Texasโ political environment driving faculty to leave, survey finds
After legislators passed laws banning diversity initiatives and targeting tenure at state universities, more than a quarter of the 1,900 Texas professors surveyed by faculty associations said they plan to look for positions out of state.
University of North Texas can charge out-of-state students higher tuition than undocumented Texans, appeals court rules
The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals vacated a federal judgeโs previous injunction that barred the college from charging out-of-state American citizens more than undocumented immigrants living in the state.
Texas colleges offer job training for students with disabilities. Hereโs how to use those programs.
Students with disabilities can succeed in college with the right kind of help. There are programs that can support them. The programs help them live on their own, find jobs, and make a difference where they live.
Future of university tenure in Texas will likely be decided in last-minute negotiations
The Texas Senate wants to ban tenure. The House gave initial approval Monday to a a bill that would instead enshrine tenure policies in state law. After final passage, the two chambers have a week left to come to a compromise.
How Republicansโ threats to tenure and diversity might undercut their own efforts to advance Texasโ universities
Texas 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.
UT-Austin blocks access to TikTok on campus Wi-Fi networks
Students and faculty will not be able to access the popular social media app while connected to university internet servers. Itโs the latest step to limit access to the service after Gov. Greg Abbott directed state agencies to ban the app on government-issued devices citing cybersecurity risks.
Settlement with conservative free speech group forces University of Houston to keep amended anti-harassment policy
The conservative group Speech First argued that the anti-discrimination policy restricting โoffensive speech about personal characteristics such race, ethnicity or genderโ violates studentsโ First Amendment rights. The university agreed to keep its amended policy as part of a settlement.
โThe most hated conservative college student in the stateโ: How a UNT student embroiled her campus in a culture war
Senior Kelly Neidert has repeatedly thrust the University of North Texas into the conservative media spotlight, most recently by bringing Texas House candidate Jeff Younger to campus. Her motive? It depends on who you ask.
Despite rising COVID-19 cases, universities including Texas Tech and Texas A&M are planning in-person fall graduations
Texas Tech administrators said last month the university will host multiple in-person commencement ceremonies over a two-day period, as well as a virtual ceremony. At Texas Tech, students helped drive the effort to bring back in-person commencement. Lamar University and Texas Southern University are also planning in-person graduation ceremonies. Other universities plan to hold in-person commencement ceremonies throughout spring 2021 for those who graduated in spring 2020, depending on the status of the pandemic. Disclosure: Lamar University, Sam Houston State University, Texas A&M University, Texas Southern University, Texas Tech University, University of Texas at El Paso, University of Texas at San Antonio and University of North Texas have been financial supporters of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors.
Texas universities are moving more classes online, but keeping tuition the same. Students are asking if it's worth the money.
Allie Goulding/The Texas TribuneSarah Ramos has spent her summer anxiously awaiting a fall return to Texas A&Ms campus at College Station. But while school will look different, the tuition rates for many of Texas largest universities, including UT-Austin, University of Houston, University of North Texas and Texas Tech, will stay the same. This summer, nearly all Texas universities went completely online and schools including UT-Austin and Baylor offered reduced tuition while several others waived fees for campus services like parking. Texas Tech President Lawrence Schovanec said that while around 80% of Texas Tech Universitys 1,000 fall courses will be online, tuition will not be decreased in the fall. Theres a misunderstanding that online classes are cheaper, Schovanec said.
Texas colleges expect larger online summer classes as students lose jobs, internships
College students suddenly finding more time on their hands with canceled jobs, internships and trips abroad are flocking to online summer classes at Texas institutions en masse. Summer enrollment on the riseThe University of Texas at Austin, which starts summer school Thursday, slashed the costs of summer classes, and students and parents have responded. The summer classes are usually offered at 85% of the regular cost of fall and spring semester classes. In the past, most institutions have offered both in-person and online summer classes. And while universities are seeing an increase in summer enrollment, some Texas community colleges are reporting drops in summer enrollment that paint an uncertain picture for fall.