Republican senators threaten Texas universities’ funding over DEI ban
In a letter, Sens. Brandon Creighton and Paul Bettencourt said they found “numerous” violations of the law, but didn’t provide specifics. Full Story
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![State Sen. Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe, chair of the Senate Committee on Education K-16, speaks at a hearing on Jan. 28, 2025.]()
Credit: Leila Saidane for The Texas Tribune -
Texas Legislature proposes $400M cut to higher ed as Dan Patrick threatens university budgets over DEI
At a public event last week, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said higher ed would get less funding if they don’t “kick DEI out of their schools,” a few weeks after lawmakers proposed a massive cut to public universities. Full Story
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![The Academic Building at Texas A&M University in College Station on Aug. 18, 2023.]()
Credit: Meredith Seaver for The Texas Tribune -
Texas wants the NCAA to start “sex-screening” its student athletes
The state lawsuit comes as more women athletes are being physically scrutinized to determine if they are transgender. Full Story
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![Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton speaks to attendees following a rally at the Tarrant County Republican Party Headquarters in Fort Worth on Jan. 6, 2025.]()
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Texas A&M regents may soon decide the university system’s next leader
Sources indicate the board has narrowed its search to five candidates: Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar, U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Austin, Texas A&M Foundation President Tyson Voelkel, University of Alabama President Stuart Bell and state Rep. Trent Ashby, R-Lufkin. Full Story
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![The Texas A&M University campus on June 15, 2020 in College Station.]()
Credit: Allie Goulding/The Texas Tribune -
In first full day leading UT-Austin, Jim Davis replaces chief academic officer
Davis, who was named interim president one day earlier, replaced a provost who was named to the position by the university’s previous leader last month. Full Story
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![Students walk through the University of Texas at Austin on Nov. 29, 2021.]()
Credit: Jack Myer for The Texas Tribune -
UT System names Jim Davis as UT-Austin’s interim president
The decision to name Davis, UT-Austin's chief operating officer since 2023, ends President Jay Hartzell’s tenure months earlier than anticipated. Full Story
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![James E. Davis was named senior vice president and chief operating officer at the University of Texas at Austin in September 2023]()
Credit: University of Texas at Austin website -
How a South Texas community college embraced apprenticeships to ease a growing nursing shortage
South Texas College in McAllen launched one of the first registered nursing apprenticeships in the country as area hospitals expect the need for nurses to increase. Full Story
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![Students from left, Victoria Zamora, Michael Hunter Maldonado, and Emily Luna, practice their knowledge and skills on a manikin during class at a simulating hospital at South Texas College in McAllen, Texas on Dec. 6, 2024.
Gabriel V. Cárdenas for The Texas Tribune]()
Credit: Gabriel V. Cárdenas for The Texas Tribune -
Texas now has more top-tier research universities than any other state, report finds
The designations come at a tumultuous time for universities as funding could be cut off and efforts to end tenure continue. Full Story
Credit: Chris Stokes for The Texas Tribune -
Texas universities could face funding cuts for health care research under new Trump administration policy
A federal judge blocked a new National Institutes of Health policy from going into effect in 22 states that sued the agency, but Texas wasn’t part of the suit. Full Story
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![UT Tyler Health East Texas is seen from a garage in Tyler on Dec. 7, 2023. The regional system of hospitals was bought by The University of Texas System, UT Health Northeast and Arend Health Services in March 2018.]()
Credit: Greta Díaz González Vázquez/The Texas Tribune -
UT-Dallas students launch alternative newspaper after clash with administration
Students at the university created their own news organization — The Retrograde — after they reached an impasse with administrators regarding oversight and the firing of the campus newspaper’s editor-in-chief. Full Story
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![Gregorio Olivares Gutierrez, editor-in-chief of the University of Texas at Dallas’s new student newspaper The Retrograde, hands out copies of the first edition of the newspaper to students at the UTD student union on January 29, 2025.]()
Credit: Shelby Tauber for The Texas Tribune -
Lawmakers debate role of free speech at Texas’ colleges
Legislators are expected to take up a $360 million proposal that would change the landscape of financial aid in the state. Full Story
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![Students walk through Texas State University campus Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2018, in San Marcos, Texas.]()
Credit: Laura Skelding for The Texas Tribune -
How a San Antonio student juggles parenting, work and school
One in four Texas students is raising a child while getting a college degree. For Isabella Mapes, it has meant little sleep and, at times, a lonely journey. Full Story
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![Isabella Marie Mapes, right, spends time with her daughter Lila Smith, 1, at home on Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025 in San Antonio. Isabella Marie Mapes is a 22-year-old parent attending San Antonio College.]()
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Texas community college leaders examine effects of 2023 funding reform
Lawmakers will get a chance to revisit the funding system for community colleges — and maybe approve more money — this session. Full Story
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Gov. Greg Abbott threatens Texas A&M president’s job over claim that university broke DEI ban
Abbott's comments came after A&M invited staffers and students to attend a conference that a conservative activist said broke the state’s ban on diversity, equity and inclusion programs. Full Story
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![Governor Greg Abbott, speaks about Centerpoint Energy during a press conference at Gallery Furniture, Houston, Thursday, Sunday July 14,2024. Doug Sweet Jr. for Texas Tribune]()
Credit: Douglas Sweet Jr. for The Texas Tribune -
An education ecosystem is being built in Elon Musk’s image. It starts in Bastrop County.
Ad Astra promises to be Musk’s biggest foray into education to date, and, if successful, will add to his already massive footprint in Central Texas. Full Story
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![Ad Astra, a Montessori school being opened by Elon Musk in Bastrop, Texas, on Dec. 11, 2024.]()
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UT-Austin’s presidency goes vacant amid growing challenges for Texas public university leaders
In recent years university presidents have been facing growing political pressures, student and faculty pushback and an increasingly demanding job. Full Story
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![Students walk through campus at the University of Texas at Austin in Aug. 25, 2021.]()
Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune -
Welcoming the next generation of Texas journalists
Tribune fellowships offer a valuable learning experience in a broad range of media-related roles. Full Story
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![The Capitol in Austin on June 18, 2024.]()
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UT-Austin President Jay Hartzell will leave to lead SMU
Hartzell leaves UT-Austin after four years of tense political battles and legislative efforts to implement a more conservative vision of public higher ed. Full Story
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![The University of Texas at Austin President Jay Hartzell, middle, on April 18, 2022.]()
Credit: Lauren Witte/The Texas Tribune -
SMU’s bid to split from United Methodist Church over LGBTQ+ rights heads to Texas Supreme Court
Southern Methodist University in Dallas tried to declare its independence after the church voted to ban gay weddings and clergy in 2019. Full Story
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![A sign at one of the entrances to the Southern Methodist University campus in Dallas on Dec. 20, 2022.]()
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2024: The year in photos
A look at some of the best photos from the stories we published over the last year. Full Story
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![A look at some of the best photos from the stories we published over the last year.]()
Credit: Texas Tribune photojournalists
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