Posted: Wed, 9 Dec 2009 11:18 AM - 11,295 Readers

By: The Associated Press

An Austin-area retreat for University of Texas System regents and campus presidents is expected to include talks on the tough economy.

The overnight stay Wednesday was scheduled at the Vintage Villas Hotel and Events Center, on a bluff overlooking Lake Travis.

The agenda includes a reference to "raising excellence in a challenging economic climate."

The Austin American-Statesman reports all 15 UT campuses have frozen most staff hiring.

UT-Austin Faculty Council member Thomas Palaima says "regents and presidents have a good sense of how to produce irony."

UT System spokesman Anthony de Bruyn says the system is mindful of costs and the meeting, with rooms at $99 each, is an annual strategic planning retreat. The estimated $9,200 cost will be covered by earnings on donations to support system initiatives.