University of Texas Introduces COVID-19 Vaccination Incentives

AUSTIN, TEXAS — The University of Texas is offering students up to $10,000 in cash along with football tickets and other incentives if they have received or are willing to get the coronavirus vaccine as part of a program designed to get more students and faculty vaccinated.

The university announced the program last week after its COVID-19 modeling consortium said earlier this summer that it expects about 57 percent of students to be vaccinated when they return to campus this fall. Incentives are also being offered for faculty members, including up to $500 in cash as well as other prizes.

The prize drawings will begin this week, the university announced. Participants in the program need to get at least one shot of the vaccine to be eligible. They upload an image of their vaccine into a portal to be entered in the drawing for prizes, which also include parking permits, wireless headphones, a photo with Longhorns’ mascot Bevo at a home football game and other prizes.

Faculty members are eligible to win cash, coolers, tumblers and other prizes, including a tour of the new Moody Center with Texas athletic director Chris Del Conte.

Students who have received at least one shot of the vaccines are also eligible for the weekly drawings, the school announced.

“We encourage all UT students, faculty and staff members to get vaccinated,” university officials wrote on the vaccination incentives website. “COVID-19 vaccines are our best tool to help us #ProtectTexasTogether. We are celebrating students, faculty and staff who have chosen to take this important step.”