As the spring semester wound down, the University of Texas System felt compelled Thursday to respond to rumors that UT-Austin President William C. Powers was facing a crucial pass-fail exam of his own.

The rumor was prompted by a blog posting Wednesday from Paul Burka, senior executive editor at Texas Monthly. Citing an unnamed source, Burka wrote that the UT System Board of Regents was unhappy with Powers for expressing disappointment with the board's decision to disapprove his request for a tuition increase.

"This action inevitably will affect our ability to teach our students and make new discoveries," Powers wrote in a report to the UT community.

Denial by chancellor

In his Wednesday blog, Burka reported that Board of Regents Chairman Gene Powell asked UT System Chancellor Francisco G. Cigarroa to officially recommend that the board fire Powers and that Cigarroa refused.

"The chairman of the Board of Regents has never directed me to fire anyone," Cigarroa said in a statement released Thursday.

Gov. Rick Perry's office kept its distance from the rumor but voiced no clear support for Powers.

"The governor has had no involvement in this," said Catherine Frazier, spokeswoman for Perry. "It's no secret that President Powers favors raising tuition. The governor does not."

Powers said he would continue working with the entire UT community and was focused at the moment on the 8,000 students who will graduate.

"I love The University of Texas, and it's an honor to serve as its president," Powers said in a statement. "I am deeply grateful for the support of our students, faculty, staff, and the thousands of members of the UT family."

Burka's blog prompted UT students to launch an overnight social media blitz and faculty and alumni organizations to begin marshaling support for the president. In a Thursday follow-up, Burka said his source continued to stand behind the information.

Rumors about Powers' future at the university began swirling last year when the governor's office and the Texas Public Policy Foundation, an Austin-based think tank closely tied to the governor, ignited a heated debate about the productivity of professors and the value of academic research.

Earlier rumors faded

When Powers, with support from faculty and alumni, resisted changes that had been proposed by a special adviser hired by Powell, concern grew that the president would be fired for insubordination. Those rumors had faded until this week.

Reporters Jennifer Lloyd, Nolan Hicks and Erin Mulvaney contributed to this report.

joe.holley@chron.com