. This is a University policy that all summer programs are required to abide. If your child participated in different University of Texas summer programming that allowed them to walk around without the supervision of a Designated Individual, then that summer program violated its Youth Protection Program mandate. 

We build opportunities to walk to stores/shops/restaurants and to explore campus into the programming. 

How will my child access their required medication during the camp?

Parents/students should provide all prescription drugs to UTNIF office staff when they arrive at registration. Prescriptions will be stored safely and discreetly throughout the duration of the workshop. UTNIF front-office staff will administer proper doses of medication during mealtimes.

What are the UTNIF's COVID-19 Health Policies?

The UTNIF will abide by the University of Texas at Austin's COVID health measures. Students are strongly encouraged to be fully vaccinated and boosted prior to attending the institute. Additional information regarding university policy is available here.

Can I check my child out during the workshop?

Yes. Parents and authorized guardians can check students out during the course of the workshop. It is required that all parents/authorized guardians physically go to the UTNIF office in Jester to provide valid identification. Authorized guardians can be declared at registration or via communication to our UTNIF office staff.

What will happen on the weekends?

We maintain a full schedule even on Saturdays and Sundays! Please do not plan to check students out while the camp is in progress except under extraordinary circumstances and recognizing that students may lose material & activities.

Can my child select their roommate?

We will do our best to honor mutual roommate requests. Students can make requests in the Ideal Logic platform. Students may only request roommates of the same biological sex/government-recognized gender. State of Texas policy requires that minors be housed on separate, sex-specific floors. The State of Texas almost exclusively determines a student's sex based on their birth certificate.

In the absence of a roommate request, the Dorm Staff will assign roommates based on age similarity.

What are the technology requirements for the debate programs at the UTNIF?

Contemporary evidence-based debate requires laptops for the organization of files and sharing evidence with opponents. Students should be expected to have access to a computer with steady connection to the internet. The computer needs to be able to download and view multiple word documents and allow multiple tabs of a web browser open for research.

How is the cafeteria food?

Jester dining should offer an improvement in daily options compared to previous summers. New students at the University of Texas are most likely to be housed in Jester, so the food is commensurate to the average college experience. We work with the cafeteria to accommodate all relevant religious and health-based dietary restrictions. All dorm rooms are equipped with a mini-fridge and a microwave. Students are encouraged to bring non-perishable comfort food and store it in their dorm rooms. Also, please bring a portable water bottle and consider bringing additional hydrating beverages.