INSIDER
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.
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.
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.
Some of college basketball's great regular-season games have shaped the AP Top 25
Read full article: Some of college basketball's great regular-season games have shaped the AP Top 25Those last-second shots and breathtaking upsets that make the NCAA Tournament so great tend to get remembered the most by fans.
Proposition 5 on Texas ballot would create new endowment for āemergingā research universities
Read full article: Proposition 5 on Texas ballot would create new endowment for āemergingā research universitiesIf approved, the new fund would provide tens of millions of dollars to the University of Houston, Texas Tech, Texas State University and University of North Texas.
University of Houston students brace for LGBTQ Resource Center closure in response to Texasā DEI ban
Read full article: University of Houston students brace for LGBTQ Resource Center closure in response to Texasā DEI banThe announcement confronted students with the impact of a new law that will require all state-funded colleges and universities to close their diversity, equity and inclusion offices.
How Republicansā threats to tenure and diversity might undercut their own efforts to advance Texasā universities
Read full article: How Republicansā threats to tenure and diversity might undercut their own efforts to advance Texasā universitiesTexas lawmakers are poised to create a new multibillion-dollar endowment to boost emerging research universities in national rankings. But faculty members say banning diversity offices and tenure would stymie those efforts.
University of Houston asked students to wear neon vests after police drew weapon on a Black student
Read full article: University of Houston asked students to wear neon vests after police drew weapon on a Black studentThe university distributed vests to theater students after an officer drew a gun on a Black student rehearsing a violent scene last year. Officials walked back the requirement amid recent student criticism.
College voters held back by Texas election law, lack of on-campus polling sites
Read full article: College voters held back by Texas election law, lack of on-campus polling sitesMany Texas universities donāt have early-voting locations on campus. And state laws regarding voter ID and registration make it hard to turn out younger voters, advocates say.
College-bound Uvalde students grapple with leaving a hometown in mourning
Read full article: College-bound Uvalde students grapple with leaving a hometown in mourningThe students worry how the tragedy will define them in their new environments and struggle with guilt about the people theyāre leaving behind.
Settlement with conservative free speech group forces University of Houston to keep amended anti-harassment policy
Read full article: Settlement with conservative free speech group forces University of Houston to keep amended anti-harassment policyThe conservative group Speech First argued that the anti-discrimination policy restricting āoffensive speech about personal characteristics such race, ethnicity or genderā violates studentsā First Amendment rights. The university agreed to keep its amended policy as part of a settlement.
The pandemic showed some Texas universities that they didnāt need the SAT. They might never go back.
Read full article: The pandemic showed some Texas universities that they didnāt need the SAT. They might never go back.Many Texas public universities have committed to accepting students who do not submit SAT or ACT standardized test scores, signaling that test-optional policies could be here to stay.
T-Squared: Texas Tribune will host yearlong Scripps Howard Foundation fellows in data visuals and multimedia
Read full article: T-Squared: Texas Tribune will host yearlong Scripps Howard Foundation fellows in data visuals and multimediaFabiana Chaparro will join the multimedia team, and Caroline Covington will join the data visuals team.
UT Austin will allow students to live together on campus regardless of gender or sexual identity
Read full article: UT Austin will allow students to live together on campus regardless of gender or sexual identityThe two-year pilot program comes after at least 15 years of students asking for the change. It will allow UT-Austin students to live together in certain residence halls with students of any gender or sexual identity.
āIām still trying to recoverā: Some Texans are still bearing the brunt of the 2021 winter storm
Read full article: āIām still trying to recoverā: Some Texans are still bearing the brunt of the 2021 winter stormLast Februaryās winter storm left millions of Texans without power for days in subfreezing temperatures. Watch how one family whose home suffered extensive damage is preparing for the next round of cold weather.
Texas college students confront anxiety, apathy as another pandemic semester begins
Read full article: Texas college students confront anxiety, apathy as another pandemic semester beginsAs Texas universities and colleges begin a fifth semester during the COVID-19 pandemic, many students say they are struggling with uncertainty and an indifference toward school and the future.
Texas universities got more state funding this year than they anticipated ā but theyāre still hoping for more support
Read full article: Texas universities got more state funding this year than they anticipated ā but theyāre still hoping for more supportTwo- and four-year school leaders are looking to the upcoming special session for more support as the state decides how to spend $16 billion in federal stimulus funding
Almost 70% of ERCOT customers lost power during winter storm, study finds
Read full article: Almost 70% of ERCOT customers lost power during winter storm, study findsAs the updated death toll from Februaryās winter storm reached 111 deaths last week, the severity of its full force has continued to come into focus. AdThe Electric Reliability Council of Texas manages the stateās main power grid, which represents 90% of Texasā electric load and serves more than 26 million customers, according to the agency. Black Texans were āmodestly more likelyā to have lost power than white Texans, according to the study. The company wants lawmakers to create a revenue stream to Berkshire through an additional charge on Texansā power bills. AdāIn 2011, when we were asking questions about that winter storm, we were receiving promises and commitments that winterization would occur so that sort of thing wouldn't happen again,ā he said.
Point of Order: Higher edās gap year
Read full article: Point of Order: Higher edās gap yearEvan Smith, CEO of The Texas Tribune. (Audio unavailable. Disclosure: The University of Houston has been a financial supporter of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune's journalism. Find a complete list of them here.
Man accused of making bomb threat against Texas university during Zoom lecture
Read full article: Man accused of making bomb threat against Texas university during Zoom lectureA man has been arrested after being accused of making a bomb threat against the University of Houston during a Zoom lecture. Ibraheem Ahmed Al Bayati was set to make his initial court appearance Tuesday afternoon, according to U.S. Attorney Ryan Patrick. Investigators allege his discussion about the Islamic State was a reference to the terrorist organization. Al Bayati has been charged with making threats or conveying false information to destroy by means of fire or explosives and making a threat over interstate commerce. If convicted, Al Bayati faces up to 10 years in prison.
Houston mourns loss of former assistant coach that died in helicopter crash with Kobe Bryant
Read full article: Houston mourns loss of former assistant coach that died in helicopter crash with Kobe BryantHOUSTON ā John Altobelli, a former University of Houston letterwinner and assistant coach, is among the nine people, including NBA legend Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna, that was killed in a helicopter crash Sunday morning in southern California. Altobelliās wife and his daughter were also killed in the crash, according to the University of Houston. āJohn was a huge supporter of the Cougars and numerous players from Orange Coast College have played for us through the years.āHouston mourns the passing of former letterwinner & assistant coach John Altobelli. Altobelli was entering his 28th season as the head coach at Orange Coast College, where he was the longest-tenured baseball coach in school history. OCC baseball team mourning loss of coach John Altobelli in helicopter crash that killed Kobe Bryant.