The University of Texas at San Antonio delayed the start of its fall semester by three days following an attempted unauthorized cyberattack on its digital technology systems.

Key Points

• UT San Antonio postponed the start of classes from Wednesday to Monday, August 24, to restore essential digital services.
• University officials proactively shut down email and phone systems after detecting suspicious activity at the network's edge.
• An ongoing investigation has found no evidence that university data was accessed or exfiltrated during the incident.
• The university extended registration and payment deadlines to accommodate the three-day delay in campus operations.
• Ransomware attacks on higher education institutions rose by more than 8 percent in the first quarter of 2026 compared to 2025.

Why it Matters

This incident highlights the growing vulnerability of higher education institutions that rely heavily on interconnected digital systems for daily operations. It underscores the urgent need for universities to develop robust contingency plans to maintain core functions when critical technology infrastructure is compromised.