INSIDER
Community college ādesertsā deter Texas students from getting a degree, report says
Read full article: Community college ādesertsā deter Texas students from getting a degree, report saysBlack and Hispanic high schoolers who have to drive more than 30 minutes to a community college are less likely to pursue a degree, the report found.
A tuition freeze without more state aid could leave Texas universities strapped
Read full article: A tuition freeze without more state aid could leave Texas universities strappedRegional colleges rely more on tuition revenue to operate than flagship campuses. Gov. Greg Abbottās desire to pause increases could create tight financial conditions.
A year into the job, Texas A&M president performs balancing act with growth, tuition, faculty and state leaders
Read full article: A year into the job, Texas A&M president performs balancing act with growth, tuition, faculty and state leadersStaff relations continue to be important for Mark Welsh III as he rebuilds trust after a hiring controversy and universities brace for legislation targeting faculty senates.
UT System expands free tuition and fees to all undergraduates whose families make $100,000 or less
Read full article: UT System expands free tuition and fees to all undergraduates whose families make $100,000 or lessThe Board of Regents is lifting the income threshold to expand eligibility across all nine of its UT System campuses.
Texas Tech wants permission to pay college athletes as a part of its recruitment efforts
Read full article: Texas Tech wants permission to pay college athletes as a part of its recruitment effortsState law prohibits schools from making direct name, image and likeness deals with athletes. Texas Tech says it puts them at a disadvantage as the university recruits athletes for fall 2025.
UNT faculty slam university for removing references to race and equity in course names
Read full article: UNT faculty slam university for removing references to race and equity in course namesProfessors and instructors say the university is preemptively censoring itself after administrators removed references to race and equity in dozens of College of Education course titles and descriptions.
Texas colleges pitch quick credentials as a first step toward higher wages. But students often fall off the path.
Read full article: Texas colleges pitch quick credentials as a first step toward higher wages. But students often fall off the path.Short-term certificates can only take a few weeks to get but donāt always lead to better earnings or higher degrees.
Gov. Greg Abbott wants to freeze tuition at Texas colleges and universities for another two years
Read full article: Gov. Greg Abbott wants to freeze tuition at Texas colleges and universities for another two yearsThe governorās directive extends a tuition freeze for Texasā public universities that was approved in the last legislative session.
Texas A&M regents overrule faculty, cut 52 ālow-producingā programs including LGBTQ+ studies minor
Read full article: Texas A&M regents overrule faculty, cut 52 ālow-producingā programs including LGBTQ+ studies minorAfter conservative criticism over the LGBTQ+ minor, university officials started looking at all its programs. Faculty say they were excluded from the process.
Texas State University condemns demonstrators who brought offensive signs to campus
Read full article: Texas State University condemns demonstrators who brought offensive signs to campusThe university is exploring potential legal responses after two men came on campus the day after the election with misogynistic and homophobic signs.
In South Texas, university students accuse Democratic county officials of suppressing their votes
Read full article: In South Texas, university students accuse Democratic county officials of suppressing their votesThe county decided to not have an early voting site at a Laredo university because of historic low turnout. It will have one on Election Day.
Texas judge accused of breaking law after asking his university students to vote for him
Read full article: Texas judge accused of breaking law after asking his university students to vote for himA candidate running against the judge accused him of emailing his students at Texas State to vote for him. State law prohibits using public resources for political advertising.
How a boom in East Texas high schoolers taking college classes is transforming Kilgore College
Read full article: How a boom in East Texas high schoolers taking college classes is transforming Kilgore CollegeHigh school students that are getting a jump on college through dual credit now make up the majority of students at one East Texas community college.
Nearly half of Texas high school students who earn college credits are Hispanic, study says
Read full article: Nearly half of Texas high school students who earn college credits are Hispanic, study saysDespite the groupās strong participation, Hispanic students graduate college at a lower rate than peers in the program, according to a report.
Texas students can now see which state public universities would accept them before they apply
Read full article: Texas students can now see which state public universities would accept them before they applyStudents can enter their class rank, grade point average, and standardized test scores to get a list of universities to which theyād be admitted.
Texas students with immigrant parents lost out on college aid because of FAFSA glitch
Read full article: Texas students with immigrant parents lost out on college aid because of FAFSA glitchThe glitch kept the students from submitting the form on time, which put them last in line to receive aid this year.
Texas State University will again expand its online degree programs next spring
Read full article: Texas State University will again expand its online degree programs next springThe university will offer 18 "workforce-relevant" programs to prospective students beginning in the spring of 2025, according to a university release.
UT-Austin tightens automatic admission threshold to 5% of Texasā top high schoolers
Read full article: UT-Austin tightens automatic admission threshold to 5% of Texasā top high schoolersThe current threshold is 6%. The change comes after the university received a record-breaking 73,000 undergraduate applications for this fall.
US Rep. Castro highlights impact of Hispanic-serving institutions during Hispanic Heritage Month
Read full article: US Rep. Castro highlights impact of Hispanic-serving institutions during Hispanic Heritage MonthHispanic Heritage Month is officially underway and Congressman Joaquin Castro and other political leaders are putting a focus on Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSI).
GOP bid to remove polling sites from Tarrant County college campuses fails
Read full article: GOP bid to remove polling sites from Tarrant County college campuses failsCounty Judge Tim OāHare said he proposed the cuts to save costs. Critics accused Republican leaders of suppressing the vote of young people who back Democrats.
Dan Patrick asks Senate to consider bills to unmask protesters, change runoff elections
Read full article: Dan Patrick asks Senate to consider bills to unmask protesters, change runoff electionsThe new list includes many right-wing priorities, and would escalate Republicansā wars against diversity, equity and inclusion programs and review laws to keep noncitizens off voter rolls.
UT System prohibits its universities from making political or social statements
Read full article: UT System prohibits its universities from making political or social statementsThe new policy says universities should remain neutral on āissues of the dayā while allowing students, faculty and staff to express their ideas.
College costs weigh heavily on Texas students as they wait on late financial aid offers
Read full article: College costs weigh heavily on Texas students as they wait on late financial aid offersDelays in the new FAFSA led students to take out debt, enroll in community college over their top-choice universities or opt out of going to college.
Queer students look for alternatives after Texas A&M ends transgender health care services
Read full article: Queer students look for alternatives after Texas A&M ends transgender health care servicesThe students saw the move as part of a political environment that has become increasingly hostile against LGBTQ+ people in Texas.
How a lack of supervisors keeps new mental health workers from entering the field
Read full article: How a lack of supervisors keeps new mental health workers from entering the fieldFuture Texas therapists must complete internships to start their careers, but thereās not enough providers to mentor all of the students.
North Texas colleges want to make transferring between schools easier, saving students time and money
Read full article: North Texas colleges want to make transferring between schools easier, saving students time and moneyThousands of Texas transfer students each year donāt get credit for some community college courses. The partnership seeks to address that.
Did FAFSA delays impact your decisions about college or housing? Share your story with us
Read full article: Did FAFSA delays impact your decisions about college or housing? Share your story with usThe delayed rollout of the new FAFSA caused many students to experience setbacks in receiving financial aid packages. If these delays impacted your college choices, The Texas Tribune wants to hear your story.
UT-Austin spares pro-Palestinian protesters from suspension, offers them probation instead
Read full article: UT-Austin spares pro-Palestinian protesters from suspension, offers them probation insteadSome students were relieved they were offered a type of academic probation that would allow them to remain in classes.
āAlways go out on topā: Texas A&M Chancellor John Sharp will retire June 2025
Read full article: āAlways go out on topā: Texas A&M Chancellor John Sharp will retire June 2025Sharp leaves after having transformed the institution, embedding it into state government, expanding its reach and boosting its academic and athletic reputation.
Travis County Attorney drops charges against 79 more UT-Austin protesters
Read full article: Travis County Attorney drops charges against 79 more UT-Austin protestersThe arrests were the result of the second police crackdown on pro-Palestine demonstrations at UT-Austin. The first protest, on April 24, resulted in 57 arrests, which were also dismissed.
Federal judge blocks Biden administrationās Title IX guidelines to protect LGBTQ+ students
Read full article: Federal judge blocks Biden administrationās Title IX guidelines to protect LGBTQ+ studentsJudge Reed OāConnor said the Biden administration didnāt have the authority to make the changes, which would expand anti-discrimination protections.
Pro-Palestinian demonstrations at UT-Austin open rift among Jewish students
Read full article: Pro-Palestinian demonstrations at UT-Austin open rift among Jewish studentsSome Jewish students see the protests as inherently antisemitic. Others say Jewish history and values make them empathize with Palestinians.
Push to enforce occupancy rule in College Station highlights Texas A&M studentsā housing woes
Read full article: Push to enforce occupancy rule in College Station highlights Texas A&M studentsā housing woesThe new fines underscore the challenges college students face when looking for affordable housing ā and how cities struggle to provide it.
Muslim advocacy group sues Abbott, saying university executive order violates free speech
Read full article: Muslim advocacy group sues Abbott, saying university executive order violates free speechAbbottās executive order directs Texas universities to āreview and update free speech policies to address the sharp rise in antisemitic speech.ā
Revisiting the protest movements at the University of Texas
Read full article: Revisiting the protest movements at the University of TexasProtests have been a century-long tradition at UT-Austin, and The Daily Texan, the student newspaper, has faithfully covered and recorded these significant historical events.
Under scrutiny from legislators, Texas university leaders attest to how theyāre complying with the stateās DEI ban
Read full article: Under scrutiny from legislators, Texas university leaders attest to how theyāre complying with the stateās DEI banTuesdayās Texas Senate hearing comes as lawmakers are expected to propose new laws next year to enforce the DEI ban and prevent antisemitism.
Texasā DEI ban almost ended cultural graduations. Latina students at UT-Austin fought to keep theirs.
Read full article: Texasā DEI ban almost ended cultural graduations. Latina students at UT-Austin fought to keep theirs.Graduating students raised funds and took the lead organizing smaller ceremonies meant to highlight their identities and cultural heritage.
UT-Austin lecturer arrested and fired after confrontation with police at pro-Palestinian demonstration
Read full article: UT-Austin lecturer arrested and fired after confrontation with police at pro-Palestinian demonstrationThe lecturerās lawyer disputes the charges, and the universityās decision to fire him has raised concerns from faculty over free speech protections.
Watch a conversation on the UT-Austin protests and the state of free speech on college campuses
Read full article: Watch a conversation on the UT-Austin protests and the state of free speech on college campusesAn American Civil Liberties Union of Texas attorney and a UT-Austin professor discussed how free speech has been protected and challenged in campus protests, and what we should all learn from the last few weeks.
UT-Austin student protesters balance end-of-year work with fallout from police crackdowns
Read full article: UT-Austin student protesters balance end-of-year work with fallout from police crackdownsMany students participating in pro-Palestinian demonstrations fear their involvement might affect their plans for after college.
UT-Austinās Jay Hartzell praised by GOP leaders as university presidents nationwide take heat over protest response
Read full article: UT-Austinās Jay Hartzell praised by GOP leaders as university presidents nationwide take heat over protest responseHartzellās protest response has also resulted in condemnations from students and faculty.
17 pro-Palestinian demonstrators arrested at UT-Dallas as police break up encampment
Read full article: 17 pro-Palestinian demonstrators arrested at UT-Dallas as police break up encampmentUT-Dallas is the second campus in Texas where Department of Public Safety troopers have made arrests while breaking up protests.
Gov. Greg Abbott and UT-Austin shift from championing free speech to policing protestersā intentions
Read full article: Gov. Greg Abbott and UT-Austin shift from championing free speech to policing protestersā intentionsThe arrest of dozens of Pro-Palestinian demonstrators since last week has left First Amendment advocates asking who gets to enjoy speech protections in Texas.
Dozens more arrested at UT-Austin as police use pepper spray, flash bangs to break up protests
Read full article: Dozens more arrested at UT-Austin as police use pepper spray, flash bangs to break up protestsThe arrests mark the second time in less than a week that police have broken up a pro-Palestinian demonstration. This time protesters tried to set up an encampment on campus.
Appeals court considers whether West Texas A&M drag show was unconstitutionally banned
Read full article: Appeals court considers whether West Texas A&M drag show was unconstitutionally bannedUniversity President Walter Wendler canceled a drag performance last year, claiming such shows ādenigrate and demean women.ā
Texas sues Biden administration to block expansion of LGBTQ+ student protections
Read full article: Texas sues Biden administration to block expansion of LGBTQ+ student protectionsThe new Title IX rules expanded the definition of sex-based harassment. Paxton said the change distorted the original intent of the law.
Misdemeanor charges filed against photojournalist arrested at UT-Austin protest
Read full article: Misdemeanor charges filed against photojournalist arrested at UT-Austin protestThe FOX 7 employee is accused of hitting a trooper with his camera, but the arrested man told reporters he was pushed and didnāt hit any officer.
How have DEI policies at Texas universities impacted you? Share your experiences with us.
Read full article: How have DEI policies at Texas universities impacted you? Share your experiences with us.We want to hear the experiences of students, faculty and families affected by pushback against diversity, equity and inclusion and free speech efforts at Texas universities.
Travis County rejects all criminal trespass charges against 57 people arrested at UT-Austin protest
Read full article: Travis County rejects all criminal trespass charges against 57 people arrested at UT-Austin protestUniversity officials banned all students arrested from campus, except for āacademic reasons.ā
Faculty petition to hold no-confidence vote in UT-Austin president after protest response
Read full article: Faculty petition to hold no-confidence vote in UT-Austin president after protest responsePresident Jay Hartzell defended the response but faculty criticized the presence of armed state troopers. Fifty-seven people were arrested.
Hereās what the law says about protesting on Texas college campuses
Read full article: Hereās what the law says about protesting on Texas college campusesStudents can generally peacefully protest, regardless of their viewpoint, but colleges and authorities may enforce some restrictions and criminal laws to maintain peace and order.
Layoffs and upheaval at Texas universities spur fear as lawmakers continue DEI crackdown
Read full article: Layoffs and upheaval at Texas universities spur fear as lawmakers continue DEI crackdownAs administrators scramble to comply with new limits on diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, students and faculty worry more tumult is coming.
Texas is struggling to diversify its mental health workforce as the state becomes less white
Read full article: Texas is struggling to diversify its mental health workforce as the state becomes less whiteMore than 40% of the stateās population is Hispanic, but its mental health provider population is more than 80% white.
Amid fears of arsenic in private water wells, Texas A&M is offering low-cost tests in Ector and Midland counties
Read full article: Amid fears of arsenic in private water wells, Texas A&M is offering low-cost tests in Ector and Midland countiesOfficials are worried that thereās arsenic in some of the estimated 13,500 private water wells in Ector and Midland counties.
Texas Democrats call on colleges to set aside financial aid money for immigrant families affected by FAFSA glitch
Read full article: Texas Democrats call on colleges to set aside financial aid money for immigrant families affected by FAFSA glitchStudents whose parents do not have Social Security numbers have been blocked from completing the federal financial aid form.
Texas wind energy firms need more technicians. Can they drum up student interest without state support?
Read full article: Texas wind energy firms need more technicians. Can they drum up student interest without state support?The wind industry promises attractive salaries. But a lack of training programs and waning political support make it difficult to find new recruits.
UT-Austin announces round of firings in latest step to comply with Texasā DEI ban
Read full article: UT-Austin announces round of firings in latest step to comply with Texasā DEI banThe firings come after state leaders criticized universities for not doing enough to enforce the ban. Students say UT-Austin has already overcorrected.
Watch a Texas Tribune conversation on meeting the stateās health care workforce needs
Read full article: Watch a Texas Tribune conversation on meeting the stateās health care workforce needsAt Texas State Technical College in Waco, medical experts discussed how Texas schools are addressing workforce shortages and what else is needed to address our stateās needs.
As Texas students clash over Israel-Hamas war, Gov. Greg Abbott orders colleges to revise free speech policies
Read full article: As Texas students clash over Israel-Hamas war, Gov. Greg Abbott orders colleges to revise free speech policiesThe governor singled out pro-Palestine groups and said they should be subject to discipline.
U.S. Supreme Court declines to intervene in lawsuit over West Texas A&M drag shows
Read full article: U.S. Supreme Court declines to intervene in lawsuit over West Texas A&M drag showsThe decision means university President Walter Wendler could cancel an on-campus drag show next week. He canceled a previous show last year.
With new state funds in hand, community colleges waive tuition for some high school students
Read full article: With new state funds in hand, community colleges waive tuition for some high school studentsCommunity college leaders hope free tuition programs will help change the conversation about the affordability of higher education amid a growing skepticism over the value of a college degree.
Texas Tech suspends professor over Israel-Hamas war comments
Read full article: Texas Tech suspends professor over Israel-Hamas war commentsThe university said it is investigating whether the professorās comments, which it described as āhateful, antisemitic, and unacceptable,ā found their way into the classroom or work environment.
Texas Tech System receives 6,000 acres in stateās āBig Emptyā region for research, learning labs
Read full article: Texas Tech System receives 6,000 acres in stateās āBig Emptyā region for research, learning labsThe property is currently an observatory surrounded by open land. System officials say theyāll use it for agricultural research and other opportunities.
As doors close and funding fades, students worry UT-Austin is taking Texasā new DEI ban too far
Read full article: As doors close and funding fades, students worry UT-Austin is taking Texasā new DEI ban too farThe new state law prohibits public universities from having diversity, equity and inclusion programs. Students say schools are overcorrecting.
Does UT Tyler Health Science Centerās deal with private equity shield doctors from malpractice suits?
Read full article: Does UT Tyler Health Science Centerās deal with private equity shield doctors from malpractice suits?A lawsuit claims UT Tyler Health Science Center is trying to pull the veil of governmental immunity over doctors who do all of their work for a for-profit, private equity-backed health care system.
UT System names sole finalist for president of Stephen F. Austin State University
Read full article: UT System names sole finalist for president of Stephen F. Austin State UniversityIf approved after the 21-day required waiting period, Neal Weaver will be the first president to lead the East Texas university since it joined the UT System in 2023.
Workaround to FAFSA glitch allows Texas students from immigrant families to apply for college aid
Read full article: Workaround to FAFSA glitch allows Texas students from immigrant families to apply for college aidThe workaround is meant to help students meet schoolsā application deadlines. College counselors say it will lead to more work and confusion.
University of Houston students face off against administrators over how to spend student fees
Read full article: University of Houston students face off against administrators over how to spend student feesStudents want to reallocate funding for athletics to other student services, but university leaders rejected that recommendation. Regents on Wednesday sent both sides back to the negotiating table.
Texas A&M students and faculty in Qatar slam decision to close Middle East campus
Read full article: Texas A&M students and faculty in Qatar slam decision to close Middle East campusProfessors and students on the Doha campus are devastated by the Board of Regentsā sudden decision to shutter the school by 2028.
Texas A&M University to close Qatar campus
Read full article: Texas A&M University to close Qatar campusThe Texas A&M Board cited heightened instability in the Middle East as the reason to end its contract with the Qatar Foundation to run the branch campus. The foundation accuses the board of falling prey to a ādisinformation campaign.ā
Many Texas community college students who transfer donāt finish their degrees, study says
Read full article: Many Texas community college students who transfer donāt finish their degrees, study saysBlack students and students over 24 are less likely to get their bachelorās degree after transferring, the report found.
Feds offer more help to Texas colleges struggling with FAFSA snags
Read full article: Feds offer more help to Texas colleges struggling with FAFSA snagsThe release of a revamped FAFSA form has blocked some students from filing the application and narrowed the time schools have to make financial aid decisions.
UT-Austin investigates students amid tensions over Israel-Hamas war
Read full article: UT-Austin investigates students amid tensions over Israel-Hamas warAdministrators are weighing possible disciplinary action against four students who criticized the universityās response to the Middle East conflict.
Glitch in financial aid form is keeping students with immigrant parents from applying for college grants
Read full article: Glitch in financial aid form is keeping students with immigrant parents from applying for college grantsParents without a Social Security number still cannot complete the new FAFSA online. The U.S. Education Department has not said when it plans to fix the issue.
In the Panhandle, a conservative vision for higher education takes root at West Texas A&M
Read full article: In the Panhandle, a conservative vision for higher education takes root at West Texas A&MUniversity president Walter Wendlerās plan to promote āPanhandle valuesā has conservatives cheering. But heās not without critics.
Texans with smaller student loans could see federal debt canceled as soon as February
Read full article: Texans with smaller student loans could see federal debt canceled as soon as FebruaryTexas borrowers enrolled in the SAVE loan repayment program will have their debt canceled if they took out $12,000 or less and have been repaying for at least 10 years.
A new way to fund Texas community colleges focuses on student success, not enrollment
Read full article: A new way to fund Texas community colleges focuses on student success, not enrollmentA historic $683 million investment in community colleges rewards schools for getting students to complete a degree or certificate, transfer to a four-year university or participate in college courses as early as high school.
Vouchers, border security, abortion: The issues you heard about in 2023 will continue to be hotly debated in 2024
Read full article: Vouchers, border security, abortion: The issues you heard about in 2023 will continue to be hotly debated in 2024After nearly a yearās worth of legislative sessions, several issues are poised to dominate Texas politics this year. Hereās a look at how things ended on several fronts last year ā and where theyāre headed next.
Diversity offices on college campuses will soon be illegal in Texas, as 30 new laws go into effect
Read full article: Diversity offices on college campuses will soon be illegal in Texas, as 30 new laws go into effectOther new laws make changes to the tax code, criminal justice and health care systems.
Texans grapple with numerous challenges, yet many are actively seeking solutions
Read full article: Texans grapple with numerous challenges, yet many are actively seeking solutionsAcross the state, people are looking for ways to make Texas a better place to live as they tackle hunger, rural ābrain drain,ā health care obstacles and other impediments.