University officials will test the Tower’s various lighting configurations on Tuesday, March 27.
The test is scheduled for 6:30 a.m., and the Tower will return to its normal lighting configuration after the test.
While the standard lighting illuminates the Tower in Austin’s skyline most nights, a handful of other configurations convey signals of celebration, accomplishment or, sometimes, sorrow.
The lighting configurations include:
Tower entirely white
- Standard Tower lighting configuration
Tower white with orange top
- Football regular season victories
- Football bowl game victories other than national championship
- Other events at the president’s discretion
Tower entirely orange
- Faculty academic achievements (Academic Convocation)
- Student academic achievements (Honors Day)
- Staff achievements (Staff Recognition Day)
- Academic team achievements
- UT’s birthday — Sept. 15
- Commencement
- Texas Independence Day — March 2
- Big 12 Athletics Championship — all sports
- Student organization sports club national championships
- Other occasions at the president’s discretion
Tower entirely orange with #1 displayed
- National Championships
- Other events at the president’s discretion
Tower orange with special effects (fireworks, numbering)
- Commencement
- Other occasions at the president’s discretion
Darkened Tower with white cap and observation deck (all other levels dark, including windows)
- UT Remembers (annual memorial service)
- Tower Garden dedication
- Significant solemn occasions
- Other occasions at the president’s discretion
Want to know when and why the Tower is orange?
Sign up for our email alerts, and we’ll send you an update each time we light the Tower.
Share your photos of the #UTTower on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.